Fated Hearts: Reborn to be His Duchess

Chapter 59: Chapter 59: A Mild Tone, A Sharp Blade

Melissa practically beamed with satisfaction.

"The moment Clara delivered your message to Rose Hall, I came straight here!"

She tugged Lillian forward.

"Lillian, hurry and thank your sister-in-law properly."

Elysia’s brows knit together.

"Thank me how?"

Melissa looked surprised by the question.

"By kowtowing, of course."

She waved impatiently at her daughter.

"This is a royal gathering. Do you know how rare such an opportunity is? Without your sister-in-law’s generosity, you’d never have a chance to attend. Show some gratitude."

Lillian obediently stepped forward.

Lowering her head, she bent her knees and prepared to kneel.

"Stop."

Elysia’s voice cut through the room sharply.

Lillian froze.

Melissa blinked in confusion.

Elysia’s expression remained calm, but her gaze was cool.

"If Lillian truly kneels today, what will people say tomorrow?"

Melissa hesitated.

"I’m merely her cousin-in-law. Taking her to a gathering is a small favour, nothing more."

Elysia folded her hands neatly in her lap.

"If word spreads that I accepted a full kowtow over such a trivial matter, it will reflect poorly on Draevenor Manor."

More importantly, it would damage Cassiel’s reputation.

Whether Melissa intended it or not, this was a trap.

The mild version would paint Elysia as arrogant and power-hungry.

The harsher version would accuse the Duke of Draevenor’s household of abusing their status.

Neither outcome was acceptable.

Melissa finally realised her mistake.

"I didn’t think of it that way..."

Elysia merely smiled.

"There’s no harm done. Lillian need only offer a proper greeting."

The young girl immediately straightened.

Melissa, however, seemed slightly disappointed that her carefully arranged display of gratitude had come to nothing.

Elysia’s gaze shifted towards the other guest.

"And this lady is...?"

Melissa hurriedly introduced her.

"This is Duchess Yvette of Merlinspire."

Yvette immediately offered a warm smile.

"I’ve long wished to pay my respects to the Duchess of Draevenor."

"I see."

Elysia returned the smile politely.

"Duchess Yvette, please have a seat."

She turned towards Miriam.

"Bring the tea His Majesty gifted us."

Then she added casually, "I received it during Princess Sylrienne’s birthday celebration."

Yvette’s eyes flickered.

"A gift from His Majesty himself?"

She laughed lightly.

"It seems both His Majesty and the royal family hold you and the Duke in very high regard."

Elysia smiled.

"The Duke of Merlinspire is also one of the kingdom’s pillars."

She looked towards Yvette thoughtfully.

"Speaking of which, I met your son at Princess Sylrienne’s banquet. Reeve struck me as an exceptional young man."

She tilted her head slightly.

"Has he been betrothed yet?"

The mention of Reeve instantly drew a sigh from Yvette.

"That child is the source of all my headaches."

Her expression became exaggeratedly mournful.

"No lady is ever good enough."

She counted on her fingers.

"One is too plain. Another lacks refinement. A third doesn’t suit his temperament."

She shook her head helplessly.

"At his age, he won’t even keep a bedchamber maid."

Elysia had heard countless mothers complain in exactly the same manner.

She offered her usual response.

"He simply hasn’t met the right person."

Yvette accepted the tea Miriam brought and took a delicate sip.

"When fate arrives, he’ll likely be more impatient than any of us."

Yvette laughed.

"From your lips to the gods’ ears."

As she set down her teacup, a peculiar glimmer appeared in her eyes.

"I did hear something rather shocking yesterday."

Melissa immediately leaned forward.

"What happened?"

Yvette lowered her voice.

"Someone made a scene at the Northern Garrison."

Melissa widened her eyes dramatically.

"The Northern Garrison?"

She glanced meaningfully towards Elysia.

"Wasn’t His Grace there yesterday?"

Yvette nodded.

Elysia remained silent, watching their carefully arranged dialogue.

The performance was becoming obvious.

Neither woman had come all this way merely to exchange pleasantries. Their interest in the garrison, coupled with the pointed way Melissa kept drawing her into the conversation, made their true purpose plain to see.

"What happened at the garrison?" she asked politely, humouring the two.

Yvette looked delighted by the invitation.

"Apparently, a woman caused a terrible disturbance."

Melissa gasped on cue.

Yvette continued, "They say she forced her way into the camp searching for a military officer."

Her voice dropped lower.

"According to rumours, the two had been involved for years. The officer supposedly swore eternal devotion and treated her like a treasure."

Yvette paused dramatically.

"Then he suddenly married another woman."

Melissa pressed a hand to her chest.

"How awful!"

Yvette nodded gravely.

"The abandoned lover couldn’t accept it. She stormed the garrison, wept, screamed, threatened to take her own life. An absolute spectacle."

Melissa’s expression was full of theatrical sympathy.

"How could anyone endure such humiliation?"

Yvette sighed.

"Some people simply cannot accept being discarded."

Melissa’s eyes slid towards Elysia for the briefest moment.

"Who was the officer?"

Yvette shrugged.

"No one knows for certain."

She took another sip of tea.

"Only that he holds an important position within the Northern Garrison."

Melissa slowly turned towards Elysia.

The implication could not have been clearer.

Someone important.

Recently married.

Connected to the Northern Garrison.

Cassiel fit the description perfectly.

Elysia finally understood the purpose of their visit.

This had never been about Lillian.

The invitation was merely an excuse.

They wanted to test her reaction.

If she appeared jealous, upset, or defensive, they would assume the rumours involved Cassiel.

Yvette would then carry that information across the capital by nightfall.

Yet Elysia had no intention of giving them the reaction they wanted.

She maintained a perfectly pleasant smile.

"Military matters are not something I should discuss."

Melissa immediately interjected.

"But surely His Grace would tell you the truth if you asked."

Elysia didn’t even glance at her.

Instead, she continued calmly.

"I remember a case from three years ago."

Both women looked surprised by the change in subject.

"A Vice-Minister of War disclosed confidential military information."

Her tone remained light.

"The information eventually reached a foreign spy."

The room grew noticeably quieter.

"Several soldiers died as a result."

Yvette’s smile began to fade.

Elysia’s own smile never wavered.

"His Majesty was furious."

She lifted her teacup.

"The Vice-Minister was executed."

Silence descended upon the room.

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