[The next day, Caelia and Cassian are seen cutting wood. The crowd decreased significantly, probably due to Ms. Poppy’s threats. But also to people seeing Caelia work and spreading the word that she is actually helping.]

CASSIAN (to Caelia):

“Less of a crowd today.”

CAELIA (chuckles):

“Finally. I could barely work with multiple eyes just staring at us.”

[Cassian looks at Caelia with sad eyes, still feeling guilty that he left her alone last night where she got hurt.]

CASSIAN (guilty):

“Are you sure you want to work after last night? I’m sorry I left you alone.”

CAELIA (sadly smiles):

“There’s less of a crowd today. And don’t apologize, I told you to go alone.”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

He’s already saved and protected me many times before…

[Before Caelia could think even further, Ms. Poppy and Jack arrive at the library unexpectedly, Jack looks a bit nervous.]

JACK - INNER MONOLOGUE:

There’s no crowd here… Maybe it’s okay now. Maybe it’ll be okay if I don’t say anything.

[Noticing Ms. Poppy and Jack arrive, Caelia waves to them smiling.]

CAELIA:

“Hi!”

MS. POPPY:

“Hello, my dears.”

JACK (shy):

“H-Hi Miss Ardent and Sir Welsh.”

[Cassian is a little bit bothered and suspicious that Jack decided to show up even though he verbally insulted Caelia before.]

CASSIAN (peeved):

“Are you here to insult her again?”

JACK:

“N-No!! I.. I actually wanted to thank you guys…”

CAELIA (surprised):

“Thank us?”

JACK (bashful):

“Yeah… Thank you for… Helping my mom.”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

He’s thanking us…? All of a sudden? 

CAELIA (brightly):

“It’s our pleasure!”

[Jack caught himself blushing looking at Caelia’s bright smile. Cassian notices Jack is stunned by her and starts to feel a bit jealous.]

CASSIAN (annoyed):

“...Is that all you have to say, Jack?”

[Jack pauses.]

JACK (refraining):

“Well…”

[All of a sudden, a carriage approached the library- the gilded ones that were only from the kingdom. It stops directly at the library. The four of them look confused as they see the carriage.]

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

Wait… Why are there royal carriages here?

[A royal knight exits the carriage, looking at Caelia sternly and wears a monotone expression that matches his armored gear. Caelia, Cassian, Jack, and Ms. Poppy all bow to him as he exits. The knight then kneels down in front of Caelia.]

A royal knight? Don’t tell me he’s here because…

ROYAL KNIGHT (ordering):

“Miss Ardent, I’ve come from Queen Valeria. Their Majesties have been notified of the fire. She demands you stop here and come back to the palace.”

[The four of them were in shock. Caelia, in the most shock, starts to breathe heavily.]

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

No way… 

[Caelia immediately bows down to the knight, kneeling, much to the knight’s slight shock.]

CAELIA (begging):

“B-But this was just a one-off mistake! I won’t make it again! Can you tell the Queen that I want to continue building??”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

No way… I’m coming to terms that building is what I enjoy!!! Something that I can control to navigate this unfair reincarnation situation I am in!!!

[Caelia then remembers Queen Valeria’s angered reaction back at the palace.]

That’s right… She never was on board with this to begin with…

[Jack looks at Caelia kneeling to the knight, begging to stay.]

JACK - INNER MONOLOGUE:

She’s being ordered to go back…? This is what I wanted this whole time, right…?

[He bites his tongue.]

ROYAL KNIGHT (monotone):

“Miss Ardent, I unfortunately was ordered to bring you back.”

[Caelia looks behind her slightly, pressing her lips together.]

CASSIAN (bows to the knight):

“It was a genuine mistake. If you blame her, you have to blame me too, I have an equal amount of blame in this.”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

Cassian! 

[Caelia immediately stands up and puts herself in front of Cassian with one arm out, blocking him from the royal knight.]

CAELIA (interjects):

“No. I’ll come back to the palace. Let Cassian continue to work!”

[The knight stays quiet, waiting for everything to unfold. Jack couldn’t take it anymore and his guilt and shame overtook him.]

JACK (admitting and bowing):

“W-Wait! I-I caused the fire! It wasn’t Caelia!” 

[Everyone was caught off guard by his response.]

I… I was angry that royals were helping around Kingsley and so I kicked the bookshelves and one of them fell over and knocked a lit lantern! It was my fault!”

[Caelia looked at Jack, feeling dumbfounded. Cassian looked at Jack with a rising anger but kept it to himself.]

MS. POPPY (disappointed):

“... Jack, are you being honest?”

JACK (sad):

“Yes… I’m sorry for not saying it sooner. It was wrong of me to drag it out. So please, let Caelia Ardent continue to work here!

Everyone sees it, her kindness. And if they don’t, they will.”

[The knight looks at Jack and then looks at Caelia who feels a mixture of relief and rage. The knight remembers the crude and selfish Caelia Ardent back at the Everhart palace. Someone who would never let an ounce of hurt appear on her villainess aura, but the Caelia Ardent right in front of him now looked more hurt than ever. He then made a brash decision and closed his eyes, accepting everything.]

