Chapter 53

“Naturally, I hold a curiosity about the true nature of that man during the night. Yet, I’m unwilling to jeopardize my existence for a fleeting moment of indulgence. I have no desire to bring a child into this world just to meet my demise. So, your presence, to be honest, isn’t exactly pleasant to me. Instead, I find it rather amusing,” Genovia chuckled softly.

Elise’s breath grew shallower with each passing moment. Eventually, Genovia mustered her strength to steady Elise’s faltering form.

“However, the crux of the matter is this: Your Highness, do not dismiss me so readily. The dominion you once held over this world has waned,” Genovie seethed.

“As times have changed, even the descendants of Gallian who have lost their connection with the heavens might find purpose when circumstances demand.”

A sudden realization dawned on Elise. She hadn’t removed Genovia’s mask; rather, Genovia had deliberately cast it aside. This woman had never harbored intentions of simply meeting with Elise, right from the outset. Her motive was intimidation all along. Caught in this intricate web, Elise’s agency had been stripped away, her options reduced to naught.

“Hence, silence your lips and set your clever mind to the task of capturing the Duke’s affections. Shed that air of arrogance, that demeanor of looking down upon a servant tending to your footwear, as was the case earlier.”

The weight of Genovia’s words pressed heavily, as if casting off barks from a distant, insignificant dog.

“Is that understood, Your Highness?”

Elise found herself gazing into the depths of Genovia’s green eyes, glimpsing a hint of a maddening fervor concealed within.

“Well then, it’s been a delightful chat. Elizabeth, I’ll see you tomorrow, alright?” Genovia released her grip on Elise. Only after she had retreated, humming a tune, did Elise stumble and collapse against the wall.

“What in the world just happened?” Elise muttered, her lips now a pallid shade of blue, trembling with regret. As soon as Rezette Kyrstahn departed, the tranquility vanished once more, as though it had been a mere illusion.

Now, more people were privy to her secrets. Herself and Rezette, Ivetsa and Freya, and the ladies-in-waiting…

“Your Highness, Your Highness!” Ivetsa urgently seized Elise’s shoulders and shook her, concern etched across her face, as the office had been eerily silent.

“Why is your complexion so…! Your Highness, please, come back to us!” Her head was ringing with intensity. Elise brushed her clammy, sweat-drenched forehead and lowered her gaze. Her vision warped and tilted.

Before long, darkness swallowed everything before her. Elise had no recollection of what occurred next.

When Elise eventually regained consciousness, it was dawn, and before her stood Andrei, his expression one of anger. He appeared translucent, perhaps a phantom or a ghost. His right eye was missing, and half of his right arm was severed. There was no mistaking it.

Andrei approached Elise, who lay on the bed, and gently shook her.

“Elizabeth, where are you right now…?”

Elise couldn’t fathom why the spectral figure in her dream had uttered those words. She weakly closed her eyes, and upon waking again, the dream from the previous night eluded her memory.

***

Since the arrival of Genovia Irrien, Elise’s life had undergone a profound transformation. It was the first time Elise had come to the stark realization that one cannot reason with a woman as unhinged as Genovia.

After an entire day of unconsciousness, Elise awoke to find a request from Genovia Irrien to meet with her. Such a demand was unfathomable in Argan. The audacious lady had boldly marched up to the princess’s residence and insisted on Elise’s immediate presence. Even though Elise had ascended to the position of a duchess, it remained an unacceptable situation.

“Your Highness, are you feeling well?” Lady Petisson examined Elise with a deeply concerned expression, her worry apparent.

Elise sat in the drawing room, absentmindedly gazing at a letter. After Lady Petisson had called her name several times, Elise finally snapped back to reality.

“What did you say?” 

“It might be best, Your Highness, if you refrained from going downstairs today,” Lady Petisson repeated.

Elise lightly slapped her own cheek with the back of her hand. Her head was pounding, but her cheek felt oddly cool.

“I’ll inform Lady Irrien that you’re not feeling well,” Petisson added. “It’s not mere chatter; you genuinely appear unwell, Your Highness.”

“It’s not as though I’m incapable of going out,” Elise murmured.

“No need to overexert yourself. After all, the Duke will be returning soon. Lady Irrien can manage matters during his absence.”

“Manage…”

“I’m merely offering my perspective because you appear quite distressed.”

“What am I supposed to do…?”

