Chapter 162: Truth Behind the Trap

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Truth Behind the Trap

Ahead, the pavilion lay half hidden among flowering branches.

The garden surrounding it was quiet, the evening air carrying the faint fragrance of blossoms.

From where the two women stood, the thick clusters of leaves concealed most of the pavilion, but through a narrow gap, the outline of a man and a woman could be seen.

The man stood with his back turned.

His face was hidden.

But the woman was unmistakably Elysia.

The Marchioness’s jaw tightened.

Without another word, she strode forward.

Melissa followed eagerly behind her, hardly able to contain her excitement.

She had been waiting for this moment.

If Elysia was truly meeting Vaelen in secret, then everything she had said would finally have proof.

The Marchioness took another step.

Then a soft sigh drifted from the pavilion.

"...missed you a lot."

The Marchioness’s brows shot up.

"Unbelievable," she muttered.

Beside her, Melissa gave a quiet scoff.

"Married to the Duke of Draevenor and still sneaking off to whisper things like that to another man."

Her voice was barely concealed excitement.

"Just wait. Next, they will be all over each other."

Privately, Melissa was thrilled.

If the Marchioness caught Elysia red-handed, there would be no way for her to explain herself.

This was exactly what Melissa had wanted.

She turned eagerly towards the Marchioness.

"You are the Duke of Draevenor’s own aunt. You have to stand up for him. A woman like that should be dragged straight to the ducking pool."

The Marchioness’s expression became colder.

She was already preparing herself to confront Elysia.

Then the man’s voice carried clearly from the pavilion.

"I have missed her too."

Melissa froze.

The Marchioness, who had been about to step forward, stopped as well.

The man’s voice had sounded calm and familiar.

But it was not Vaelen’s voice.

The man continued.

"But my mother still will not let me see Lillian. She refuses to approve our match."

Silence fell.

The Marchioness frowned.

Something was wrong.

This did not sound like a secret affair at all.

The conversation had nothing to do with Elysia and Vaelen.

Instead, they were discussing Lillian.

Melissa’s face gradually lost its colour.

She recognised that voice.

Reeve.

A chill ran down her spine.

Elysia had not come here to meet Vaelen.

She had been speaking to Reeve.

And now Melissa realised something far worse.

She had been led directly into this.

The moment she had heard Elysia asking Miriam to summon Vaelen, she had assumed she had uncovered an opportunity.

But Elysia had known exactly what she was doing.

Melissa’s fingers trembled.

Inside the pavilion, Reeve sighed.

"Lillian and I fell for each other the first time we met."

His voice carried clearly through the flowering branches.

"You were going to help us formalise things that day. No one expected Mrs. Asheford to storm in."

Melissa’s heart sank.

Reeve continued, unaware of the two women standing just beyond the shrubs.

"She did not know who I was. She thought I was some nobody and berated my mother right in front of everyone. She even said I looked like trouble."

His voice held a trace of embarrassment.

"It was humiliating."

Elysia replied gently.

"She even said you had no father and no proper upbringing, and that if you had a mother at all, she must have been nothing but a disgrace."

Melissa’s breathing stopped.

"She said it in front of the Duchess of Merlinspire herself. I tried to stop her so many times."

The Marchioness slowly turned her head.

Her gaze settled on Melissa.

Her teeth clenched.

A moment ago, Melissa had been telling her that Elysia was deliberately preventing Lillian’s marriage.

That Elysia had rejected Reeve’s interest in Lillian.

That Elysia was the reason Lillian’s future remained uncertain.

Yet the conversation coming from the pavilion told an entirely different story.

The Marchioness’s voice was cold.

"Did you not just tell me that the Duchess was the one holding Lillian’s marriage hostage?"

Melissa’s lips parted.

She struggled to answer.

"Because that is not what I am hearing."

Melissa shifted uncomfortably.

Her gaze moved away from the Marchioness.

"She did not explain things clearly that day."

The Marchioness’s eyes narrowed.

Melissa hurried to defend herself.

"And besides, what was she doing meeting Reeve alone tonight? What was that about?"

Her voice became sharper.

"Maybe she has her eye on him."

Before she could finish, Elysia’s calm voice floated out from the pavilion.

"Reeve, you do not need to worry."

