Chapter 41
Celestina sat on the stone bench in the palace gardens, her gaze fixed on the fountain ahead. The sound of the cascading water was soothing, but it did little to quiet the storm of thoughts in her mind. She still couldn’t believe it—she was sitting here, confiding in Kael Veridan.
The man she once hated.
The man who had treated her with indifference and cruelty during their marriage.
And yet, here he was, sitting beside her, his posture relaxed but his attention fully on her. It was as if he had transformed into someone entirely new—someone she barely recognized.
“I never thought I’d say this,” she began, breaking the silence, “but you’re surprisingly easy to talk to.”
Kael raised an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “Surprising? I’ll have you know, I’ve been told I’m very approachable.”
Celestina gave him a skeptical look. “By who? A brick wall?”
He laughed, the sound warm and genuine. “Alright, fair point. I wasn’t exactly winning any personality contests back then.”
“No,” she said, her tone sharper than she intended. “You weren’t.”
Kael sobered slightly, nodding. “I deserve that.”
Celestina sighed, leaning back on the bench. “It’s just… strange. You were the last person I ever thought I’d rely on. And yet, here you are.”
Kael shrugged, his expression thoughtful. “People change, Celestina. Sometimes it takes losing everything to realize what really matters.”
She studied him for a moment, her brow furrowed. “You’ve definitely changed. You’re… different.”
“Different good, or different bad?” he asked, feigning nervousness.
She couldn’t help but smile. “Different… tolerable.”
“Ouch,” he said, clutching his chest dramatically. “That almost hurt.”
“You’ll survive,” she quipped, rolling her eyes.
As the conversation continued, Celestina found herself surprised by how much lighter she felt. Kael, the man she had once written off as cold and heartless, was actually funny.
“Do you remember that state dinner where I accidentally knocked over that enormous flower arrangement?” he asked, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Celestina laughed, the memory surfacing. “You mean the one that nearly took out the foreign ambassador?”
“That’s the one,” Kael said, grinning. “I told everyone it was the wind, but the truth is, I tripped over my own foot.”
Her laughter bubbled up again, genuine and unrestrained. “You? The ever-perfect Kael Veridan? Clumsy?”
“Don’t tell anyone,” he said in a mock whisper. “It’ll ruin my reputation.”
“What reputation?” she shot back, smirking.
He chuckled, shaking his head. “Harsh, but fair.”
As their laughter faded, Celestina found herself opening up in a way she hadn’t expected. “It’s been so hard, Kael,” she admitted, her voice quieter now. “I feel like I’ve lost so much, and I don’t even know who I am anymore.”
Kael’s expression softened, his teasing demeanor replaced with sincerity. “You’re still you, Celestina. You’re just… navigating a new version of yourself. And that’s okay.”
She looked away, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. “What if I don’t like this new version? What if she’s weak and broken?”
“You’re not weak,” he said firmly. “Far from it. You’ve been through hell, and you’re still standing. That’s strength, whether you see it or not.”
Celestina blinked back tears, her heart twisting at his words. “Why are you being so kind to me now? After everything?”
Kael hesitated, then spoke softly. “Because I see you now, Celestina. I see the woman I should have cherished from the start. And I want to make up for all the times I let you down.”
