Chapter 31

“Miss Elena,” Cura’s voice cut through the silence as she placed a tray adorned with a meticulously prepared meal on the table before Elena. The flickering flames in the fireplace cast a warm glow on the room, creating a comforting atmosphere.

Elena, who had been lost in thought while seated on the sofa, raised her head in response to Cura’s call. The entrance of her loyal attendant had gone unnoticed. 

Cura, concerned by Elena’s distant demeanor, assessed her complexion before unveiling the lid of the pottery stew dish. A delicate white smoke wafted upwards, carrying with it the delectable aroma of the carefully crafted meal. Even the freshly baked bread emanated a tempting scent, filling the room with a culinary symphony. However, Elena remained indifferent, her appetite seemingly absent.

“I don’t really feel like eating,” Elena admitted, drawing her legs onto the sofa and enveloping herself with both arms. The weight of her thoughts hung in the air as she spoke, and Cura couldn’t help but sigh.

“Still, please eat a little. If even Lady Elena doesn’t partake when the Duke abstains from his meals, what should we do?” Cura implored, her concern evident in her voice. Elena, unresponsive, closed her eyes and rested her head on her knees.

Two days had elapsed since Elena’s impulsive visit to Kennard’s study, where she had declared her intention to visit the village. In response, Kennard summoned Lassino, who escorted Elena to her room, assigning two knights to stand guard at the door. Elena’s movements were restricted, and only Cura was permitted entry.

Despite fears that tensions might escalate, Cura reassured Elena that, fortunately, no significant incidents had occurred—except for Leto’s return to the village that very night.

“Why did this happen? Suddenly, not allowing Lady Elena to leave the room. Was there any particular reason when she wasn’t there?” Once again, Elena remained silent, her inner turmoil evident in the furrowed lines on her forehead.

On the night when she ventured into Kennard’s study, she did so without confiding in Cura. The decision to accompany Leto to the village was entirely hers, driven by her own will. The more Kennard attended to her in this manner, the more her insignificant feelings seemed to burgeon. She felt an urgent need to evade his care, to escape the confines of his watchful eye.

But…

“You belong to me. Don’t think you can escape from me. The only one who can have you is me.”

Kennard’s words echoed in her mind, leaving her puzzled and unsettled. Did he harbor similar feelings? Could he have embraced her in his heart, even without the imprinting bond? The mere notion seemed implausible.

As she contemplated these thoughts, she forcefully shook her head to dispel such fanciful notions. A Duke like Kennard, showering care upon an individual of humble origin like herself—someone lacking both identity and memories—seemed inconceivable. Despite prolonged pondering, she found no answers, only confusion.

“Why is he doing this to me?” Elena mumbled, burying her head deeper between her knees and clenching her arms in a desperate attempt to find solace amid the chaos of her emotions.

***

“If there are no orders from His Grace… it is not allowed, how many times do I have to say it?”

Faint voices of conversation wafted in from beyond the door. Elena, seated on the sofa, leaned forward, curiosity etched across her features.

The knights, diligently taking turns at their guard duty throughout the day, had only caught glimpses of Cura through the open door when she entered. Normally, they refrained from peering inside, maintaining a stoic silence. However, today, an unusual tension hung in the air, as if a confrontation was underway.

Elena rose from the sofa, approaching the door with measured steps. She strained to identify the individuals outside, but a medley of various pheromones mingled, rendering it difficult to discern specific identities.

Pressing her ear to the door, Elena listened intently to the sounds emanating from the hallway. The voice engaged in conversation with the knights remained elusive, the words muffled and indistinct.

Unable to resist her curiosity any longer, Elena made a decisive choice. With a deliberate motion, she opened the door.

Abruptly, as the door swung open and Elena emerged, the knights guarding the entrance pivoted in surprise.

“You shouldn’t come out,” insisted an older-looking knight, attempting to gently guide Elena back into the room.

Another knight strategically positioned himself, obstructing Elena’s view and preventing her from glimpsing someone behind them. Beyond their shoulders, a dazzling hair ornament caught Elena’s attention, a distinctive accessory worn by only one person in the castle.

“Lady Hazel?”

At Elena’s call, the knights exchanged glances, a subtle sigh escaping their lips.

“Stop bothering, please,” someone irritably tapped the knight’s forearm with a fan.

