Chapter 117: The Wisest Choice

Chapter 117: Chapter 117: The Wisest Choice

The Duke of Merlinspire had little interest in allowing the matter to extend any further.

With the crowd already buzzing from what had happened, he raised a hand and summoned two maids.

"Take Lady Deborah to the west wing. Find her something dry to wear, and request the physician to pay a visit."

"Yes, Your Grace."

The maids immediately approached Deborah.

She allowed them to help her away from the pond, but the moment she was out of the crowd’s direct attention, her tears began to fall in earnest.

Humiliation burned beneath her skin.

She couldn’t understand it.

She had rushed towards Elysia at the perfect moment. She had been certain of her footing and timing. Yet somehow, in the crucial instant, Elysia had moved from the spot where she should have been.

How?

Deborah replayed the moment again and again in her mind, but the answer still escaped her.

Then there was Vaelen.

He had always been gentle and tolerant with her, never showing any impatience or displeasure. She had believed that, no matter what happened, he would stand firmly at her side. She was his future Crown Princess, after all.

Yet today, he had barely spared her a glance.

Worse, he had reprimanded her in front of everyone.

The more Deborah thought about it, the more her humiliation turned into resentment.

It was all because of Elysia.

If she had not been there, none of this would have happened.

Her hands curled into fists.

She would remember today’s disgrace.

And one day, she would make Elysia pay for every bit of it.

Elysia watched Deborah being led away without saying a word.

The girl’s tearful expression and trembling figure had done little to move her. What caught Elysia’s attention instead was Vaelen’s reaction.

There had been no tenderness.

No frantic concern.

Not even the instinctive sympathy she had once believed he possessed.

Oddly enough, she wasn’t surprised.

Perhaps she had misunderstood Vaelen in her previous life. Perhaps he had never hated her as deeply as she had once thought, nor cared for Deborah as sincerely as Deborah imagined.

He simply cared too much about himself.

His dignity.

His reputation.

His pride.

Anyone who threatened those things would eventually find themselves on the wrong side of his temper.

Fortunately, she had already made the wisest decision of this life.

Staying away from him.

She turned her attention back to the gathering just as the Duke of Merlinspire stepped forward.

"Everyone, please don’t let this little accident spoil the afternoon."

He smiled broadly, gesturing towards the shaded pavilions.

"Refreshments have been prepared. The lilies are still in full bloom, so please, continue enjoying yourselves."

The guests readily took the opportunity to move on. Before long, the crowd had broken into smaller groups, conversation gradually replacing the excitement of the pond.

The Duke then approached Elysia.

"Your Grace, I hope the incident caused you no inconvenience."

Elysia returned the courtesy with a polite smile.

"Not at all, my lord. Thank you for your concern."

Seeing that she truly appeared unharmed, the Duke seemed reassured.

"I am glad to hear it."

He inclined his head respectfully before turning away to attend to the other guests. As host, he still had a gathering to manage, and several important nobles were already waiting for his attention.

Elysia watched him leave.

Then she felt it.

A familiar gaze.

Vaelen.

He was watching her from across the gathering.

There was something in his expression that made her skin crawl, but Elysia gave him no satisfaction by reacting to it.

She continued to ignore him, turning her attention elsewhere.

Yet his gaze remained fixed upon her, persistent and unsettling, as though he intended to bore a hole straight through her.

After enduring it for several moments, Elysia’s patience finally wore thin.

She turned around and met his eyes directly.

"Finished checking on Lady Deborah, your future Crown Princess?"

Her tone was perfectly composed.

"She fell into the water while trying to see the fish, lost all dignity, and then tried to falsely accuse me. Perhaps she needs your attention more."

Vaelen’s gaze stayed fixed on her.

"Did you push her?"

"I already said I didn’t."

Elysia’s displeasure sharpened.

"Unless you’ve decided that Lady Deborah’s accusations are automatically the truth, I’m not sure what more you expect me to say."

Vaelen’s expression hardened.

"You always have an answer."

"And you always seem determined to find me guilty."

Elysia gave him a level look.

"Perhaps we should save ourselves the trouble. If you believe her, then go ahead and investigate."

Her lips curved slightly.

"If Lady Deborah’s word is enough to establish the truth, then perhaps I should simply say that Cassiel instructed me to push her."

Vaelen’s face changed immediately.

"Why do you keep bringing my uncle into everything?"

The irritation in his voice was unmistakable.

Elysia almost laughed.

The question was so absurd that for a moment she genuinely didn’t know how to answer it.

"Because he is my husband."

She spoke the words simply, without hesitation.

"Why shouldn’t I mention him?"

The word seemed to strike something deep inside Vaelen.

Husband.

His expression stiffened.

A short distance away, Evren’s face also changed subtly.

He had been standing nearby, but after hearing the exchange, he moved closer and came to stand beside Elysia.

His posture remained respectful, yet there was something quietly protective in the gesture.

Elysia noticed him from the corner of her eye but thought little of it. She assumed he was merely showing courtesy towards a relative.

Neither man’s reaction held much interest for Elysia anyway.

She had merely stated a fact.

She was the Duchess of Draevenor.

Cassiel was her husband.

If Vaelen found that inconvenient, that was hardly her concern.

Before he could respond, hurried footsteps approached from behind.

"Your Grace."

A senior maid from Ismeria’s household came towards her, her expression unusually anxious.

Elysia immediately dismissed Vaelen from her thoughts.

She took a steadying breath and turned towards the maid.

"What is it? Where is Mrs. Rennor?"