Chapter 62: The Legendary Duke’s Flaw

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: The Legendary Duke’s Flaw

The more Sylrienne thought about her situation, the more agitated she became.

She had been confined to her chambers by royal order.

Today of all days.

The very day Alhena might appear.

Sylrienne threw herself onto a chair and clenched her fists.

"If Father hadn’t punished me, I could have attended the salon myself!"

The resentment in her voice was unmistakable.

"It’s all Elysia’s fault!"

A sudden thought flashed through her mind.

Her eyes lit up.

"Meg!"

The maid jumped.

"Y-Your Highness?"

Sylrienne pointed at her.

"Change clothes with me."

Meg blinked in confusion.

"What?"

"You stay here and pretend to be me," Sylrienne said excitedly. "I’ll dress as a maid and go to the salon. No one will recognize me."

The color drained from Meg’s face.

She immediately dropped to her knees.

"Your Highness, please don’t!"

Sylrienne frowned.

"Why not?"

"If His Majesty discovers it, I’ll be executed!"

Meg’s voice trembled.

"Impersonating a royal family member is a capital offense. I wouldn’t survive it."

The memory of Autumn surfaced in her mind.

One mistake at Sylrienne’s birthday banquet had been enough to send the maid to the harsh laundry yards.

Compared to that, this would be far worse.

"You’re such a coward," Sylrienne snapped.

Tears gathered in Meg’s eyes.

"My life doesn’t matter, Your Highness."

She hesitated before continuing.

"What worries me is you. If His Majesty learns you’ve disobeyed his order, he may become truly angry. Right now you’re only confined. But if he believes you’re openly challenging his authority..."

Meg didn’t finish the sentence.

She didn’t need to.

Sylrienne understood.

Her father rarely lost his temper with her, but when he did, the consequences were severe.

Slowly, she sat back down.

Meg cautiously raised her head.

"Perhaps there’s another way."

Sylrienne looked at her.

"What way?"

"I can attend in your place."

Meg spoke more confidently now.

"I’ll observe everything carefully and find Alhena for you."

Sylrienne’s eyes widened.

"You mean identify her?"

Meg nodded.

"I’ll find out exactly who she is. Then afterward, I can report everything back to you."

The more Sylrienne considered it, the more appealing it sounded.

Once she knew Alhena’s identity, meeting her later would be easy.

"Not bad."

She finally nodded.

"Then you’ll go with my brother."

Meg immediately bowed.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Before she could leave, Sylrienne grabbed her arm.

Her expression became unusually serious.

"Listen carefully."

Meg straightened.

"You must make absolutely certain you identify the right person. Don’t come back with the wrong woman."

Sylrienne’s voice lowered. "And be polite. Don’t offend her. Not even a little."

Meg blinked.

She had served the princess for years.

Never had she seen Sylrienne speak with such caution about anyone.

Not the King.

Not the Queen.

Not even Duke Cassiel.

The mysterious author truly held a unique place in her heart.

Meanwhile, after accompanying Cassiel to King Zephyrus’s study, Elysia offered her greetings and then departed with Lillian.

Cassiel watched her retreating figure for several moments.

A faint crease appeared between his brows.

King Zephyrus noticed immediately.

Amusement flickered across his face.

His younger brother was rarely so distracted.

"What exactly happened at the betrothal banquet?" Cassiel finally asked.

King Zephyrus thought back.

"That day, I asked Elysia directly whom she wished to marry."

Cassiel remained silent.

"For a while, she didn’t answer. She seemed preoccupied."

King Zephyrus smiled faintly.

"Then Sylrienne interrupted and declared Elysia wanted to marry Vaelen Drakemont."

Cassiel’s expression darkened.

"And?"

"Elysia denied it immediately."

King Zephyrus leaned back.

"She said she respected the Crown Prince but had no romantic feelings for him."

Cassiel listened carefully.

"Then she said she had admired you for a long time."

King Zephyrus chuckled.

"And that becoming your wife would leave her with no regrets in this lifetime."

Cassiel frowned.

"We barely knew each other."

His tone carried obvious skepticism.

"How does one admire someone they’ve never met?"

King Zephyrus looked puzzled.

"Must admiration require a meeting?"

He waved a hand dismissively.

"The Duke of Draevenor’s reputation is known throughout the kingdom. Any young lady could admire you from afar."

Cassiel didn’t look convinced.

King Zephyrus studied him.

"What’s wrong?"

A teasing smile appeared.

"Are you dissatisfied with your wife?"

Cassiel remained silent.

King Zephyrus’s smile widened.

"You know, I distinctly remember someone getting drunk."

Cassiel immediately knew where this was going.

Unfortunately, so did King Zephyrus.

"You grabbed my arm and begged me to let you marry the Hartwell girl."

King Zephyrus laughed.

"Then you cried and said you weren’t worthy of her. That was you wasn’t it? Or have I misremembered?"

A faint flush rose to Cassiel’s ears.

He lifted a hand to cover part of his face.

King Zephyrus looked delighted.

"You’re actually embarrassed! I never thought I’d see the day."

Cassiel refused to respond.

King Zephyrus leaned forward.

"Wait."

A new realization struck him.

"You and your wife haven’t..."

He waggled his eyebrows.

"...made any progress?"

Cassiel’s expression stiffened.

"My legs have not completely recovered. Besides..."

He paused.

"She seems rather unaware of such matters."

King Zephyrus blinked.

"Unaware? But she’s married now. Shouldn’t she know? I think Elysia is being rather neglectful of her duties."

Cassiel shook his head.

"It isn’t her fault."

His voice softened slightly.

"General Hartwell died before he could teach her much. She has no mother, no elder sister. There was no one to explain these things."

King Zephyrus stared at him.

His brother really was hopelessly smitten.

Every word sounded like a defense when he hadn’t even said anything.

After a moment, he nodded solemnly.

"You’re right. This is Queen Ilara’s fault."

Cassiel looked up.

King Zephyrus continued with complete seriousness.

"I placed her in charge of the wedding arrangements. She should have prepared Elysia properly."

Then a mischievous smile appeared.

"Although..."

"What?"

King Zephyrus grinned.

"Why don’t you just teach her yourself?"

Cassiel froze.

For several seconds, he simply stared.

"Teach her?"

"Of course."

King Zephyrus looked entirely reasonable.

"Who better?"

Cassiel suddenly found himself at a loss.

Battlefields were simple.

Politics were manageable.

Negotiations were straightforward.

This?

This was something else entirely.

After a long silence, he admitted honestly,

"I wouldn’t know where to begin."

King Zephyrus burst out laughing.

"The famous Duke Cassiel. The man who mastered poetry, strategy, and warfare before most boys finished their studies. Everyone says you can do anything. But now there’s finally something you can’t?"

Cassiel sighed.

"No man is perfect."

Then he lifted his eyes toward his brother.

For perhaps the first time in years, there was a trace of genuine helplessness in them.

"Brother..."

King Zephyrus was still smiling.

"Yes?"

Cassiel cleared his throat.

"Teach me."

King Zephyrus’s grin widened instantly.

"Gladly."