Chapter 1 - Lady Celine De Vellíere
Morning
At the House of De Vellìere
Thirell, Caelithen Kingdom
Celine De Velliere
Isabella!
Celine De Velliere
Isabella!
Celine De Velliere
Where are you?
Celine De Velliere
Where is my dress?
Isabella
I've been informed that it shall be delivered this afternoon.
Celine De Velliere
I need that dress for tonight. I thought it was supposed to arrive this morning.
Isabella
My apologies, Lady Celine.
Isabella
There seemed to have been a delay with transporting your dress from the boutique, yesterday.
Celine De Velliere
Please, tell them to make haste. I shall take a good look at the dress before wearing it.
Celine De Velliere
Is father home?
Isabella
He has not arrived yet.
Isabella
Madame Mirella is making her way to the dining room. Perhaps, you plan to join her for a meal this morning?
Celine De Velliere
I won't be joining her for breakfast. Please ask the cook to bring up my meal to my room.
Isabella
*hesitant*
Lady Celine... are you sure? What should I tell your mother?
Celine De Velliere
I'm not having breakfast with her. *sternly*
Isabella
As you wish, m'lady. *curtsy*
I will be making my leave now.
I'm the one and only daughter of the House of De Velliere.
My name is Celine De Velliere. I'm the daughter of a Marquess.
Marquess Lucien De Velliere is my father.
My mother is Marchioness Mirella De Velliere.
I do have an older brother, but it has been years since I last saw him.
Since my brother's leave, my mother has been giving me the cold shoulder. She must still blame me for what happened.
The House of De Velliere is renowned for my father's skilled diplomacy and influence in court.
My father is currently serving as a royal advisor in the Royal Council.
He is the High Steward who manages the royal household and estates, from finances to food.
Trusted with the kingdom's daily internal workings, my father is rarely home these days.
The House of De Velliere's estate has long stood in Thirelle.
Father always has to travel to Elvaris. Luckily, Elvaris is our neighbouring Capital.
Mother
Where is she?! *slams her hand on the table*
Isabella
Forgive me, Madame Mirella. I tried to bring her downstairs, but she refused to come down.
Mother
How dare she defy an order?!
Mother
Tell the cook to throw her meal. She will not have her breakfast.
Isabella
A-are you sure, Madame?
Mother
If she wishes to confine herself in her room, then so be it. Let her starve to death, if it has to come to that.
Isabella
My lady, I think you're being unreasonable. She merely wishes to eat her breakfast in her room this morning. I'm sure she will come down for lunch. *shaking*
Mother
You dare defy my orders too?! *grim face*
Isabella
*scared* Of course not, m'lady.
I will instruct the cook now to throw her meal. *cursty*
Celine De Velliere
Where is my breakfast? *mutters*
Isabella
*knocks* Lady Celine, are you still in there?
Celine De Velliere
Finally!
Celine De Velliere
Come in.
Isabella
*enters the room and curtsy*
Isabella
I have been instructed by your mother to prohibit any meals to be served in your room.
Isabella
M'lady, you must come down to the dining room.
Isabella
Please, do not starve yourself.
Celine De Velliere
That's fine. If that's what she wants to do, then so be it.
Celine De Velliere
I'll just starve myself.
Isabella
Please, just listen to Madame Mirella.
Celine De Velliere
Isabella...
Celine De Velliere
Please leave my room.
Isabella
As you wish, m'lady. *curtsy*
Celine De Velliere
I don't want to face her...
A month from now, I will be making my debut into high society.
Until then, I always needed my mother to chaperone me in social gatherings.
However, due to the recent change in my mother's demeanour, I haven't been able to accept any invitations to any gatherings.
There were times where I had my Governess chaperone me, but she's not always available.
Tonight, however, I am to make my presence in Lady Vivienne Lafaye's salon.
As it is a private gathering, I need not a chaperone.
I consider Lady Vivienne as one of my closest friends.
She has recently made her debut into high society.
Tonight is her first time hosting her very own salon.
Yet, the dress that I've been planning on to wear is still not here.
Afternoon
At the House of De Velliere.
Thirell, Caelithen Kingdom
Celine De Velliere
Isabella! Has there been news regarding the delivery of my dress?
Not only am I starving but I still don't have my dress. What a day.
Julius
An package has arrived for Lady Celine De Velliere.
Celine De Velliere
*gleams* MY DRESS?
Isabella
I shall bring it up to you, m'lady. *curtsy*
Celine De Velliere
Yes, please.
Julius
This is a package for Lady Celine.
Mother
I'll accept it on her behalf, thank you.
Julius
I'm afraid, the instructions were that only the Lady Celine herself is to accept this package.
Mother
I'm her mother. Surely, she wouldn't mind if I were to accept it on her behalf.
Julius
*hesitant*
Uh... I believe so.
Mother
Thank you, Julius. You may take your leave now.
Julius
Have a good evening, m'lady.
Isabella
*shock* Madame Mirella?
Mother
Has Lady Celine ordered another dress?
Isabella
*hesitant* (This was supposed to be a secret.)
Mother
What is it for? *stern*
Mother
Speak when I ask you a question!
Isabella
Lady Celine intends to attend Lady Vivienne's salon tonight. *guilt*
Mother
Without asking for my permission?
Mother
She's forbidden to attend this salon. Yet, forbid her to leave her room.
Celine De Velliere
Where's the dress?
Isabella
Forgive me, my lady.
Isabella
Your mother had it sent back to the boutique.
Celine De Velliere
What did you do?
Isabella
Madame Mirella was the one who accepted your package.
Celine De Velliere
But there were specific instructions.
Celine De Velliere
That is, only I shall have the right to accept this package.
Celine De Velliere
What. did. you. tell. my. mother?
Isabella
I told her about the salon.
Isabella
Forgive me, Lady Celine.
Isabella
I couldn't afford to be fired by your mother.
Celine De Velliere
What else did she say?
Isabella
You're forbidden to leave your room. You cannot attend the salon tonight.
Celine De Velliere
Right...
Celine De Velliere
Please leave my room.
I need to be in that salon tonight. It's my one and only chance to make a few new friends or acquaintances before my debut.
I'll just wear something from my wardrobe. Ugh! I spent every penny I had for that dress.
I put on a midnight blue velvet gown with delicate ivy-like patterns of silver embroidery which traced the hem and bodice in swirling. The neckline is modestly squared, framed by soft folds of chiffon that gathered at the shoulders and cascaded down into sweeping, off-the-shoulder sleeves. It's a dress that whispered elegance, designed not to dazzle, but to enchant.
However, this is nothing compared to the dress I purchased that is now making its way back to the boutique.
Celine De Velliere
This should do.
Now, how to sneak my way out of this house?
I decided to use my window as my exit.
How did I make my way out? That's for your imagination.
Evening
At Lady Vivienne's Salon.
Comments