Fated Hearts: Reborn to be His Duchess

Chapter 116: Chapter 116: A Crown Without Comfort

Deborah’s tearful accusation, coupled with her drenched and miserable appearance, immediately stirred the crowd’s sympathy.

Concerned glances turned towards her, while Elysia began to draw looks of suspicion and disapproval.

"Humiliating her is one thing, but to actually try to kill her..."

"She went too far."

"And they say a woman’s resentment is the most dangerous thing of all."

Elysia remained perfectly calm, her expression cool and composed, as though the commotion around her had nothing whatsoever to do with her.

She turned towards Deborah.

"Lady Deborah, if I truly wanted you dead, would I have chosen such an obvious way of doing it?"

Her voice carried clearly over the murmuring crowd.

"If I meant to kill you, there would be far more discreet ways to accomplish it. Why would I first accompany you to the pond in front of so many people, then push you in and just remain here afterwards?"

A few of the onlookers exchanged glances.

Her reasoning was difficult to dismiss.

"Even if no one saw me push you, suspicion would naturally fall on me. I was standing right beside you, after all."

The murmurs quietened somewhat.

Elysia continued, "And let us not forget that you were the one who insisted on coming here. I had no particular desire to approach the pond."

She looked directly at Deborah.

"To claim that I deliberately brought you here with the intention of harming you is simply absurd."

"I can attest to that."

Reeve stepped forward.

Elysia’s gaze settled on him briefly.

She had deliberately waited until he was close enough to witness everything before agreeing to accompany Deborah. In her previous life, he had been nearby when she fell into the pond and had been the one to rescue her.

This time, she had made certain he would be there again.

Reeve was known throughout Caelvyr for his straightforward character. As the heir to Merlinspire, his testimony carried considerable weight among the gathered nobles.

After pulling Deborah from the water, he had been given a dry cloak by one of the servants. He had initially considered offering it to her, but her accusation had quickly changed his mind.

Now he settled the cloak around his shoulders and addressed the crowd.

"Lady Deborah was the one who asked Her Grace to accompany her to the pond. Her Grace did not invite her."

The statement immediately altered the mood.

"So the Duchess couldn’t have planned this."

"Perhaps Lady Deborah really did fall by accident."

"Then why accuse Her Grace?"

Deborah’s fingers curled tightly.

"But that proves nothing!" she protested. "She could have seen her chance and pushed me anyway!"

Elysia lifted an eyebrow.

"Or perhaps you saw an opportunity of your own."

Deborah stared at her.

"What are you suggesting?"

"That you deliberately threw yourself into the pond and intended to blame me."

A fresh murmur travelled through the crowd.

Deborah’s voice rose sharply.

"Why would I do something so absurd?"

"Because you resent me."

Elysia’s reply came without hesitation.

"You have spent years comparing yourself to me. You followed in my shadow since we were young, envied what I had, and never truly accepted the difference between us."

Her gaze hardened.

"And twice now, the Duke of Draevenor has punished you for insulting me."

The spectators exchanged knowing looks.

The friction between the Hartwell and Corvis families was hardly a secret in Caelvyr. Nor had anyone forgotten how Cassiel had publicly humiliated the Corvis family for Elysia’s sake.

Elysia continued, "You wouldn’t dare take your resentment out on the Duke himself, so you have chosen to direct it at me instead."

Deborah’s face drained of colour.

"I... I never..."

She struggled to find a response.

Her eyes reddened, tears gathering until she looked every bit the wronged and helpless victim.

Then she caught sight of someone approaching through the crowd.

Vaelen.

Hope surged through her.

He had come.

Surely he had heard that she had fallen into the pond and rushed over to help her.

Until now, Cassiel had always been present whenever she clashed with Elysia, and his presence had repeatedly resulted in Deborah being punished.

But Cassiel was nowhere to be seen today.

Vaelen was here instead.

With the Crown Prince on her side, Elysia could not possibly continue humiliating her.

Deborah quickly adjusted her posture, allowing the maids nearby to support her as she raised her tear-streaked face towards him.

"Your Highness..."

"Get up."

The cold command stopped her short.

Deborah froze.

Vaelen’s brows drew together.

"What are you doing still sitting on the ground? Have you no sense of propriety?"

Her expression went blank.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen.

Shouldn’t he have rushed to her side?

She stared at him, completely bewildered.

This wasn’t what she had expected.

There was no concern in his voice.

No hurried attempt to comfort her.

No anger directed at Elysia.

"Someone help Lady Deborah to her feet." The Duke of Merlinspire gave the order before the situation could become any more awkward.

Two maids immediately stepped forward and helped Deborah stand.

Only then did the full extent of her disarray become apparent.

Her carefully arranged hair had fallen apart, with several hairpins hanging precariously among the tangled strands. Her summer dress was soaked through, the thin fabric clinging closely to her body.

There were plenty of male nobles among the spectators.

Not all of them were courteous enough to look away.

Deborah’s humiliation would have been severe enough under ordinary circumstances.

The fact that she was soon to become the Crown Prince’s bride made it considerably worse.

Every lingering stare reflected upon Vaelen.

His expression darkened.

Yet when he looked at Deborah, there was no sympathy in his eyes.

Instead, his gaze drifted past her.

It settled on Elysia.

She stood quietly beside the pond, untouched by the chaos around her.

Her silk gown was embroidered with delicate cloud patterns, and the sunlight lent her skin a porcelain-like radiance. Behind her stretched the broad expanse of water, dotted with crimson lilies swaying gently in the breeze.

The contrast between the two women was impossible to miss.

Deborah stood drenched, dishevelled and trembling.

Elysia remained serene and immaculate.

Something about the sight only aggravated Vaelen’s already frayed temper.

Deborah noticed where his attention had gone.

She leaned against the maids supporting her and lowered her voice.

"Your Highness..."

Her voice trembled.

"It was Duchess Elysia. She pushed me into the pond..."

"Enough!"

Vaelen’s voice cut sharply through the gathering.

Deborah recoiled at the harsh rebuke.

His expression was dark with anger.

"Have you not caused me enough embarrassment for one day?"

The tears she’d been holding back finally spilled down Deborah’s cheeks.

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