Chapter 163: A Quiet Vindication

Chapter 163: Chapter 163: A Quiet Vindication

Elysia frowned.

"Scheming? What are you even talking about, Aunt?"

Melissa let out a sharp, humourless laugh.

"You planned every step of this farce."

Her voice was filled with resentment.

The silence only made Melissa’s anger feel more desperate.

"When the Marchioness of Gildemont came calling at the Manor, you pretended you were asleep and refused to see her, just to make her dislike you even more."

Elysia remained silent.

Melissa continued, growing more agitated with every word.

"In public, you never brought up Lillian’s marriage. You acted as though you had nothing to do with it. As though you had washed your hands off the entire matter. But behind everyone’s backs, you went straight to His Majesty and asked for a royal decree."

Her eyes burned with accusation.

"And today, you knew I followed you out. You deliberately said someone was going to fetch the Crown Prince, but the only person who showed up was Reeve."

She pointed towards Elysia.

"You knew I would bring people to catch you in the act. You set me up so I would make a fool of myself!"

Elysia was genuinely taken aback.

So Melissa had figured out that much.

She had actually managed to trace back most of what had happened.

There were still differences between Melissa’s assumptions and the truth, though.

In Elysia’s original arrangement, Melissa had never been a part of the plan at all.

Had everything gone as expected, Melissa would not even have been present at the betrothal banquet. After offending King Zephyrus in the past, she should never have received an invitation to Vaelen’s betrothal celebration.

Yet she had come.

And Elysia had heard that Queen Ilara herself had sent the invitation.

That unexpected decision had saved Elysia a great deal of trouble.

With Melissa present, everything had happened more quickly than Elysia could have arranged herself.

And far more cleanly.

She had not needed to seek out the Marchioness through roundabout means or make unnecessarily complex arrangements.

Melissa had delivered her directly to the truth.

"You vicious little snake!" Melissa spat. "You—"

Smack!

Before the next insult could leave her mouth, a loud, crisp slap cut through the garden.

Melissa’s head snapped to the side.

The sting spread instantly across her cheek.

The Marchioness of Gildemont lowered her hand and stood before her, her expression cold enough to make the surrounding air seem to freeze.

"You call that humiliating you?"

Her voice was dangerously calm.

"No. This is humiliating you."

Melissa stood frozen.

Half her face had gone numb.

Her ears rang, and for several seconds she could only stare at the Marchioness in disbelief.

The Marchioness’s anger did not lessen.

"Schemes, schemes. That is all you talk about."

Her gaze shifted briefly towards Elysia.

"She is barely more than a young woman. How exactly do you imagine she could mastermind all of this?"

Elysia immediately lowered her lashes.

The sharpness in her expression disappeared.

In its place came a faintly bewildered look, almost innocent.

Seeing her wide-eyed appearance, Ysoria felt her heart twist.

She had spent the entire evening listening to Melissa describe Elysia as calculating, jealous, malicious and lacking morals. Someone without a shred of propriety.

Yet standing before her now, Elysia looked nothing like the woman Melissa had described. She looked like a young woman trying to do her best for the people around her.

A sudden pang of guilt settled in Ysoria’s chest.

"And besides," the Marchioness continued, turning back to Melissa, "she is already the Duchess of Draevenor. What exactly could she possibly want from you?"

Melissa’s lips parted.

Ysoria did not give her a chance to answer.

"What do you have that she needs?"

Her voice hardened.

"You are fortunate she did not decide to plot against you after everything you have said about her."

Melissa’s face flushed.

"And you dare claim that she blocked your daughter’s marriage?"

Ysoria’s expression became one of utter contempt.

"It was your own foolishness that damaged Lillian’s prospects. She was the one who cleaned up your mess and went to His Majesty for a royal decree."

She glanced towards the pavilion.

"And after all that, you stand here calling her names?"

Melissa’s face grew increasingly pale.

The Marchioness’s eyes narrowed.

"So all those terrible things you said about her before were lies?"

Melissa’s mouth opened.

"I..."

She had no answer.

Elysia lowered her gaze.

Then she gave a soft sigh.

"It is my fault."

Melissa’s heart jumped.

