That OP thing was either a homage or a trap to lead us into seeing things that weren't there. If the latter, it worked, too.

..............the thing about this is, I actually saw Cecile as Lulu. On three readings. XD So this one is to you, again. While I'm confident in my analytical skills when it comes to these things, obviously my observational ones need a boost. As for that...she's recalling, I think? Even when I thought it was Lulu there, it was still highly likely to be recalling. (I also didn't look at page numbers and got the dramatization of it wrong in my head, hah)

Story sort of went above and beyond 'centric' to downright shippy, though.