Finding Camellia - Chapter 82

The sunlight spilled through the bathroom window like a spring day. Camellia stood up from the fragrancefilled tub, and Pipi immediately attended to her with a towel and oils. Lia’s pale skin glowed as Pipi applied the oil. The bruises on her body had all but faded, for Claude obtained an ointment particularly effective for bruises and rubbed it over her body every night.

Lia put on her underwear, stockings, garters, then a corset. When Pipi cinched the laces, Lia gasped at the tightness. It was different from what she was used to.

The dress Rosina had gifted her was thankfully restored to its magnificence under Pipi’s skillful hands.

“Pipi, why don’t you open a clothes shop someday? I think you’d do amazingly,” Lia remarked. “Your needlework is so detailed, and you’ve got such a keen eye.”

Pipi smiled wistfully, holding onto the dress. “I don’t have the money for that I barely have enough to put food on the table.”

“Then I’ll make loads of money as a teacher and invest in your shop. You can make my clothes then!”

“Sure thing, my lady,” Pipi replied. “But we do have to get a move on. Lord, Claude has already left.”

“Okay,” Lia said. Her lips were already deliciously red without lipstick, like ripe fruit or camellia flowers about to bloom.

She carefully stepped into the dress, and the cloud-soft fabric hugged her body perfectly. The prepared jewels were also beautiful. Lia’s hair fell over her shoulders in soft curls, complete with a tiara placed on top. Pipi and the other maids ooh-ed and ahh-ed as Camellia was transformed.

“You’re the most beautiful woman in the world, my lady. I have no doubt.”

“We should’ve put you in dresses like this more often!”

Lia giggled as she examined herself in the mirror. She did look quite different, just like the maids said. It was no longer as awkward to see herself dressed in womanly attire as it was before. Lia slipped on a pair of high heels and walked out of the room, taking in the grand townhouse. It was far bigger than her father’s, yet Claude was completely alone here. Of course there were attendants and guards, but to eat and fall asleep all alone in this house!

Lia was beginning to realize why Claude had described the townhouse as bleak.

“The car is ready, my lady,” Owen announced. Behind him, a girl with lovely red cheeks peeked out with sparkling eyes.

Lia recognized her immediately. “You’re-”

“Arinne!”

It was the girl who had helped Lia in Louver three years ago, who had to survive on the streets with her little brother by aiding criminals.

Lia approached her with a smile. “You’re so big now. I didn’t think you would’ve gotten this big.” She patted the girl’s head, delighted to see how well she had grown.

Arinne curtsied with a happy smile. “It’s all thanks to you, my lady, that my brother and I get to live in such a marvelous place!”

“Arinne is not an attendant, but the Grand Duke’s ward,” Owen added, looking down at the girl affectionately, “She will be attending St. Alexander’s Girls’ School this year on a full scholarship.”

Lia noticed the pride in Owen’s face and posture, which warmed her. She reached out for Arinne’s hands; they were warm and soft. She might have been born and abandoned in Louver, but she would grow into a lovely woman, inimitable and beautiful.

“It’s wonderful to hear that you’ve met a good guardian.”

Arinne smiled brightly. “All because of you, Lady Camellia. You saved our lives.”

Lia’s heart prickled with a feeling she’d, never felt before.

This little girl has moved me.

Lia squatted to meet Arinne’s eyes, laughing happily along. They sparkled like two beautiful jewels. Owen thought to himself that their smiles were more beautiful than any diamond the armies had risked their lives for in the war.

“My lady.”

***

The queue of carriages and cars stretched from the front gates. The marquis’s attendants worried over the grassy lawn as cars parked over it.

The nobles were dressed to the nines, as though they were attending a royal ball. Once they presented their calling cards, a footman guided them inside to the glass-paneled greenhouse that was linked to the main drawing room. The greenhouse-nurtured painstakingly by the marquis’s gardener Patrick-boasted various plants from all over the world, green and sprightly all year long. It was the Bale townhouse’s pride and joy.

There was a table large enough to seat fifty people in the center of the greenhouse, complete with cutlery, candlesticks, and name cards. The guests gathered in the drawing room to enjoy apéritifs before the actual dinner. A renowned soloist sang arias with piano accompaniment while younger guests listened to the history of the Bale family.

“The marchioness outdid herself. She didn’t want to stay disgraced, I suppose.”

“Don’t you think it’s strange though? The Grand Duke was basically betrothed to Lady Marilyn before. But now these sudden allegations of having intimate relations with men…”

“I heard that he went to Louver to look for Marilyn when she was banished there, but he couldn’t come to forgive her. I mean, I wouldn’t either. How could you forgive the daughter of the man who murdered your father?”

“So he’s turned to men because of the shock? No wonder.”

“What do you mean? Have you heard something?”

“Someone said they saw Marilyn Selby on the streets downtown. She was wearing plain clothes, but it was her.”

“Oh, my days. The Grand Duke must have brought her out of Louver! Not that it absolves him from being with men.”

“I agree. I mean, this is between us, but Sir Camellius is not just any man. He’s a bastard son. Oh, this is dreadful for our reputation as well.”

The noble ladies chattered, not realizing how loud they were. Their gossip did not quiet down even as they received glares and scornful glances. Suddenly, everything went silent—the ladies, the soloist, and the piano.

The doors opened, and Wade and Claude strolled in. Kieran stepped forward to greet Rosina, who was right behind them.

The two men might have been the subjects of all sorts of hearsay, but no one could deny that they were war heroes. They had won the Neutral Territory and signed a peace treaty with Gaior.

