––– 𝓐𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒚𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒔 , tell the truth — when was the last time you felt in love with @dupnts ?
weight shifts uncomfortably at such heavy and upfront question. lips purse in concentration, trying to find a way to answer this without sounding distasteful. the last time she ever felt love for him? one could say that the strong emotion was never, truly felt. in it’s place instead, a fake idea of what love should be. it was hollow. empty. superficial. céline feels like she’s dating the shell of a man. theodore is there physically but not emotionally. however, there were those good moments. early on in their relationship. it wasn’t always arguments and backhanded conversations. no, céline remembers those times where she felt the butterflies in her stomach before dates, sneaking kisses betwixt busy schedules, or subtle touches during press tours. that’s the closest she’s ever been to the intangible concept of love.
then, she thinks of the future of this wretched love. them sharing her family’s large château and having nothing to show for in terms of their relationship. sharing a bed with someone you can’t stand to be in the presence of for longer than an hour. céline does not want a love like this. yet, she has no choice. for the sake of public relations and her future as a queen: the best option was to wed theodore duponts. the country depended on this, as patriarchal as it is. céline has no choice but to love him. regardless of what she wants.
“ it’s been a long time. ” céline answers softly, clearing her throat as the overwhelming emotion of sadness overcomes her. “ a very long time. ”