Deviating from the original plot

Chapter twenty

"Not at all," Victoria replied. 'It's probably better than making her walk out alone after everything that just happened,' she thought.

Evelyn turned to Ria with a composed expression. "Thank you for the invitation, Lady Ria, but I think I'll take my leave."

Ria smiled. "It's perfectly understandable. Take care, Lady Evelyn."

With that, Victoria and Evelyn quietly excused themselves and exited the greenhouse together.

Evelyn's steps were brisk, her expression unreadable. Victoria stayed beside her, but curiosity got the better of her.

"...Is it true?" She asked gently. "About the letters with the Crown Prince?"

Evelyn came to a halt and turned to face her, eyes unreadable.

"I'm sorry if that's too forward. You don't have to answer if—"

"I'm not exchanging letters with him," Evelyn cut in calmly. "He does send them but. I don't respond. I even dispose of them without reading. It wasn't worth the effort."

Victoria blinked. "Oh. I see." She couldn't hide her confusion. She knew romance took time to develop, but she could help but feel this Evelyn is different from the original in the novel.

Evelyn's shoulders relaxed slightly as she looked away. "I didn't mean to stir up drama back there. But I couldn't just sit still and let her humiliate me or accuse me of something so ridiculous. And... I didn't want to be seen as that timid girl everyone thinks they can walk all over. Most people already assume that about me."

Victoria gave a small smile. "Well, I think you made your point. No one's going to try messing with you after that."

Evelyn let out a laugh. "Thanks... But honestly, I think you're the one no one would dare mess with. You stood up to that attacker at the gala, and today you faced off with Lady Celeste and actually made her back down."

Her gaze dropped to the floor as she added, almost bashfully, "Then you protected me. I don't even want to think about what would've happened if she'd actually hit me..."

Victoria rubbed her neck, trying to play it off. "It's not really that much of a big deal."

Evelyn looked at her with a soft smile. "Still. Thank you."

They reached the waiting carriage, and a footman opened the door for Evelyn. She paused on the step, glancing back at Victoria.

"I... suppose I'll be seeing you again soon," she said with a small smile. "Don't forget about the garden party in Lythmore."

Victoria blinked, realizing she had indeed forgotten. "Oh—right. I'll be there."

"Good, I will send a letter." Evelyn said, as she stepped into the carriage.

The door closed, and the carriage pulled away. Victoria let out a quiet breath before turning and heading back toward the greenhouse.

As she stepped inside, Ria looked up from her seat. "Lady Victoria, you returned! I thought you might've left with Lady Evelyn. That was honestly so chivalrous of you." She chuckled lightly.

Victoria rolled her eyes. 'You caused this!'

"Lady Celeste was completely out of line," Fiona said firmly. "It's a good thing you were there to defuse the situation."

"You've got incredible reflexes, Lady Victoria," Maura added with a grin.

Victoria offered a polite, tight-lipped smile—she really needed a moment to breathe. This crowd was just unnecessarily too toxic for her. "Would you mind telling me where the powder room is?"

"Of course," Ria said smoothly. "One of the servants will escort you."

Ria gave a small gesture, and a maid promptly stepped forward with a curtsy. "This way, my lady."

Victoria nodded and followed, grateful for the brief escape. The murmurs and laughter of the other noblewomen faded behind her as they exited the greenhouse and moved through the corridor of the estate.

Once they reached the powder room, the maid opened the door for her. "I'll be just outside if you need anything."

"Thank you," Victoria said softly before stepping in.

The room was elegantly decorated—ornate mirrors, a porcelain vase filled with fresh blooms, and soft light spilling through a stained-glass window. Victoria walked to the sink, splashed cold water on her face, and looked up at her reflection.

Then she heard it—a faint sniffle from one of the stalls.

She paused. "Hello?" she called gently. "Is someone there? Is something wrong?"

A bitter voice answered. "So what now. Are you going run back to your little gathering to gossip and laugh about me some more because you found me in here?"

Victoria froze. "Lady Celeste?"

Silence followed, but it was clear she was right. A wave of guilt settled over Victoria. As much as Celeste had acted out, it was obvious that Ria had intentionally invited her and set her up to be humiliated, the others had mocked and disrespected her, and now she was left alone, crying in a bathroom stall.

"I'm not here to make fun of you," Victoria said softly. "But... if you want to talk, I'm here. I won't judge."

"Why can't you just leave me alone?" Celeste snapped.

"I could," Victoria replied. "But I have a conscience."

Celeste let out a sharp breath, her words thick with tears. "Don't act like you care. No one ever does."

"I'm not acting," Victoria said simply. "I mean it."

She didn't reply.

"Lady Celeste", she continued softly, "I don't think you're a bad person. You've made mistakes—yes, you said some awful things, and you shouldn't have lashed out like that or thrown tea on someone. But I get it. You were provoked, cornered, and pushed to your breaking point..."

She took a small breath.

"You shouldn't have accepted Ria's invitation—she wanted this to happen. And she got what she wanted. But that doesn't mean you deserve to be humiliated like that. If you want me to leave, I will. I won't tell anyone about this. You were a victim today too, and I empathise with you."

She turned and began walking toward the door.

Then—just as her hand reached the handle—the stall door creaked open.

"Wait... please," Celeste said softly, stepping out of the stall. Her eyes were puffy and her face tear-streaked. 

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A/n: Hello everyone, I wrote this instead of sleeping, so I hope you all enjoy this.

-Cattycat 🐾