[A while later, all the measurements were documented and it was time to buy the materials. Cassian went alone on the carriage to buy the wood and tools while Caelia and Ms. Poppy stayed at the library. Caelia is helping unload the books from the shelves into boxes while Ms. Poppy sits at a table near her, keeping her company.]

MS. POPPY (worried):

“Lady Ardent, are you sure you can unload the books by yourself?”

CAELIA (adamant):

“Yes, Ms. Poppy! Also, you can drop the formalities and just call me Caelia.”

MS. POPPY (smiles): 

“Okay, Caelia. Thank you for helping out at our library.”

CAELIA (kind):

“Is it yours and your son’s library?”

[Ms. Poppy shakes her head and sighs.]

MS. POPPY (scoffs):

“Nope! My no-good son always causes too much trouble. This place is mine and my late husband’s library.”

[There was a slight pause.]

CAELIA (sad):

“I’m sorry about your late husband.”

MS. POPPY (reminiscing):

“He passed away a year ago. We actually built this place together and ran it together all this time… But ever since he passed, I’ve been having a lot of trouble running it on my own and it got to this point. As run down as it is, it is our place… But I’m glad that you and Sir Welsh are here to fix the house up. Hopefully, it’ll give me a fresh start to actually living my life. It’s been really hard.” 

[Caelia feels her heart rip. She stops unloading the books on the bookshelf and turns to look at Mrs. Poppy.]

CAELIA (confident and determined): 

“Ms. Poppy, I can assure you that we will do what we can so you can go do that.”

[Ms. Poppy pauses looking back at Caelia, surprised at Caelia’s determination. Ms. Poppy then looks back down at the table, and sadly smiles.]

MS. POPPY (admits):

“Caelia, I must admit that I was a bit concerned after hearing that you were coming over. I found myself caught in those rumors about you. But right when you approached my door, I immediately felt your kind aura. I’m sorry about my son, he usually is a very nice boy, but I’ll give him an earful later.” 

CAELIA (touched, smiling):

“Thank you Ms. Poppy, but your son is completely justified. Please don’t worry about it.”

[Surprised, Ms. Poppy looks back up to Caelia in confusion.]

MS. POPPY:

“What do you mean, justified? He has never formally talked to you. It was completely rude of him to talk to you like that.”

[Caelia stays quiet for a brief moment, looking down at the book she has in her hand.]

CAELIA (empathizing):

“I don’t blame him. Royals like me have all the money in the world but can’t spare any change for people who actually need it. The world really is unfair, it makes me feel terrible.”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

It’s like that in the modern world as well… Powerful people have all the money in the world and yet the rest of the world still cries.

[Hearing this, Ms. Poppy pauses to think before she speaks.]

MS. POPPY:

“My son is a sweet kid as with many people in this town. A lot of hatred runs in these streets for how people in high political standings treat us. You’re right in that the world is unfair and unjust. But I’ll let you in on a life lesson: 

No one can control how they are born or where they are born. No one can control how unfair the world is, but what you can control is what kind of person you choose to be in an unfair world.”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

What you can control is what kind of person you choose to be in an unfair world…

[That message really resonated with Caelia. Her past life was unfair in many ways… but she chose to stay dormant. She could’ve spoken up for herself more. She could’ve put herself out there to feel less isolated. She didn’t have to cut her dad out of her life. But she still chose to stay dormant, living an insignificant life and gave up. Feeling guilty of how she lived her past life, she starts to resent herself. But at that moment, she made a decision.]

CAELIA (looking down):

“Ms. Poppy… I…

[Caelia pauses, pressing her lips.]

I will take that advice wholeheartedly. Thank you.”

[She lets that lesson sink in for one second and then all of a sudden, a knock is heard at the door.]

CASSIAN (from outside):

“Caelia! I’m back with the materials!”

[Hearing Cassian, Caelia unconsciously smiles.]