Her first instinct was to rush forward and stop Elysia.

She knew that tone.

Whenever Elysia began speaking like that, things never seemed to end well for her.

But it was already too late.

Elysia continued quietly.

"On my first day after marrying into Draevenor Manor, Aunt sent someone to summon me to greet her."

Her voice held no accusation.

"I did not go."

Melissa’s face tightened.

"Later, when I took over the management of the household, I had her entry token withdrawn."

She looked towards the Marchioness.

"You are the Duchess. Of course, the authority over the household should pass to you."

Ysoria frowned.

"But why did you not greet her?"

Her expression remained stern, but there was more confusion than anger in her voice.

"She is Cassiel’s aunt. That makes her your aunt as well. A new bride should pay her respects."

Elysia lowered her gaze.

"Because that morning, I went to the palace first to see His Majesty and Her Majesty."

She spoke carefully, as though afraid of offending anyone.

"I thought that if I skipped them and went to Aunt first, people might say I did not understand proper order."

She paused.

"They might even criticise Aunt for it."

The Marchioness stared at her for a moment.

Then she gave a firm nod.

"That is the proper order."

She turned towards Melissa with a look of pure contempt.

"What makes you think a new Duchess should come to you before the palace?"

Her voice sharpened.

"Why not simply claim the throne while you are at it?"

Melissa’s face went pale.

She had never expected Ysoria to turn on her so completely.

But the Marchioness was not finished.

"And the entry token?"

Elysia answered softly.

"Draevenor Manor’s inner courtyard is heavily guarded."

She folded her hands before her.

"No one is allowed inside without permission. Even Aunt cannot enter without a token."

The Marchioness listened carefully.

"Cassiel trusted her and gave her one. But Xanther took it and slipped into the courtyard late at night."

Her expression remained calm.

"He intended to attack Cassiel."

Ysoria’s eyes widened.

"Attack?"

She stared at Elysia.

"Xanther dares?"

"Yes."

Elysia’s voice remained steady.

"Out of respect for Benedict, Cassiel chose not to pursue the matter. He let it go."

She looked directly at the Marchioness.

"If you do not believe me, you can ask him yourself. The shock of it was one of the things that brought Cassiel out of the coma before his body had fully recovered and almost made him damage his legs further."

The Marchioness was shocked at the revelation.

She could tell from Elysia’s expression that she was telling the truth.

And suddenly, several things that had seemed insignificant before took on an entirely different meaning.

Not long ago, Ysoria had seen Xanther herself.

She had praised his appearance.

She had even given him a valuable Etched Heirloom Pendant.

Thinking about it now made her skin crawl.

If Xanther had truly entered Draevenor Manor with the intention of harming Cassiel, then she had nearly shown favour to someone who had intended violence against her own nephew.

Her face darkened.

Elysia, however, lowered her head even further.

"No matter the reason, I should have handled it better."

Her voice was quiet.

"If I had been more considerate of Aunt’s feelings, perhaps she would not resent me so much."

Melissa’s eyes widened.

She wanted to lunge at Elysia.

How could she possibly say something like that now?

How could she make herself sound as though she were the one at fault?

Yet the Marchioness believed every word.

Her anger softened despite herself.

"How is any of this your fault?"

She looked at Elysia with something close to pity.

"You did everything right."

Melissa immediately tried to speak.

"She—"

The Marchioness turned towards her.

"Enough!"

Melissa’s voice died in her throat.

For the first time that evening, she realised she had completely lost control of the situation.

Every accusation she had made against Elysia had been turned back upon her.

The Marchioness had come believing she would expose the Duchess of Draevenor.

Instead, she had uncovered Melissa’s lies, her role in delaying Lillian’s marriage and the truth behind the conflict at Draevenor Manor.

And Elysia stood quietly before them, looking as though she had done nothing more than explain herself.

Melissa’s hands curled into fists.

She had been certain tonight would be the end of Elysia.

Instead, somehow, she had become the one standing beneath the Marchioness’s cold scrutiny.

The humiliation burned hotter than the sting still lingering across her cheek.

And Elysia?

She merely lowered her eyes, saying nothing more.