Chapter 84: The Duke’s Forgotten Fury

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: The Duke’s Forgotten Fury

Panic seized Deborah.

She turned desperately towards Vaelen.

"Your Highness! Please!"

Vaelen frowned.

He was already in his uncle’s bad graces.

If Deborah continued dragging him into this, it would only make matters worse.

But then he remembered...

She was Alhena.

A trace of pity surfaced in his heart.

After a brief hesitation, he spoke.

"Uncle... Isn’t four hours a little too severe?"

Still kneeling on the floor, Barek also looked up pleadingly.

"Yes, Your Grace! My sister has always been delicate. She won’t be able to endure four hours."

Cassiel remained unmoved.

"So... She’s delicate and cannot endure four hours of kneeling."

He looked at them indifferently.

"But my Duchess is expected to endure your slander and insults?"

His calm question instantly silenced the room.

Even Elysia was momentarily taken aback.

Cassiel spoke decisively.

"Take her away. Four full hours. No less."

Seeing that he had no intention of relenting, Deborah suddenly turned towards Elysia.

Tears streamed down her face.

"Your Grace... Please have mercy. We grew up together. You used to share your pastries with me. You even gave me your finest fabrics."

Your Grace.

How ironic.

Where had that respect been when Deborah had deliberately implied there was still something between her and Vaelen in front of Cassiel?

Elysia looked at Cassiel.

"My lord..."

"Perhaps today’s punishment could be made a little lighter."

She wasn’t pleading out of sympathy.

According to Miriam, Deborah had been starving herself for days to achieve a slimmer figure.

Four hours of kneeling might genuinely break her.

Besides...

Deborah had come today as the Crown Prince’s guest.

His Majesty and Her Majesty clearly favoured her as a future Crown Princess.

If Cassiel punished her too harshly on Elysia’s behalf, it could create unnecessary friction with the imperial family.

She added quietly, "If she faints or worse..."

"It may become rather troublesome."

Cassiel nodded thoughtfully.

"You make a fair point.

Bran, who had already reached the doorway, immediately stopped and waited for further instructions.

Deborah secretly let out a sigh of relief.

As expected...

Elysia is still soft-hearted.

She can never completely forget old friendships.

Although it irritated her that Cassiel listened to Elysia so readily...

At least she had escaped.

"Very well."

Cassiel looked towards Bran.

"You and the others will keep watch. If she faints..."

"Pour water over her. Then continue."

Deborah’s eyes widened.

Cassiel continued as though discussing the weather.

"If she dies..."

"Then the punishment ends. Find a suitable coffin and return her to the Corvis Family."

Deborah’s face instantly turned ghostly pale.

The previous hour of kneeling had already been unbearable.

Four hours...

She might truly die.

Bran asked seriously, "Your Grace..."

"What kind of coffin should I prepare?"

Cassiel answered without hesitation.

"Any kind you like. An expensive one is fine. Draevenor Manor is not short of money."

Bran bowed.

"Understood."

Without another word, he resumed dragging Deborah outside.

Her cries echoed through the room.

No one dared intervene.

As they reached the doorway, Bran kindly offered some advice.

"Save your strength, Lady Deborah. You’ll need it if you intend to survive."

Deborah’s sobs caught in her throat.

Bran continued thoughtfully, "By the way..."

"What kind of coffin do you prefer? What sort of wood? If you truly die..."

"I’ll choose one you’ll like."

Deborah’s legs went weak.

She no longer had the strength even to cry.

An oppressive silence settled over the room.

No one found Cassiel’s actions excessive.

Nor did anyone dare question them.

This...

Was the Duke of Draevenor whom everyone feared.

Cold.

Decisive.

Ruthless.

He had personally secured the throne for Emperor Zephyrus and crushed every force that opposed him.

Years of peace...

And the long months he had spent unconscious...

Had caused many people to forget exactly what kind of man he truly was.

Even Elysia felt a faint chill in her heart.

For the first time...

She truly understood the immense gulf between herself and Cassiel.

At present he chose to treat her well.

But what if one day...

He chose not to?

Would he discard her just as mercilessly?

Would she, like Deborah, have no power to resist?

After Cassiel and Elysia left, an oppressive silence lingered inside the private room.

The servants continued bringing dishes and wine.

Yet hardly anyone had the appetite to eat.

One young nobleman whispered, "From now on..."

"We must show the utmost respect to Her Grace."

Another nodded vigorously.

"The Duke clearly dotes on the Duchess."

Listening to their conversation, Vaelen’s expression darkened.

An indescribable bitterness churned within him.

It felt as though he had once possessed something valuable...

Yet never appreciated it.

He had discarded it without a second thought.

Only to watch someone else treasure it beyond measure.

A fierce sense of possessiveness suddenly flared within him.

She should have been mine.

---

Meanwhile, beside Oren Lake.

Lillian remained quietly seated before her father’s memorial.

She continued speaking to him in a soft voice, sharing the thoughts she had kept buried in her heart.

There had been little happiness in her life recently.

So instead...

She spoke of the past.

Before she realised it, tears were already slipping silently down her cheeks.

How she wished...

She could return to those days.

Life on the northern frontier had been harsh.

The biting winds never ceased, and sand filled the air year-round.

Yet those had been the happiest days of her life.