Celeste's POV
The champagne glass slipped from my fingers.
I watched it fall, spinning through the air in slow motion, heading straight for Lady Thornwood's expensive dress. My heart jumped into my throat. If I broke something—if I made a scene—Stepmother would make me pay for it later.
I lunged forward and caught the glass an inch before disaster. Champagne sloshed over my hand, cold and sticky, but at least nothing broke.
Lady Thornwood didn't even notice. She was too busy laughing with the other guests, completely ignoring the servant girl in the borrowed gown who'd just saved her dress.
I was invisible. Like always.
"More champagne over here!" someone shouted from across the Grand Observatory ballroom.
I straightened my aching back and hurried toward them, weaving through clusters of the kingdom's richest people. They talked and laughed under the massive glass dome, where seven stars were slowly aligning in the sky above. The Celestial Convergence—an event that happened once every thousand years. Everyone who mattered in astronomy was here tonight.
Including Dorian.
My chest warmed at the thought of him. My fiancé. Well, secret fiancé. He said we had to keep it quiet until tonight—until after he presented his big research at the gala. Then he'd announce our engagement in front of everyone, and finally, FINALLY, people would see me as more than just the Ashford family's unwanted daughter.
I spotted him across the room, standing near the stage in his fine black suit. He looked so handsome it made my heart hurt. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and he wore that confident smile that made everyone listen when he spoke.
"Celeste!" Seraphina's sharp voice cut through my thoughts. "Stop staring like a lovesick puppy and bring champagne to the Royal Astronomer's table. Now."
My stepsister stood near the refreshment table, looking perfect as always in her shimmering blue gown. Her golden hair cascaded down her back in careful curls, and diamonds sparkled at her throat—real diamonds, not the fake ones Stepmother let me borrow for tonight.
"Sorry," I mumbled, grabbing a fresh tray of glasses.
Seraphina stepped closer, her smile sweet but her eyes cold. "You should be grateful Father even lets you attend. Try not to embarrass us, hmm?"
She swept away before I could respond, leaving me standing there with burning cheeks.
I delivered the champagne and returned to my spot against the wall, trying to be invisible again. It was safer that way.
The lights dimmed. A hush fell over the ballroom.
The Master of Ceremonies walked onto the stage, his voice booming: "Distinguished guests! Tonight, we witness not only the Celestial Convergence above us but also a groundbreaking presentation in astronomical research! Please welcome our youngest Royal Astronomer, the brilliant Dorian Blackwood!"
My heart soared. This was it—the moment Dorian would present the star maps WE created together. Three years of work. Three years of me staying up all night, mapping celestial patterns while everyone else slept. Three years of Dorian promising that when the time was right, he'd give me credit.
Tonight was that night.
Dorian walked onto the stage, and the crowd erupted in applause. He waved, that charming smile on his face, and my chest filled with pride.
Then Seraphina walked onto the stage beside him.
My smile froze.
What was she doing up there?
Dorian took Seraphina's hand. The crowd oohed with interest.
"Thank you all for coming," Dorian said, his voice smooth and confident. "Tonight, I present research that will change how we understand the stars. But first, I have an announcement that's even more important to me personally."
He turned to Seraphina. My stepsister's face glowed with happiness.
No. No, this wasn't—
"Seraphina Ashford has been my partner in this research," Dorian continued. "Working with her these past months has been incredible. She's brilliant, dedicated, and beautiful. Which is why—"
He dropped to one knee.
The crowd gasped.
I couldn't breathe.
"Seraphina, will you marry me?"
The ballroom exploded with applause and cheers. Seraphina covered her mouth with both hands, tears streaming down her face. "Yes! Yes, of course!"
Dorian slid a ring onto her finger—a massive diamond that caught the starlight from above. They kissed, and the crowd went wild.
I stood frozen against the wall, the empty champagne tray slipping from my numb fingers. It hit the floor with a crash that nobody heard over the celebration.
This wasn't real. This couldn't be real.
Dorian was MY fiancé. We were engaged. He PROMISED me.
"But wait!" Dorian held up his hands, grinning. "There's one more thing I need to address tonight."
The crowd quieted, leaning forward with interest.
Dorian's eyes scanned the ballroom until they found me. His expression changed—no longer charming, but cold. Hard.
"Many of you know Celeste Ashford, Seraphina's stepsister." He gestured toward me. "For years, she's been... helping around my research office. Recently, I discovered something disturbing."
My legs wouldn't move. I couldn't run, couldn't hide.
"Celeste has been stealing my research," Dorian announced. "Copying my notes. Claiming my work as her own. I have proof."
He pulled out a stack of papers and held them high.
The crowd turned to stare at me. Hundreds of eyes, full of shock and disgust.
"No," I whispered. But my voice was too small. Nobody heard me.
"I'm so sorry, Celeste," Seraphina said from the stage, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. "I tried to help you. I really did. But you were always so jealous of what others had."
Stepmother stood up from her seat in the front row. Lady Margaret Ashford, dressed in her finest gown, looked at me with cold fury.
"The Ashford family disowns you," she declared loudly. "You are no daughter of this house. You've brought nothing but shame to our name."
The room spun. This wasn't happening. This COULDN'T be happening.
The Royal Academy Director approached the stage, took the papers from Dorian, and examined them. He nodded grimly.
"Celeste Ashford, your credentials from the Starkeeper Academy are hereby revoked. You are banned from all astronomical societies and research facilities."
Security guards appeared on either side of me.
"No, please—" I tried to explain, tried to make them understand. "Those are MY star maps. I spent three years—"
"Remove her," Stepmother ordered. "Immediately."
The guards grabbed my arms. They dragged me toward the exit as the crowd parted, everyone whispering and pointing. I saw their faces—people I'd served for years, people whose research I'd helped with, people who'd eaten food I'd prepared.
Not one of them defended me.
As the guards hauled me past the stage, I looked up at Dorian one last time. Our eyes met.
He smiled.
Not the warm smile he'd given me in private. Not the gentle smile he wore when he kissed me and promised we'd be together forever.
This smile was cruel. Victorious.
"You were useful, Celeste," he said quietly, just loud enough for me to hear. "But you were always going to be nothing more than a stepping stone."
The guards threw me out the back entrance into the alley behind the Observatory. I hit the wet cobblestones hard. Rain poured down from the dark sky, soaking through my borrowed gown.
Behind me, I heard the ballroom erupt in applause again. The presentation was continuing. Dorian was showing MY star maps to the crowd, claiming them as his own achievement.
And Seraphina—my own stepsister—stood beside him, wearing my ring.
I curled up on the cold stones and started to cry.
Then I heard footsteps.
I looked up, expecting maybe—hopefully—that Dorian had come to tell me this was all a mistake, a misunderstanding.
Instead, three men in dark cloaks stepped out of the shadows, blocking the alley exit.
They weren't from the gala.
"Celeste Ashford?" the middle one asked, his voice rough and strange.
I scrambled backward. "Who are you?"
The man smiled, revealing teeth that were too sharp.
"We've been waiting for you," he said. "Our master sent us. He said you'd be coming into your power tonight, right on schedule."
His eyes flashed red in the darkness.
"And he wants you dead before that happens."