The grand welcome celebration filled the castle with light and laughter. Candles glowed along the walls, music played softly in the corner, and the long tables were covered with every delicacy in the world.
Cecily moved through the crowd with confidence. She greeted every guest with a warm smile. She patiently listened to their questions, and answered with her sharp wit. She shared stories and laughed with them. She carried herself like someone who had already survived the worst and had nothing left to prove to anyone.
A young scholar named Adrian watched her from a corner. He had come with his uncle who was a noble in a nearby estate. He wasn't the kind of man to attend such grand gatherings but had come because he was curious about Cecily.
But the longer he watched her, the more impressed he became. He waited for the right moment to talk to her. When she finally stepped away from a group of guests, he gathered courage and approached her.
"Lady Cecily," he said softly.