ROYAL KNIGHT:

“Miss Ardent, do you want to continue working here?”

[Caelia, surprised by the question, slowly nods. The knight slowly blinks back.]

ROYAL KNIGHT (monotone):

“Very well, I will be on my way.”

[The knight then gets back on the carriage and rides away. Jack immediately turns to Caelia and bows to her.]

JACK (apologetic):

“Miss Caelia Ardent, I am so sorry.”

[She looks at Jack, feeling both forgiving but also rage.]

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

You’re telling me… I’ve had to suffer this entire time because he didn’t say anything until now?!?!? And once he does say something, all he gets is a slap on the wrist??!?? What is this?

[Ms. Poppy bows along with Jack.]

MS. POPPY (teary-eyed):

“Caelia, I’m sorry about my no-good son. You got very hurt because of him.”

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

I’m trying to wrap my head around everything and choose peace. As Ms. Poppy said, the hatred for royals runs deep here.  Jack’s actions are understandable… He was born into an unfair position in many ways and he is living in his own way.

CAELIA (feeling bad):

“Jack, I’ll let it go. Both of you, please stand up straight. Jack, just tell the townspeople who still think it’s my fault the truth.”

[They both stand up straight.]

JACK (agreeing):

“Yes, Miss Ardent…”

CAELIA:

“Just call me Caelia.” 

[He looks up at her, stunned by her kindness, catching himself admiring her. Cassian, knowing male body language, notices and starts to omit a negative aura out of jealousy.] 

JACK:

“Okay… Thank you, Caelia.”

CAELIA (ordering):

“Apologize to Cassian as well. He was also hurt.”

[Jack looks over to Cassian, who is standing with his arms folded, his brows furrowed, and omitting negative energy. Jack notices and puts two and two together in his head. He smiles slyly and then bows at Cassian.]

JACK (slight wink):

“Sir Cassian, I apologize for my behavior which ended up hurting you.

But I mostly apologize to you for hurting Caelia~~~~”

CASSIAN - INNER MONOLOGUE:

This guy!

[Cassian looks off to the side, scoffs, and doesn’t say anything.]

CAELIA - INNER MONOLOGUE:

What does he mean by that? Probably meant that hurting me retroactively hurt Cassian as well.

Probably.

───── ⋆⋅⊹⋅⋆ ─────

[For the next few days after that, the hate for Caelia subdued significantly. Cassian and Caelia manage to finish and mend the library. Luckily, the damage was minimal and required little repairs. A small section of the wall had to be replaced as well as a couple pieces of furniture. Most of the town immediately forgave Jack and didn’t do anything to him, others started to act snidely to him. People started to come around Caelia being an engineer that was helping them.]

“Did you hear? It was Jack who started the fire!”

“I can believe it, he has always been a trouble-maker!”

“Now I feel bad for siding with everyone who hated Caelia.”

“She ended up fixing the library, it looks good from the outside!”

───── ⋆⋅⊹⋅⋆ ─────

[On the final day of repairs, Caelia and Cassian are attaching the final bookshelf into the library, Ms. Poppy watching. Jack couldn’t face the engineers anymore after that day and never came back. They attach the final bookshelf into its spot.]

CAELIA:

“Okay, Ms. Poppy! This should be the last thing! Thank you for being patient with us and…

I’m sorry it took so long…”

[Ms. Poppy sadly smiles.]

MS. POPPY (reminiscing):

“My husband and I built the first library together. I thought when it burned down, that chapter of my life ended. But because of you guys, I get to start a new one. Thank you both."

[She hugs both Caelia and Cassian out of gratitude.]

CAELIA:

“Please, let us know if you need anything else and we will help.”

MS. POPPY:

“You too.

[Smiling kindly, Ms. Poppy looks directly at Caelia.]

If you need anyone, please feel free to stop by.”

[Because of her genuine mothering, Caelia’s heart warms looking at Ms. Poppy and starts getting emotional.]

CAELIA (sad):

“Yes… Thank you.”

───── ⋆⋅⊹⋅⋆ ─────

[Finishing their first project in Kingsley, they say their goodbyes to Ms. Poppy and ride a carriage back to the guest home, Caelia and Cassian sit across from each other.]

CAELIA (frustrated):

“I can’t believe that I suffered so much the past couple weeks and it was Jack’s fault this entire time.”

CASSIAN (slyly):

“I just wanted to say, I told you so.”

CAELIA (deadpan):

“Told me what? I’m seriously annoyed right now, so your answer will determine your fate.”

CASSIAN:

“You shouldn’t take all the blame when you don’t know 100% if it was your fault.”

CAELIA (rolls her eyes):

“Well… I didn’t want someone to get hurt.”

CASSIAN (annoyed, slightly smiling):

“Who? Someone like Jack?”

CAELIA (straightforward):

“You. I didn’t want you to get hurt.”

[He looks at her face, her expression completely serious- her gray eyes staring into his eyes. He then looks out the window, hiding his expression and his ears turn red.]

CASSIAN (blushing):

“Silly, you don’t have to do that.”

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

[End of Chapter 5 Part 3]