Deviating from the original plot

Chapter twenty-one

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

"It's you again..." Celeste exhaled, her voice slightly annoyed.

"Yeah, it's me," Victoria replied with a gentle smile. "I'm sorry."

"You're always defending that Leclair girl," Celeste said, her tone tightening as she grew guarded again.

"I understand why you'd think that. And yes, Lady Evelyn and I are acquainted. But it's not about taking sides—it's about stopping things before they spiral out of control. You threw tea on her and were about to strike her—in front of everyone. That would've ended terribly... for both of you. But especially for you. I was trying to stop things from going too far. Imagine how it would have looked if it went beyond that point."

Celeste said nothing, but her shoulders sank just slightly.

"But despite that, I was being honest earlier about everything." Victoria spoke.

Celeste studied her, eyes narrowed slightly, as if still trying to determine whether Victoria was being sincere. "You really mean all that?"

"I do," Victoria nodded. "I know you're hurt. And honestly, I can't say I know exactly how it feels to be in your shoes, but I've been in enough uncomfortable rooms to recognise when someone is being cornered."

She stepped closer and offered a clean handkerchief. "Here, before someone else sees you like this."

Celeste hesitated for a moment, then took it. Her fingers brushed Victoria's, and for a second she looked down at the fabric as if it were something foreign.

"It's to wipe your tears," Victoria said and gestured to her face.

"I know what it's for," Celeste huffed quietly, turning her face away—but not before Victoria caught the faint blush on her cheeks. "It's just... you being nice to me."

"Well, I think you deserve to be treated nicely all the time," Victoria replied.

Celeste gave a weak laugh as she dabbed at her eyes. "That's... weirdly comforting. Thank you... Lady Valenford."

Victoria smiled. "You're welcome... But you can call me by my first name, you know. You're always using my surname—it sounds so stiff."

"Oh..." Celeste looked down at the handkerchief in her hands. "I see. Then... thank you, Lady Victoria."

"That's better," Victoria said with a smile, though she didn't miss the slight hesitation in Celeste's voice.

She looked over Celeste's dress, then added, "Do you want to stay here a while longer or go back? Though, honestly, I don't think returning to the brunch is a great idea. Your dress is soaked."

Celeste sighed quietly. "Yeah... I'd rather not walk back in there looking like this."

Victoria gave a small nod of agreement. "I wouldn't either."

Celeste huffed. "This is beyond annoying."

Victoria gave a small smile. "Well, on the plus side, you still manage to look pretty intimidating—even covered in punch."

Celeste narrowed her eyes at her. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"I was trying to lighten the mood. It's the best I've got," Victoria replied, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly.

Celeste let out a scoff. "You're strange."

"I've heard that a lot," Victoria said with a shrug and a smile.