Avoid The Lead!

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Celia's eyes met Vitav's, but she deliberately bowed her head, breaking the contact.

"Celia Scarlett greets His Majesty." She curtseyed, and then quickly turned to smile at her father.

"Papa! I've returned!"

"Cece! You have a conscience!" Lord Scarlett began. "I thought you wouldn't even smile at m-!"

"Ahem!" Butler Enis, her father's butler cleared his throat, reminding his master to maintain proper decorum!

"Ahem!" Lord Scarlett cleared his own throat. "I mean, welcome back! It's good that you've returned... You've made the Scarlett name proud!"

Celia swallowed her laughter, but all her amusement vanished when she turned and saw Vitav smiling at her.

She smiled politely at him as she went over to sit near her father, putting some distance between her and Vitav.

Vitav leered at her. "Miss Scarlett, each time I see your face, I'm reminded of the beautiful rising sun on a snowy day! You're indeed a rare beauty!"

Vitav's expression looked somewhat lustful, and this only raised Celia's anxiety.

Vitav didn't recall his hatred in the original life, and in previous lives he had touched and kissed her easily.

What if he tried something?!

"Ehehe... You flatter me, Your Majesty!" She nervously replied.

"I only spoke the truth! Please call me Vitav!" He said with a soft smile, which severely annoyed her.

'I need to act fast and get him off my back!' She decided, and swiftly turned to her father after the servants excused them.

"Father!" She began with a smile. "Is there good news?! Prince Vitav came to see us today, and Elder Sister is all dressed up... Did he come to propose to her?!"

Both Lord Scarlett and Vitav spat out their tea! Even Novia looked shocked.

"C- Cece! How did you arrive at such a conclusion?!" Lord Scarlett finally asked.

"Well..." She cocked her head left to right, deliberately looking confused. "Novia and I are of marriageable age. The Prince suddenly came for a visit, and..." She brought down her voice. "Everyone here knows I'm already in love with his brother!" She added in a rush, flushing at the words.

But she quickly turned to Vitav. "Prince Vitav is noble and dignified. Exuding honour and elegance from head to toe. He doesn't seem like the type to covet his brother's chosen lady." She turned excitedly to Novia. "That leaves Novia!" She beamed at her. "Elder Sister! Congratulations!"

"Cece!" Lord Scarlett slapped his forehead. "The Prince did not come to ask for Novia's hand! He-!" But Vitav shook his head slightly. "He-. He just came for a visit!"

'Hmph!' Celia knew Vitav would never voice out his reason for coming.

If he dared to propose now, he would be admitting he was without all the good qualities she carefully mentioned.

She widened her eyes, looking like a lost child, and she quickly stood and curtseyed. "You must forgive me, Your Highness! I apologize, Elder Sister! I got carried away!"

"No problem!" Vitav said with a tight smile. "I would be a bully to hold such a small matter against you!"

"You are kind and generous, Your Majesty!" Celia curtseyed again, then hurried to sit beside Novia.

"Elder Sister, can you ever forgive me?!" She implored, taking Novia's hand, and she wasn't surprised when Novia patted her hand affectionately. Novia was a better actor than she was!

"Sister, it is a harmless mistake! I know you won't harm me!"

The matter ended there, but as Vitav rose to leave, he sent a signal to Lord Scarlett, who hastily said:

"Your Majesty, I don't believe you've ever experienced a night at the Scarlett Mansion? I dare not compare it to the grandeur of the palace, but it would be a great honour if you let us host you!"

Celia gasped, playing along. "What a marvelous idea!"

And Vitav graciously accepted.

Novia was last to leave the Sun room, watching Celia accompany Vitav and Lord Scarlett out.

She scowled at their backs, wondering for the first time, what type of person Celia Scarlett was...

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That night, winter winds howled outside, but there was warmth and laughter in the Scarlett dining room, as Lord Scarlett, Celia, Novia, and Vitav sat down to an impressive dinner.

Within the Scarlett household, Lady Garrett wasn't permitted to show her face to Lord Scarlett's important guests, so her absence all day was expected.

All through the dinner, Vitav kept his eyes trained on Celia, making her uncomfortable, but she handled it well, deliberately steering the conversation to general, mundane, or funny topics.

Still, Vitav didn't relent, sending Celia one sultry look or the other...

... All while Novia was sending her smiles with more swords than teeth!

'Such a delightful dinner!' Celia thought, raising her glass and taking a sip of fruit wine.

Once dinner was over, Novia approached her and handed her a final glass of the sweet wine.

"Sister, I want to specially toast to you! Congratulations on such an honourable graduation!"

Celia raised the glass to her lips, but a scent hit her nose.

'Poisoned...' She concluded, and wondered whether Novia was audacious or stupid for trying to poison a Healing Mage!

