Chapter 71: Battle of Wills in the Reception Hall

Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Battle of Wills in the Reception Hall

"What’s wrong?" Elysia asked, looking at Cassiel with concern.

He opened his eyes and replied calmly, "It’s morning. You’re the lady of Draevenor Manor now. There will be plenty of matters waiting for your attention."

The explanation sounded perfectly reasonable.

Elysia nodded. "You’re right."

She carefully climbed out of bed before drawing the bed curtains closed, giving him some privacy to continue resting.

As Clara helped her wash and arrange her hair, the warmth lingering on Elysia’s cheeks gradually faded.

Yet her thoughts kept drifting back to what had happened only moments earlier.

At first, Cassiel had wanted to hold her while they slept.

Then, quite suddenly, he had let her go.

She replayed every word they had exchanged but couldn’t think of anything she had said wrong.

There could only be one explanation.

He must have remembered the woman he truly loved. Feeling guilty, he had decided he couldn’t allow himself to grow too close to another woman.

That was why he had stopped.

Elysia lowered her gaze.

It was alright though.

She could understand.

Just as she finished dressing, Clara entered from outside.

"Your Grace, the guests from Rose Hall have arrived."

Elysia nodded calmly. "Have Lady Lillian wait for me in the reception hall."

Clara hesitated before saying, "It’s... not only Lady Lillian. Lady Melissa came with her."

Elysia wasn’t surprised in the slightest.

"In that case, invite them both to wait."

"Yes, Your Grace."

A short while later, Elysia stepped into the reception hall.

The moment Melissa saw her, she rose enthusiastically.

"Your Grace! I heard about the little misunderstanding at yesterday’s verse salon. My poor Lillian caused you such trouble, so I’ve brought her here personally to apologize."

Her smile was warm and overflowing with sincerity.

At least, on the surface.

Elysia returned a faint smile.

"How thoughtful."

Encouraged, Melissa continued, "When you think about it, she’s only a young girl. She’s reached the age where thoughts naturally begin turning toward marriage. When she saw His Highness the Crown Prince—so noble and so handsome—it was only natural for her to admire him. She simply wanted him to notice her. Her methods were admittedly clumsy, but surely that’s understandable."

If Elysia hadn’t already spoken privately with Lillian yesterday, she might actually have believed every word.

Instead, she merely lifted her teacup and took an unhurried sip without saying anything.

Melissa carefully watched her expression before cautiously broaching the real subject.

"Actually... His Highness calls Duke Cassiel ’Uncle,’ and Lillian is the Duke’s cousin. When you think about it, it isn’t such an impossible match, is it?"

There it was.

Her true purpose.

Elysia gently set down her teacup, a calm smile touching her lips.

"His Highness does indeed address my husband as ’Uncle.’ However, the Crown Prince’s marriage is a matter for Her Majesty to decide." She looked steadily at Melissa. "Just as Lady Lillian’s marriage should be decided by her own mother."

Melissa laughed awkwardly.

"What I mean is, we’re all family now. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to strengthen those ties? You and Her Majesty are sisters-in-law. You may enter the palace whenever you wish. If you could simply put in a few good words..."

Behind Elysia, Miriam finally lost her patience.

"Her Grace is already overwhelmed with household affairs every day. How could she possibly go to the palace just to arrange someone else’s marriage?"

Melissa’s smile vanished instantly.

She shot Miriam an icy glare.

"When your betters are speaking, a servant should know when to keep silent."

The room fell silent.

Thud.

Elysia deliberately set her teacup down with enough force for the crisp sound to echo through the hall.

Melissa instinctively looked toward her.

The faint smile had disappeared entirely from Elysia’s face.

"Miriam came with me from Hartwell Manor. She is the only maid who has served me since before my marriage. When you insult her, you insult me—and by extension, the Hartwell family."

Melissa’s expression changed immediately.

"Your Grace, you’ve misunderstood. I didn’t mean—"

"Please leave."

Elysia rose gracefully to her feet.

"I have many matters requiring my attention today. I won’t be keeping you any longer."

Without another glance, she turned and walked out.

Miriam followed close behind.

Silence settled over the reception hall.

Lillian shifted uncomfortably before quietly tugging at her mother’s sleeve.

"Mother, let’s go. There’s no point staying."

Melissa let out a cold snort.

"This is precisely the point. I want Elysia to see my determination. If she refuses to help me, I’ll make certain she regrets it."

Lillian sighed helplessly.

"But Mother, we’re the ones sitting here waiting. Her Grace is busy with household affairs. She probably won’t even notice how long we’ve remained."

Melissa jerked her sleeve free.

"You ungrateful girl! You’ve already started speaking on her behalf? It’s all because you’re useless. You couldn’t even attract your own cousin’s attention. How could you possibly hope to catch the Crown Prince’s eye?"

Lillian lowered her head.

"I’m neither beautiful nor especially talented. What exactly was I supposed to use to attract them?"

Melissa lifted her chin proudly.

"That’s exactly why you need me."

She turned sharply toward Clara, who remained standing quietly by the doorway.

"You. Bring fresh tea and another plate of pastries."

Clara looked at her for a moment before replying, "I’ll ask Her Grace first."

She turned and left without another word.

Inside the study, Elysia had already immersed herself in the household ledgers.

Seeing Clara enter, she looked up.

"What is it?"

Clara hesitated before answering, "Lady Melissa refuses to leave. She requested fresh tea and pastries."

Miriam couldn’t help muttering, "The audacity of that woman."

She looked toward Elysia.

"Your Grace, shall I have someone escort them out?"

Elysia slowly shook her head.

"Lady Melissa is still my husband’s aunt. If we forcibly remove her, it will inevitably become tomorrow’s gossip."

She remembered all too well how close Melissa seemed with Duchess Yvette.

If Melissa stormed out claiming she had been thrown out of Draevenor Manor, half of the capital would be saying by tomorrow that the Duchess of Draevenor disrespected her husband’s elders.

That was exactly the outcome Melissa wanted.

And Elysia had no intention of giving her that satisfaction.