Chapter 9: The Proposal

"This shitty system. Does it really wish to help Caelestis or is this a torture device, specially designed for me? That task almost made my heart burst out of my chest." Eleanore found herself on an empty balcony just below the balcony where she had advised Caelestis to confess to Stella.

"Now that I am here, I might as well grab this opportunity and witness the romantic moment that is about to take place." She sipped on her glass of that awful wine, which was the only thing that could travel through her sore throat right now. 

Elenore could hear no movement above. Perhaps they were yet to arrive, but she clearly remembered seeing Caelestis rushing toward the staircase.

Within a few minutes, she heard the sound of the balcony door opening with a squeak and the tapping sound of two pairs of shoes, echoed down to her. 

'They are here'

Caelestis had been standing outside the balcony window waiting for Stella to appear. He was very nervous and didn't know if Stella would like it here. Probably she will feel less burdened here from the eyes of those terrible nobles.

'Lady Eleanore's advice wasn't half bad. This place is quiet and romantic. Pretty sure, Stella would love it here.' He thought, as a small, gentle smile curled on his face.

After sending off her greetings, Stella made her way above the wide staircase and started to the balcony on the left, where Caelestis had invited her to come. On her way to the balcony she bumped into Flora, who had just come out of the powder room.

"Apologies, My lady." Stella bowed in front of her, preparing herself to get pushed in return.

"It's fine. Gosh! My head is spinning from all this dance. I really hate dancing. Should be banned! Damn it." Saying this flora took the stairs back to the ballroom, leaving Stella in astonishment. 

Normally, Flora as Eleanore';s best friend would leave no chance to ridicule Stella. She was after all her sidekick and sidekicks do what their masters do.

Stella sighed in relief, somewhat stunned but relieved. She quickly went on her way and a few meters away spotted Caelestis waiting for her outside the Balcony door. 

"Did I make you wait for long?" She asked as she grabbed the arm, Caelestis had extended toward her.

"No. You didn't. I had just arrived." He lied, opening the door for his lady.

A cold breeze kissed their cheeks as they entered the balcony. Noticing Stella shivering from the cold, Caelestis pulled out his coat and covered Stella under its warm fabric. 

Stella hugged the warm coat, before catching the thing golden, a little fragile railing. She gave a soft smile to Caelestis and he returned it back to her. A genuine, true smile, he had always only reserved for his beloved.

Stella inhaled the fresh air into her system and felt relieved as her nerves started to open up again after the exhausting ball, including unscrupulous people and disheartening rumors about all.

She had heard a group of ladies discussing what had happened earlier in the ball. They were talking about Eleanore's strange behavior and were giving different theories related to that. They sounded disappointed, perhaps wanting a tragic drama instead of a cold moment.

A group of immature men were appreciating and smiling over Eleanore Sinclair and giving hate comments on Stella. While a group of rather mature men had no interest in such matters, their topic of discussion was more importance and recognition given to the white Knights, instead of the royal knights. And that royal knights were at the brink of death.

"Stella. I have something I must let you know." Caelestis said, bringing Stella out of her roaming mind.

"What is it, Caelestis?" She asked, turning her gaze to him, from the beautiful garden view below.

Out of nowhere, Caelestis went on one of his knees, then slipped his hand in the pocket of his trousers. He pulled out a square box covered and coated in soft red velvet cloth. Nervously, he opened the box, which revealed a sparkling platinum ring, bearing a breathtaking sapphire in the middle.

"Stella, will you marry me?" He asked, his smile stretching from one corner of his face to the other, overjoyed and over confident that his proposal would get accepted.

Caelestis had put a lot of thought in the ring. While most nobles would offer, gold ring with a large diamond in between, to show off their wealth.

Caelestis, understanding Stella's simplicity, went for a smaller gem, which resembled her calm ocean blue eyes. The body of the ring was made of platinum, resembling her shining silver hair. 

For days, Caelestis had been roaming around from one jeweler to another in search of the rare sapphire diamond. In the end he had to make a trip to another country to get the diamond. 

"Grand Duke, I—" Stella began, but was interrupted midway.

"I know, your concern is lady Eleanore right? She said it herself today that she is over me. When we were dancing. Believe me. Now there are no obstacles obstructing us from getting one." He said, with a glim in his eyes.

"Lady Eleanore was never my concern, nor the society." Stella's face dropped, she pulled Caelestis up on his feet and closed the box gently. "My concern was that I have no feelings for you. You are my best friend, Grand Duke, that's all. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Stella!" Caelestis called her out in a rather loud pitch, his eyes fierce. He gulped on seeing fear in her eyes, controlling his overbearing anger. 

"Please, I love you." He held her shoulders as gently as he could.

"No, this is not love. This is merely an attraction that you feel towards me. That's all." Stella hesitatingly spoke her mind out.

"How do you know my heart?" He asked, tears welling up in his eyes, his heart sinking in the ocean full of sorrow.

"Because my heart says so." 

"Nonsense." He pushed Stella back, making her fall on a pole behind her and he left the balcony, leaving Stella in guilt and agony.

Below that balcony, where Eleanore was, heard everything. She pressed her figures against her temples. "I knew it wouldn't work just yet." She sighed in exhaustion.

Stella is a person with a lot of pride. She would never marry a sick, rich noble. Moreover, she believes in true love. Unless it is love, she will not marry just anyone. "I need to work harder in setting them together."

Eleanore turned and took the support of the rail behind her, gazing at Stella's silhouette above. "Looking at the bright sight. Now that I won't push Stella down the balcony, Caelestis won't be able to kidnap her."

In the original, Eleanore Sinclair, clouded by jealousy and disdain, followed Stella to the balcony, where she had gone to rearrange her thoughts, after refusing Caelestis' proposal. Eleanore didn't know what to do, she was so hurt and sad that without giving it much thought, she pushed Stella off the balcony.

|| "You ruined everything." Original Eleanore yelled at Stella, as she cried for her lost love. "Why must he only see you? Why am I so invisible? Why?" 

Her questions were irrelevant because Stella felt nothing for Caelestis. She had no desire to have him and had no desire to hurt Eleanore, as well.

"Lady Eleanore, I do not know what you are trying to say. I have refused the proposal." Stella explained.

"Doesn't matter. He still loves, so much so that he proposed to you in front of everyone. Tell me Stella. What kind of black magic have you done to him?" Eleanore reduced the distance between them, as she spoke.

"Black magic?" Stella was stunned and scared. She took one step back every time, Eleanore took a step forward.

"You witch, slut! I will kill you." Eleanore, in anger, pushed Stella over the frail railing.

It was not her intention to kill her or harm her in any way. Eleanore had no idea the frail railing was actually broken. 

Stella was gravely injured and in his rage, Caelestis, killed Eleanore then and there, bearing himself a new enemy. His own best friend, Hael Sinclair. ||

As soon as she remembered that scene from the novel, as if she was cursed by her own words, the translucent blue window appeared in front of her, floating in mid air, with a new notification.

||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 2:

Stella is in danger.

Save Stella.

Do you accept the quest?

Yes|No||