Chapter 52: Chapter 52: The Compensation
Vaelen stared at Elysia.
For a long moment, he simply stood there, saying nothing.
His thoughts churned.
Regret.
Confusion.
Frustration.
All tangled together until he could barely make sense of them himself.
Across the room, Cassiel noticed.
His brow furrowed.
The fingers resting on his wheelchair’s armrest tapped lightly once before he let out a soft, impatient click of his tongue.
The sound was enough.
Vaelen blinked and returned to the present.
His jaw tightened.
"Aunt Elysia."
The title felt foreign on his tongue.
Cassiel’s expression did not improve.
King Zephyrus, meanwhile, noticed the strange atmosphere immediately.
His gaze shifted between the two men.
"What brings you here?" he asked.
Vaelen glanced toward the kneeling Queen Ilara and Sylrienne.
"Mother and Sylrienne have both disappeared from the banquet. People are beginning to ask questions."
Cassiel gave a low, unimpressed laugh.
King Zephyrus snorted.
"People?"
His eyebrow rose.
"You mean you’re curious."
Vaelen offered no denial.
King Zephyrus pointed toward Sylrienne.
His expression darkened once again.
"Your sister."
His voice carried equal parts anger and disappointment.
"On her own birthday, she couldn’t behave herself."
Sylrienne lowered her head further.
King Zephyrus continued.
"She plotted against your aunt."
Vaelen stiffened.
"Aunt Elysia?"
"She purchased aphrodisiac wine."
King Zephyrus rubbed his forehead.
"And somehow managed to give it to the wrong person."
His voice grew increasingly exasperated.
"Your mother drank it instead."
Understanding slowly settled over Vaelen’s features.
"If not for the Duchess realizing something was wrong and informing me in time, this palace would have become a laughingstock."
A strange feeling twisted in Vaelen’s chest.
"So when Aunt Elysia came looking for you earlier..."
His voice trailed off.
King Zephyrus frowned.
"What else would she have been doing?"
Vaelen fell silent.
His gaze dropped.
He had thought she came to find him.
The realization left an unpleasant bitterness in his mouth.
Before the silence could stretch further, Cassiel spoke.
"There is one thing I find interesting."
King Zephyrus looked toward him.
"What is it?"
Cassiel’s expression remained calm.
Too calm.
"When my wife went to seek Your Majesty, she encountered the Crown Prince."
King Zephyrus nodded.
"That seems to be the case."
Cassiel folded his hands loosely.
"Then it follows that the injury she sustained earlier was caused by His Highness."
The room became noticeably quieter.
King Zephyrus froze.
Then he remembered.
The confrontation.
The wall.
The accusation.
And Elysia rubbing her back afterward.
His face darkened immediately.
"Excellent."
The word dripped with sarcasm.
He turned first toward Queen Ilara.
"The daughter you raised."
Then toward Vaelen.
"And the son you raised."
Neither mother nor son dared respond.
King Zephyrus took a steadying breath before looking at Cassiel and Elysia.
His tone softened slightly.
"The wrong done to you today will be properly addressed."
Then his attention snapped back to Vaelen.
"As for you."
Vaelen straightened automatically.
"You injured the Duchess."
King Zephyrus’ voice was cold.
"You will bear all costs related to her treatment."
Vaelen lowered his head.
"Yes, Father."
"Furthermore, you are Crown Prince."
King Zephyrus’ eyes narrowed.
"Your behavior toward your elder was disgraceful."
His judgment came swiftly.
"You are suspended from attending court for seven days."
Vaelen’s expression stiffened.
"A week?"
"You will spend that week copying texts on propriety, duty, and respect."
King Zephyrus showed no sympathy.
"Perhaps then you will remember how to conduct yourself."
Vaelen clenched his jaw.
But he did not protest.
The matter was settled.
Only later did Elysia discover what King Zephyrus meant by making things right.
She and Cassiel had barely returned to Draevenor Manor when another royal carriage arrived behind them.
Several attendants carried in a large chest.
When it was opened, Elysia nearly forgot how to breathe.
Gold.
Silver.
Enough to fill the entire chest.
And resting atop the coins was an exquisite ivory scepter.
It was nearly the length of a man’s forearm and adorned with emeralds and rubies that sparkled brilliantly beneath the afternoon light.
Elysia carefully lifted it.
The ivory felt cool and impossibly smooth beneath her fingertips.
Wonder filled her eyes.
"This is truly mine?"
Her voice was almost reverent.
"So beautiful."
The Hartwell family had never been poor in status.
But wealth was another matter.
Her father, General Calen Hartwell, and her brothers had spent enormous sums supporting soldiers’ families and veterans injured in service.
Most years, money entered the household only to leave again.
Luxury had always been scarce.
She had never seen a piece of ivory this large or this flawless.
A ridiculous thought suddenly crossed her mind.
If being shoved by Vaelen earned gifts like this...
Perhaps she should have let him shove her twice.
Suppressing a smile, she glanced toward Cassiel.
He sat quietly nearby.
Since leaving the palace, he had spoken very little.
His expression remained unreadable.
Detached.
Distant.
Elysia studied him for a moment.
Then she arrived at the most logical explanation.
At the palace, he had needed to defend her.
The marriage itself had been arranged by King Zephyrus.
Showing her respect publicly was expected.
Privately, however...
His indifference returned.
The conclusion did not particularly hurt.
After all, Vaelen had been much the same.
One face before others.
Another behind closed doors.
At least Cassiel was still far kinder than Vaelen had ever been.
When trouble came, he stood beside her.
That alone was worth appreciating.
A knock sounded at the door.
Bran entered.
"Your Graces."
He bowed.
"A physician has arrived from the palace. His Majesty ordered a full examination for Her Grace."
Cassiel merely grunted.
Elysia hesitated.
Then she said carefully,
"My lord... perhaps you would prefer to wait outside?"
Cassiel looked at her.
His expression remained impossible to read.
After a moment, he gave a brief nod.
Without another word, he gestured for Bran to wheel him from the room.
The door closed behind them.
Elysia stared after him briefly before looking down at the ivory scepter once more.
Its gemstones caught the sunlight beautifully.
Her mood immediately improved.
If Cassiel ever requested an annulment, the gift belonged to her personally.
And if it came to that...
She could sell it.
Combined with the gold and silver from the royal treasury, she would never have to worry about money again.
For the first time since her rebirth, the future felt a little more secure.
And that thought was worth more than all the rubies in the world.
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