Lyzack did not wait for their shock to abate. “This isn’t charity. There would be a very rigorous examination process, and you’ve missed an entire semester, but all the same, I’m quite serious.”
Cecilia stammered. Melody knew her answer, and it was an unequivocal “no.” From a logistical perspective, it was impossible on account of serving as her lady’s attendant, but from a social perspective, it was a terribly tempting offer coming from both a friend of Lect’s and the head of a noble house.
Sensing her inner turmoil, Lect approached his brother and whispered, “What’s the meaning of this?”
“She’s an impressive girl. Can you blame me for being drawn to potential? I think she has a real chance at gaining admission.”
“I’m well aware, but you know that isn’t what I meant!”
“Marrying into nobility is a difficult thing,” Lyzack replied calmly. “Having an education lowers the barrier substantially.”
Lect recoiled, cheeks on fire. “Wh-wh-what does that…?!”
Melody eyed him curiously. “What does what?”
“Don’t mind him,” Lyzack chuckled. “He’s just shy.”
“Shy?”
On one end, a knight with a face full of crimson. On the other, a beaming viscount. Melody was close to short-circuiting.
“My apologies, madam. It was in poor taste for me to lay such a proposal on you at an event such as this. Regardless, the offer stands. Should it ever strike your fancy, seek me out. Any time of the year, any time of the day. Lect knows where to find me.”
“I, um… Thank you, my lord.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Until we meet again, Madam Cecilia. Which hopefully will not be too long.”
As smoothly as he’d appeared, Lyzack vanished into the crowd.
“That man,” Lect growled.
“What brought that on, I wonder.”
“He’s a clerk by trade, and quite good at his job. Shame he takes it with him wherever he goes. He’s always had an eye for talent, and I suppose you just so happened to tickle his fancy, Me—Cecilia.”
“I’ll take his interest as a compliment, then, but I’m a maid first and foremost. My lady takes precedence, no matter what.”
“Right.”
“Now, we’ve a count to greet. I’d like to meet His Lordship’s daughter as well.”
“Right…” Lect quickly softened his expression before he revealed how little that prospect interested him.
“It’s an honor to see you again, Your Lordship.”
“Likewise. Likewise, Madam Cecilia.”
For someone who’d put Lect in a choke hold to ensure Cecilia’s presence tonight, his reaction was somewhat muted. Melody couldn’t have cared less. She was not privy to such context, and something else had caught her attention anyway.
“Does something ail you, my lord?” she asked.
“No. No, nothing at all. Why do you ask?”
“You have bags under your eyes. Faint, but I can see them.”
Cloud dabbed at his eyes. “Work. All these damned responsibilities have intruded on my sleep. That’s all. You needn’t fret over me.”
“I see. Then I apologize for my imprudence, my lord, but do look after yourself.”
She smiled, and his heart squeezed.
Why? The excitable organ pounded in his chest. This is how it should have felt. Our flesh and blood. Selena’s final gift. This is how it should have felt when I laid eyes on her. Why is it happening now?
Every beat hit his chest like a hammer, driving the nail of self-loathing deeper into the man’s sad heart. How he’d leaped for joy when he learned Sable had found his daughter. How he’d waited with bated breath, endured sleepless nights, just to meet the one who would finally make right what troubled his soul.
But she never came. The one who appeared in her stead was nobody. Cloud felt nothing for her. Perhaps his hopes had been too much to place on a single girl.
She was a beautiful girl. She had his silver hair, and her mother’s blue eyes. And Selena was her mother. She had to be. So why did the girl not mend the hole in Cloud’s heart? The count agonized for days, through yet more sleepless nights, pondering his own loathsomeness. No one had noticed.
No one except Cecilia.
Cloud thrilled, a terrible, wretched reaction.
How is it that she can elicit such emotion from me? This girl, who bears nothing of who Selena was. It was not love, not romantic love. Then what? What could it be? She’s nothing like Selena. She’s not. She’s…
He looked into her eyes. They were fiery and red. Indeed, not Selena’s. Not blue. Not the ocean. Not like lapis. But gentle all the same. Tender. Very much like—
“Father.”
Cloud practically sprang out of his shoes, as if the voice had caught him in the middle of a crime. His horrible, loathsome thoughts melted away. “Y-yes, Celedia?”
“Who is this girl? I haven’t many friends, and I’m terribly lonely. May I know her name?”
Celedia Leginbarth appeared before Melody and Lect, her long, silver locks cascading down to her chest. Her lapis lazuli eyes took them in. Sable Pufontis, her escort, flanked her.
She wore a soft green dress embroidered in silver, and it, paired with such an innocent smile, drew blushes from every man within eyeshot. She was an oddity. Exotic.
But no red came to Lect’s cheeks.
“Yes, of course,” Cloud said. “This is Madam Cecilia. Madam Cecilia, this is my daughter, Celedia. Do be patient with her.”
“Greetings, Lady Celedia,” Melody said. “My name is Cecilia. I’m not of noble blood, so I hope this isn’t impertinent, but I hope to have the pleasure of getting to know you better.”
“Cecilia,” the girl muttered.
“Y-yes, that’s right, my lady. Cecilia.”
Celedia watched her. Studied her. Blankly. Her mouth hanging slightly agape.
“Lectias Froude,” Lect introduced himself. “I am a knight sworn to House Leginbarth. I expect we’ll see much of each other, Lady Celedia.”
“Lectias Froude…”
“He was my companion on our quest to find you,” Sable said proudly.
“Your…quest.”
Sable cocked his head. “My lady?”
Suddenly, she snapped to her senses. “Celedia Leginbarth,” she said with renewed clarity. “I am very glad to have met the both of you.”
She smiled, and Melody smiled back.
Silver hair and blue eyes, she thought. Just like me. They say everyone has three identical twins in the world. Funny, meeting one here.
When it came to maids, Melody was there. Anything else, and her common sense abandoned her. What else was new?
Unfortunately, in her naivety, she failed to notice the glimmer in noble Celedia’s eye.