Catching a glimpse of her mother’s maid carrying letters into her father’s study this morning doesn't have Celeste thinking twice.

Well, why should it?

There is no reason to be vigilant of a daily and simple task.

Instead, the beautiful sun-filled day brings Celeste and her maid, Anne, out to the courtyard of the manor. A walk through the back gardens is a nice way to keep busy. It is also more interesting when the grassy paths leads them walking past the study room's window.     

From within, a single voice can be heard reciting texts. 

Theo is having morning lessons with one of his instructors.

“Quite the nice morning, isn’t it?” Anne remarks quietly.

Celeste hums. “A nice morning for Theo to be dozing—,”

As if on cue, the two young women flinch at the sound of a switch smacking the surface of the table. Despite her brother quickly apologizing, it does little to interrupt the instructor from continuing the lesson. It certainly is a difficult task to keep a young mind from roaming, but it would have been an entirely different story had Theo been studying warfare.

That reminds Celeste of her own upcoming classes with Aria. Recalling their meeting from long ago, she had doubts that she would develop interest in their lessons together. She never had dreams of learning an instrument and she had only accepted them then for a sole reason— her father's uncommon love for the zither. This led to her studying from the best and most likely, from one of very few people who knew how to play one. She wouldn't say she has a natural talent for it, but rather that she has always been a quick learner. 

Continuing forward towards their original destination, Celeste comes face to face with her mother and her maids. Anne's greeting causes her to jump for a second time. 

"Mother, where are you headed?" Celeste asks. 

"To find you. Did I disturb you from teasing your brother?"

"I was merely passing through, but I thought about it." Until she heard him getting himself into trouble. "So, what can I do for you, mother?"

"Come join me."

                                                                                                ***

Attended closely by their maids, both Celeste and her mother exit the carriage to enter the textile shop. Being the wife of a count, it allowed her mother some time to discover her own pastime when she is not looking after the manor. One of which is to embroider personal patterns onto the family’s garments.

"Isn’t father the one who usually accompanies you into town?” Celeste wonders aloud while looking at the various threads that lined the shelves.

"With how things currently are now, I do not know when he would have a chance to do so."

It seems that the weeks following the enormous banquet held at the royal palace, her father has grown more occupied. The war had officially been called to an end, but he is still gone from the manor as often as before. Perhaps, even more so. He leaves early in the mornings and stays late well into the nights at the palace. When he does return home and she happens to see him, he is quieter than usual. Celeste wonders how a quiet man to begin with could say even less words.

Maybe even a simple task of bringing home the royal knights have turned out to be more complicated than anticipated.

Celeste had little chance to ask more about it before she had to rush after her mother into the neighboring shop. While her mother skims the many choices, Celeste pauses in her steps to look out of the window of the first floor. The gentle breeze traveling through encourages her to lose herself to her thoughts once more. In the midst of watching the bustling and sunlit roads, she stirs from a slight touch. Turning, she meets a pair of startled eyes belonging to a young man standing on the other side.

Coming to his senses, he is quick to apologize. "A mistake, My Lady. I acted before I realized." In between his fingers is a green leaf that he had removed from her hair after reaching in through the open window. "Please forgive me."

“Oh, there is no cause for concern–,”

“Celeste, we are leaving,” her mother calls to her, still out of sight.

Celeste settles with offering the handsome stranger a smile before returning to her mother’s side.

“Are your gowns suffering from wear?” 

She watches her mother start handling rolls of white and gold threads.

“No such thing, mother. I should be fine for a while.”

The brief interaction with the young man from before is eventually pushed away to no longer be revisited.

***

As she watches her mother embroider in the tearoom, Celeste is reminded that she had missed out on the skill. Gently resting her chin in her palm, she follows the movements of her mother’s fingers, knowing that she will never be able to do the same. 

“Was the reward to trap father in the palace, mother?”

The question brings a smile to her mother's lips. “There are many knights still left at the border and it takes time to facilitate their return.”

“Father told you that?”

“I am merely assuming,” her mother responds with a chuckle. “From the few things he has mentioned to me.”

They both knew her father rarely spoke about his work in the palace and he disliked it when they pried. But, they learned that if they play by his unspoken rules long enough, they do ultimately learn to gain some information. 

For as long as she can remember, he has always been this way. He could be difficult to read most times and rare emotions did little to reveal much, but one gets used to it. If she had to describe her father, she would say that he is a stern man, but a man that never raises his voice and is never quick to argue. 

“Mother, how was courting like with father?” 

Celeste is convinced that that is one of life’s biggest mysteries.

Surprised by the conversation's direction, her mother hesitates on answering, “Like how you would expected it to be.” 

“All serious and straightforward-like?”

Amused, her mother looks up in thought. “No, it was rather very sweet.”

“That is hard to imagine,” Celeste comments bluntly. 

“Well, the father you know and the husband I know are two different people. You and Theo grew up with a court official.”

“Must he always act like a court official? Even while home?”

“His tendencies have changed. Imagine unlearning the training he always follow to act in those settings."

Celeste sighs while playing with the threads on the table.

“Celeste."

Her mother may have looked to appear focused on what her own hands were doing, but Celeste is quick to notice the slight shift in her mother's tone. 

Now, it is her turn to be surprised. "What is the matter?"

“Is there someone you love or possibly... fancy?”

“Someone I fancy?” She hasn’t been in close proximity with anyone for her mother to suspect such a thing.

“There must be someone,” her mother insists. 

“No one comes to mind.” 

And, Celeste is being completely truthful. 

"What spurred the curiosity, mother?"

“Well, you just asked about me and your father, so it is not sudden.”

“My questions came from a place of pure wonder.” Since they were on the topic of her impassive father.

“Well, haven't you thought about it?” 

Celeste chuckles at the strange shift in topic. “I do not have the chance to be acquainted with many people, mother. So, no, I haven’t thought about it.”

“What about teatime with your acquaintances?”

“I only attend small gatherings with women.” Their topics do often touch upon romance, but it was one that Celeste felt she could not relate to or follow along. She rarely added anything to their conversations. Instead opting to sit back and listen.

In hindsight, for someone who judges her own father harshly, she isn’t able to imagine a love that she wants.

“Should I speak to your father about putting together a few meetings? I am sure there are other court officials with sons—,"

Celeste grows concerned. “I have heard from Aria that they often frequent the gambling houses in the entertainment district,” she reveals with distaste. 

"Was this because of your social debutante?"

“There was nothing wrong with my social debutante. I had one at the age where everyone else did.”

“It was neither big nor extravagant enough to establish more connections for you.”

“Well, there was the massive war— besides, it wasn’t as if I didn’t receive any marriage proposals.”

The event was hardly the reason for them anyway. It was quite obvious that there was only interest in Count Lane's only daughter whenever he gained favor with His Majesty.

“As I remember, there weren’t any promising ones.” Celeste was not going to be fooled by foxes whispering sweet words of love. 

She is suspicious.

"Did you receive more letters?"

“We can no longer use the war as an excuse," her mother says.

“No matter, we can just tell them the truth.”

Strange— why is her mother pushing the subject? In the past it was never any trouble to decline them. 

“Mother.”

“Yes?” 

Celeste looks to her mother, yet the older woman remains focused on her task. “It sounds as if you are trying to get me wedded.”

No laughter. 

Celeste stiffens, unable to find it within herself to ask for clarification. Anxiety creeps in and she shoots a glance in Anne's direction. In response, the young maid shrugs her shoulders. 

Gathering her wits, she asks, "Are you planning to get me wedded?"