CAELIA (half-assed lie): 

“I self-taught myself a lot of things with all the resources in the library… I also practice every night.”

CASSIAN (confused):

“I’m always in the library and I never saw you until the other day…”

CAELIA (coming up with a quick lie):

“My maids grab the books for me! Ha, ha. You know me, selfish and all. Fetching people to do work for me!”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

I clearly can’t keep up with my own lies!!! 

CAELIA (changing the subject immediately):

“W-We should go grab the scrap wood and make the braces for the crack.”

[She walks back into the palace at a fast pace, completely leaving him stranded. Looking at her walk briskly, Cassian laughs to himself quietly and follows her.]

︶⊹︶︶✧︶︶⊹︶

[From outside in the gardens, Annalise mends a flower bush, trimming it with small scissors. She sees the wicked witch who had been tormenting her for the past two months, outside with the head engineer at the east gate.]

ANNALISE - INNER MONOLOGUE:
First the pulley system and now this? What is going on with this sudden change in behavior?!?!

[Annalise narrows her eyes looking at Caelia entering back into the palace.]

Is she scheming up something large with the engineer?!?! No wonder she hasn’t been messing with me the past few days. I need to tell someone that they’re conspiring.

︶⊹︶︶✧︶︶⊹︶

───── ⋆⋅⊹⋅⋆ ─────

[The next morning in the Grand Hallway, Caelia and Cassian walk side by side towards the King’s office. The velvet window curtains sway gently as they pass by them and the clack of her heels echoes in the silence. She starts feeling anxious as they continue to walk.]

CAELIA - INNER THOUGHTS:
They called both Cassian and I.

Maybe it’s to discuss why I’ve been involved with helping around the palace the past couple of days… There goes my plans for avoiding the royal circle as much as possible…

From what I remember, I’m pretty sure the Queen was the main person Annalise would go to for console whenever Caelia did something.

I shouldn’t expect a good attitude toward me from the Queen. 

───── ⋆⋅⊹⋅⋆ ─────

[The engineers arrive at the King’s office which is a regal room lined with maps of the empire. King Oscar Everhart sits on a large throne with his usual imposing air. Queen Valeria Everhart sat next to him, watching Caelia and Cassian enter quietly, her expression unreadable. King Oscar looks directly at Cassian, smiling at him.]

KING OSCAR (joyful):
“Cassian, good job on repairing a lot in the palace. I know it’s quite a large building but you’re doing exceptionally well.”

CASSIAN (bowing):
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

[Seeing Cassian bow, Caelia immediately bows alongside him. Once she stands straight, she blinks slowly as the atmosphere feels heavier. King Oscar raises a brow and he turns his sharp gaze toward Caelia. Queen Valeria looks at Caelia with utter hatred.]

KING OSCAR (confused):
“Miss Ardent, I hear that you’ve been helping Cassian around the palace. This is very… unlike you. Why is a noblewoman suddenly playing engineer? This is something a lady shouldn’t be involved with…”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:
He’s right. This isn’t like Caelia. Because I’m not her. But it’s not like I can say that, I gotta say something.

[Performatively, Caelia stands taller, though her heart races. But then she immediately bows again.]

CAELIA (confidently lying):
“Your Majesty, I can tell you that I have not been heavily involved in the projects. I was just observing Cassian.”

[Cassian watches her bow, surprised that she is lying. He then bows himself to the King and Queen.]

CASSIAN (direct):

“Your highness, Lady Ardent is being very humble, she has been helping me out a lot.”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

HUH? WHAT IS HE DOING?! I’M TRYING TO NOT GET IN TROUBLE AND HE’S MAKING IT WORSE!

[Queen Valeria glares at Caelia and King Oscar looks at Caelia with slight intrigue.]

KING OSCAR: 

“Is this true, Miss Ardent? Have you been involved with helping him?”

[Caelia, still bowing down, pauses for a second before answering.]

CAELIA (trouble finding words):

“U-Uh…. Yes… I’ve been helping him out.” 

[Queen Valeria quietly scoffs and gives a baffled expression, slowly angered at Caelia’s ridiculousness. King Oscar stares at Caelia bowing for a second—then laughs.]

KING OSCAR (laughing):
“Who has possessed you, Miss Ardent? Since when did you get the time to be invested in engineering?”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

An engineer from outside of this story possessed Miss Ardent, sir…

CAELIA (lying): 

“...I’ve been studying secretly at night with the engineering texts we have.”

[Queen Valeria couldn’t take it anymore, her hatred for Caelia rose up to the surface. She got up out of her seat.]

QUEEN VALERIA (angry):

“This is ridiculous! I’ve never heard any of this, ever! There’s no reason for you to be involved with engineering. You should be focused on your responsibilities as a prospect! How is a noblelady involving herself in engineering going to be of any use to our kingdom? You should stop your actions right this instant!”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

Her hatred for Caelia really runs deep… It makes sense why they’re shocked but to go on and completely ban me from the one thing I can do… And say that it’s completely useless to help the kingdom…

[A lightbulb went off in Caelia’s head.] 

