Fated Hearts: Reborn to be His Duchess

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: An Unwelcome Discovery

With those final words still hanging in the air, Vaelen brushed past Elysia and strode into the inner chamber.

The room was quiet.

Sunlight filtered softly through the curtains.

Cassiel lay motionless upon the bed, his features calm and composed even in sleep.

For a moment, Vaelen simply stood there.

Since childhood, he had admired this uncle more than anyone.

Even more than his father.

Cassiel Drakemont had always seemed untouchable.

Invincible.

Only now, with the Duke unconscious, did Vaelen dare to study him so openly.

His gaze swept across the room.

Then paused.

Something felt... off.

His eyes drifted toward the inner side of the bed.

A pillow rested beside Cassiel’s.

The sheets were slightly wrinkled.

The mattress carried the unmistakable impression of another sleeper.

Someone seemed to have spent the night there.

Vaelen’s expression stiffened.

A strange discomfort settled in his chest.

Surely not.

Surely Elysia wasn’t actually sleeping beside him.

Outside the chamber, Elysia had stopped to speak with Clara.

The maid looked troubled.

One glance was enough for Elysia to realize something had happened.

She quietly motioned for Bran to accompany the Crown Prince instead.

Bran immediately understood.

Inside the room, Vaelen was still staring at the bed when Bran entered.

The steward smiled warmly.

"Your Highness truly is filial. The moment you heard His Grace had awakened, you came to visit."

Vaelen barely heard him.

His eyes remained fixed on the creased sheets.

Finally, he spoke.

"Does Elysia sleep here every night?"

Bran blinked.

Then laughed.

"What sort of question is that, Your Highness?"

His answer flowed naturally with some amusement.

"His Grace and Her Grace are lawfully wedded husband and wife. Of course they share a bed."

Vaelen’s jaw tightened.

"...But on my way here I seemed to have seen another bed outside."

Understanding dawned on Bran’s face.

"Oh."

He scratched the back of his head.

"That was my doing."

"You?"

"I thought Her Grace might find caring for His Grace inconvenient."

His expression turned sheepish.

"So I arranged a separate bed for her."

Vaelen felt a flicker of relief.

Only for Bran to immediately destroy it.

"But Her Grace refused."

The relief vanished.

Bran smiled.

"She said marrying His Grace was her heartfelt wish."

His tone softened.

"And that she couldn’t possibly be happier."

Something sharp twisted inside Vaelen’s chest.

Heartfelt wish.

Couldn’t be happier.

The words echoed unpleasantly.

Bran, as if completely oblivious to the effect he was having, continued speaking.

"Although..."

Vaelen immediately looked up.

At last.

There it was.

The truth.

The flaw in the story.

Perhaps—

"Your Highness."

Bran’s expression grew unusually serious.

"You really shouldn’t address Her Grace by her given name."

Vaelen stared.

"...What?"

Bran nodded earnestly.

"You ought to call her Aunt."

The Crown Prince nearly choked.

Bran continued without mercy.

"Her Grace is kindhearted and unlikely to take offense."

His voice lowered.

"But if His Grace heard you addressing her so casually, he would certainly be displeased."

"Aunt?"

The word sounded ridiculous coming from Vaelen.

Bran seemed confused by his reaction.

"Well, she is your uncle’s wife."

Vaelen gritted his teeth.

"Would Uncle truly take her side?"

The question escaped before he could stop it.

Because none of this made sense.

His uncle had loved another woman.

Everyone knew that.

Cassiel had carried that affection for years.

How could he possibly favor Elysia?

How could he accept a marriage arranged while he lay unconscious?

How could he—

Bran’s expression brightened.

"Your Highness has no idea."

Vaelen immediately regretted asking.

"The first time His Grace awakened, he asked for no one except Her Grace."

Bran’s smile widened.

"He practically collapsed into her arms."

Vaelen’s face darkened.

"The second time he woke, he handed the entire household authority over to her."

Bran crossed his arms proudly.

"In my opinion, His Grace is extremely pleased with his bride."

Every sentence landed like another blow.

Bran chuckled.

"And once His Grace fully recovers, he’ll probably spoil Her Grace beyond reason."

Silence.

Heavy silence.

If anyone else had said such things, Vaelen would have dismissed them instantly.

But this was Bran.

The man was painfully honest.

Hopelessly loyal.

And utterly incapable of deception.

Which meant...

Everything he was saying was true.

Uncle truly treated Elysia well.

Uncle genuinely trusted her.

Uncle had no intention of casting her aside.

The realization struck harder than Vaelen cared to admit.

A sour bitterness rose in his throat.

Bran continued talking.

Something about the Duke’s recovery.

Something about household matters.

Vaelen didn’t hear a single word.

The room had begun to feel strangely suffocating.

He barely remembered leaving.

Only that when he reached the outer chamber, Elysia was standing there speaking with Clara.

The sight of her immediately reignited his irritation.

She turned at the sound of his footsteps.

Before she could speak, Vaelen’s voice cut through the room.

Cold.

Sharp.

Unreasonably angry.

"Elysia."

She frowned.

"What now?"

His hands clenched at his sides.

For a moment, he looked as though he wanted to say much more.

Instead, only one sentence emerged.

"Don’t regret this."

Elysia stared.

"What are you talking about?"

But Vaelen had already turned away.

Without another glance, he strode away from the manor.

His cloak snapping behind him like a storm cloud.

Elysia watched him leave.

Then looked at Clara.

Then back toward the door.

"...Has he lost his mind?"

Clara wisely remained silent.

Elysia shook her head.

Whatever strange fit had possessed the Crown Prince was not her problem.

"Now then."

She returned her attention to Clara.

"You were saying Roxana refuses to leave?"

Clara nodded immediately.

"She claims she has headaches. Then she says her belongings aren’t packed. Every time we prepare the carriage, she finds another excuse."

Elysia smiled sweetly.

A smile that never boded well for anyone.

"I see."

She folded her hands.

"Take two guards and put her in the carriage."

Clara’s eyes brightened.

"And if she complains, carry her out."

Clara nearly laughed.

"Yes, Your Grace."

__

Meanwhile, outside the manor gates, Vaelen was heading toward his carriage when someone stepped into his path.

A young woman.

Graceful.

Beautiful.

Delicately dressed.

Roxana lowered herself into a perfect curtsey.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

Her voice was sweet as honey.

"I pray Your Highness is in good health."

Most men would have found her charming.

Vaelen did not.

He had spent his entire life surrounded by beautiful women.

Flirtation bored him.

Manipulation bored him even more.

His expression remained completely blank.

For the first time in years, Roxana felt uncertain of her own appeal.

Still, she gathered her courage and stepped closer.

"Your Highness."

Vaelen sighed.

"What is it?"

Her smile became brighter.

"I am Roxana Asheford. Daughter of General Benedict and cousin to the Duke of Draevenor."

Vaelen finally looked at her.

Then slowly raised an eyebrow.

"You’re Roxana?"

She smiled hopefully.

"Yes."

The Crown Prince’s expression turned immediately dismissive.

Without another glance, he continued toward his carriage.

As he passed, he tossed a single sentence over his shoulder.

"You’ve already been married."

His voice was cold.

"So stop pretending to be an unmarried maiden."

Roxana froze.

The smile shattered on her face.

And for the first time that day, someone else’s pride suffered almost as much as Vaelen’s.

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