“Your Grace–,”

He comes to an abrupt halt and spins around to face Celeste, startling her. For the first time tonight, they are not surrounded by members of her family or servants of the manor and she thought it would be a fine time to address what has occurred. She even prepared an excuse to see the duke off to make it possible. 

“There is no need for you to do this,” he says plainly. "You may return inside."

While observing his demeanor, Celeste finds there is a lack of annoyance and irritation that she had anticipated.

“I–,” She takes a deep breath. With it just being the two of them in the front courtyard, she takes it as she does not have to mince her words. Yet, all she can manage is; “I will stay true to my promise.” 

Did she have a right to feel so guilty now that she has obtained what she wanted in the end?

“I believe you,” he answers. “Do not be mistaken, Lady Celeste. I have also weighed my own options before coming here today and I do find this arrangement will also work in my favor.”

The stableman soon arrives, handing the reins of the horse over to the duke. She watches him find his place atop, effortlessly.

“Will you be needing my assistance with the preparations?” he asks.

Celeste shakes her head. “You have already done plenty.”

“Then I look forward to it.”

Once the duke disappears into the night and can no longer be seen, Celeste reenters the manor. Carrying on her expression, she encounters her mother and brother waiting for her. The confusion evident on their faces while she smiles. 

“Where’s father?”

“He went to his study–,” her mother lightly shakes her head bringing herself back to focus and says, “Celeste, I just cannot seem to comprehend the timeline of all… this.” Before Celeste can speak on it, her mother turns her attention to Theo. "It's late. You should go prepare for bed."

He obediently does as she asks. 

"Well?" Her mother returns to the subject at hand. 

“Many things happened at the recent social gathering, mother.” Celeste thinks to make use of the event.

“Do you love Duke Ellis?” 

“I will.”

“You will?”

"I cannot explain it, mother, but there is something I have come to understand after talking to the young noble ladies." The duke has done and completed his part, so she should play her role as well. “I am marrying Duke Ellis Stone, the kingdom’s hero, it would not get any better than that.”

Her mother takes a moment and mulls over Celeste’s words. “If this is your choice.”

“It is, mother,” Celeste affirms brightly. “Aren’t you thrilled?”

***

Just as predicted, the preparations carried on quickly as the duke requested and as Celeste agreed.

And as predicted, it is truly a whole lot of work.

Days pass and Celeste gets used to waking up and going to bed thinking about the upcoming wedding. There isn't enough time in the day for her to worry about how the news have spread rapidly through the kingdom and have reached the ears of the nobility. With no way to truly know, she simply believes that they all woke up one morning to learn of Count Lane’s only daughter getting married to the famed Duke Ellis Stone. His proposal was rumored to be one so romantic that she fell into tears upon hearing it.

However, amongst other things, that still isn’t the most popular topic.  

Most of the interest is placed on Celeste’s physical attributes. In other words, the people and nobility are curious to see how beautiful the bride-to-be is more than anything else. Out of all the women King Benedict worked to pair the duke with, why did the duke choose Lady Celeste Lane?

Everyone knew how great the duke is, but his future wife? They wonder if she is able to match him in all aspects.

Her mother isn’t all too happy with the talk of comparisons. In her eyes, there is no other young woman more beautiful or capable than her daughter.

Pay no mind, she would say, unaware that Celeste has already been following that advice whole-heartedly without question.

***

"Still set the table for the four of us," her mother ordered. 

Celeste isn’t too surprised to find her father is held up at the courts. These days, it’ll be stranger to find him joining them for a meal consistently. But her father had been clear this morning about his intentions to return early. Did he finally want to address the upcoming wedding? Well, she presumes their conversation will have to happen on another day. 

“I saw the gown you picked out, Celeste. It is beautiful,” her mother remarks. “Is Duke Ellis curious about the preparations?”

She could see the concern in her mother’s expression.

“His Grace left everything up to me, mother.”

“Even so…,”

Unfazed, Celeste keeps her smile and eyes her brother. Theo hasn’t once commented on the wedding either. It’s quite possible that he's disappointed about his precious hero having chosen to marry his sister. 

“Theo, I have to visit town again tomorrow for an errand. Do you wish to come?”

Her brother looks up, uninterested.

“Of course, I was thinking about making a stop for some desserts.”

He perks up. “Really?”

