Chapter 8: Dancing With The Villain

Caelestis walked to Eleanore, who simply looked in his direction, packed with thoughts. Caelestis is just as handsome as he was described in the novel. He has no flaw, perfect shape, sharp jawline, beautiful scarlet eyes, anyone could get lost in.

His gaze was fixed on Eleanore, who was nervously standing in her place, not moving one inch. When there was only an inch of distance left between them, he stretched forward his hand. Eleanore nervously met his palm and her nervousness was quickly replaced by shock, when she got pulled by him into his arm, closing any distance left between them.

Eleanore stepped a bit far from him but Cealestis pulled her close to him again, this time holding her in place by her waist. Eleanore's hand landed on his chest by the sudden jerk she felt. She could feel his stiff muscles under her palm. Unknowingly her face flustered from the sudden warmth that passed into her body from his touch around her waist.

He let out his right hand, which was met with by Eleanore and her other hand made its way onto his shoulder. "Shall we?" He asked once they were ready.

Eleanore swirled, synchronizing with Caelestis. She was very focused on her every step, carefully placing them to avoid hurting his feet. She didn't know this dance and she didn't think about it when she asked for his first dance. Yet her body seemed to have been moving on its own. It is a trained body.

"What do you mean by the last dance? Are you going to stop bothering me from now on?" Caelestis asked, shifting her attention towards him.

"What?— I mean yeah. Yes, I am completely over you, Grand Duke." Eleanore said in a stern voice while clenching her teeths in irritation and unintentionally stamping on his feet.

"Ouch!" He let out a soft cry from the pain of her hard sole.

"I apologize, Grand Duke. It was not on purpose." Her gaze shifted back on her feet.

"Since when did you start dancing so awfully?" He asked, as he continued the dance.

"That's why I was trying to focus but you wouldn't let me." She retaliated. "Anyways, I have something important to ask." She spared a glance at him, digesting in his puzzled face, then turned back to her feet.

"I believe you are going to confess to Stella, correct?" She said,

"How did you—" Caelestis was caught by surprise. Only he knew he was going to propose to Stella, then how did Eleanore—

"I would like to give you my one last farewell advice." She continued. "Do not confess to her in front of everyone."

"Why should I listen to you?" Hisbrows furrowed, somewhat annoyed by Eleanore's free advice.

"I am a lady, Grand Duke. I know what a lady wants. Stella doesn't like show-offs. She isn't like me." Caelestis continued to listen to what she had to say, finding some weight in her speech. "Take her to the balcony on the second floor. It has a good view. Confess to her there, she will love it." She added.

Just then the first song ended and along with that, Eleanore started to let go of Caelestis' hand. For some weird reason, he felt a sensation of loss, instead of joy, that he had hoped for, for the last five years. Finally his notorious stalker had set him free, yet why is there this strange emptiness in his heart?

Hael caught Eleanore's hand and took her further away from Caelestis. His eyes, however, continued to trace her back, until it was shaken by Stella.

"Grand Duke, it is time to dance." Stella said. He held her with utmost care, as softly as possible, as if she were a fragile glass. But his grip on Eleanore was rather tight and firm.

His gaze shifted from Stella to Eleanore who was laughing, as she danced with her brother. She unknowingly stepped on her brother's feet over and over again, then let out an embarrassed laughter and all Hael could do in return was laugh along. 

'Why am I seeing only her?'

Stella mistakenly stepped on Caelestis's feet, grabbing back his attention to herself from Eleanore. "I apologize."

"It's fine." He said, not feeling any pain from that light heel of Stella. 

Eleanore's step was rather more painful than this one. He remembered and could still feel pain in that exact spot, where Eleanore had stepped.

Soon, the dance ended. Caelestis left another soft kiss on the back of Stella's palm and then whispered in her ear, "Meet me on the balcony after you are done with your greeting." Saying this he left, to begin the greetring ceremony. 

Followed by him, the Sinclair family secured a spot behind him in the line of greetings. 

Caelestis was returning and Hael and Eleanore were on their way to the greeting spot. Eleanore simply walked past Caelestis, as if he was non-existent.

"Greetings, the King and Queen of the Seraphine Kingdom." Eleanore and Hael said together as they bowed in front of them.

"You may rise." The King said allowing them to get back to their position, only to bow again for the crown prince. 

"Greetings, crown prince of the Seraphine Kingdom."

"You may rise."

Eleanore's eyes met with the Crown Prince's, who had already fixed his gaze on her from the moment she had arrived to greet them. Those gaze felt different, it held a very soft aura of admiration.

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||Chapter 1: Kidnapping Of Stella

Caelestis Lancaster, one of the pillars of the country Seraphine, grows obsessed with his best Friend Stella. On the occasion of the Crown prince's 20th birthday, he finally confesses his love to Stella. However, Stella refuses to accept his confession by rejecting him in front of the whole crowd. Enraged by this, Caelestis kidnaps Stella from the party.

Eleanore Sinclair plays a very important role in getting Stella kidnapped by Duke Caelestis Lancaster, making people think she was only recovering at his mansion.

Quest 1: Stop Stella's Kidnapping.

Task 1: Ask For Caelestis First Dance.

Do you accept this task?

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