Celestira then took her final step, staring at death itself — and she began to fall.
She remembered seeing someone's black hair and blue eyes before losing consciousness.
I remember waking up the next day in my bed, and I just shrugged it off as a dream but sometimes I wonder... if it was really a dream.
Alicia's voice snapped her back to reality. "Celestira, it's not your fault," she said, wearing her professional smile.
Ahh, this is how I remembered you — Celestira always falling at my feet. I'm so happy you didn't change. I am sure the head maid was overreacting, Alicia thought with a smirk, then she grabbed Celestira's hand.
"Celestira, I really didn't poison you nor was I responsible for the fire," Alicia said, crocodile tears in her eyes.
"Alicia, you don't need to say it. I know it wasn't your fault," Celestira replied, playing her part well.
Then she dramatically turned to the duke and said, "I heard Alicia has been under house arrest since the fire."
Celestira clasped her hands and begged, "Please, Your Grace, be magnanimous. Alicia wasn't responsible — it must really be the maid's fault. Please don't punish Alicia."
Did that work? Yes, it must have. This performance was more than enough, Celestira smirked inwardly.
The duke looked at Celestira, who was currently wiping her tears. "Is this really what you wish?" His deep voice echoed through the room.
Celestira gulped. In my previous life I found him terrifying, but now that I look at him again—he's just an old man with a deep voice.
Emerging from her thoughts, Celestira nodded vigorously. "Yes! That's what I want!"
The duke, not caring the least, said, "Then I will decrease Alicia's room confinement to two weeks."
He must have done that to save face. If he had removed the confinement completely, the household might have lost trust in the duke — after all, he has to appear neutral.
As the duke of an empire, he must always be neutral in the household and support the crown prince outside.
Well, this works in my favor too. I have some serious future planning to do as well.
Celestira beamed, "Thank you, Your Grace."
---
Soon everyone left the room and Alicia was alone on the bed.
Alicia bit her thumbnail as she mumbled, "How can this happen? My plan was flawless."
She hurled the water jug to the ground. "I had to trip on the stairs as well to make sure that brat does the begging on my behalf."
She threw the table aside and yelled, "BUT THAT BLASTED DUKE ONLY DECREASED IT TO TWO WEEKS!"
"AGHHHHHHHH!"
Huff. Huff.
"Next time I will be more careful," Alicia said, her tone icy.
Killing intent flashed in her eyes as she added, "Next time I won't let a pawn like Celestira go to waste."
To be continued...