Deviating from the original plot

Chapter fifty-eight

The Duchess stood rigid, her hands clenched so tightly at her sides that her knuckles whitened. She would not meet Celeste's eyes.

"Mother..." Celeste whispered.

Without a word, her mother pivoted and walked briskly away, following after the Duke.

Celeste stood alone in the vast foyer, heart hammering. A storm of dread coiled in her chest.

'A heir? A brother by blood? Impossible...'

✦ ✦ ✦

That evening, whispers rippled through the manor like wildfire. Servants stole hurried glances at one another, their voices lowered to murmurs as gossip about the mysterious boy spread from corridor to corridor. In her chambers, Celeste lay face-down on her pillow, while Clara quietly brushed out her hair.

"My lady," Clara said carefully, "the servants claim they overheard the Duke and Duchess arguing. They couldn't make out the words, but it sounded very serious. I've never seen the Duchess so... enraged."

Celeste turned her head slightly, eyes tired. "And who wouldn't be? Her husband admits to an affair, then parades the proof of it under her roof without shame. Of course she's furious." She let out a sharp sigh, her hands clenching the sheets.

Clara paused, lowering the brush. "What are you going to do now?"

"I don't know..." Celeste whispered, staring blankly.

A sudden knock broke the moment. Another maid stepped inside, bowing her head. "My lady, the Duke requests your presence for the family dinner."

Celeste groaned softly, forcing herself upright. "Of course he does," she muttered, pressing her fingers against her temple before smoothing her gown.

✦ ✦ ✦

The dining hall glowed with candlelight. At one end sat the Duchess, her posture rigid, her face unreadable as if carved from stone. The Duke presided at the head of the table, his presence commanding and cold. Celeste quietly took her seat beside her mother.

Moments later, the boy entered. Despite the fine new clothes he wore, he still looked painfully out of place, his wide eyes drinking in the grandeur of the hall.

"Come, sit beside me, son," the Duke said, gesturing warmly.

The boy hesitated, then obeyed.

"There," the Duke said with a smile that Celeste had rarely seen directed at her or her mother. "This is where you belong."

Celeste's nails dug into her palms. 'He never smiles... And when he does, it's to filth.'

"Father," she burst out, "you cannot truly mean to go through with this."

His head snapped toward her. "Did I give you permission to speak?"

"I don't need permission to speak in my own house," Celeste shot back.

"It is my house, not yours," the Duke barked, his face tightening. "And you are nothing but a brat for addressing me so shamelessly. Have you forgotten all your lessons while I was away?"

Celeste's temper ignited. "You dare lecture me about etiquette when you are nothing but a classless man yourself?"

The Duke's face flushed crimson. "What did you just say—"

"Celeste, enough!" Her mother interjected sharply.

Celeste turned toward her. "Mother!"

"I said stop this now!" The Duchess's voice rang, firmer this time.

"But Mother, we cannot allow this outrageous—"

"Celeste!" The Duchess's voice rose, cutting her off. "Enough!"

Celeste faltered, stunned. "Mother, I am doing this for you. He's insulting you!"

The Duke gave a low, scornful laugh. "And once again, you fail, don't you?" His words directed toward the Duchess. "All of this your fault. As it has always been."

"It is not her fault!" Celeste shouted back. "You caused this. You poisoned this house with your filth!"

But she froze as her mother abruptly stood, her chair scraping the floor, and strode out of the hall.

"Mother—wait!" Celeste scrambled after her.

"Tsk." The Duke shook his head with disdain. "Disappointments, the both of them."

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A/n: We have reached 1k votes!!! 🎉🎉🎉 Thank you everyone, who voted for my story, I always try to appreciate you all personally but sometimes I miss some people,  so this is me appreciating you generally, 감사합니다!

Anyways, moving on. Who likes drama here? 😎

-Cattycat🐾