Perhaps she really had loved him once.
Or perhaps...
Vaelen had simply become the last remaining thread connecting her to a happier past.
The last reminder of the days when Hartwell Manor had still been filled with laughter.
Elysia swallowed hard.
The sob threatening to escape never quite made it out.
When she spoke again, her voice was soft.
Steady.
"I’m only waiting for His Grace to wake."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"No matter how long it takes, I’ll wait."
She carefully placed the candle back into its holder.
Then she lowered herself to her knees.
Her forehead touched the cold stone floor.
The impact echoed softly through the quiet chapel.
When she finally stepped outside, she paused in surprise.
Vaelen and Leonhart were still there. Neither had left.
Which meant...
They had likely heard every word she had spoken inside.
Leonhart was the first to recover. His face brightened immediately.
"Perfect timing."
He stepped forward eagerly.
"Vaelen and I are heading to the House of Hundred Flavors for breakfast. Come with us. It’s been years since the three of us shared a meal together."
Elysia didn’t even hesitate.
"No."
Leonhart blinked.
"No?"
"I’m returning to Draevenor Manor."
"But—"
He looked genuinely disappointed.
"When we were younger, we’d go there all the time. We always had fun."
A faint smile crossed Elysia’s face.
But she still shook her head.
"Things are different now. We were children then. We could do as we pleased."
Her expression softened.
"We’re no longer children."
Leonhart opened his mouth again.
Before he could continue, another voice interrupted.
"Sylrienne’s birthday banquet is in a few days."
Vaelen finally spoke.
His gaze remained fixed on Elysia.
"You’ll attend, won’t you?"
He spoke slowly.
Deliberately.
As though the answer mattered far more than it should.
Elysia remembered that banquet well.
In her previous life, she and Vaelen had only recently become engaged.
Naturally, she attended.
Knowing Sylrienne disliked her, she had spent days carefully selecting a gift.
After all, the princess would one day become her sister-in-law.
Back then, she desperately wanted to belong.
To be accepted.
Instead, that banquet became one of the most humiliating days of her life.
Her relationship with Vaelen worsened.
And she became the subject of countless whispers throughout Caelvyr.
"You don’t need to be nervous."
Vaelen’s voice pulled her back to the present.
"It’s only a small gathering. Mostly family."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"My mother invited a few noble daughters from the capital."
He emphasized those final words.
The meaning was obvious.
The banquet wasn’t merely a birthday celebration.
It was a matchmaking event.
Queen Ilara intended to find suitable candidates for the future Crown Princess.
Elysia couldn’t understand why he felt the need to tell her.
Did he think she would be jealous? Upset?
Her lips curved slightly.
"You’re of age, Your Highness. It is only natural for you to marry. If you happen to meet someone you like, I hope things go well."
She smiled politely.
"When the wedding comes, I’ll prepare a generous gift."
Vaelen’s expression darkened instantly.
Ever since the banquet, ever since Elysia chose Cassiel, nothing had felt right.
When she used to follow him everywhere, he found her irritating.
Now she ignored him completely.
And somehow, that irritated him even more.
The realization made him furious.
Before he could reply, Elysia had already turned away.
She left without another word.
Leonhart watched her disappear down the path.
Then he scratched his head.
"She really does sound like an elder nowadays. The way she talks..."
He shuddered dramatically.
"She’s starting to sound like my grandmother."
A cold laugh escaped Vaelen.
"Then stop calling her Elysia."
His voice was sharp.
"You should address her properly."
Leonhart blinked.
"What?"
Vaelen folded his arms.
"She’s your elder now. You should call her ’My Lady.’"
Leonhart stared.
The bitterness in Vaelen’s voice was impossible to miss.
After a moment, he cautiously asked,
"Are you... upset?"
Vaelen’s expression immediately darkened.
"Why would I be upset?"
His answer came too quickly.
"I’m delighted. Once I choose a wife and she becomes Crown Princess, I’ll be thrilled."
Leonhart remained silent.
For some reason, he didn’t believe a word of it.
Meanwhile, Elysia returned to Draevenor Manor.
The moment her carriage stopped, Bertha hurried forward.
Relief flooded her face.
"Your Grace."
"Thank goodness you’ve returned."
Elysia’s heart immediately tightened.
"What’s wrong?"
Her expression changed.
"Did something happen to His Grace?"
"No, no."
Bertha quickly waved her hands.
"His Grace is fine."
Only then did Elysia relax.
Bertha lowered her voice.
"It’s Lady Roxana."
Elysia paused.
"Roxana Asheford?"
Bertha nodded.
"She arrived not long ago. And she refuses to leave."
Elysia frowned slightly.
She knew exactly who Roxana was.
Melissa’s eldest daughter.
A woman infamous throughout Draevenor Manor.
"Has she caused trouble?"
Bertha sighed.
"Not yet."
Then she added quietly,
"But she usually does."
As they walked deeper into the courtyard, Bertha continued explaining.
"Lady Roxana is only a year younger than His Grace. For years, she wanted to marry him. Back when General Asheford was alive, she begged repeatedly. But the General refused. He intended to marry her to one of his trusted officers instead."
Elysia nodded. She had heard rumors of that.
"What happened?"
"Lady Roxana made such a scene that the arrangement eventually fell apart."
Bertha looked thoroughly unimpressed.
"Afterward, she married the third son of an earl."
Elysia considered that.
"That sounds like a respectable match."
"It should have been."
Bertha glanced around before lowering her voice further.
"But the third son is frail."
She coughed awkwardly.
"Particularly in matters between husband and wife."
Understanding dawned immediately.
Elysia said nothing.
Bertha leaned closer.
"Lady Roxana wasn’t satisfied. So over the years..."
A look of distaste crossed her face.
"She’s been taking on quite a few extra gentlemen on the side."
Elysia’s brows rose slightly.
This was certainly not the sort of scandal one discussed openly.
Yet somehow, she wasn’t surprised.
After all, if Lucien was any indication, the Asheford family seemed exceptionally talented at creating trouble.
And judging by Bertha’s expression...
Roxana’s arrival today promised exactly that.