"Where is the hairpin, Lilian?" Caelan asked, his gaze snapping to her at once, sharp and unreadable.
The onlookers lingered nearby, their murmurs still as each one of them wondered if their new Lady was about to earn her first reprimand.
Lilian turned slowly, her eyes settling on the empty box. For a brief moment, she simply stared at it, as though willing the missing heirloom to appear.Then she lifted her gaze to Caelan, who was still waiting in silence for her answer.
"I entrusted you with the heirloom, did I not?" He asked calmly. "I made its importance very clear to you. So tell me, if you're done with your games, where are you hiding it?"
"I don't know what games you're accusing me of," Lilian replied, unwilling to lower her gaze. "Yes, you gave it to me. But I did not misplace it. I kept it safely, as instructed. I have no reason–"
"You kept it safe?"
The quiet disbelief in his voice cut her off. It was evident he did not believe her.