Melissa fell silent.

The Marchioness listened.

"I have been thinking about you and Lillian," Elysia continued. "A few days ago, I went to see His Majesty and asked that he formally grant your betrothal."

Reeve sounded startled.

"You did?"

"Yes, and he graciously agreed," Elysia replied. "The decree should arrive soon. Once it does, even your mother will have difficulty objecting."

There was a long silence.

Then Reeve’s voice came again, filled with disbelief.

"A royal decree?"

He sounded almost overwhelmed.

"Your Grace, I... I do not know what to say."

His voice trembled slightly.

"I truly do not know how to thank you."

"There is no need," Elysia said warmly.

"Lillian is the Duke of Draevenor’s cousin. That makes her family to me as well."

Her tone was gentle and sincere.

"The two of you care deeply for each other. Of course, I would help. I would not let you carry regret for the rest of your lives."

Reeve was silent for a moment.

Then he spoke again, his voice quieter.

"I thought there was nothing I could do."

Elysia’s expression softened, though he could not see it.

"What makes you say that?"

"Her mother refused every time we asked. She believed Lillian should marry someone with a better position. She had been so determined to find Lillian another match."

Elysia sighed softly.

"I know."

Reeve’s voice carried a trace of bitterness.

"That day, after she learned that I had no title of my own, she became even more adamant. She thought Lillian should marry someone wealthier or better connected."

He gave a humourless laugh.

"She was even willing to have Lillian become a concubine to His Highness or some other titled lord if that was what it took to secure her future."

Outside the pavilion, Melissa’s face turned rigid.

Reeve continued, "She never listened to what Lillian wanted."

His voice lowered with heartache for his beloved.

"Lillian was devastated. She cried so many times because her own mother kept telling her that her feelings did not matter."

Elysia was silent for a moment.

Then she said gently, "Lillian deserves to choose the person she will spend her life with."

Reeve’s voice softened.

"That is what she has always wanted. She never cared that I lacked a title. She only wanted us to be together."

"And that is why I decided to help," Elysia replied.

She paused.

"I could not stand by and watch someone be forced into a marriage simply because others thought they knew what was best for her."

The words struck Melissa like a blow.

The Marchioness’s expression grew colder with every sentence.

Elysia continued, "The two of you care deeply for each other. I would not let you carry regret for the rest of your lives."

She paused.

"Just promise me you will treat Lillian well."

"I will."

Reeve answered immediately.

"I swear it."

Outside the pavilion, Melissa stood speechless.

Every excuse she had prepared vanished.

Every accusation she had made against Elysia had been exposed as a lie.

The woman she had claimed was deliberately obstructing Lillian’s marriage had gone to the King herself and secured a royal decree.

The woman she had accused of pursuing men had been arranging Lillian’s future.

And Melissa had led the Marchioness directly here to witness it.

By now, the Marchioness understood everything.

Her expression had turned frighteningly cold.

"Melissa."

She used her given name.

Each syllable was deliberate.

"You have some nerve."

Melissa’s face went white.

It was over.

She knew it immediately.

The Marchioness had never addressed her so coldly before.

Her legs suddenly felt weak.

She stumbled backwards.

Then her heel caught against the edge of the stone path.

She lost her balance and dropped hard onto the ground.

The sound startled both people inside the pavilion.

Reeve stepped out first.

He looked towards the shrubs.

His expression changed when he saw the two women standing there.

For a moment, he simply stared.

Then, recognising the Marchioness, he straightened and inclined his head politely.

"Marchioness of Gildemont. Mrs. Asheford."

Elysia followed a moment later.

Surprise crossed her face when she saw them.

"Marchioness of Gildemont, what are you doing here?"

Her gaze then shifted towards Melissa.

Her expression stilled.

For only a moment, she said nothing.

Then she sighed softly.

That single look said everything.

As if she had finally understood what was happening here.

Melissa felt anger flare through her chest.

She pushed herself up from the stone path and brushed the dust from her skirts.

Whatever pretence of courtesy she had maintained until now was gone.

She pointed directly at Elysia.

"Do not pretend you are innocent."

Her voice shook with anger.

"Tonight happened exactly the way you planned it."

Her eyes burned with resentment.

"This was your setup."