Chapter 7 : Caspiel's Plan (I)

I've lost count of the days that have passed. At first, I tried keeping track by watching how many times the clock completed its full rotation and how many times the day turned into night. Now, I can't even remember how many times the full moon has shown up, but I can see snow outside my window. Must be midwinter, considering I've seen the servants clearing snow off the stone paths in the courtyard. Lucy was taken by them on the 17th day, I've only had my period three times, but I feel like my cycle's all messed up from the stress of being locked up here. My mind's a mess, worrying about what they're doing to Lucy, and about Renald's whereabouts, and my weight has dropped drastically.

I hear a knock at the door, probably the servant bringing food. They were nice in the first few days, but lately, they've been giving me disgusted looks, even slamming the food tray onto the table, ruining my meal. I look at the servant's face, this is the fourth one, for some reason, they keep changing every week. There are a total of five different faces of servants taking turns bringing me food.

"Food," they say coldly, tossing the tray onto the table as usual. I don't respond, just keep staring out the window.

'Should I kill myself?'

"Today, Count Derrick wants you to meet Lord Arthur in his room."

I glance at the servant.

"I'll wait for you to finish your meal and accompany you to Lord Arthur's room," she continued.

'Am I really going to leave this room?'

It's the first time I've been allowed out. Even when I went wild, wrecking the room, almost killing myself, falling sick, or trying to jump out of the window, they always knew and drugged me. Then the next day, I'd wake up tied to the bed. So now, I've given up trying.

"No need, take me now."

"Fine, if that's what you want." Unfazed, the servant walks over and handcuffs me. These cuffs are enchanted, so if I walk more than a meter away from the one holding the key, my body will freeze.

They open the door, and I follow. Somehow, the mansion feels empty. Usually, I'd see at least two or three servants around. Especially at night when they should be cleaning. Passing Caspiel's room, I can't resist stepping up to his door.

'Even Josh isn't guarding anymore.'

"Hey, you wanna collapse and convulse here for being too far from me?" the servant threatens, showing the handcuff key.

"Sorry."

We go down the stairs multiple times until we reach the library and stand in front of Arthur's room. The servant knocks gently.

"Excuse me, sir, Miss Celine is here."

'Oh, now she's calling me miss?'

A hand reaches out from behind the slightly open door. Without a word, the servant hands over the handcuff key, looking puzzled.

"In that case, my lord, excuse me."

As I step forward to enter, the servant shoves me hard against the door. But to her surprise, the person behind the door catches me before I hit the floor. The door closes, and now I'm in Arthur's arms. Or at least, that's what I think.

"Are you... okay?"

What?

That voice isn't Arthur's. It's the one I've been longing to hear. The one that kept me going through the loneliness in my room. The one I hoped would save me, whenever that might be.

"Celine?" My eyes burn, as hot as my cheeks. Tears I've held back for so long flow freely, wetting my gaunt cheeks.

"Caspiel?" I lift my head to meet his gaze. Caspiel smiles bitterly, his eyes glistening. He looks bigger and tougher now, unlike the Caspiel I remember. But even so, his tear-streaked face looks worn, like someone who's been through hell and back.

"I'm sorry-"

My slap lands on his pale cheek, leaving a red mark. He still stares at me, even after I've hit him as hard as I could.

"Where were you?! Where were you, my lord?!" My sobs break through.

"I'm sorry, Celine..." He still tries to hug me, despite my struggle. I can't break free from his embrace.

"My lord, you have no idea what it's like being trapped in that room for months, I don't even know how long I've been there! Even the servants treat me poorly! I have no one to talk to, I just talk to the birds that sometimes perch on the window in the morning!" I cry out. My hands keep hitting his chest, now as hard as a stone.

"I'm sorry, Celine."

"I came here just to work for my grandma's debt, but I'm treated like a prisoner for no reason!"

"I'm sorry."

"At first, I thought you'd come, whether to tell me my mistake or to save me. I didn't care which! But I waited... I kept waiting!"

"I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing! I hate you, my lord... sniff... I hate you, Caspiel!" Caspiel holds onto my hitting hand, I cry like a child. His hand strokes my head, holding me tighter.

"Fine, don't call me lord. I'm not your lord."

After crying for quite some time, I sit facing Caspiel on the sofa. My swollen eyes make it hard to open them wide.

"Do you need an ice pack for your eyes?"

"No need, my lord." Caspiel scoffs.

"Why do you call me my lord again?"

"Because that's how it should be, my lord."

"Fine, call me whatever you like."

He opens his shirt collar, rolls up his sleeves, and adjusts his position on the sofa, getting more comfortable.

"First of all, I'm sorry for showing up only now, Celine."

I nod.

"Then, I'll tell you what happened from my perspective. The day after we returned from Ruel, my father forced me to re-engage with Astarte. Of course, I refused. Not only because I have no feelings for her, but I also don't want Evington to be a pawn of the Kingdom," he explains softly. I simply nod, focusing on his explanation.

"The next day, my father talked to me about the same thing, and of course, my answer was the same. But there was something different that day, my father seemed incredibly frustrated about arranging my engagement with Astarte, as if there were hidden motives. When I left his room, I heard you screaming, and as I approached, I saw you being dragged by two guards. At the same time, as I tried to fight the guards, someone drugged me and I passed out. When I woke up, I was in my room."

"Hold on," I interrupt, "Before I was dragged by the guards, I went to your room, my lord, but Josh and his friend said you didn't want to see anyone."