Everyone in the drawing room bowed and curtsied to the small group. The marquis and marchioness ran down the stairs at the news of their arrival. Lady Bale looked positively youthful in her pale blue dress.

“Your Highnesses. Lord Ihar.”

Claude smirked at Lady Bale, who curtsied and greeted them. Beneath the elegant smile she wore, he could tell she was confused by the fact that Camellia wasn’t among them. He lifted his gaze to find Ian leaning against the railing on the second floor. Ian locked eyes with him, leisurely sipping a flute of champagne.

“Now, now. Why don’t we all head over to the table?” Lady Bale suggested in a jovial tone. People exchanged looks at the sudden change in attitude from the normally cold and haughty marchioness, but began to shuffle over nonetheless.

Claude took his seat as Ian approached him. The nobles, surprised at his appearance, bowed before sitting down in their respective seats.

“This is Grand Duke Ian Sergio of Gaior. He was an immense help and important ally during the war,” Lady Bale explained. “He also saved my husband’s life. We are forever indebted to him.”

Ian fought not to roll his eyes at Lady Bale’s two-faced accolade and nodded to the table.

“My sincerest greetings. It’s a joy to meet the nobles of the Cayen empire.”

Whispers broke out from all corners of the party—the men who knew of his repute grew pale, whereas the women tittered delightedly at the entrance of a new, handsome man.

“Please, take a seat.” Lady Bale rang a small bell, signaling the attendants to begin serving the food. The guests began to chatter among themselves, but the head of the table where Claude sat seemed like a different world.

Rosina studied Kieran worriedly. He hadn’t stepped a foot outside the townhouse since the day they all went horse riding, refusing any and all visits.

“Are you all right, Kieran? You’re skin and bones.”

Kieran smiled softly. “I’m all right, thank you.”

She placed a hand over his. If she was this disappointed by Lady Bale’s behavior, she couldn’t imagine how Kieran must have felt watching his mother act in such a way.

Kieran looked down at her dainty hand for a while, then pressed a kiss on her cheek.

“I’m really all right, Rosina,” he whispered quietly. Rosina blushed.

Wade watched them before turning to Ian.

“When you return to Gaior, please relay this message, will you? The lady who accompanied you isn’t my type.”,

“What about her was displeasing to you, Your Highness?”

“Everything, from her head to her toes,” Wade responded tauntingly before standing up to propose a toast. The guests followed suit, picking up their glasses.

To peace, Lady Bale’s beauty, and Cayen’s prosperity. May they last forever.”

Claude sipped his wine, checking the time surreptitiously. If she’d left the house at the correct time, she would be arriving at any moment now.

Anastasia rapped a fork against her water glass as she got up from her seat.

“Thank you all for coming,” she said, meeting the guests’ eyes. “As you may already know, I invited you to this banquet to formally ask for forgiveness in light of my shortcomings.”

Claude tuned out Lady Bale’s duplicitous speech as he imagined how Camellia would look when she walked in. She would be wearing the dress from last night. Just imagining her adorned in the jewels that he’d left for her made his heart pound.

Would the attendant recognize her when he opens the door for her?

Claude shook his head slightly. She was no longer the Camellius they thought they knew.

“Camellius is… from Louver,” Lady Bale said dramatically. Shocked murmurs and hushed exclamations broke out across the table. “But I birthed him with my heart. I asked a maid, whom I cared for deeply, to have a son in my stead, for I had become so weak after bearing Kieran. It was a tough decision, but I was afraid the Bale line might end otherwise. As you all know, Kieran was unwell throughout his childhood. I feared the worst, to be honest.

But the maid ended up running away with the child and died, leaving the babe all alone. So my husband and I went to Louver to bring our son back home. That baby was Camellius.”

Anastasia dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, mouth spilling out lies as smooth as silk. The marquis stood up abruptly from his seat and walked out of the greenhouse. He wasn’t the only one flushed with anger and embarrassment at her deceit, however.

Rosina fought against her welling anger as she saw Kieran’s stricken face.

“That’s why I made the mistake of accusing him. Something must have come over me. Hence, I wished to apologize to Camellius through this banquet. But I see he didn’t come. I should have known…”

The other nobles immediately offered words of comfort to Lady Bale, who looked crestfallen.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Lady Bale. You made such a brave decision to take in a Louverian child.”

“You’re an angel on earth, my lady. I was so moved by your words.”

“Sir Camellius has affronted you in so many ways. How ungrateful!”

Rosina couldn’t stand it anymore. How dare she blatantly lie in front of the imperial family? Lady Bale’s shamelessness was the last straw on Rosina’s already frayed patience. She looked up from glowering at the cutlery to stand when she locked eyes with Claude. He raised an eyebrow slightly before blinking slowly.

Sit still. Don’t do anything.’

Rosina took a deep breath, balling up her trembling hands. She cast an impassive mask over her face, observing the other guests falling over themselves to comfort Lady Bale. Claude smiled into his glass, then stood up. Ian also got up from his seat, the grin wiped from his face. The two men stared at each other for a moment before walking toward the greenhouse entrance. Their sudden movement caught the eyes of all the guests, and their inane chatter came to a halt.

The glass doors opened wide to reveal a woman walking in with the escort of the footman. Her honey blond locks were luscious, her emerald eyes greener than any of the fauna in the greenhouse. Every step she took, her jewels caught the light and sparkled brilliantly. Her small but beautiful face melted the hearts of all the men in the room.

The guests looked at each other in confusion at the appearance of the mysterious lady. Anastasia, on the other hand, recognized who she was and dropped her wine glass.
Claude walked up to her, kneeled on one knee and kissed the back of her hand, covered in a lace glove.

“Lady Camellia.”