Zavia quickly reached out to grab the Crown Prince's hand in attempt to appease his anger. "Lady Caelina doesn't have to apologize to me. She has done nothing wrong and I have already forgiven everyone. Please let this go already."
Her actions seemed to worsen Celine's situation.
The concubine is graciously asking for Celine to be pardoned? Will the Crown Prince listen to Zavia?
Lady Yasna could not endure such a stab to her friend's reputation. From the floor, she wept with guilt and sorrow. She begged, "Your highness, the Lady Celine is innocent. She hasn't attended any social gatherings in many years. If anything, we were led astray due to her absence!"
Chaos ensued as the women defended Celine, who still held considerable power in the society still due to her blooming success in the makeup world. She greatly appreciated the women who stood up for her, and was satisfied upon seeing slowly changing future.
"It is Caelina's duty to lead the social gatherings as my fiancee. Her lack of attendance further proves my point. Did you not join these meetings because of your laziness, Caelina?" The Crown Prince was persistent. He truly wanted his fiancee to kneel before him.
Lady Yasna immediately regretted her choice of words and continued to cry helplessly.
Thankfully, Celine knew how to end such a tedious conversation. She did not want to reveal this secret until much later, yet she had no choice now. It even seemed as if Zayden would interfere soon. He had been fuming besides her as if he would call upon Red to burn this whole courtyard down any moment now.
"Your royal highness, the Crown Prince Laith of the Zionitte Empire." Celine addressed this stubborn man in front of her. "Why is their incompetence my fault? I have been contemplating your words thus far, and I am rather confused by your allegations. Since when was I given the task to lead the noblewomen?" Laith's eyes flashed and he lifted his arms up as if to stop her following sentence. "We're not actually eng-"
"Enough!" The Crown Prince roared like a lion and the entire garden seemed tremble below him.
I guess you truly don't want anyone to know that we are not officially engaged. Especially the woman you love with all of your heart.
Celine smirked in satisfaction as Zavia tilted her head in confusion. She watched as the Crown Prince stalked off while Zavia trailed closely behind him. The tension dissipated immediately once they left the garden.
Although Celine had saved the nobles just now, they avoided her. They believed that it was better to avoid the unfavored woman who couldn't capture the Crown Prince's heart. As the nobles slowly collected themselves, they fled the scene soon after.
Sir Vigos had arrived from Emperor Michaelis I's court room. He had been occupied by his work and was unable to attend the ceremony. He was deeply shocked to find Prince Zayden, Lady Celine, and his wife standing alone in the garden. Seeing his wife shaking form withered on the floor, his expression darkened.
"What happened?"
***
After the following incident, Zavia gained multiple political allies. She had graciously forgiven the people who had previously insulted her and garnered their support instead. They began to neglect Lady Yasna, the elite woman who had lead their social circle for many years. Lady Yasna reassured Celine that she was not bothered by this change in social status, yet she couldn't hide her gloomy mood from time to time.
"I'm more worried for you, Celine! Your image has completely shattered. They talk about how pathetic you are for not gaining the Prince's favor!" Yasna mimicked one of the ladies who had ridiculed her. "She is indeed a beauty, but what's the point when she couldn't even capture her fiance's heart?"
Celine shrugged. People had begun to avoid Celine like a plague. They believed that Celine had fallen out of the Crown Prince's favor and would eventually be expelled before she could become an Empress. Her reputation had fallen, while their treatment of her had considerably worsened.
"This is nothing compared to Prince Zayden's treatment. What infuriates me now is the fact that he had grown up with this constant discrimination." Celine furrowed her brows.
She was not confident in her own political skills. Celine had a valuable, entrepreneurial foresight. She could accurately predict the future economy and estimate the market demand. She possessed a competitive mindset as a businesswoman, and was also an intelligent engineer. Celine had carefully cultivated these skills in her previous life and was confident in this field of work. However, a businessman could never be a politician because they would never be able to place the people's needs first. If Celine had been gifted in politics, she might have allowed Zayden to compete for the crown and overturn history. Zayden was physically powerful and even a prodigal genius. Red was currently the most powerful familiar alive that even surpassed the Crown Prince's lion. Unfortunately, Celine didn't know how Laith had defeated Zayden in the original story, and didn't want to risk anything.