"What? No, I wasn't in my room at that time."

"Really? That's weird... then what about Madam Lysa and Emily? I couldn't find them that day either."

"They... I'm sorry, I don't know. They were gone when I tried to look for them too. Even Josh disappeared the next day."

I got goosebumps, thinking about what was happening in this mansion. There's no explanation for Count Derrick's sudden behavior. I can understand if he sees me as a villain, but I never imagined he'd treat his loyal servants like this.

Seeing my fear, Caspiel holds my hand.

"Please hold on a little longer, Celine. I know it's very hard, but please hold on a bit longer," he pleads. I furrow my brow.

"What do you mean by that, my lord?"

"I have a plan."

.

I wish I could make sure Celine gets safely back to her room by escorting her myself. But our current situation doesn't allow it. I have to return before they realize that Caspiel, who's with them right now, is actually Arthur in disguise. I thought I was the only one feeling the oddness of this mansion, because all the servants, guards, gardeners, and even the chefs, are acting normal. They act like they don't even know Lysa, Emily, and Josh. Unexpectedly, Arthur also feels the same as I do. He says there's a dark energy shrouding this mansion.

'Arthur,' I call out in my mind.

'Are you done, Young Master?' I hear Arthur's voice in my head. I never thought something like this could be done. Maybe I should try this with Celine.

'I'm done.' After saying that, I felt like the world was spinning, and suddenly I found myself back in my room.

"I never knew this ruby stone could be used for teleportation between places, not just between dimensions."

I had to give it to Arthur, his intellect was truly something else. With just a bit of magic, he enabled us to communicate telepathically over long distances. He claimed it was still a prototype, but I suspected he was keeping it under wraps. Of course, misuse could be dangerous. I glanced at the cherry tree where my brother lay buried. In moments like these, I wished he were still here so I could share my feelings with him. I didn't know if my plan would work, but I'd given it my all.

The next day, I got ready to head to the palace. Today, I would go to the kingdom and meet Princess Astarte. Father told me he would hand over the title of Count Evington if I agreed to get engaged to her.

"This is the attire prepared by Count Derrick himself, which one would you like to wear, my lord?" The servant before me displayed three sets of clothes: red, white, and blue. I was used to wearing clothes with a lot of adornments, but the embellishments on these clothes seemed excessive, like something you'd wear to a party.

"Give me a pair of black clothes, plain without any embellishments. Evington is in mourning."

"I'm sorry, my lord but it's been six months already. According to royal protocol, mourning lasts only..."

"Who's the master here, you or me?" The servant fell silent for a moment, before bowing and fetching the clothes I asked for.

"Only Celine could convince me to dress up."

"We've arrived, sir," said the coachman. The journey to the Royal Palace took four hours, which had already put me in a bad mood, and now I had to face Astarte.

I still remember when we were kids when we first got engaged, Astarte was the sweetest girl I'd ever seen. She made me long for a little sister, and she's the reason my mother had her second child. We were close friends before I fell ill. I couldn't forget the disgusted look on her face when she saw the black veins spreading across my body. She insulted me and my family, claiming we were cursed because of my sudden illness. As a young child back then, I felt a heavy sense of guilt for causing my fiancée to cry so bitterly. The sound of her tears echoed so loudly that even King Leviathan, who happened to be visiting, cast blame upon my father, alleging his failure to properly utilize the kingdom's healer. I still remember my parents comforting Astarte, who was crying so hard, without even looking in my direction, scared and confused about what was happening. Even though I just accidentally tripped and made my clothes lift, after that, the situation felt like hell.

Since then, I always put up curtains around my bed, not wanting to be seen by anyone.

I arrived at Princess Astarte's private greenhouse, our favorite playground when we were kids. My eyes wandered over the various flowers there. If Mother were still alive, she would surely also love being here. Beside the fountain, I could see a woman with long flowing red hair. Her slender hands held the handle of a glass, and her red eyes, still the same as fifteen years ago, gazed warmly at me.

I was stunned by her smile.

'Is Astarte really this beautiful?'

I was captivated, as if under an enchantment, by her elegant nose, her lips stained a glossy pink from sipping tea, and the way her eyes half-closed in a smile. Bathed in sunlight, her skin seemed to glisten, a tantalizing allure that made it hard for me to resist the temptation of what lay beneath her almost translucent dress.

"Welcome, Caspiel. Long time no see." Her soft voice greeted me. I approached her and kissed the hand she extended to me.

"Long time no see, Your Highness."

"Oh, no need to be so formal, Caspiel!" Astarte touched my hand. I was taken aback, and we locked eyes.

"You look even more handsome."

.

In the forgotten wilderness of the forest, in a large, ancient temple, a man sat on his throne. The man sat alone, without servants, without subordinates. Under the moonlight, his silver hair shimmered. Holding a glass of wine, the man walked towards the light. His eyes yearned for the moon as his eyelids closed, shielding his glowing silver eyes.

"I miss you, Celine."

He walked away from the window and headed towards the exquisitely carved statue, a nude sculpture with a face he carved to resemble the woman he called Celine. His right hand released the wine glass, which shattered on the ground. Then, with the same hand, he caressed the face of the statue, bringing his body closer to it and wrapping his left hand around its waist, as if seducing a woman. The man leaned in towards the statue's lips and kissed them, smiling.

"You're lucky I can still restrain myself, Celine."