Deviating from the original plot

Chapter twenty-three

Earlier that day~

Celeste had been pruning the roses in the garden when her personal maid came hurrying toward her, breathless.

"My lady—His Highness has arrived!"

Celeste froze, pruning shears still in hand. "Are you certain?"

"Yes, my lady. He didn't arrive in the royal carriage. He's... dressed plainly. It seems he wants to keep his visit discreet."

Celeste's heart skipped. The Crown Prince rarely visited unless ordered by the Emperor, and even then, it was for formality's sake. What could this mean?

Celeste dropped the shears without another word and strode quickly toward the drawing room. There, seated casually in a simple coat and travel-worn boots, was Crown Prince Cassius.

The sight of him in commoner clothes made her pause.

She curtsied, becoming cautious. "Your Highness."

Cassius looked up at her, his expression unreadable. "Celeste."

"Is something wrong?" she asked, eyeing his unusual attire. "Why are you dressed like that?"

"It's for an investigation," he replied, folding his arms. "Trying to move around unnoticed."

She nodded slowly.

"Funny thing is," he continued, tone sharp, "while I was gathering information, I coincidentally heard some very unpleasant news about you. Apparently, you assaulted someone at a brunch. People are talking about how vile and unstable you are. Really, Celeste? Why can't you just behave like a rational adult for once?"

Her fists clenched at her sides. "I didn't assault anyone. I only poured tea on her."

He stared at her, incredulous. "And you say that like it's better. What if it had been scalding? Do you even think before you act? You cause scenes wherever you go, and every time, you bring humiliation, first to yourself, then to me because I have to deal with being associated with you. Honestly, why can't you be more like a proper partner—calm, composed, and normal?"

"I was being disrespected!" Celeste snapped.

He stood, his voice rising. "Maybe people wouldn't disrespect you if you weren't so impossible to deal with. You're always the problem."

"No! Everything that happened that day was because of you," Celeste shouted, her voice cracking. "They mocked me because you danced with her! They said you and Lady Evelyn were a better match—in front of me! Talking about my fiancé as if he belonged to someone else! You've never once acknowledged our engagement. And then I find out you've been writing secret letters to her?!"

Cassius's expression darkened. "How do you even know that? You've been spying on me again, haven't you?"

"It's not spying!" Celeste yelled. "You asked for space and stopped replying to my letters—I didn't know what else to do! So I hired someone. A maid. Just to keep me informed."

He shook his head. "So you admit it? Goodness, Celeste. You really are disgusting. I asked for space, and your solution was to violate my privacy? What is wrong with you?"

"No! What's wrong with you?" She yelled back, tears brimming in her eyes. "Writing secret letters to another woman when you're supposed to be engaged to me. You think I'm horrible because I care? Because I'm invested in the man I'm supposed to marry?"

Cassius's voice turned ice-cold. "I think you're obsessive. Jealous. Manipulative. I wrote to Lady Evelyn because I wanted to. She's calm and graceful... not a walking disaster like you. And after that ridiculous stunt at the brunch? Of course I hid it. I was protecting her—from you."