Chapter 44
Damien snatched the letter from Lavender’s hand. He checked the sender and recipient, then ripped open the envelope. Lavender and Jane stifled silent screams. With disgust, Damien crumpled the letter like trash and shoved the ruined paper into his pocket.
“I’ll take care of this. From now on, you two handle letter screening yourselves. Don’t bother Father with such nonsense.”
“B-but, Your Highness…”
“Why? Eliano probably doesn’t even know this letter existed. If you don’t want Father’s anger, deal with such trash yourselves. And he’s in a foul mood today.”
At that, Lavender and Jane fled like arrows.
Back in the present, Jane quietly spoke to Eliano.
“Miss… about that invitation from Duke Howard—it had no seal on the wax.”
Eliano paused, surprise flickering across her face.
I underestimated them, she thought. Even palace maids sometimes made mistakes; these were commoners. Still…
“So they tampered with my letter and still sent it?”
Jane dropped to her knees in panic.
“N-no! We didn’t know it was fake. The letter looked strange, so we considered asking the Duke… w-we’re sorry, Miss!”
Eliano clicked her tongue.
“Get up. I can’t believe you delivered that letter to Father and survived.”
There was nothing inside the envelope—just an empty shell Eliano had cleverly forged in her handwriting.
Even so, Damien took it to Father? she thought, frowning.
Sometimes a careless act causes real trouble.
She tsked again, and Jane said softly,
“Damien intercepted it to protect you…”
“Enough. Stop talking nonsense.”
Still sliding her finger over the empty envelope:
Your fake letter has no seal. Now that’s silly—Father will only look foolish.
Eliano then looked at Flint’s letter. His handwriting exactly matched the invitation’s envelope. Flint had personally written it, not a secretary.
Meanwhile, the invitations the Crown Prince distributed—all were written by clerks. No Flint handwriting anywhere. Even among nobles, no one else had his script. Only hers.
She felt pleased by Flint’s special attention—but unease crept in. Was this truly a matchmaking invitation? That’s why she didn’t reply. Flint’s letter was too short; she had little to say beyond marriage.
I wish he’d be clear. I want an honest answer.
She wondered where Flint had gone.
North? he often left the capital for military or estate matters. He showed strong duty to his lands.
Should I have replied?
Just then, a knock came at the door. Jane hurried to peek as Eliano yawned while sipping tea.
“Miss, Madame Marian from Brillante is here—your dress is ready. And jewelers from Elegante have arrived. Shall I let them in?”
Eliano nodded lightly.
“Yes. Bring them to my room.”
Madame Marian and the jeweler soon entered.
Later, Eliano joined a grand ball at the Marquess Persettin’s hall. She listened carefully, wondering why Zaccador sent an embassy with the late Duchess Howard’s ashes. Was it courtship again?
“His Majesty initially refused the Zaccador envoys…”
“But later he allowed them in.”
“The Crown’s anger is fierce—Foreign Ministry officials were injured…”
Though unsure if this was a temporary alliance or serious peace.
“It’s peace talks—definitely serious.”
“Peace? After what Zaccador did, who trusts them? They cheated us before.”
“That’s why this time they’ll do it properly—sending nobles for study abroad, marriage alliance….”
“Study maybe, but marriages never happened before. Ridiculous.”
In high society, gossip swirled. Eliano harvested the clues to seek truth—just as she had in her past life, yet her head pounded.
She considered asking Duke Howard, now absent. But she remembered how quietly he’d left.
Something’s happened in the North. Border trouble? Sharai? Other barbarians?
Flint’s absence is likely tied to that.
The Prince, Heriath, was annoyed Flint had disappeared to the North again.
“At this Howard ball, I’ll find Flint’s match. He vanished like hidden honey in the North.”
Eliano smiled.
“He is the protector of the North—Duke Flint truly cares for his people.”
Heriath glanced at her, then cleared his throat:
“The Princess speaks the truth. I’m sure he’s responsible to his family as well.”
His voice was louder than necessary. Eliano planned to speak more to him, but others came first.
“He’ll return for the ball, won’t he?”
“I heard Her Highness asked to open the palace gates herself—how grand!”
“I worked hard for my only friend. Please all attend.”
The topic shifted; she joined another group talking about growing trade with Zaccador.
“I’m planning investments—this was long awaited.”
Eliano found no clarity. Past memories failed her.
As she stepped aside, two ladies from the temple approached—Sofia Bedphon and Violet.
“Princess Rosana, so good to see you.”
“When will you visit the temple? Everyone’s asking.”
They were from powerful families. Eliano greeted them warmly.
“Sofia, Violet—please send my regards to your sisters.”
They asked about her thoughts.
“We hope for alliance.”
“Sharai, too, just got official recognition from the Nymphs.”
Eliano brightened in surprise.
“Sharai’s leaders went to the Nymphs… so heresy trials were cleared?”
“Yes. That’s what they say.”
“Some claim unanimous approval, even.”
Eliano frowned deeply.
“Everyone made the same face as I did.”
“Some priests still question it.”
Her concern wasn’t Sharai—but the speed of these changes.
Didn’t he marry them to Zaccador? I remember Duke Howard had a great victory before I married. But where?
She couldn’t rely on dim memories.
Then Sofia whispered,
“I was recently at my estate’s temple… I saw a Zaccador man, his face hidden—but I know who I saw. Sofia Bedphon, eagle-eyed in rooting out corrupt priests.”
“He had the same golden hair and light eyes…”
“Blonde with pale eyes?”
Eliano’s heart skipped.
Ugh… the ex husband is here!!!