Deviating from the original plot

Chapter sixty-four

Celeste's steps faltered. For a heartbeat, she considered slipping away, but the weight in her chest refused to let her. With a quiet sigh, she steadied herself and walked forward.

"Hello," Celeste said softly, almost hesitantly.

Victoria turned at once, surprise flickering in her eyes before her features gentled. "You're here."

"Yes... I am," Celeste murmured, her fingers curling against her sleeve. "I'm sorry."

Victoria's smile was warm. "It's all right. I'm just relieved you're safe."

Celeste's cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away, unsettled by the unguarded sincerity in her friend's gaze.

"But", Victoria added, tilting her head, "don't ever vanish like that again. I was worried."

Celeste swallowed, nodding faintly. "I won't."

Victoria's expression eased, then sharpened. "Beside while you were gone, we found a lead."

Celeste lifted her head, curiosity sparking. "A lead?"

Victoria leaned closer, lowering her voice until it was barely more than a whisper. "Evelyn overheard some patrons talking. They're tied to the cult. Apparently, the members almost never mingle with the public—except during something they call a 'fetching session'. It happens spontaneously, which explains why they're so hard to track down."

Celeste's brows furrowed. "I see..."

"And that", Victoria nodded subtly toward the corner of the hall, "is their target."

Celeste followed her gaze. A man sat hunched at the gaming table, eyes wild and hands trembling as he threw down coin after coin, desperation clinging to him like a stench. He looked half-ruined already, gambling away what little was left of his life.

Celeste's lips parted in disbelief. "They'd prey on him?"

Victoria's gaze hardened. "A man like that is exactly the kind of bait they're looking for—desperate, reckless, with nothing left to lose."

Her eyes flicked briefly toward the corner again before returning to Celeste. "We haven't seen those patrons since, but Evelyn and I agreed to keep watch over him. He's too vulnerable to ignore."

Celeste folded her arms, unease knotting in her stomach. "So we wait for them to make their move?"

Victoria gave a faint nod, her tone measured. "This might be our best chance to finally catch them."

Celeste drew a slow breath, steeling herself. "I'll help however I can."

A sudden cheer rose from the gambling table, the man laughing like a madman as he pushed more coins forward. The sound made Celeste's skin crawl.

✦ ✦

About a day ago—

Victoria and Evelyn arrived at the casino in their disguises, slipping into their usual rhythm of work. Still, worry clung to Victoria like a shadow; she hadn't been able to shake the thought of Celeste disappearing without a word after the whole ordeal.

"I just hope she doesn't do anything reckless," Victoria murmured as she settled at the bar, watching Evelyn arrange bottles.

Evelyn sighed softly. "Honestly, it makes more sense now. My friends brought it up at a tea party the other day—of course, in the most cynical and disrespectful way possible. They were calling her a madwoman for striking the crown prince."

Victoria's frown deepened. "That wasn't her fault. When Celeste is overwhelmed, it spills out as anger... sometimes aggression."

Evelyn nodded, her thoughts flickering briefly to the memory of Celeste splashing tea on her. At the time, it had been irritating, but now she understood better. "Even so, I respect her for it."

Victoria arched a brow. "For hitting the prince?"

"Exactly. He likely deserved it," Evelyn said flatly.

A laugh escaped Victoria, soft but genuine. "You two really are like-minded. She didn't regret it at all."

"As she shouldn't." Evelyn nodded.

"Hey, what are you whispering about?" A light, teasing voice cut through their conversation. Freya slid onto the stool beside Victoria, resting her chin in her hand.

"None of your business—it's confidential," Evelyn shot back flatly.

"Oh? Then I must've stumbled upon your little secret society," Freya teased.

"Precisely, so leave," Evelyn said, narrowing her eyes.

"Make me," Freya countered, sticking out her tongue.

"You are so infuriating," Evelyn muttered, reaching over to pinch Freya's cheek.

"Stop that!" Freya whined, grabbing Evelyn's hand—but instead of letting go, she kept hold of it, their fingers still entwined. Evelyn didn't even notice, still scolding her.

Victoria blinked between them, utterly lost.

'Did I miss something?' she thought, watching the two bicker with an odd closeness with a subtle tension.

"What are you doing here? I told you not to bother me while I'm working," Evelyn hissed.

"I'm not bothering you," Freya replied with a mischievous grin. "You just like pretending I am."

Evelyn narrowed her eyes, dangerously. "You—!"

Victoria cleared her throat. "Ah—suddenly I remembered I have tables to wipe."

Both Evelyn and Freya turned toward her in perfect sync, as though only just realising she was still present.

"Oh, carry on then!" Evelyn chirped.

Victoria gave them a small smile before swiftly retreating. 'What a strange pair...'

✦ ✦

Later that night, when the pace of the casino finally eased, Victoria was wiping down another table when a sudden chill crept up her spine. The sensation was unmistakable—an instinct she'd come to recognise. She paused, scanning the room carefully, but no one stood out. No suspicious faces. Nothing out of place.

By the end of their shift, she stepped outside, a trace of disappointment lingering. She waited by the entrance until Evelyn emerged, her expression unusually grave.

"I think we've found our lead," Evelyn said quietly.