With an awkward step back, the knights yielded, unveiling Hazel and Carmen. Carmen tapped her fan on her palm, gracefully stepping aside to allow Hazel to approach.

“I wondered if what the servants were gossiping about was true, and here you are,” Hazel muttered, her eyes sweeping over Elena from face to toes in contemplation.

Elena, regretting her decision to open the door, felt a sense of unease. Encountering Hazel was unwelcome, and the discomfort lingered. Why has this person sought her out again?

“Why have you come?” Elena queried.

“I have something to say,” came the response.

“To me?”

“Yes.”

Hazel attempted to step into the room, but her path was promptly obstructed by an elderly knight.

“What are you doing? I explicitly stated that only Cura is allowed to enter and leave this room under His Grace’s orders,” the knight asserted.

“I mentioned it too. I am His Grace’s approved fiancée,” Hazel retorted.

“Even so, it is not allowed.”

“Are you trying to prevent me, recognized by His Grace himself, from entering now? Just to enter this room?”

“It is His Grace’s command. His orders take precedence for us, no matter what.”

“His Grace’s orders take precedence over His Majesty’s?”

“For us, yes.”

“He would be displeased if he heard this.” Hazel frowned slightly, and though her expression appeared unchanged at first glance, Elena could sense her profound frustration.

“Well…” Elena sighed inwardly, fixing her gaze on the elderly knight. At her call, the knight glared at Hazel with a stern face before turning away.”We’ll talk here. So please step back a bit.”

“Lady Elena!”

“If I’m visible to the knights, it should be fine, right? I won’t move from here.”

After exchanging glances at Elena’s request, the knights reluctantly shrugged their shoulders.

Carmen distanced herself slightly, and the knights dutifully followed her. With the space confirmed, Hazel directed her attention towards Elena, gradually closing the gap, one step at a time. Her progress ceased only when the luxurious hem of her dress brushed against Elena’s impeccably arranged attire.

“It’s absurd. Even those who didn’t flinch when His Majesty was mentioned moved at your words,” Hazel remarked, standing taller than usual, her chin lifted with determination. She peered at Elena through lowered eyelids, offering a smile that failed to reach her eyes.

“Why are you suddenly locked up?”

Elena maintained silence in the face of Hazel’s inquiry. How could she convey the reason for her confinement—her longing to depart the castle and visit the village? There was no straightforward explanation for why such a desire would warrant her confinement, and she grappled with the ambiguity of Kennard’s words about having her exclusively, despite her not being a slave or servant.

“You won’t say anything?”

“I have nothing to say.”

Hazel arched one eyebrow, scrutinizing Elena. “So, how long do you plan to stay locked up?”

“I don’t know.” If only she knew, the confinement wouldn’t be as frustrating.

“I was considering making you my companion and teaching you noble etiquette. But at this rate, it seems like there’s nothing I can do.”

Elena delicately chewed on the soft flesh in her mouth. Even if she were to leave this place, she had no intention of becoming Hazel’s companion or undergoing noble etiquette lessons. What she craved was time to herself, free from companions and the constraints of etiquette.

“Shall I assist you?”

“No, as I mentioned before, I cannot be your companion, and I have no intention of learning noble etiquette.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Hazel burst into laughter as Elena rejected her proposal with a sideways tilt of her head. Leaning closer, Hazel’s face hovered near Elena’s.

“So, you mentioned leaving the castle and already made the request?”

Elena reclined her head, studying Hazel’s profile. She had inquired about the reason for her confinement as soon as she discovered it.

“If it were me, I could assist you.”

“What…”

“Meaning, even tonight, I could discreetly transport you to a place where His Grace’s influence won’t reach,” Hazel whispered with a saintly, compassionate smile, close to Elena’s ear.

For a fleeting moment, Elena entertained the idea that accepting Hazel’s offer might grant her the freedom to escape the confines of the castle. Perhaps she could put enough distance between herself and Kennard before he realized she was gone.

But can it genuinely be done? Without anyone noticing, especially without His Grace becoming aware? If it were feasible, she would have already put such a plan into action.

Her doubts were mirrored by Hazel’s next words.

“Consider this—what if you suddenly vanish? What if those knights meet their demise at the hands of His Grace because they failed in their duty to protect you?”

Hazel gestured subtly toward the knights standing in the background. Elena silently scrutinized the knights, just as Hazel had suggested. It turned out Hazel’s observation held merit.

“But it’s not as if there’s absolutely no solution.”