Deviating from the original plot

Chapter thirty-three

After a long day, the group finally reunited in front of the restaurant, the evening sun casting golden hues across the cobbled streets.

"Hi guys!" Victoria called out cheerfully, waving as Damien and Evelyn approached. "How was the festival?"

"It was goo—" Damien began, but Evelyn quickly cut him off.

"Mind-opening, but absolutely exhausting," she said flatly, arms crossed.

"Well, Lady Celeste and I had a lovely time too," Victoria replied with a bright smile. Evelyn shot a quick glare at Celeste, only for Damien to subtly nudge Evelyn in the arm, prompting her to roll her eyes and look away.

Seems like the festival's mission was a success, Victoria thought, quietly amused by the subtle shift in their dynamic.

"I suppose we should head ho—" Celeste began, but her sentence was cut short by a sudden uproar down the street.

Shouts filled the air as a troop of imperial guards stormed the plaza, quickly surrounding the area and detaining the nearby civilians. The once-lively festival atmosphere turned to confusion and fear in a matter of seconds.

"What's happening?" Damien asked, stepping protectively in front of the girls as one of the guards approached them.

"By order of His Highness the Crown Prince, everyone in this sector is to be taken into custody for questioning," the guard announced, his tone rigid.

"You can't be serious!" Celeste exclaimed, stepping forward. "I'm soon to be the Crown Princess—you have no authority to detain me!"

"Please cooperate, Lady Celeste," the guard replied with strained patience, "or we'll be forced to act accordingly."

"How dare you speak to me that way?" 'She snapped. "Do you know who I am? I am your future queen—"

"It's alright, Lady Celeste," Victoria interrupted gently, placing a hand on her arm. "Let's not escalate this. We'll comply—for now."

Celeste looked like she was about to argue again, but after a moment, she clamped her mouth shut and nodded stiffly.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "This isn't just random. Something serious must've happened."

Victoria nodded, scanning the streets as they were ushered toward the guards. "And I have a bad feeling we're about to find out exactly what."

Damien leaned in slightly. "Stay close. No matter what happens."

The guards began ushering them and the surrounding crowd toward the centre of the square, where makeshift holding areas were being set up.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "This feels like more than just routine questioning..."

"But why?" Victoria asked, worry creasing her brow as the guards began dividing the crowd into small groups, directing them toward temporary holding locations.

Victoria's group was led into a modest shop that had clearly been cleared out on short notice—its shelves empty and dust rising with every step. According to the guards, it had been requisitioned by the prince's orders.

"What exactly could've caused all this?" Damien muttered as he scanned the room, arms folded tensely.

Unable to hold back any longer, Celeste stepped forward and approached one of the stationed imperial guards. "I demand to speak with His Highness. Tell him his fiancée is here and being held against her will," she said sharply.

"My lady," the guard responded, his expression unreadable. "This will all be resolved shortly. We ask only for your patience—for the good of the kingdom."