WAIT! THAT’S IT!

[Caelia lifts her chin. Her eyes are directly looking at King Oscar and Queen Valeria.]

CAELIA (content):
“Your Highnesses… I’d like to propose something. 

I disagree that engineering isn’t useful to a kingdom, when in fact, it’s the foundation. My skillset can be seen as… unique compared to the norm and I believe that I can help the kingdom in my own way that is not traditional. I have a true passion for engineering and would like to continue doing it. It may be unconventional, but I would like to propose to help the neighboring towns and people with my revealed skillset.”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

Man, this really feels like I’m trying to defend my position at a job… 

[Looking at Caelia defending herself and her interests causes Cassian’s eyes to slightly widen. Queen Valeria is taken aback by the audacity and had enough. She scoffs and sits back down in her chair. King Oscar studies Caelia, then leans back in his chair. He looks at her, noting that her determination and resolve is genuine. He then starts to think to himself about her proposal.]

KING OSCAR (to Cassian):

“Cassian, let me be honest, I was going to send you and your engineering team to Kingsley at some point to help a bit. But, I’ve heard that you are without a team now?”

[Cassian looks back at the King with certainty.]

CASSIAN (confident):

“I have Lady Ardent.”

[Caelia felt her face warm up after hearing that. Just as Caelia was about to say something, the King spoke.]

KING OSCAR:
“...Very well. Caelia, I’m giving you up until the ceremony. I’ll send both you and Cassian to Kingsley. You two shall continue to work together there.”

[Everyone in the room was surprised at the quick turnaround of his approval. Especially Queen Valeria who was furious.]

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

What?!?! That worked???

QUEEN VALERIA (angered):

“HUN! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?”

KING OSCAR (explaining):

“Kingsley has been struggling in terms of modernization since the war. I think it’s about time to try to revive it back to how it once was. The palace can wait. I expect to hear good things from you two.”

[Caelia blinks in surprise. Cassian nods beside her. Queen Valeria looks at her husband in utter disbelief after he made that decision.]

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

War…? Was there ever a war in the original story? But besides that, I can’t believe the conversation ended up here. Maybe I should be grateful, being somewhere else other than the palace is exactly what I need. And I get to build, which I guess I’ve been enjoying more than I thought.

CAELIA (bows):

“Thank you, Your Highness! You won’t be disappointed.”

CASSIAN (bows):
“We accept the responsibility, Your Majesty. Thank you so much.”

︶⊹︶︶✧︶︶⊹︶

[Just outside the King’s room, Annalise presses her ear against the door, listening. Her expression is completely bewildered due to the outcome of the conversation she just overheard.]

ANNALISE - INNER MONOLOGUE:
What?! I told Queen Valeria about Caelia’s recent behavior to shut her down! How come she is being rewarded with projects…? What the hell is Caelia planning…?

[Annalise physically shakes her head to remove her negative thoughts.]

No. This is fine. A woman doing a man’s job? Queen Valeria wasn’t approving of it when I told her. I bet she already thinks Caelia’s unfit to marry Theo. I think I just have to kiss up to her for now to be on her good side. 

And Kingsley… Kingsley is a shithole of a place. Caelia won’t survive there. 

[All of a sudden, Annalise hears footsteps get louder and louder coming towards the door. She immediately scurries off and hides to the side.]
︶⊹︶︶✧︶︶⊹︶

[Caelia and Cassian exit the room, sunlight pours over them as the heavy doors close behind. They walk together side by side in the Grand Hallway.]

CASSIAN (smiling):

“You were amazing there. Nice save.”

[Caelia glares at Cassian.]

CAELIA (angry):

“Nice save??? If you didn’t expose me there, I wouldn’t have had to have a “nice save”. In a different timeline, I could’ve gotten in big trouble!”

CASSIAN:

“They would’ve found out sooner or later. Besides… your work needs to be recognized.” 

CAELIA:

“…Huh?”

CASSIAN (continues):

“I’m not going to take what’s yours and call it my own. Your hard work is yours and everyone should know that.”

[Caelia stays quiet, feeling a sense of validation and understanding that she had never felt before.]

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

… How does this guy I met a couple days ago understand everything about me?

CASSIAN (continues, slyly):

“Besides, it would be embarrassing to claim your blueprints as my own when they have doodles of flowers and suns all over the corners.”

[Her face reddens out of embarrassment.]

CAELIA (embarrassed):

“H-Hey! I do that when I’m deep in thought okay!” 

[As they walk side by side, Cassian continues to chuckle at his own comment as Caelia is bickering at him.]

₊ . ⊹  ݁ ₊‧ . ‿⊱༻✶༺⊰‿ . ‧₊ ݁ ⊹ . ₊ . ⊹  ݁ ₊‧ . ‿⊱༻✶༺⊰‿ . ‧₊ ݁ ⊹ . ₊

[End of Chapter 3 Part 2]