Chapter 160: A Debt Across Lifetimes

Chapter 160: Chapter 160: A Debt Across Lifetimes

Elysia drew in a quiet breath and prepared to walk forward.

Then she remembered something.

As though on instinct, she lifted a hand and adjusted her hair in full view of everyone.

Naturally, every gaze followed.

There, gleaming beneath the sunlight, was the gold hairpin Cassiel had chosen for her.

The craftsmanship was exquisite. Fine goldwork caught the light with every slight movement, making it immediately clear that this was no ordinary ornament.

The women gathered outside the Crown Prince’s Wing handled jewels and silks every day. They recognised quality at a glance.

The whispers changed almost instantly.

"I thought only the palace possessed pieces like that."

"I heard His Majesty granted it to her personally."

"Even what Her Majesty wears does not look quite so exquisite."

The voices were soft, but Queen Ilara heard every word.

A flicker of displeasure crossed her eyes before her expression returned to its usual gracious composure.

Elysia continued forward as though she had heard nothing.

By now, the murmuring had begun to fade, replaced by curious glances following the Duchess of Draevenor.

Then the Marchioness of Gildemont spoke.

"The Duchess of Draevenor may be young, but she certainly knows how to make an entrance," she said coolly. "Arriving fashionably late but just in time for everyone to admire how favoured she is."

The other women might have been cautious because of Cassiel.

The Marchioness felt no such restraint.

Truthfully, she had never had a particularly good impression of Elysia. Not only because of Melissa’s words. The last time she had visited Draevenor Manor, Elysia had claimed she was resting and had declined to receive her.

The Marchioness had considered it a serious lack of propriety.

Today, however, she was clearly determined to make things difficult.

Elysia showed no sign of discomfort.

She stepped forward, gave the appropriate bow and said evenly, "Today is His Highness’s betrothal. The Duke was concerned for His Highness and came with me. His leg has not yet recovered enough for swift travel, so we were delayed." 𝖋𝙧ⅇ

She inclined her head slightly.

"I hope you will forgive us."

Everyone knew Cassiel travelled in a wheeled chair.

Everyone knew that meant he could not move as quickly as he once had.

Her explanation was reasonable, precise and difficult to challenge.

The Marchioness found herself briefly at a loss.

Elysia continued calmly, "Thankfully, the banquet has not yet begun. We hurried as best we could and did not miss the appointed hour."

She had not arrived late.

That was undeniable.

The Marchioness could find nothing to seize upon.

Queen Ilara maintained her gracious smile.

"You are right on time."

Her tone was warm as she added, "Come and sit. Once the banquet begins, Vaelen will have to greet the elders."

Her gaze briefly shifted towards the section where the men were seated.

"His leg has not fully recovered yet. He may still be limping a little. Do not laugh at him."

Elysia’s lashes trembled faintly.

The Marchioness glanced at her and said coolly, "How His Highness injured that knee, you know better than anyone. If I were you, I would not dare laugh."

Elysia looked at her.

She did not dislike the Marchioness.

In her previous life, they had crossed paths as well.

The memory surfaced with startling clarity.

It had been the first year after she married Vaelen.

There had been a family banquet at the palace, and the Marchioness had returned to attend. During the feast, someone had suddenly called out that Elysia was skilled with a blade and ought to perform for everyone.

It had been snowing that day.

Her knee had been aching so badly that she could barely stand, let alone perform.

If she forced herself through it, she might not have been able to leave her bed for several days afterwards.

She had clenched her fingers beneath the table and looked towards Vaelen.

Even then, she had been foolish enough to hope he would notice her discomfort.

She had hoped he would speak for her.

Instead, Vaelen had merely glanced at her coldly.

"Go on. It is a holiday. Are you trying to spoil the mood?"

In that instant, her heart had sunk.

Just as despair closed around her and she prepared to rise anyway, the Marchioness had let out a sharp laugh.

"There are plenty of dancers already."

Her gaze had swept across the hall.

