บท 25: The Culprit

Soul looks at Citrine then back at Celestia who is still in her disguise.

'Master that's lady Celestia, I'm never wrong with a human scent.'

'I know, how could I not recognise my woman'

Cepheus uses his wind and lands in front of Celestia and Keane. Cepheus walks up to them slowly, like a devil rising from hell. Every step he take Celestia heart skips a beat.

"Cepheus what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to get my fiancée back, lady Riverdale have you seen her?"

Celestia refuse to face Cepheus even without turning around she knows he is truly angry, Keane looks at Celestia and back at Cepheus.

"Cepheus, I heard that Celestia is missing too but Giselle was also in a difficult situation so she wouldn't know where she is."

Celestia change her tone to be closer to lady Riverdale.

"Sir Whisteria, I truly don't know where lady Septihanus went after we separated from the clubhouse."

Celestia stood still, facing her back to Cepheus, she slightly leans her head on Keane chest. However Cepheus saw that slight movement and became irritated.

"Oh, cause Celestia missed her appointment with me, she promised me that she will go on a date with me."

Celestia went stiff and thought for a moment. The last time she met up with him was the celebration festival. When did she promise him for a date.

"I'm truly sorry sir but I truly don't know where she is."

"You really won't tell me."

Keane looks at Cepheus as he is confuse why he keeps asking his fiancée the same question.

"Cepheus Giselle truly doesn't know, I'll help you and look for Celestia with you. I'm also worried in case she is in a dangerous situation too."

Cepheus ignores Keane as he walks up to Celestia and grabs her hand, pulling her out of Keane's arms. Keane and all his knights as well as Count Riverdale stood still for a moment as they didn't expect Cepheus to behaviour like this.

Celestia looks at Cepheus shock, as she held her breath, Cepheus looks at Celestia disgusted.

"Tsk even with this disguise do you think I won't recognise my fiancée."

"You what do you mean, heir of Duke Whisteria, this is my daughter you're talking about."

Cepheus looks at Count Riverdale and back at Celestia disguise in disgust.

"My fiancée truly is a trouble marker."

Cepheus took out his handkerchief and wipes Celestia's face removing the make up, underneath it reveals her beautiful features, her porcelain skin, straight nose and cute heart shape lips. Count Riverdale was truly shock as he looks at Celestia.

Celestia is truly embarrass that Cepheus expose her, she leans in closer to him as she hide her face in his chest. Cepheus saw her movement as his heart calms down a little as he finds it funny. He leans in close to her ear and whispers.

"What now you're embarrass that everyone knows who you truly are."

"Shut up, this is you're fault I would've gotten out of this situation quicker if you didn't disturb my plan."

"What like pretend to be someone else's fiancée and go home with him."

"No!"

Cepheus click his tongue again, he is truly upset at Celestia and needs her to comfort him however his little fiancée obviously doesn't understand it. He truly needs to teach her a lesson one day.

"Where's my daughter, where is Giselle."

Keane looks at Celestia then at the situation, knowing Celestia he understood the situation.

"Giselle isn't here is she, you disguise as her to bring out the culprit. The culprit is somewhere here isn't she."

"She's at my place, I got a doctor to look after her, she got poison on her way out from the clubhouse. I happen to see her fainted and help her, my brother's are currently investigating the clubhouse."

"Poison!" The count and Keane said at the same time.

Keane summons his beast as he left them heading towards the marquess estate. The count jump on his horse and rushes out too. Cepheus looks at Celestia waiting for her explanation.

"Haha, you see..."

Celestia soon caught Cepheus up to date of what happen. Cepheus and Celestia flew on Soul's back as they headed back to the estate. Once they enters through the door of the guest room, she saw that Keane and the count was already there.

"Tia you're safe."

Marchioness pulls her into her arms. Her brother looks relief. Celestia notice that her father, Luciel and Charlie wasn't in the room. However she didn't ask as she knows they must've gone to investigate the real culprit.

Celestia mother pulls away from her and turns her around and examine her body, sighing a relief and she didn't get hurt.

"It's good that you aren't hurt. However Celestia Aurora Septihanus, what were you thinking putting your life in danger."

Celestia took a step back hiding behind Cepheus as she knew her mother was truly angry as she heard her full name.

"Well you see, I didn't want you to get blame since everything is link to us if she disappeared on her way back from your clubhouse."

"What do you mean, you make it sound like everything was planned out so I'll become enemies with the Marquess household?"

Celestia looks at Count Riverdale, and Keane.

"Well in history with cases such as this they will always point to the people that the victim was last scene at. My mother's clubhouse was the last place she was last saw at before getting kidnap."

Count Riverdale thought for a moment, as he has been a count for many years and heard stories of noble children missing or killed. Count Riverdale understood what Celestia meant, as his only child got hurt his emotions will get the best of him before her concludes the truth.

Marchioness couldn't truly be angry at her daughter as she knew Celestia did was right however it was a risking move. She sigh and looks at Cepheus as she didn't want her daughter to get anymore involved with this case than she already has, she signals her eyes towards Cepheus.

Cepheus also felt the same way as Marchioness so he was happy to take her away especially away from Keane who hugged her in front of him.

Cepheus nods his head bidding farewell and than grabbing Celestia hand walking out the room.

"Star, what you did was clearly very dangerous why didn't you tell me. I would've been able to protect you."

"I didn't have time to notify anyone as I had very little time to pretend to be lady Riverdale."

He stops walking and Celestia being lost in thought was about to hit into him however Cepheus with his clear senses quickly turns around holding both of her shoulders helping her to stabiles.

"But you had time to notify your family to create a scene in the capital. Did you know who I heard this from. It was from my own sister, if she didn't happen to be out today and came to notify me, I wouldn't know what I would've done if you got hurt."

Celestia saw the distress in his eyes, she felt her heart dropped towards her stomach making her feel uncomfortable seeing him look like this.

"I'm s..."

Cepheus didn't let her finish her sentence as he pulls her into his arms hugging her. He took a deep breath as he smells her soft sweet floral scent.

"Promise me don't ever do that again. Please I don't want you to put yourself in danger for anyone."

Celestia felt Cepheus voice almost breaking, and his shoulder shaking, she didn't understand why he is overreacting however she answers him.

"I promise."

She pats his back lightly, to help him to calm down.

Celestia of course won't understand why his emotion got the best of him however Cepheus and those that witness what he went through in his previous life did. Losing his love one not once but three times, of course he will never allow that to happen again.

Soon the the news of the culprit being found was spread throughout the capital, it was said the people that kidnap lady Riverdale was the three men found in the carriage and her real driver fainted and was locked in an abandon barn. As for the poisoning it was concluded that it was due to her body being exhausted however those involved in the party knew the truth that she was poisoned.

As for Celestia well, she was grounded and had to be locked inside the manor for a week while the Marchioness keeps an eye on her, but either way that didn't disturb her daily routine, as Celestia has always been used to being behind the walls of the manor.