WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT

--------------

As Celestine was going towards the changing room, she bumped against a man. The both of them collided and fell towards the ground.

"Are you okay, Mister?" Celestine asked as she noticed the man, not moving from the ground. However, the man did not respond to her.

Looking around, Celestine tried to get help but since it was already the peek of the night, everyone has their own businesses to attend to.

With a sigh, Celestine carefully got the man up, and lead him to a private room. The man smelled like alcohol, indicating that he was most probably drunk due to his unable to move state.

Celestine struggled to help the man walk, but was finally able to put him on a bed. She looked at the man's face, it seemed oddly familiar, and yet she cannot exactly pinpoint who he is.

As she was about to leave, she was shocked when suddenly, she was grabbed from behind, resulting in her lying on the bed. The man was on top of her.

The man gazed frigidly into Celestine's eyes, which is full of flickering disbelief.

Forcefully arresting his captive's wrist in one hand, and with a shove, he then pressed Celestine down onto the bed. "Celestine, my lovely Celestine. What did you do with that man, huh?" The man slurred.

The candlelight by the bed illuminated Celestine's soft facial contours and her rousing brilliant eyes which was glossy with fear and anxiety.

The man's eyes were full of thirst and desire, as well as anger and vengeance. "That wretched man. I was supposed to be your first! I waited. I did everything that I could, and yet, you got snatched away from me!" He continued, his other hand, heavily caressing Celestine's figure.

"Who are you?! Ah! - What are you doing?!" Celestine trashed against the man, however, her hands have already been violently pulled against the head of the bed.

Celestine let out a shriek, as the man ripped her robe, exposing her legs up to her thighs. "Stop! Whoever you are! Stop what you're doing, now!" Celestine demanded in alarm, almost in hysterical panic as the unknown man continued to rip off her clothes.

"This skin, this beautiful skin is mine! I saw your dance earlier, my lovely Celestine. You even dared to touch my cheek with this cloth, and yet... and yet!"

Celestine felt horrified.

Frightened by his behavior, Celestine screamed, "Please, stop! Help me! Help" She was scared to the point that she could only repeat her words, screaming, begging for the man to stop.

The man continued to caress her legs and thighs, and finally, squeezed her buttocks.

"You're mine!" The man shouted, trying to kiss her.

Celestine, however, tilted her head to avoid the man's advances.

"Why are you avoiding me?!"

Suddenly, Celestine could feel her right cheek stung, and later on, be numb. The man slapped her. She felt dizzy, and because of the actions of the man, even has the urge to vomit.

However, she fought with all her might. With her senses taking over her body, she gathered all of her strength to knee the man's crotch.

"Arghhh!" The man shouted. The excruciating pain causing him to abruptly remove his hands that were pinning Celestine down to the bed.

Taking her chance, Celestine ran, as quickly as she could out of the room. In the halls, she shouted for help, the guards, hearing her shout, immediately coming to her aid.

"A man, there's a man that has assaulted me. Please, get him!" She shouted, pointing at the room that she ran away from.

Breathing heavily, Celestine felt a surge of relief taking over her stinging body. She wiped the trail of blood that came from her wounded lips.

The guards were able to apprehend the man, that was now shouting like a madman. As they were nearing the main hall, people have started to notice the commotion. They all gathered to see its source.

"You're mine, Celestine! Every one of you, all of you will pay for this!" The man continued to scream, thrashing around like a madman, pointing at everyone in around him.

People started murmuring, loudly, and yet, the man seemed unfazed, most probably because of the influence of alcohol, or maybe, he simply did not care.

Gritting her teeth, Celestine ordered the guards to bring the man into the judicial prison. "We'll deal with him later, for the meantime, please do file some charges for assault." Celestine waved her hand towards the guards, signaling them to go on.

Tanith and her sisters, later on, rushed to the scene.

"Celestine! Dear child, what happened?! Where is that wretched man?!" Tanith came, screaming while checking at her daughter's body.

"I'm fine, Mama. Don't worry, it's just a little scratch." She said, trying to calm her mother down, but to no avail.

"What do you mean by scratch?! Look at yourself!" Tanith shouted at her and pointed at her body.

"Your mouth is bleeding, your cheeks are swollen, and even your clothes are torn. Tell me, what exactly has happened?!" She continued to demand.

Celestine looked around the room, noticing the still watching customers because of their curiosity, while the few, are genuinely concerned.

Getting her concern, Tanith proceeded to apologize for the commotion as she was escorted to her chambers by her sisters.

As she was nursed by her sisters, she cannot help but feel thankful, as there are many people who care for her. Tanith then, later on, arrived at her room and ordered the others to leave, joining her daughter on the edge of her bed.

Feeling the warm presence of her mother, Celestine suddenly felt her tears starting to fall. Tanith held on to her dear child. Caressing the back of her daughter to ease and soothe her feelings.

"I-I was so scared, Mama." Celestine cried, showing her vulnerability, the complete opposite of the mature facade that she has been showing.

Despite the aura that she has been excluding, Celestine is, after all, still a child who just turned eighteen. Seeing her like this, for a while, Tanith remembered the times that she has seen her daughter crying. How she hated those moments, for all she wants for her child is to smile.

Tanith tried to keep her urge to talk. She did not want Celestine to go into the same job as her and her other sisters, yet, this child's skull really is thick.

She inwardly questioned herself, 'To who did this child's thick-headedness even came from? Certainly not from me.' Tanith thought.

Noticing that her child has been slowly regaining her calmness, "Do you still want to continue?" Tanith asked softly. Celestine was quick to face her.

"Yes, Mama. I will not back down just because of this. This is just the beginning." She replied, clenching her fist.

"Well then, I know that I can do nothing to change your mind." Tanith lightly joked before turning serious, 'However, that man certainly has to pay for the things that he has done."

Celestine nodded in agreement, her mother is right. Not only did he ruin her first night as a Celestial Rose, he actually dared and went ahead to assault her.

Thinking about her experience earlier, Celestine, once again, steeled her resolve.

The man will pay the price for his actions.