Celeste nods her head. “How about it?” 

*** 

Waiting beside the carriage, she watches Anne hurry towards her.

“The young lord is nearly ready.” 

Carefree about the short delay, Celeste fails to immediately notice the unknown carriage making its way into the courtyard. When she does, she is slow to react and simply watches it stop right behind hers. The knights go to investigate while she eyes the emblem on its side.

The peculiar guest gets off and both Celeste and Anne bow to greet him. “Good morning,” she says before directing her next order to her maid. “Go get mother.”

Anne leaves while the older gentleman approaches with a smile. “You must be Count Lane’s daughter."

She straightens up and answers politely, “My name is Celeste Lane, Your Lordship.”

“Oh, yes, you’re quite the star in the courts nowadays, Lady Celeste.”

“Is that so?” she remarks lightheartedly before changing the subject. “Can I show you the way to the gardens? I apologize if I’m lacking since I’m not used to receiving my father’s guests.”

From what she knows, her father left for the inner courts this morning like usual. So, for what matter would bring the marquess visiting their home without her father being present?

“You should meet my daughter, you may be able to learn a few things from her.”

Her mother thankfully arrives just in time, saving Celeste from having to respond to the disguised insult. She recovers her bright expression as her mother says her welcome.

“We weren’t expecting you, Marquess Fox.”

“Greetings, Countess Lane, I had some business close by and decided to pay a visit. We were all very concerned after the attack and I just wanted to send my regards personally.”

“It is unfortunate that my husband is out today, so I will thank you in his stead,” her mother responds.

Celeste stands there quietly, surveying the marquess.

He smiles at her words before switching the topic. “You know… the number of knights here–,”

The marquess stops short in his words at the sudden movements of the knights and their greeting upon Duke Ellis's arrival. The duke skillfully dismounts from his horse and makes his way over to them.   

Trepidation fills her heart at the sight of him. 

Rather than questioning it, she, along with her mother and Marquess Fox, bows at his appearance. 

“Your Grace,” Marquess Fox starts the greeting. “Fancy meeting you here– well, I believe it should be expected.”

He shoots a glance in Celeste’s direction.

“The daughter of a war aide and the duke who led the offense in the war… it couldn’t have been a more perfect pairing. I can see why you chose not to meet with my daughter, Your Grace.”

“Quite a match, wouldn’t you say?” her mother remarks.

“Count Lane surely thought this one through–,”

“At first sight.”

Marquess reacts to Celeste’s soft words. “Hm?”

“It has nothing to do with my father, Your Lordship,” Celeste calmly explains and meets the older man’s eyes. Her hand inches upward towards her pendant. “For me, it was love at first sight.”

Her mother stares on. She couldn’t ever imagine such words to come from her daughter who voiced her hatred of the topic of marriage just a mere few weeks ago. What could have possibly brought about such a change?

Celeste nearly chokes on air with her heart beating so quickly, but it had to be said. 

The duke clears his throat. “Your Ladyship, I apologize if my unexpected visit is disturbing you.” 

“Not at all,” her mother responds and she reaches out to take hold of his arm. “Marquess Fox, thank you for your kind visit. I will make sure to tell my husband you stopped by today as he would want to be present to welcome you appropriately.” 

“Of course, I look forward to it.”

“Escort Marquess Fox back to his carriage,” the duke orders his knights.

With the marquess leaving, her mother places her attention on the duke and leads him towards the back gardens. “Celeste, come along.”

When she's certain they are out of view, her mother releases him. “Thank you for arriving when you did. That man makes me uncomfortable, though I cannot pinpoint why.”

“Mother,” Celeste calls out from behind. “I’ll be late. I should–,”

The duke slows in his own steps to turn and face her. “I came to speak to you, Lady Celeste.”

Just then her mother’s maid makes an entrance. “Your Ladyship, we should also continue our morning discussion that was interrupted.”

“Oh! I nearly forgot,” her mother exclaims at the reminder. “Then Celeste, I expect you to show the duke the rest of the way to the gardens.”

“And Theo?”

“He can enjoy his breakfast in the meantime.”

Taking Celeste’s silence as agreement, her mother says her farewells to the duke and disappears back inside the manor.

“Lady Celeste.”

“Yes?”

He gently reminds her to take the lead, “The gardens?”