Chapter 87: The Unlit Candle

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: The Unlit Candle

Was it because she had finally paid her respects to her father...

And poured out the feelings she had kept buried for so long?

Lillian herself couldn’t quite tell.

---

After returning to Draevenor Manor, the carriage had only just come to a stop when a delicate floral fragrance drifted through the air.

A sweet, melodious voice followed.

"Cassiel! You’re finally back!"

A young girl hurried towards the wheelchair, her face filled with unconcealed delight.

"I’ve been waiting for you for so long."

Elysia instinctively turned to look.

The girl appeared to be no more than sixteen or seventeen years old.

She wore a pale yellow dress that accentuated her youthful charm.

Her cheeks were flushed with excitement as she gazed at Cassiel with sparkling eyes.

Cassiel’s first reaction, however...

Was to turn and look at Elysia.

Following his gaze, the young girl smiled brightly.

"You must be the Duchess. You’re so beautiful. You truly look every bit the daughter of General Hartwell."

Elysia returned the smile politely.

"Thank you."

Just as she was about to continue...

The girl had already turned back towards Cassiel.

Her tone became noticeably softer.

"Cassiel... Mother and I travelled such a long way to get here. The journey was unbearably hot. We even encountered some suspicious men along the road. Fortunately, the guards you sent protected us."

Only then did Elysia notice...

Beneath the girl’s cheerful manner...

There seemed to be the faintest trace of hostility directed towards her.

It was subtle.

Yet impossible to ignore.

Cassiel’s gaze drifted back to Elysia once more before he calmly asked,

"Where is your mother?"

"She’s waiting in the reception hall."

The girl smiled sheepishly.

"I simply missed you too much. So when I heard you had returned..."

"I ran over immediately."

She blinked expectantly.

"Cassiel... Aren’t you happy to see me?"

Cassiel never answered the question.

Instead, he looked at Elysia.

His voice softened.

"You should return and rest first. Our guests are the wife and daughter of one of my former lieutenants. There are a few matters I need to discuss with them."

Only then did the girl seem to remember Elysia’s presence.

She hurriedly explained,

"Your Grace, please don’t misunderstand. There’s absolutely nothing between Cassiel and me. He has always treated me like a younger sister."

Elysia smiled gently.

"I understand."

Satisfied, the girl happily moved behind Cassiel’s wheelchair.

"I’ll push you."

Bran instinctively stepped forward to stop her.

However, she had already grasped the handles.

Unfortunately...

After only a short distance, she was breathing heavily.

Her arms clearly lacked the strength.

Flushing with embarrassment, she reluctantly handed the wheelchair back to Bran.

Instead, she walked beside Cassiel, chatting away happily as though they had endless things to discuss.

Listening to their fading voices...

Elysia quietly returned to her own courtyard.

Clara quickly caught up with her.

"Your Grace, please don’t take it to heart."

She genuinely feared Elysia might misunderstand.

"The young lady’s surname is Rennor. Her father served as His Grace’s first lieutenant. He also instructed His Grace in martial arts when he was younger."

Elysia looked at her.

"If I remember correctly, Lieutenant Rennor is still being held in Noverk."

Clara nodded.

"Yes."

Elysia naturally knew the entire story.

Years ago, Cassiel had ordered Lieutenant Rennor to pursue the retreating enemy deep into Noverkian territory.

Instead he had fallen into an ambush.

The Noverkians admired both his loyalty and military talent.

Rather than killing him, they had imprisoned him and repeatedly attempted to persuade him to defect.

Lieutenant Rennor never yielded.

He remained under house arrest in Noverk to this day.

Since then Cassiel had taken full responsibility for supporting his wife and daughter.

Seeing Elysia’s calm expression, Clara quietly added,

"His Grace doesn’t harbour those sorts of feelings for Miss Rennor. They’re probably discussing something important today. Miss Rennor is still young. She doesn’t really understand proper boundaries between men and women. So she’s... a little overly familiar with His Grace."

Elysia smiled faintly.

"I know. I understand."

---

Back in her courtyard...

Elysia inspected the newly renovated rooms once more.

Finding nothing amiss, she sat down with the household ledgers again.

Time slipped by unnoticed.

Before long, night had fallen.

After reviewing accounts for so long, Elysia’s eyes had begun to ache.

She wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed.

But then she remembered what Cassiel had said before.

We should gradually grow accustomed to one another.

That single sentence successfully drove away her drowsiness.

She continued reading the ledgers at the table.

She didn’t know how much time had passed.

Eventually, she found herself resting one cheek against her hand.

Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

Just as she was about to drift asleep...

Miriam’s gentle voice sounded beside her.

"Your Grace?"

Elysia slowly opened her eyes.

"What is it?"

Miriam looked rather conflicted.

"A maid from Miss Rennor’s household has arrived. She says His Grace asked her to deliver a message."

Elysia rubbed her temples.

"Let her come in."

A cheerful young maid entered the room before bowing politely.

"Greetings, Your Grace. His Grace asked me to inform you that he won’t be returning tonight. He asks that you retire without waiting for him."

Elysia quietly stifled a yawn.

Honestly...

That was exactly what she had hoped to hear.

Still she asked politely, "Where will His Grace be staying tonight?"

The maid smiled brightly.

"His Grace is escorting Madam Rennor and Miss Rennor home. So naturally..."

"He’ll be staying there for the night."

Escorting Miss Rennor home.

Staying there for the night.

Those words instantly drove away the last traces of Elysia’s drowsiness.

A thought suddenly surfaced in her mind.

Could Miss Rennor be the woman Cassiel truly loves?

The maid curtsied once more.

"I’ve delivered His Grace’s message. I’ll take my leave now. Please rest well, Your Grace."

After speaking, she quietly withdrew from the room.