Celia drank the wine, watching Novia's small smile.

She dropped the glass and rose to excuse herself, when she caught a mischievous glint in her father's eyes.

"Cece! Why don't you show Prince Vitav to the North Wing Blue Room?!" Lord Scarlett encouraged her. "The servants will bring up everything he needs!"

"A delightful idea!" Vitav said, holding out his hand to her. "I look forward to your company!"

Celia knew her father wanted her to spend some time with Vitav, and she couldn't blame him. What father would want their daughter with a dying Prince, when the eldest Prince was healthy and boldly showing his affections like this?

The thought of Taze dying made Celia sick to her stomach, but she smiled and placed her hand on Vitav's.

"The pleasure is mine, Your Majesty."

Novia could barely hide her fury!

It was clear she did not want Celia to accompany Vitav, and Celia knew why...

So she turned to look at Novia before leaving. ~"Elder Sister!"~ She said through telepathy. ~"Save me! I'm not feeling well! Please follow at a distance!!"~

And then she followed Vitav out of the dining room, knowing Novia would indeed jump to her rescue!

After all, Novia already had plans of her own...

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Back in the room, Novia watched both of them leave, and she bit her nail in annoyance.

The potion she had given Celia would make her weak and yearn for a man's embrace, but she had intended for Celia to tryst with one of the male servants, who was already waiting in Celia's room.

She had even gotten Sara out of the way, by sending the silly girl to her own chambers to wait for her!

After a few hours with the servant, Novia intended to lead Lord Scarlett and Prince Vitav to catch them in the act.

This would completely ruin Celia's perfect reputation, and Prince Vitav would be disgusted.

But if Prince Vitav spent the night with Celia... Wouldn't their union be even stronger?!

'I can't let that happen!' Novia mentally raged. 'Vitav can only be mine!'

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Celia led Vitav along the long corridors, making a point of explaining all the portraits, intricate designs, vases, flowers, or ornaments on their way, determined not to give Vitav a chance to talk.

But at some point, Vitav suddenly grabbed her waist and backed her against a wall. "Miss Scarlett, you've successfully silenced me all this while. Will you listen to my words?"

He caressed her chin, and slowly leaned in. "Your deliberate attempts to push me away only fuels my desires, and I long to kiss your lips."

Celia turned her face away before their lips touched.

"This is highly improper, Your Majesty." She said quietly, wishing she could kick his royal jewels and be done with!

But she didn't yet want Vitav as an enemy. She and Taze needed time to slip the rug from under his feet.

And what better way to begin, than with Novia?

"Miss Scarlett, can't you give me a chance?" Vitav pressed closer, making her panic. "All I can think about these days, is you!"

"Your Majesty, the one I love is your brother! I can't be attracted to another man!" Celia protested, attempting to push him away.

But he was like a solid wall.

'Where is Novia?!' Celia thought with some panic, as Vitav leaned closer.

She knew exactly what Novia had put in her drink, so she also knew...

'There's no way Novia would let this happen!'

And just then, as if the thought summoned her, she heard,

"Sister? Sister! Where are you? Father says-..." Novia had turned a corner and saw them. "Sister! This is improper!"

Novia ran over and tore Vitav away, making Celia the happiest person ever!

"How can you embarrass our family like this?! Hope you weren't doing similar things with the Crown Prince in School?!"

"What are you doing here?!" Vitav demanded, but Celia dramatically sank to her knees.

"Elder Sister! I don't know what happened!" She bowed her head in 'shame'. "Elder Sister, please escort the Prince the rest of the way! I will return to my room and self-reflect!"

Novia waved her away and took Vitav's arm. "Your Majesty, let's leave for now! Something like this before marriage will also taint your perfect reputation!"

And she quickly led Prince Vitav away. She would see him to his room, and then implement her original plan!

But as they left, Celia smiled.

She cast a lovelust spell, and two glittery pink wraiths crawled along the floor from her to Vitav and Novia, weaving themselves around both of them in an invisible spiral.

'Compared to your silly potion, this spell can even affect a Grand Mage!' Celia rose gracefully.

'Dear Sister, I thank you for such a great idea!'

And with that, she skipped merrily back to her room...

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The Scarlett Household awoke to scandal the next morning!

Celia hadn't bothered leading anyone to catch Novia and Vitav, and that was because her lovelust spell was far too strong...

After such a 'busy' night, Novia and Vitav slept well into the morning, giving the servants enough time to find them and report to Lord Scarlett, who arrived and saw them with his own eyes.

"Your Majesty! What is the meaning of this?!" He thundered, and that sure woke Vitav up!

But more calamity awaited, as a few maids hurried to report more news...

Lady Garrett had also been found unclad with a male servant in her bed!

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