CAELIA (smiles): 

“Ms. Poppy, I’m going to inspect the materials. I’ll be right back.”

[Caelia puts the book in her hand back in the box and then excitedly makes her way over to the door. Ms. Poppy admires Caelia as she excitedly walks towards the door.]

MS. POPPY (talking to herself):

“I need to give Jack an earful later.”

───── ⋆⋅⊹⋅⋆ ─────

[Caelia arrives at the door and opens it to meet Cassian with a whole carriage of wood behind him.]

CAELIA:

“Welcome back! Thanks for grabbing the wood! Hope it wasn’t too much trouble.”

CASSIAN:

“It was no trouble at all. There’s actually also a lot of scrap wood around the area due to the broken stands around town.”

︶⊹︶︶✧︶︶⊹︶

[Off in the distance outside, Jack was seen walking towards the library, he then sees Caelia and Cassian still there, discussing at the door and the wagon full of wood planks. Seeing this, he immediately hides behind a building.]

JACK - INNER MONOLOGUE:

What… They’re still here???

Wait… Why am I hiding?

︶⊹︶︶✧︶︶⊹︶

CASSIAN:

“It’s getting pretty late, should we start cutting tomorrow?”

CAELIA (smiling):

“Yeah, let’s do that. Let’s bring Ms. Poppy home.”

JACK (looking at Caelia):

“Get out.

[Caelia got startled and looked over, it was Jack. He stands tall with a snarky face.]

We don’t need you. It’s not just me, no one wants you here. And besides, what are you even doing?”

[Caelia gave a bothered look and Cassian noticed. He got in front of Caelia and put himself in between her and Jack. He looked at Jack right in the eyes.]

CASSIAN (stern):

“We’re helping your mother by building things for her library.”

[Jack looks at the pile of wood on top of the wagon with an aghast look.]

JACK (unconvinced, sarcastically):

“Oh??? Is that what my mom meant by she is the head designer? I thought she meant that as making clothes or something… Which makes more sense, to be honest. Because what do you mean by a woman building things, much less a noble?”

[Caelia looks off to the side, not being able to say anything. Noticing her silence, Cassian gives Jack a cold look.”

CASSIAN (defending):

“She’s very talented and very good at this. Now, could you please leave us alone?”

[Jack rudely points at Caelia again.]

JACK:

“All royals are “very good” at neglecting the people that bring them money. She’s no different. And what do you mean, leave you alone, you are at MY PLACE.”

MS. POPPY (yells from a distance):

“JACK! STOP THIS INSTANT!”

[Ms. Poppy arrived at the front from inside the library.]

JACK (yells):

“M-Mom, why are they still here!?!?! It’s late!”

MS. POPPY (yells):

“They’re helping fix the library!!”

JACK (aggravated):

“We don’t need ANY of that!!!”

MS. POPPY:

“Yes, I do. Because my son can’t do it for me. Now, hurry up and bring me home. Caelia! Lock the door for me please!”

[Ms. Poppy squeezes her way out the door and slowly walks past Jack.]

CAELIA (awkwardly yells):

“O-Okay, Ms. Poppy!”

JACK (rolls eyes):

“Ugh… I still don’t trust you guys.”

[Jack follows his mother and they both walk further away from the library.]

[Caelia looks in front of her, seeing Cassian’s back, now fully realizing that he was blocking her from Jack. Feeling bad for not being able to do anything again, she looks at the ground.]

CAELIA:

“Thanks, Cassian for doing that. You didn’t have to.”

[Cassian turns around and looks down at Caelia. Noticing he turned around, Caelia looked back up at him.]

CASSIAN:

“He’s an idiot and you can never be sure of what an idiot does. Just making sure he doesn’t hurt you.”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

Again… He did something for me again… And I couldn’t do anything…

[Her feelings get complicated, and she feels a mix of both gratitude and guilt.]

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

[End of Chapter 4 Part 2]