Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The Scale Tilts
The memories came rushing back.
In her previous life, Autumn had cried and sworn that Elysia had insisted on entering the chamber.
The two guards had claimed she dragged them inside herself.
That she had ordered them to remove their shirts.
That, with her marriage to Crown Prince Vaelen approaching, she wanted one final taste of freedom before becoming a proper wife.
The accusations had been absurd.
Yet everyone believed them.
Elysia had desperately denied every word.
She had tried to explain about the wine, the dizziness, and the trap.
Queen Ilara had immediately ordered the remaining wine examined.
The physician inspected it carefully before announcing there was nothing wrong with it.
No poison.
No drug.
No evidence.
Nothing.
Elysia still remembered the sensation.
As though the ground had vanished beneath her feet and she had fallen into an endless frozen abyss.
When she looked up, she found Sylrienne smiling.
Victorious.
Satisfied.
Proud of what she had done.
Surrounded by whispers, ridicule, and accusing stares, Elysia had knelt on the floor and endured it all alone.
Every gaze had seemed to carry the same judgement.
Even those who had once smiled at her had looked away, unwilling to be associated with a woman whose reputation had supposedly been ruined.
She had searched desperately for someone—anyone—to believe her, only to find herself completely alone.
That helplessness had stayed with her long after the humiliation itself had faded.
The memory still made her blood run cold.
Even now, she could not understand how one woman could deliberately destroy another’s reputation so casually.
But life had taught her an important lesson.
A blade only feels harmless until it cuts your own skin.
The humiliation Sylrienne was experiencing now was no more than a fraction of what Elysia herself had once endured.
And even this felt insufficient.
Suppressing the bitterness rising within her, Elysia lowered her gaze.
"Your Majesty."
Her voice was gentle.
"I’m certain Princess Sylrienne regrets her actions."
The room fell silent.
"She is family," Elysia continued. "Now that I am married to Cassiel, she addresses me as Aunt. For my sake, perhaps we should let the matter rest here."
The words sounded merciful.
Reasonable.
Forgiving.
Which made them all the more effective.
Everyone in the room understood what remained unspoken.
The Duchess of Draevenor was willing to forgive.
Duke Cassiel Drakemont might not be.
King Zephyrus understood immediately.
So did Queen Ilara.
And judging by Sylrienne’s expression, so did she.
The princess spun toward Elysia.
Fury exploded across her face.
"Stop pretending!"
Her voice shook with anger.
"You think I don’t know what you’ve done?"
"If it weren’t for you—"
"Sylrienne!"
King Zephyrus’ roar shook the chamber.
The princess froze.
The King’s face was thunderous.
"Your aunt shows you grace and you repay her with accusations?"
His eyes blazed with disappointment.
"I have indulged you for far too long."
Tears filled Sylrienne’s eyes.
Half rage.
Half fear.
"I didn’t—"
"Silence!"
The command struck like a whip.
For perhaps the first time in her life, Sylrienne looked genuinely frightened.
King Zephyrus turned toward the guards stationed outside.
"Bring them in."
Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor.
A moment later, three people were escorted inside.
Autumn.
And the two palace guards.
The moment Sylrienne saw them, the last traces of confidence vanished from her face.
Elysia observed quietly.
Earlier, when Autumn had escorted her away from the banquet, she had deliberately halted midway and claimed a sudden headache.
A severe one.
She instructed Autumn to summon the royal physician.
The maid had frowned.
"Her Highness ordered me to take you directly to the chamber, Your Grace. Please endure it. A headache is hardly serious."
Before Elysia could respond, Miriam stepped forward.
The slap echoed sharply through the corridor.
Autumn stumbled backward in shock.
Miriam’s voice was ice cold.
"The Princess’s orders matter."
She took another step forward.
"But the Duchess’s health does not?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Have you forgotten who you are speaking to?"
The maid immediately lost her courage.
Clutching her reddened cheek, she hurried off to fetch the physician.
Afterward, Elysia had quietly praised Miriam.
The palace guards waiting near the chamber had been dealt with even more easily.
Sylrienne herself had ensured the area was deserted.
Her own scheme had made everything convenient.
Elysia’s guards restrained the men and removed them before anything could happen.
After that, all she needed to do was wait.
Wait for Queen Ilara.
Wait for King Zephyrus.
Wait for Sylrienne to spring her own trap.
And then watch it collapse.
King Zephyrus’ voice pulled everyone back to the present.
"You three."
His gaze settled on Autumn and the guards.
"Tell me everything."
Autumn immediately threw herself to the floor, too terrified to speak.
King Zephyrus’ expression darkened.
He pointed at the two guards.
"You."
The men served the Crown directly, not the princess.
They had no intention of risking their lives for her.
Just as they opened their mouths—
"Your Majesty..."
A weak voice interrupted.
Everyone turned.
The antidote and acupuncture had finally begun working.
Queen Ilara was awake.
Though still pale and visibly shaken.
King Zephyrus’ expression softened immediately.
"How do you feel?"
The Queen slowly pushed herself upright.
Her gaze moved first to Sylrienne.
Then to Elysia.
Then to the kneeling servants.
Understanding settled across her face.
She had heard enough.
More than enough.
A shadow of shame crossed her expression.
"Your Majesty."
Her voice was quiet.
"Elysia suffered this humiliation because of my daughter."
She lowered her eyes.
"As Queen, I bear responsibility."
She began rising, intent on kneeling.
King Zephyrus immediately caught her wrist.
"You will do no such thing."
His tone was firm.
"This is not your fault."
"But—"
"It is not."
His gaze shifted toward Sylrienne.
Cold, disappointed, and far angrier than before.
"The blame belongs entirely to her."
Every word landed heavily.
"Her malice, recklessness, and the arrogance that made her believe she could destroy another person’s life without consequence."
At that moment, Sylrienne realized something she had never imagined possible.
Her father had no intention to spare her this time.
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