Chapter 95: The Name on His Lips

Chapter 95: Chapter 95: The Name on His Lips

Queen Ilara’s expression darkened.

On the bed, Vaelen drifted in and out of consciousness. His face was pale, his breathing uneven, and his lips moved faintly as though he were speaking to someone in a dream.

Ilara stepped closer and bent down to listen.

The moment she caught the name he whispered, her brows knitted together.

A short while later, Emperor Zephyrus arrived.

Before he had even crossed the threshold, his voice rang through the chamber.

"How is Vaelen? Has he awakened yet?"

The physicians and attendants hurriedly bowed.

"Your Majesty."

Ilara rose and offered a graceful curtsy.

Zephyrus walked directly to the bedside. Seeing his son’s weakened appearance, his expression grew solemn.

"Has the physician determined the cause?"

"The food from this morning’s meal aggravated His Highness’s condition," the chief physician replied respectfully. "Fortunately, treatment was administered promptly. His pulse has stabilized, but he has yet to regain full consciousness."

Zephyrus nodded slightly before turning back toward the bed.

Vaelen’s lips moved once more.

This time, the hoarse whisper was clearer.

"Elysia..."

"I... want the broth..."

Zephyrus frowned.

"What did he say?"

Ilara looked at him meaningfully.

"Your Majesty... I believe it is time we arrange Vaelen’s marriage."

Zephyrus raised an eyebrow.

"What brings this on so suddenly?"

Rather than answering immediately, Ilara gestured toward the bed.

"Listen carefully."

Zephyrus leaned down towards his son’s face.

Sure enough, Vaelen murmured weakly,

"Elysia..."

The Emperor slowly straightened.

His expression immediately became grave.

Ilara seized the opportunity.

"Elysia is already the Duchess of Draevenor, yet she still occupies our son’s thoughts. Who knows what she may have said or done in private? Look at Vaelen now. Even in his delirium, he calls for her."

There was unmistakable resentment in her voice.

Zephyrus shot her a sharp look.

"What does this have to do with Elysia? She has conducted herself impeccably since becoming the Duchess of Draevenor."

"...On the contrary, time and again, it has been Vaelen who crossed the line and offended her. She never behaved improperly after becoming Cassiel’s wife but had to suffer repeatedly from Vaelen’s conduct. If anyone has forgotten his place, it is our son."

His gaze hardened further.

"Rather than blaming Elysia, perhaps you should reflect on how you’ve raised him."

Ilara lowered her head, chastened.

"I spoke only out of concern for our son."

Zephyrus rubbed his temples.

Looking at Vaelen lying unconscious on the bed, he couldn’t help feeling a headache brewing.

Regardless of the cause, this situation could not continue.

If word ever spread that the Crown Prince repeatedly called his aunt by her given name while unconscious, the imperial family would become the laughingstock of the entire kingdom.

More importantly...

If Cassiel ever heard about it...

The consequences would be impossible to predict.

After a long silence, Zephyrus sighed.

"You are right about one thing..."

"His marriage should indeed be settled as soon as possible."

A wife, responsibilities, and children of his own...

Perhaps they would finally help Vaelen sever these lingering attachments.

Zephyrus considered the matter carefully.

"I originally thought the Corvis girl was suitable..."

"But after everything that happened at Oren Lake..."

He hesitated.

Ilara immediately sensed an opportunity.

"Your Majesty, the Corvis family remains an excellent choice. Lord Corvis may have been reprimanded today, but he is still a capable minister."

"...Besides, Vaelen seems to think highly of Deborah."

Zephyrus looked at her skeptically.

"Are you certain? Does he truly like her?"

Almost as if mocking her confidence...

Vaelen whispered Elysia’s name once again.

Ilara’s smile stiffened for the briefest moment before she composed herself.

"Even if his feelings aren’t deep yet, they will deepen after marriage. Many couples begin as strangers. Affection grows over time."

Zephyrus remained silent for a while.

Finally, he exhaled.

"Very well..."

"He is your son. You may begin making the arrangements."

Relief flashed through Ilara’s eyes.

"I understand, Your Majesty."

---

After breakfast, Elysia took a leisurely stroll through Draevenor Manor.

Several courtyards were still undergoing repairs after the recent renovations. She paused occasionally to inspect the progress, asking a few questions here and there and exchanging casual words with the craftsmen and servants.

Not long afterward, Miriam returned from outside.

"Your Grace, I happened to pass by Rose Hall earlier. I heard Lady Melissa shouting."

Elysia looked at her curiously.

"What happened?"

Miriam lowered her voice.

"I asked one of the maids. It turns out Lady Lillian went out this morning."

Clara blinked in surprise.

"Lady Lillian left the manor?"

"Is that unusual?" Miriam asked.

"Very."

Clara nodded emphatically.

"In the past, she hardly stepped outside even once throughout the year."

Elysia was equally surprised.

"Lillian merely went out. Why would Lady Melissa become so angry over something like that?"

Miriam’s eyes widened.

"Your Grace, you should have heard what she was saying. She called Lady Lillian shameless. She even accused her of secretly going out to meet some random man."

Clara frowned.

"Yet her own son visits the Velvet Lantern every other day. I’ve never once heard Lady Melissa scold him."

Elysia sighed quietly.

Melissa’s favoritism had become so blatant that even the servants could see it.

No wonder Lillian had grown increasingly timid over the years.

Later that morning, Elysia sat in the study with pen and paper before her.

She carefully drafted an invitation.

It was addressed to Madam Rennor, asking her to bring her nephew to Draevenor Manor two days later.

Her thoughts were simple.

If Lillian and Madam Rennor’s nephew proved compatible, perhaps Lillian could finally marry into a kinder household and escape the suffocating environment she had endured for so many years.

After finishing the letter, Elysia read it through twice.

It was the first formal invitation she had ever written as Duchess.

Unsure whether the wording was sufficiently proper, she decided to seek Cassiel’s opinion.

She carried the letter to his study.

Before reaching the doorway, she heard voices inside.

Someone appeared to be delivering a report.

She distinctly caught the words...

"Crown Prince."

Elysia instinctively paused outside.

The voices within immediately fell silent.

A moment later, Cassiel’s calm voice drifted through the doorway.

"Elysia. Come in."

She entered obediently.

Cassiel looked at her for a moment before asking, "Did you come because you heard the Crown Prince fell ill?"

Elysia shook her head honestly.

"I came to ask you about this invitation. I only learned about His Highness’s illness after I reached your door."

Cassiel studied her quietly.

Satisfied that she was telling the truth, his expression softened slightly.

"He ate something his body couldn’t tolerate."

"I see."

Elysia nodded without much surprise.

Vaelen had always possessed a frail constitution.

There were many foods he could never eat.

In her previous life, she had memorized every one of those dietary restrictions.

Whenever she prepared meals for him, she carefully avoided every forbidden ingredient. She often reminded him as well.

Unfortunately, Vaelen usually found her reminders irritating.

He dismissed them as needless nagging.

Only after falling ill from eating the wrong food would he reluctantly admit she had been right.

By then, pale with pain, he would quietly ask her to prepare him a bowl of medicinal broth.

It was a recipe her aunt had personally taught her.

Years ago, her aunt had developed it out of concern for her Uncle’s weak stomach. The broth was both nourishing and remarkably effective. Later, she had passed the recipe on to Elysia, telling her it might someday help someone she cared about.