Chapter 167
Elena’s POV
+25 Bonus
Well, to be fair, if I weren’t so bold, I wouldn’t even bother to meet her and hide behind Deacon instead,
Nonetheless, replying to her in such a remark would only provoke her further. So, instead, I smiled at her and politely replied, “Forgive me, Duchess. I thought I’d change my clothes first before meeting you. After all, I didn’t want to disrespect you by showing up in my casual clothes.”
She sneered at me, not believing my words.
If looks could kill, I’d be six feet below the ground by now. Her eyes travelled from the tip of my head down to the tip of my toe in a slow manner, judging me with every second of her stare.
Her fingertips sliding on the rim of her teacup, eyes not wavering from mine. What surprised me, given her consistent finger, was that it hadn’t made the tiny sharp sound performers used to make with their cups, water, and fingertips.
After a while of just standing there like an object being stared at and wondering whether to buy or abandon in the aisle, she finally gestured at the seat in front of her.
She poured me a tea, but I politely grabbed the pot from her and poured it myself, or else she’d be judging me this time for making her, an elder, pour me a drink.
“So, it’s true, huh? You brought that boy in here. Not even married yet and already taking past baggage in my son’s troops.” Her voice was as hard as steel and sharp as a knife.
Past baggage?
I tried to calm the forming storm within me as I straightened my back and looked straight into her eyes. ” Duchess, with all due respect, but Rafael isn’t my past baggage. You make it sound like he’s my illegitimate son from somewhere when he is my nephew.”
She laughed. She freaking laughed like my words were no surprise to her.
“For all I know, that just might be really it. Didn’t just that child pop up out of nowhere?” she asked, and it was my turn to laugh.
“With my life being almost broadcast to every nook of this kingdom, I’m pretty sure that if I had been pregnant and carried a big belly for nine months, someone would have noticed…” My words were sharp, mimicking her glare, but I added a polite yet slightly provoking tone, “Duchess.”
She smirked. “You really got a lot of nerve!”
Her tea spilt from her cup when she slammed into the table, almost breaking it.
“Rafael is mine. He’ll be where I am.” My voice was firm.
“No, he isn’t!” she snapped. Her hand slammed on the table, completely knocking the teacup down, its hot contents spilling to the ground, smoke rising into the air.
Leaning forward, she continued, “This is not your house to fill with strays and orphans! You are marrying into a
1/3
Chapter 167
+25 Bonus
royal bloodline, Elena, and not running a fucking charity!”
By now, her jaws were tightly clenched together, her shoulders were stiff, and she was trembling with fury.
For someone who leeches off the royal family’s wealth and her son’s reputation, she really had a lot of ego she’s trying to protect. Or more like… she didn’t want anyone to take her son’s attention from her, risking her getting a smaller share of what she could get.
Remaining calm and trying not to reach over the table and hurt her, I kept myself steady and replied, “Rafael is not a stray. He is my nephew. The only family I have left.”
It took me years to finally be with him again. It didn’t stop the king from keeping her away from me, and nothing she said or did would make that happen either.
I had survived swords and violence in the battlefield; the combat of words and sneer wouldn’t be enough to
scratch me either.
The Duchess’s brows arched into mockery. “Family? Do not try to romanticise this one, Elena. He’s baggage, and there is no changing that. A baggage that will drag down this household, especially one as esteemed as ours.”
Another sneer escaped her lips. “You even wanted my son to adopt that stray and raise him as his son? Be his apprentice? You are really a daydreamer!”
“No…” she shook her head fast as if realising something. “You’re an opportunist!”
I grind my teeth. Deacon was more than pleased to have Rafael with us; the king had accepted it, his grandparents had already given their support, and yet here she was trying to use everyone as an excuse to push my nephew away when it was only she in the family that had a real problem with the issue at hand.
Without flinching at her words, I lifted my chin. “Then let him drag it down, I’ll be there right behind him to lift it all back up until he can carry everything by himself.”
She momentarily closed her eyes, as if trying to calm herself down. After heaving a sigh, she leaned forward and asked, “Do you really think that’s the main issue at hand? You think just because the king let it be, it will be over?”
“Huh! You’re a real daydreamer! We are the royals!” she screamed. “Politics comes from every direction. You think that nobles will not notice? They will question everything. His blood, his right to stand within these walls, and above all, my son’s judgment! Every rumour will not only reflect on you, but also on my son.”
“He’s a child. He’s more innocent than everyone in these walls combined. What he deserves is love, not exile. I’ll rather endure those whippers and prove them wrong in the future than betray the only family I have left.”
Standing up, I look at her with finality, “I understand where you are coming from, Duchess, but he’s my nephew, and no words or person can make me leave him.”
She flicked her tongue and leaned back to her seat, looking at me with judgment and mockery. “Spoken like a naïve girl who has never held a crown. Do you truly believe compassion rules a kingdom? It does not. Appearances do. Reputation does!”
I met her glare. “If those two things mean abandoning the people we love, then I want no part of that freedom.
2/3
Chapter 167
+25 Bonus
Her eyes narrowed. “Careful, Elena. Your defiance may charm Deacon, but it will not charm me. Nor the court.”
whether you approve or not,” I replied in a soft
“I am not here to charm you. I am here to protect my family but still firm voice.
“We shall see how long that fire of yours lasts once everything turns back on you.” With that, she stood up as
well.
She was about to enter her room, but then I said one last thing that halted her. “You said that you… that we are the royals. Looked up by everyone. If you want me to abandon an innocent child, then how do you expect me to help protect an entire kingdom?”
Comments