“Until the Duke returns, Genovia Irrien won’t be departing Rotiara. She can come and go as she pleases, but she won’t be leaving. The Duke will find a solution to this. So, why don’t you have a proper meal and rest today?”

She gazed vacantly at Rebecca Petisson. The lady nodded without displaying any emotion and then departed from the room.

She had anticipated it to some degree.

Petisson was the second individual Elise had frequently encountered, right after Ivetsa. Despite her mostly reclusive nature, she couldn’t have missed that Elise’s condition hadn’t improved since her arrival in Rotiara.

I always knew I couldn’t keep it hidden forever…

So now, there were five people privy to the secret.

Elise pushed herself to complete the final paragraph of the letter. Whether her head had ceased its relentless spinning since yesterday or if she simply found it arduous to pen even a few lines of a letter, she couldn’t discern.

She managed to wrap up the postscript and sealed the letter. After placing it on a silver tray, she turned it upside down on the table.

She longed for Andrei.

***

Elise used the pretext of feeling unwell to skip a day of her usual activities, but her respite was short-lived. The very next morning, Genovia Irrien summoned Elise downstairs. It remained a mystery just how forcefully she had insisted on the immediate presence of the princess.

Ivetsa, who had descended to convey Elise’s reluctance, returned with a swollen right cheek. As soon as Elise laid eyes on her, she snatched her shawl and made her way downstairs.

“Oh my.” Genovia, her fists clenched as she scrutinized the maids before her, grimaced and waved her hand. “Elise, you claimed you were unwell?”

“Get up.”

Elise observed as the maids reluctantly rose, then turned her attention back to Genovia.

“Please, my lady, refrain from tormenting innocent individuals with needless schemes. If you found fault with their service, you could have informed either me or Lady Cynthiane. We would have taken appropriate measures…”

“You truly have a kind heart.”

Genovia performed the same exaggerated greeting as she had on the first day. With her golden hair elegantly tied up on both sides, she appeared even more vibrant and spirited than usual. It was astounding how cunning and madness lay concealed beneath such a charming and adorable exterior.

“Well, if you had accepted my proposal willingly, these innocent people wouldn’t have been subjected to such treatment, Elise,” Genovia sighed deeply, as though she genuinely regretted it, and gently shook her head. “Your refusal in front of them brought about this situation. I apologize.”

“By the way, Elizabeth, you are still a beauty even when you’re unwell. Honestly, I was quite taken aback when I saw you in the drawing room on the first day.” Genovia affectionately patted Elise’s clenched fist.

“Just being around you brightens my day. Princess, you did promise to spend today with me, considering our missed meeting yesterday, right?”

Not wanting to engage in conversation, Elise simply nodded.

“I’ve been longing to visit the Tapestry Exhibition Hall after all this time. The depictions of Rotiara’s seasons there are simply breathtaking. Shall we go together?”

Genovia cheerfully tugged her along, paying little heed to Elise’s gait, which caused her legs to wobble. Ivetsa followed closely, her teeth clenched.

“My lady, could you please walk a bit more slowly? Her Highness hasn’t completely recovered yet,” Ivetsa implored with reluctance in her voice

“Why? She looks perfectly healthy.” Genovia turned to Elise and asked, “Are you feeling tired, Elise?”

“Ivetsa, I’m truly fine.” Elise turned her head away from Genovia and conveyed her assurance to Ivetsa with a quiet smile. “Please, go and take a break. I’ll go for a short stroll and be back in no time.”

“Please don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Very well, I understand.”

Elise took the first step, giving Ivetsa a gentle nudge. Genovia, who had been silently observing Elise with an enigmatic gaze, soon burst into giggles and trailed along.

As the two women descended to the first floor after their visit to the Tapestry Exhibition Hall, they attracted constant curious glances from the people of Rotiara.

This wasn’t surprising, considering it was a meeting of a lady who had once been the leading candidate for the position of duchess and the current duchess herself. Moreover, both were representatives of the influential Van Yela and Argan houses. Such an encounter was far from ordinary.

“Give us a little smile, Elizabeth,” Genovia murmured gently into Elise’s ear, her lips still adorned with a sunny grin. “Do you want to face embarrassment before the entire castle’s inhabitants?”

“Or perhaps everyone in this castle is your accomplice?” Genovia glanced briefly over her shoulder at Ivetsa, who was cautiously trailing them from afar.

“For now, it appears she’s one of us, wouldn’t you agree? Your maid was putting in quite the effort to avoid catching my eye.”