Chapter 87
“What’s with that face? Oh, did Syllie not tell you?”
Grizelle spoke with a smile curling at her lips. She brushed back her long, flowing hair and continued.
“I get it. She’s still only a fiancée, isn’t she? She’s probably jealous that I became a prince’s consort first.”
“…Congratulations, Grizelle.”
Elenia laughed awkwardly, still too stunned to properly process what Grizelle was saying. At her half-dazed congratulations, Grizelle’s eyes gleamed strangely.
“Right? You’re congratulating me, aren’t you?”
“Huh? Oh, um… yeah.”
“See? You’re not like Syllie. You actually know how to be happy for your friend’s good fortune.”
“What do you mean by that? My sister will be happy for you too.”
“She laughed at me, you know? Do you have any idea how much she mocked me?”
Grizelle sniffed sharply through her nose, and Elenia could only offer a troubled smile. Grizelle was, at her core, a good person, but whenever it came to anything involving Sylaria, her attitude would turn sharp and defensive.
“She was probably just surprised, that’s all. I mean, even I was shocked to hear you became the Second Prince’s consort. When did you even get close to His Highness?”
“Does the timing really matter? Between a man and a woman, it’s all about attraction, Ellie. You’ll understand someday.”
Grizelle brushed off the question casually. Only a short while ago, the Second Prince had been her friend’s betrothed, and now she sat proudly in that very place, tilting her chin high.
“When you meet someone and there’s that instant spark between you, that’s it, the game’s over. That’s how it was between me and Arendtert. Ah, right. Arendtert is His Highness the Second Prince.”
“I see…”
Elenia smiled faintly, feeling awkward. Grizelle, who had been rambling boastfully about love and men, straightened her posture. It was time to get to the real reason she’d come.
“Come with me to the Second Prince’s Palace, Ellie. I came here to bring you.”
“What do you mean?”
“How long are you going to stay cooped up in some corner of the palace, just doing whatever Syllie tells you to? Come live with me. The Second Prince’s Palace is completely different from this place. The atmosphere alone is better. You’ll have so much more fun there.”
Grizelle spoke in a coaxing, honeyed tone, tempting her. Sylaria’s most precious treasure—Elenia. From the beginning, Sylaria had protected her above all else.
That weak little sister, who could die at any moment. Sylaria cherished her more than her own life. She’d even abandoned noble pride and taken up sewing work to afford Elenia’s medicine.
So if Elenia were to follow Grizelle… and lose herself in her grasp.
The very thought made Grizelle’s chest thrill with delight.
If she could show Sylaria her dear sister reduced to such a state, debased and ruined, Sylaria would crumble completely.
Elenia, who’d always eaten fine food and worn fine clothes while others suffered… How satisfying it would be to bring her down. To finally make real what Grizelle had only ever imagined in secret.
“Hmm? Come on, Ellie. Let’s go together.”
“I… I’m afraid of His Highness the Second Prince…”
At Grizelle’s invitation, Elenia shook her head. Shrinking her shoulders, she lowered her gaze, and Grizelle’s expression instantly twisted.
‘She’s still hung up on that?’
Arendtert had once tried to force Elenia to perform purification for him. It had been nothing more than a brief, unwanted touch, yet she’d reacted as though she were being destroyed, retching and trembling hysterically.
Even then, Grizelle had thought she was being absurdly dramatic. And now, to still be clinging to that? Pathetic.
“Arendtert feels sorry about that, you know. That’s why he asked me to bring you. He wants to make it up to you.”
“I… appreciate the sentiment.”
Elenia lifted her head, smiling weakly, her expression caught between politeness and discomfort. Grizelle stared at her for a long moment, then dropped her gaze and let out a long, deliberate sigh.
“I wasn’t going to say this, but…”
She dabbed at eyes that weren’t even wet, pretending to sniffle.
“The truth is… I’ve been so lonely. I don’t know anyone at the Second Prince’s Palace, and Arendtert’s always so busy… I think I’m homesick.”
“…I see.”
“It would mean so much if you came and stayed with me. I’d feel so much better.”
“I’m sorry.”
Even with Grizelle’s pitiful act, Elenia did not yield. Though she looked genuinely sympathetic, she still refused to give the answer Grizelle wanted.
“Instead, I’ll come visit often. The Second Prince’s Palace isn’t far from here, after all.”
Having failed to coax Elenia, Grizelle’s eyes widened sharply. Gone was the trembling, teary act. Her face hardened into a fierce scowl as she rose from the bed.
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