Caelith was already inclined to leave. She had no desire to linger in Yvaine’s company, and now that Yvaine had clearly lost her composure, remaining any longer would serve no purpose.
"Sister, I shall return to my courtyard and rest," Caelith said calmly.
Rising from her seat, she turned and departed with Dolly at her side.
Only once they had walked beyond the pavilion did Dolly lower her voice.
"Lady Yvaine clearly ca today just to show off—"
Before she could finish, Caelith interrupted her sharply.
"Mind your words. Do not speak so again."
In truth, Yvaine’s display ant nothing to her. Caelith no longer felt the slightest attachnt to Dorian Valehart. If not for the necessity of remaining in the Valehart estate and maintaining appearances, she would already have asked for a formal separation.
Dolly said nothing more. She rely supported Caelith’s arm and quickened their pace toward the courtyard.
Behind them, Yvaine watched Caelith’s retreating figure with blazing fury.
With a violent motion, she swept the wooden box from the table. The jeweled hairpins scattered across the stone floor, their red and gold ornants clattering loudly.
The man and the position she had fought so desperately to secure—both seed utterly worthless in Caelith’s eyes.
Charlotte dropped to her knees in fright.
"My lady, please calm yourself! These are gifts from Lord Valehart!"
"That wretched bitch Caelith!" Yvaine spat bitterly. "She did not show even the slightest hint of jealousy!"
"Perhaps she is only pretending to be composed," Charlotte said cautiously, trying to soothe her mistress. "She may simply wish to hide her feelings in front of others."
Yvaine let out a cold laugh.
"She truly is my dear little sister. Caelith Emberlyn—just you wait. One day, I will make you watch as I take everything you have."
Charlotte crept closer, speaking carefully.
"My lady... these things were bestowed by our lord. If he were to see them broken—"
Yvaine understood the warning. For now, she depended upon Dorian Valehart; she could not afford to alienate him.
"Pick them up," she ordered at last, forcing down her anger.
***
At the sa ti, Caelith had returned to her own courtyard.
She had only just rested for a short while when a servant’s voice sounded from outside, "Lord Valehart has arrived!"
A flicker of irritation crossed Caelith’s mind.
She did not wish to see Dorian right now. rely looking at his face stirred a wave of revulsion within her. Yet her position as his wife ant she had no choice but to face him.
Dorian entered the main hall and dismissed the servants with a wave of his hand.
"You seem quite at leisure today," he said, looking at her. "You even have ti to take a nap."
Ever since their wedding night, Caelith’s manner toward him had grown distant and indifferent—so unlike the eager devotion she once showed.
Had she discovered sothing?
Caelith lowered her gaze and bowed politely.
"Greetings, my lord."
Dorian seated himself in the velvet chair opposite her.
"These days you appear rather distracted," he said slowly. "You barely concern yourself with the affairs of the estate anymore. Are you feeling unwell?"
Dorian had the distinct feeling that Caelith had suddenly changed.
In the past, she had been warm and attentive toward him. Yet recently, she had grown increasingly indifferent. She rarely ca to greet him when he returned to the estate, and most days she either remained quietly within her courtyard or occasionally went out alone.
"My lord is too considerate," Caelith replied, lifting her eyes. "My health is perfectly well."
"Is that so?" Dorian clearly did not believe her. "Yet it seems to that you have been hiding sothing from of late."
Caelith remained calm. "My lord is my husband. Why would I have reason to conceal anything from you?"
"If there is sothing troubling you, you can tell ," Dorian said. "I will see that it is resolved."
He suspected her unease might stem from Yvaine’s recent stay in the estate.
"I truly have no concerns," Caelith answered briefly.
"If you dislike Yvaine’s presence," he continued, "I can have her move to the front courtyard."
At that, Caelith felt a wave of weary disbelief.
"My cousin has co only for a short stay. I am quite pleased by her company—how could I possibly dislike her?"
Dorian rose from his chair and stepped closer.
Suddenly, he paused, his nose twitching faintly as though he had caught a scent of sothing familiar.
"The fragrance on you today... what is it?" he asked slowly. "It is not the usual orchid perfu used in the estate. It slls more like... pinewood."
The mont he spoke, Caelith instinctively stepped back, widening the distance between them.
That faint trace of pinewood was from earlier—when she had been in Firefly Lane with Rhaegar Thorne. Although she had changed her clothes upon returning to the estate, a subtle lingering hint of the scent remained.
She had not expected Dorian to notice it.
Was he so kind of hound, to sniff it out so easily?
"My lord seems unusually attentive to the perfus I wear lately," Caelith said lightly. "Did my cousin perhaps ntion sothing to you?"
With that single question, she deftly shifted the matter toward Yvaine again.
Dorian’s expression changed slightly.
In truth, Yvaine had indeed been speaking frequently of Caelith’s supposed faults these past days. Being confronted so directly by Caelith stirred an unexpected trace of irritation in him.
"What nonsense are you speaking?" he replied stiffly. "She is your cousin. Why would she gossip about such trivial matters? I rely noticed you seed sowhat unusual today and asked out of concern."
"I see," Caelith said, as though enlightened.
"Still, since my lord acknowledges she is my cousin, it would be wise to keep proper boundaries. After all, n and won should observe propriety—and my cousin has not yet married."
Dorian’s face darkened.
He had co intending to question her, yet sohow he now found himself rendered speechless.
"If your health is well, then you should attend properly to the rules of the household," he said coldly. "Do not wander outside so often without reason."
Caelith inclined her head slightly.
"I understand."
"I have other matters to attend to," Dorian said curtly. "I will return to the front courtyard."
Without sparing her another glance, he turned and left.
Caelith watched his departing figure.
The calm expression in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by a faint chill.
If Dorian could detect even that trace of unfamiliar fragrance today, she would have to be far more careful in the future.
"Dolly," she called quietly.
"Yes, my lady?"
"In the future, whenever I leave the estate, prepare more of the orchid perfu for ."
Dolly nodded quickly. "Yes, my lady. I shall be careful in the future."
Caelith turned toward the inner chambers. "Prepare water for a bath."
"At once." Dolly hurried off to make the arrangents.
After bathing, Caelith carefully confird that no trace of the faint pinewood scent remained upon her body. Only then did she allow herself to relax.
Dolly entered carrying a folded set of garnts and spoke up as she did so.
"About an hour ago, a ssenger from Marquise Yonathan’s estate delivered an invitation. In three days’ ti they will host a flower-viewing banquet at their ho. My lady, will you attend?"
"Will Dorian and my cousin be going?" Caelith asked.
"Yes," Dolly replied.
"In that case," Caelith said quietly, "we shall attend as well."
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