𝐃𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐄 || 𝐒𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰

Chapter Twelve

The next morning seemed very bright and chipper, morning dew still covering the green blades of grass on every lawn and field. Vienne had woken up feeling quite dazed. She had slept, but she had almost felt conscious the entire time—Ceci's words in the back of her head. What was her warning? What was she talking about? It made her nervous, to be honest. But nonetheless, she attempted to continue as normal.

But to add to the strangeness, Claudine had asked her if Luis had spoken to her yet—to which she replied that she hadn't seen him since his last visit, which was two weeks ago when he dropped by to deal with some estate issue. The timing, and the question itself, she thought odd but didn't question it. After all, her mother was always asking odd questions.

Marie had arrived a bit after eight and was helping her dress, but she had other things on her mind than just helping Vienne. She wanted to know about her love life. "So, how is everything with that Sebastian fellow going?" She asked as she helped Vienne slip up her sleeve.

"I'm not sure, to be honest. Well, I think." Vienne replied. "We trust each other more; we enjoy each other's presence—I really am in love with him, Marie." She let out a little sigh as for the first time, she admitted her true feelings for him out loud. What a strange feeling.

It was one thing to think about him and her feelings for him, but it was another to actually acknowledge them and say them out loud. It made everything feel so much more serious, but she liked it.

"And you believe he's in love with you as well?" Marie inquired.

"Merlin, I hope so." Vienne said, worry in her voice. Oh, how she would plead with anybody if they could tell her his true feelings for her. "We almost kissed, Marie. And we would have if I hadn't been such a coward. I was too afraid of my mother somehow finding out. It's so silly; we were alone for Godric's sake!"

However, Vienne's gut feeling was right, even though she had no idea. Edward had been watching the entire time. She had been right for trusting her instincts.

"Well then get him alone and tell him how you feel!" Marie urged her. "I didn't get a fiancé by staying silent!"

"Well, you also didn't have a mother breathing down your neck all the time." Vienne muttered. "Your mother is practically an angel on earth, and mine feels like she was sent straight from the devil sometimes."

"That's true," Marie chuckled. "But I'm also not as picky."

Vienne's eyes widened. "I am not picky! My mother just has terrible taste for me." She defended herself, causing Marie to burst into a fit of laughter.

"Well, if what you're saying about Sebastian is true, you yourself have good taste." Marrie giggled, which made Vienne's cheeks heat up and turn a light shade of pink.

More than anything, she did want to tell Sebastian how she felt. She wanted to be with him, regardless of what anyone else thought about them, but with her mother's ever-looming presence, it felt simply impossible. With her persistence, Edward's persistence, and practically anyone Vienne had ever known save a few on their side, it was suffocating.

***

"I'm going to do it. I'm going to tell her." Sebastian said to himself as he looked in the mirror. Was he more so trying to convince himself to do it? Absolutely. But some words of encouragement here and there never hurt.

He had been up since early that morning, trying to convince himself that he was going to confess his feelings for Vienne—going over everything in his head to make sure it was all perfect. Even if it ended in disaster or her mother found out—whatever the consequences may be, he just needed her to know how he felt about her.