"Now you are eyeing the Crown Princess as well. What is it? Was the performance arranged by His Majesty and Her Majesty not entertaining enough for you? Should I play something myself to keep you amused?"

The man who had started it had quickly laughed it off, claiming he had only been joking.

Queen Ilara had smoothed things over, and the matter had passed.

But Elysia had never forgotten it.

After the banquet, she had gone to thank the Marchioness.

The woman had merely looked at her coolly.

"No need to thank me. I was not defending you. I simply do not like seeing people make a scene at the Crown Prince’s Wing."

At the time, Elysia had believed her.

Now, looking at the Marchioness again, she finally understood.

She simply could not stand seeing a young woman being put on display.

Saying that she had acted for the sake of the Crown Prince’s Wing had merely been her way of sparing Elysia the burden of gratitude.

Cassiel had been right.

His aunt’s heart was not bad.

She was simply too easily swayed.

And because she believed what she heard from those she trusted, she could be led into the same trap again and again.

Elysia’s gaze softened almost imperceptibly.

In her previous life, during the second year after she had married into the Crown Prince’s Wing, the Marchioness had died suddenly.

Only much later had Elysia learned that her death had not been an accident.

Someone had carefully laid the foundations of that scheme long before the Marchioness ever realised she was standing in its path.

The thought made Elysia’s fingers tighten slightly at her side.

Some things had changed in this life.

The Marchioness was still alive.

And this time, Elysia would not allow her to walk blindly into the same fate.

For now, however, the Marchioness remained unaware of the weight of Elysia’s gaze.

Elysia took her seat as Queen Ilara had instructed.

The Marchioness remained standing for a moment, her gaze still resting on her.

Elysia could tell she was reconsidering everything she had just heard.

Rather than give her an opportunity to speak first, Elysia calmly said, "I know. It was His Majesty’s own order."

The Marchioness let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh.

"So now you are hiding behind His Majesty again?"

Elysia tilted her head and looked at her.

"Marchioness of Gildemont, you are His Majesty’s aunt. You know him better than most people."

Her voice remained calm, without the slightest hint of defensiveness.

"His Majesty is decisive and clear-minded. He does not hand down severe punishment because of a few whispered words. If he made such a public example of His Highness, then His Highness must truly have crossed a line."

The Marchioness went still.

She was right.

She indeed knew the King well.

King Zephyrus had never been one to punish someone merely because another person complained.

If he had ordered Vaelen to kneel before the entire palace, there had to be a reason.

Her gaze shifted once more to the gold hairpin at Elysia’s temple.

Now that she had calmed down, something finally clicked.

If she remembered correctly, that hairpin had once belonged to Avelisse’s most treasured set of gilded gemstone regalia. ℯ𝐥.

Queen Ilara had admired that set for years.

Yet King Zephyrus had never given it to her.

The Marchioness’s temper was fierce, but she was not foolish.

She looked towards Ilara with new scrutiny.

Ilara sensed the change immediately.

Yet instead of showing the slightest trace of unease, she smiled at precisely the right moment.

"His Majesty and the Duke of Draevenor are brothers, after all," she said gently. "His Highness is still young. If he was disciplined, then he was. It is hardly the end of the world."

Her words sounded reasonable.

Almost too reasonable.

The Marchioness’s expression shifted slightly.

She did not respond.

At that moment, the hour arrived.

The banquet officially began.

Servants entered the hall in an orderly procession, carrying trays of wine and delicacies. Conversations gradually quietened as the nobles turned their attention towards the royal family.

For the time being, the matter was dropped.

Elysia remained composed throughout the opening of the feast.

She could still feel occasional glances directed her way, but she did not react.

She had already learned that the more one tried to defend oneself against rumours, the more suspicious people became.

Let them watch.

Let them wonder.

She had nothing to fear.

Halfway through the feast, Elysia gracefully rose from her seat.

She approached Queen Ilara and dipped into a graceful curtsy.

"Your Majesty, may I be excused for a moment?"