Even though she had done nothing wrong, Elysia still felt inexplicably uneasy.
Almost instinctively, she glanced toward Cassiel.
The lantern light barely reached him.
All she could clearly see was the sharp lines of his jaw.
Unreadable.
Meanwhile, Melissa continued her performance.
"Just a few days ago, she marched into Rose Hall and accused Lucien of trying to murder His Grace."
Her voice dripped with indignation.
"Lucien grew up admiring his cousin. Everyone knows how much he respects him."
She pressed a hand dramatically against her chest.
"He would never dare harm His Grace."
Melissa pointed accusingly at Elysia.
"She was the one manipulating everyone. She exaggerated everything, stole my access medallion, and used it to seize authority for herself."
The more she spoke, the more convinced she seemed.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if this entire affair was planned from the very beginning."
Elysia stared at her.
For a moment, she was genuinely impressed.
Turning black into white so effortlessly was a remarkable talent.
Still...
One particular detail made her confidence waver.
Lucien was Cassiel’s cousin.
Melissa was his aunt.
Family.
Wouldn’t he naturally take their side?
Her gaze drifted toward him again.
Cassiel remained silent.
Then one long finger tapped lightly against the armrest.
Once.
Twice.
Finally, he spoke.
"Take her away."
Melissa’s eyes lit up.
Triumph exploded across her face.
"You heard His Grace!"
She pointed furiously toward Elysia.
"What are you waiting for? Drag this shameless woman away!"
But something was wrong.
The guards behind Cassiel never moved toward Elysia.
Instead, they strode directly toward Melissa.
Before she could react, they seized both her arms.
Melissa froze.
"What are you doing?"
Her voice rose sharply.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Cassiel’s expression never changed.
"Lucien did attempt to harm me."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Melissa’s face drained of color.
"What?"
Cassiel’s tone remained calm.
"Furthermore, I was informed beforehand that the Duchess intended to inspect the stables today."
Melissa’s mouth opened.
Then closed again.
Behind the chair, Bran stepped forward.
"Before leaving, Her Grace informed me of her plans."
His voice carried easily through the courtyard.
"She intended to inspect the horses and stable staff. If she truly planned a secret rendezvous, why would she announce her destination beforehand?"
Melissa’s expression became increasingly ugly.
"But... but..."
She pointed shakily toward the boy.
"She still met him alone!"
Elysia sighed.
The sigh carried a trace of helplessness.
"Because certain matters are better discussed privately."
At those words, Melissa felt a sudden chill.
Elysia turned toward the boy.
Her expression became thoughtful.
"You damaged Lucien’s writing brush. You overfed a warhorse until it died. You’ve caused Draevenor Manor quite a substantial financial loss."
The boy swallowed.
Elysia smiled pleasantly.
"If you tell me who sent you, I’ll forgive the debt."
The boy stiffened immediately.
"No one sent me."
His denial came too quickly.
Too forcefully.
Elysia nodded slowly.
"Of course... You simply happen to resemble Crown Prince Vaelen..."
"You simply happened to appear at Draevenor Manor..."
"You simply happened to spend your days trying to seduce the Duchess."
Her smile widened.
"And all of that happened entirely by coincidence."
The boy looked away.
Elysia continued gently.
"Suppose someone wished to create conflict between His Highness and His Grace..."
"Suppose someone wished to damage Draevenor Manor from within..."
"Using someone who resembles the Crown Prince would certainly be an effective approach."
Melissa’s hands began trembling.
The guards tightened their grip on her arms.
For the first time that evening, genuine fear appeared in her eyes.
Elysia looked at her calmly.
"That’s why I brought him somewhere private. If such rumors spread beyond these walls, the consequences would affect the entire household."
Melissa’s lips moved soundlessly.
No words emerged.
Cassiel watched from his chair.
A faint amusement flickered in his eyes.
Elysia truly had a gift for saying outrageous things with complete sincerity.
She turned back toward the boy.
"If you’re unwilling to speak, there’s little more I can do."
She shrugged.
"I’ll simply sell you to the Velvet Lantern."
The boy blinked.
"...What?"
Elysia looked genuinely puzzled by his confusion.
"You claimed you’re skilled at serving people. Surely that talent should be put to use."
She began calculating aloud.
"Twenty customers a night should clear the debt within six months."
After a brief pause, she added thoughtfully,
"Thirty customers would be even faster."
The boy’s face turned white.
The blood seemed to drain from him all at once.
"Thirty?"
His voice cracked.
"Every night?"
Elysia nodded.
"Efficiency is important."
The boy looked as though he might faint.
Recently, even Roxana visiting him twice in a single day left him exhausted.
Thirty people?
Every night?
He would be dead before the week ended.
Elysia noticed the terror in his eyes.
"So?"
She tilted her head.
"Ready to tell me who sent you?"
The boy clenched his fists.
His expression twisted with indecision.
For a moment, it looked as though he might actually confess.
Then—
"Ah!"
Melissa suddenly cried out.
Her eyes rolled upward.
She collapsed dramatically onto the ground.
The timing was impeccable.
Several maids screamed.
"Lady Melissa!"
"Lady Melissa has fainted!"
The commotion instantly shattered the tension.
The boy seemed to wake from a trance.
Whatever he had been about to say vanished.
His lips snapped shut.
Elysia wasn’t disappointed.
She already knew who was behind the scheme.
Melissa or Roxana. Perhaps both.
The answer hardly mattered anymore.
Servants rushed forward to help the unconscious woman.
Cassiel watched the chaos quietly.
Then he spoke.
His voice wasn’t loud.
Yet every person present heard it clearly.
"When I was occupied with military affairs, management of the household was temporarily entrusted to my aunt."
The courtyard gradually fell silent.
Cassiel continued.
"But I am now married."
His gaze shifted toward Elysia.
Dark.
Steady.
Unwavering.
"The Duchess is the lady of Draevenor Manor."
A brief pause followed.
Then came the final judgment.
"Beginning tomorrow, all household authority shall be transferred to her."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Elysia’s heart skipped a beat.
For a moment, she forgot to breathe.
The household accounts.
The servants.
The keys.
The estates.
The authority.
Everything.
He was giving it all to her.
On the ground, Melissa’s eyelids twitched violently.
Then she finally lost consciousness for real.