Guest List

It was night, and Dominic and Caleb exited the grand government building, the cool air greeting them as they stepped outside. Dominic adjusted his Viceroy uniform, nodding in acknowledgement to a few guests who offered respectful goodbyes. His gaze was steely, and he managed a polite smile here and there before finally turning his attention to Caleb.

"Have you prepared the guest list?" he asked, his tone composed but commanding. Caleb, ever efficient, reached into his coat pocket and produced a brown envelope. With a slight bow, he handed it to Dominic.

Dominic took the paper, scanning the list meticulously. "Good… This should help. Revoking the honorary committee's privileges with these families should prevent any needless chaos in the future," he murmured thoughtfully. "You'll assist Mr. Jenkins in investigating the families competing with us for control of the hotel. We can't afford missteps."

"Yes, sir." Caleb nodded, keeping pace with Dominic as they made their way to the waiting automobile. Both climbed inside, and with a low rumble, the car pulled away, navigating through the dimly lit streets of the city.

Inside the Automobile

Dominic continued to study the list, his fingers tapping lightly against the paper as he reviewed each name. "With this list, our strategy is far stronger," he muttered, his thoughts momentarily drifting to Evangeline. He wondered if she had already started going through the records he'd given her—her sharp intellect and determination were assets he admired, and he couldn't help but feel curious about her progress. Would she discover anything that might give them an edge?

"This should make it easier to get around that family's schemes for tiles and property," he added aloud, more to himself than to Caleb, who sat across from him, observing Dominic's intent gaze on the list.

"I made sure everything was in place by last night, after lodging at the hotel," Caleb reported, trying to gauge Dominic's reaction.

"Good." Dominic folded the paper with a satisfied nod. "You're excused for the night, Caleb. Get some rest. Evangeline and I have plans to follow up tomorrow." He leaned back, his eyes now gazing out the window as the city lights streaked past, a faint sense of weariness settling over him.

"Yes, Master Dominic," Caleb replied with a respectful nod, though he noted the brief flash of something thoughtful in Dominic's eyes—a rare moment of reflection.

Verdaselles Palace – The Home Office

Dominic stood at the wide office table, his eyes focused on the guest list for the upcoming anniversary celebration. His fingers pressed tightly against the paper as he scanned the names. "Thanks to Evangeline and my decision to revoke certain memberships, we can finally cut some unnecessary connections," he mused to himself, letting out a slow breath. "Now, if only I could get a clue—some hint about the site itself…"

As his mind churned with strategy, the sound of the door opening pulled him from his thoughts. He turned to see Evangeline, her eyes intense and posture unyielding, striding toward him with a hefty stack of books in her arms.

"Evangeline?" he thought, watching as she came up to the table. Without a word, she dropped the pile of books in front of him, the weight thudding against the polished wood. He raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her determined expression.

Caleb's Bedroom

Caleb closed the door to his bedroom, releasing a tired sigh. His long day of assisting Dominic was finally over, and he welcomed the quiet solace of his room. He moved toward the telephone by his bed, a slight smile crossing his face. "I should check on Camille… I've been so caught up in work with Dominic," he thought, dialing her number and waiting for her to pick up.

Eardoznia – The Capulets Mansion, Camille's Bedroom

In her softly lit room, Camille was curled up on a large cushion, lost in the pages of her novel. Her silver hair cascaded down her back, and she wore a delicate nightgown, making her look almost ethereal in the moonlight. But the quiet peace was broken by the ring of her telephone. Her heart fluttered, hoping it was Caleb. She put down her book and rushed over, eagerly picking up the receiver.

"Caleb… is that you?" she asked, her voice filled with anticipation.

A chuckle came from the other end. "It's me, Camille," Caleb replied, his warm voice causing her heart to skip a beat.

"Oh, Caleb! I'm so happy to hear your voice… I've missed you so much," she confessed, her voice catching slightly.

"Don't cry, Camille," Caleb soothed. "I miss you too, and I'm looking forward to seeing you at Verdaselles. How are you?"

Camille bit her lip, trying to stifle her emotions. "When I'm done with my studies, I'll come to you… my graduation is next month." She wiped a tear that escaped down her cheek. "I miss you, Caleb," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Caleb's cheeks flushed, and a soft smile touched his lips. "Congratulations on your graduation. I miss you too, Camille. Send my regards to Lady Navier and Oliver," he replied, feeling a swell of emotion that he tried to keep at bay.

Camille hesitated, her voice trembling slightly. "Caleb… after graduation, I'd like us to… to spend time together, just the two of us. Maybe we could…" She trailed off, her words a mixture of hope and nerves.

Caleb paused, his mind immediately jumping to the list of duties awaiting him next month. "Next month is Dominic's coronation," he thought, anxiety flickering through him. "I'll be swamped with responsibilities, but I'll make time for her—I must."

"Caleb?" Camille's voice brought him back, her concern evident. "Are you alright?"

"Oh, yes!" He stammered, regaining his composure. "Next month… I'll be looking forward to it, Camille. We'll spend time together," he replied, chuckling nervously as he scratched his head. "I'm just a bit tired from work, that's all."

Camille's eyes softened. "I understand." She hesitated before asking, "How is Dominic… and his wife?"

"They're fine," Caleb replied, glancing out his window as he spoke. "Dominic is, as always, caught up in political matters, and his wife… well, she's occupied too."

Camille smiled faintly. "I'm glad to hear that. And… Clarisse's wedding is next week. She'll be getting married," she said, clutching the hem of her dress tightly as she shared the news.

"Congratulations to Clarisse! I'm happy for her." Caleb let out a chuckle. "I'll do my best to call you tomorrow. Goodnight, Camille."