As she continued to converse with Lady Yasna, Celine started to realize how she could finally discontinue her business. She had accumulated a large some of money over the years and there seemed to be no reason to continue her work when Celine would be leaving the Empire soon. Celine also didn't want to provide the noblewomen with any of her goods as revenge for turning their backs on her. She smiled delightfully as she pictured their dismay.
However, Celine never would have imagined that these noblewomen would shamelessly harass her servant for more products.
On one sunny afternoon, Celine was returning to her chambers when she witnessed Zavia and her supporters berating Hala outside of her own chambers.
"What is the meaning of this?" Celine rushed to Hala's side and covered her from the women. Hala avoided her master's eyes in an attempt to hide her colored cheeks and bruises. Celine's heart became anguished upon seeing her withering form. She carefully allowed Hala to lean on her for support, and then she glared at the group in front of her. "I'm not going to repeat my question twice. Answer me now."
The noblewomen were slightly afraid and couldn't help but shrink behind Zavia, who spoke up without a hint of fear. "Lady Caelina! Please do not misunderstand our intentions. We personally came to visit the lady's chambers after our requests for new makeup were rejected. We wanted to know the reason behind this merchant's refusal, but this servant refused to answer us!"
"How dare a mere servant dismiss us!" A smaller lady chimed in. Celine recognized her as Zahara, one of the first guests she had invited for her first gathering many years ago.
"That is because I asked her not to receive any more orders." Celine replied icily. Her anger grew ten folds as she realized the reason behind their sudden attack. Her multicolored eyes darkened dangerously, and Zahara flinched while Zavia finally stiffened. Celine calmly assessed the other women in front of her with a cold expression. They were her loyal customers who regularly placed orders for Celine's products. She also observed Zavia's recent change in appearance. Her eyelids were brighter after finally letting go of the kohl eyeliner trend. The corner of Celine's lips lifted upwards with a knowing smirk. This slight change in expression offended the ladies in front of her.
The women murmured silently to one another, and Zavia took this opportunity to press further. "Lady Caelina, I fully understand how the recent change in events could've been a bitter shock to your heart. Ever since I arrived as the Crown Prince's concubine, I intended to form and maintain a friendly relationship with you. Yet you rejected every invitation I sent to your grace! Even though I am deeply hurt, this is too much! Don't you think it is too petty and selfish of you to deprive others from accessing essential goods?" Zavia faced Celine with watery eyes, her eyebrows drooping downwards to express her hurt feelings.
"Yes, your grace. Please do not be like this and let us order the products we need. Your current actions will further worsen your reputation too." Zahara regarded her with a pitiful look.
"Think about the poor merchant and his decrease in sales! Wouldn't he be upset by your actions?" Zavia sounded extremely worried for the merchant, as if Celine was giving him terrible luck.
The women continued to criticize Celine, who couldn't contain her hysterical laughter any longer.
"You don't need to worry about my reputation or that silly merchant..." Celine glowered, her smile growing ever so cruelly. "Because I am that merchant."
"What do you take us for! We know that you're not the merchant! Only men can be merchants! How would you make the products with your own hands!" Zavia nearly yelled. Her self-righteous attitude seem to crumble for a moment.
Celine shrugged. "Don't believe me then."
"There were rumors of the merchant making an appearance in the night market too! I will directly ask Laith to find him then, since you won't." Zavia persisted with confidence, while the other women seemed to be doubtful. They stared at one another in silence.
"Then you'll be able to trace him and see that he is only loyal to me. He also knows that only I can provide him with the special ingredients." Celine watched as the ladies trembled with disbelief and amazement. "I understand your anger, especially since I won't be providing any products any longer. However, I do not tolerate any actions taken against my people. Next time this happens, I'll take that as a direct insult to the general's family." Her eyes flashed in warning before shutting the door on their dumbfounded faces.
She shifted her focus on her servant.
"I'm sorry, Hala." Celine whispered, and quickly moved to treat her.
Meanwhile, word of this incident spread throughout the capital. Many people were amazed by Celine's innovation and couldn't believe that such a woman was creative enough to invent such unique goods! When the news reached Prince Laith's ears, he also widened his eyes in surprise. Her cosmetic line had brought forth a movement within the capital, which would have a rippling effect in the future. He couldn't help but praise Celine for her success, although he would never openly admit these thoughts.