Consoled by Annetteâs experienced reassurance, Celestine calmed down quickly, and even looked a little refreshed, as if a good cry had been just what she needed.
âThat was unworthy of me, I apologize,â she said.
âNot at all, it was nothing,â Annette said pleasantly.
Celestine couldnât help frowning a little at Annetteâs generosity.
âTo be honest, I would love to be Crown Princess,â she said, her face smoothing into a pleasant mask. âTo restore my familyâs lost fortunes, and to make my parents happy. The position might not mean much to House Bavaria, but in our current position, it is a miracle.â
Annette nodded. Actually, even for the Bavaria family, the position of Crown Princess was quite valuable. That was why Annetteâs father had raised her so strictly, even from a very young age. Celestine bit her lip at the sympathy in Annetteâs eyes.
âBut not like this,â Celestine said. âIt might sound silly, but I want to decide my own future. I donât think even the most powerful person in Deltium has the right to play with my life, as though Iâm a puppet, never mind ruin someone else to raise me up. I hate it.â
Celestineâs chin jerked upward. It was such a concise description of both their situations, Annette felt sorry that she had ever suspected Celestine of faking her own kidnapping.
âYouâre right,â Annette agreed, a little shocked at her passion. âYou shouldnât be anyoneâs puppet. You are more than that.â
âHmmph! Thatâs enough of such unpleasant things,â Celestine said. âI invited you here to talk about something else. AndâŚthereâs something I want to show you.â
To show her? Annette looked curiously at the other woman. So she had not invited Annette to this outbuilding merely to avoid the eyes of her family.
Nudging the tapestry aside, Celestine pressed something with her foot and half the floor beneath it sank downward, revealing a hidden staircase to a lower level.
âFollow me,â said Celestine. âWatch your step.â
And she descended the steps. Left behind, Annette blinked for a second as she looked at the door. She couldnât know what was down there, but she had a feeling she ought to see it. Clutching her gloved hands together, she slowly walked down the stairs.
At the bottom of the staircase was a very thick door, thick enough to be soundproof, and hardly unknown to most noble families, who might occasionally need such things. Annette regarded it for a moment, then pushed it open, to find a bound man inside.
Annetteâs eyes narrowed as she saw the manâs face.
Ivan? No. Then who is this?
At a cursory glance, this man did look like her old coachman, the man responsible for Celestineâs kidnapping. His real name had been Ben March, Raphaelâs maternal uncle.
Kneeling, she examined the bound man. No matter how she looked at him, she couldnât place him.
Celestine woke him with a surprisingly ferocious kick.
âArgh!â
At the kick to his shoulder, the man woke with a scream, his shocked eyes scanning for the kicker. Looking at Annette and Celestine, he looked as terrified as if they were the witch sisters of folklore.
âYou looked comfortable,â Celestine said, folding her arms and looking down at the man arrogantly. âYouâve slept long enough.â
âNo! Lady, please, help me!â The man bowed his head, his face twisted, and would have fallen if his arms had not been tied behind his back. Celestineâs face showed no sign that she had been sobbing only a few minutes ago, and jerked her head in Annetteâs direction.
âIntroduce yourself to my guest.â
The man looked at Annette in confusion that matched Annetteâs own. She didnât understand why Celestine was introducing her to this man.
âM-myâŚmy name is Jack,â the man said awkwardly, his eyes rolling between them. âI was a dealer working at the Lucky Casino at 77 Vassetti Street.â