Camille's lips curved into a gentle smile. "Goodnight, Caleb… I'll be waiting." She hung up, and a heavy sigh escaped her. She sank to the floor, clutching the hem of her dress as her thoughts lingered on Caleb.

"Oh, Camille," she whispered to herself, a mix of longing and frustration twisting her heart. "Why are you so shy… so hopeless?" Tears slipped down her cheeks as she gazed at the moonlight filtering through her window. "Clarisse is getting married, and after graduation, I'll probably be married off too… I need to leave Eardoznia."

With one last, lingering look at the moon, Camille felt her resolve strengthening. But deep down, a quiet ache remained, her desire for Caleb bittersweet and unspoken, filling her heart as she drifted into the night.

Meanwhile, at the Verdaselles Palace – The Home Office

Evangeline, her eyes flashing with determination, slammed a stack of books down on the table before Dominic, her hands moving to her waist as she fixed him with a challenging stare. "I'm done with those ridiculous records you assigned me. Now, can I have the Viceroy's records?" she demanded, folding her arms.

Dominic looked up from his work, his expression amused but unreadable. "I must say, I'm impressed," he replied, noting her irritation with a smirk. "Finishing those records with such speed and precision… I hadn't expected that from you."

Evangeline's jaw clenched, her fists tightening at his words, his tone bordering on condescension.

"After nearly drowning in the river, she still managed to power through. What a tigress," Dominic thought to himself, his smirk broadening as he watched her. Unable to resist a final jab, he added, "To think you managed it without falling asleep like a lazy cat…"

Evangeline's glare sharpened, a furious spark in her eyes. "Mocking me, is he? The audacity of this man…" She resisted the urge to retaliate immediately, her hand tightening on the hem of her dress as she took a deep breath.

"Well, lucky for you, I did finish them," she shot back, rolling her eyes in irritation. "Maybe it takes you three days, but I've been trained better than that." She stretched her hand toward him, her fingers tapping expectantly. "Now, can I please have the Viceroy's records?"

Dominic regarded her with mild amusement. "Good work, Evangeline. You're excused for now," he replied indifferently, turning away as though he had dismissed her.

Evangeline's mouth opened in disbelief. "Excused? What about the—"

Dominic, unbothered, removed his watch and set it casually on the table. "If you want that, you'll need to do exactly as I asked. Or are you suddenly short of confidence?"

Evangeline fumed, biting back a sharp retort. "Unbelievable! And here I thought he was actually impressed. Why do I even care? And there's no way I'm sharing a bed with him again!" She narrowed her eyes, her patience snapping as she snatched up a nearby glass vase. Without hesitation, she hurled it toward him.

The vase shattered against the wall just beside Dominic, the glass spraying in a flurry of shards and breeze. Yet, he didn't even flinch. Instead, he turned slowly, unperturbed, and set his eyes on her with an unnervingly calm expression. Then, as if completely unfazed, he resumed adjusting his watch, as though the vase had been a mere inconvenience.

Evangeline's chest heaved as she realized her outburst had barely scratched his calm demeanor. "Does nothing rattle this man?" she thought, half-impressed, half-infuriated.

As Dominic paced past her, he spoke with his usual dismissive tone. "You know, understanding something on paper is different from doing the real work," he said. "It's not just reading because you're entitled to it as a Sarogath…"

Evangeline glared at him, her fists clenching at his words. "What's wrong with this man? The conference meeting meant nothing to him?" she fumed inwardly, "Ugh, he's so infuriating!"

She stood her ground. "And who said I don't know that?" she retorted. "I've studied the planning, analyzed the year's political landscape, and how every decision impacts those we can't trust. I understand how those changes affect the dignity of the hotel, and how you strengthen the country under your rule as Viceroy."

Dominic's lips curved in a faint smile, impressed despite himself. "She understands the objective perfectly," he thought. "She was paying attention, even to the smallest details of my work."

Evangeline continued, her gaze unyielding. "I could read the Viceroy's records without any trouble. I already know quite a lot. Haven't I done exactly what you asked of me by studying them?"

Her question made Dominic pause, taking a slow, deep breath as he absorbed her words. "You've made a good start," he replied, his tone more thoughtful. "But it seems you were in a bit of a hurry with your studies."

Then, as he glanced at her, he finally noticed the sheer lace dress she was wearing, illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight streaming through the window. The fabric, so delicate, revealed more than she seemed to realize, tracing the outline of her silhouette and hinting at her skin beneath.

Dominic's gaze lingered, his eyes drawn to the transparent lace dress as it softly clung to her form, highlighting the curve of her collarbone, the delicate lines of her waist, and the shadowed outline of her thighs. "She doesn't even realize what she's wearing right now and how breathtaking she looks right now… This is more enticing than anything she's worn before," he thought, swallowing in his throat as his gaze drifted over her, slowly taking in every detail. The sight of her bare skin under the lace, the way the fabric teased his imagination, was enough to stir a desire he hadn't fully allowed himself to feel before.

"She's always guarded around me, always careful to stay composed and avoid any sign of vulnerability," he reflected. "Even at the meeting, she hid the pain in her feet and forced herself to look strong, even when she was hurting. An impressive—and stubborn—woman."

His eyes traveled back to her face, lingering for a moment on her lips, which he found himself wanting to taste again. Then his gaze drifted, just briefly, lower—toward the hint of her bare chest beneath the lace. But as he admired her, Evangeline noticed his lingering gaze.

Her eyes widened in realization. "Oh no… I can't believe I came to the office like this. How humiliating!" she thought, mortified. She immediately stepped out of the moonlight, crossing her arms and drawing the fabric closer around her, her cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink.

Dominic observed her reaction with quiet amusement, his gaze softening. He knew she hated feeling vulnerable in front of him, but he couldn't deny that this moment—a rare slip in her composed armor—only made her more captivating in his eyes.