Chapter 15

Veyna’s eyes flutters open, greeted by the familiar ceiling of her room. Her body feel heavy, her mind sluggish.

How many days did I sleep after that incident at the banquet?

She sits up with effort, the air thick with the scent of Veyna strokes her hand over her shoulder, fingers trailing to the bare skin of her back. A slick, sticky sensation meets her touch.

Isn’t this… ointment?

She exhales softly. Marie must be the one who put that ointment on her back.

I must ve fallen asleep right after the bath...

She buries her hand into her hair, fingers massaging her scalp. A dull ache lingers beneath her touch.

Eventually, her heart seems to be in a great state today. It certainly doesn't feel warmer than before but it is not painful like how she felt that night.

Then, Marie walks into the room without knocking first and when her eyes land on Veyna who is sitting up on her bed, she stunned at her spot.

"My lady! You re awake!"

Marie hurriedly walks up to her while holding a basin filled with warm clean watera and a wet towel.

"I was so worried! You fell asleep as soon as you sat on the bed. I thought you lost consciousness. So i called for a physician and he said you just need some rest. Your body was in a lot of stress", said Marie.

A corner of Veyna's mouth twitches after listening to Marie. She narrows her eyebrow, looking at the woman who is far older than her in awkwardness.

Wow... she is surely so talkative today.

"How long did i sleep? It felt so long," asked Veyna.

"You had been asleep for three days, my lady!"

Veyna whips her head toward Marie, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Three days?!" she gasps. She raises three fingers at Marie, wanting a conformation.

"Ha...no wonder my body feel so heavy and stiff."

"I ll bring you some food and water right away"

Veyna nods.

Marie stood up straight and was about to leave when she paused.

"Oh and.. you have a letter. It was sent 2 days ago while you were asleep."

"Huh? What letter?"

Marie pulls the drawer and takes out a letter in an envelop with golden wax seal. As soon as her eyes landed on the golden seal, Veyna immediately knew this is letter that was sent straight from hell.

After Marie left for her meal, Veyna opens the envelope, her heart pounding in her chest. As the seal breaks, she catches a glimpse of the letter inside. She takes a deep, steadying breath before carefully pulling it out, bracing herself for whatever words await her.

Please be a letter from the third prince, asking for an apology. That is the least horrible thing this letter could contain.

She unfold the letter and her eyes shift straight to the lowest part of the letter, looking at the sender's name.

"Henry De Varethorne"

"..."

Veyna put down the letter on the bed in an instant and looks up to the ceilings in hopelessness.

Shit.

Veyna steps out of the carriage, her heels clicking against the cobblestone. She lifts a hand above her head, shielding her eyes from the blinding sunlight.

Her attire is elegant yet modest. A finely tailored dress that drapes gracefully over her frame. Her hair is neatly twisted into a bun at the nape of her neck, not a strand out of place.

She locks her eyes straight on the royal palace before her, its towering spires gleaming under the midday sun. The weight of uncertainty settled in her chest as she recalled the letter from Henry. Its message was brief, almost cryptic.

A request for her presence. Nothing more.

The urgency in his words had been impossible to ignore, and now, standing at the palace gates, she couldn't shake the feeling that whatever awaited her inside would change everything.

A chill crept down Veyna’s spine. She had a bad feeling about this. Nothing good ever came from Henry.

His words were always carefully chosen, his motives never entirely clear. A simple summons could mean anything, and more often than not, it led to trouble.

She takes a bold step forward, her pace unwavering as she strides toward the grand gate. The two guards stationed there notice her approach. One of them straightens, ready to question her business at the royal palace.

But before he can utter a word, Veyna lifts the letter, the golden wax seal catching the sunlight. She doesn’t slow, doesn’t offer an explanation, only the letter, held high in silent authority.

The guard’s expression shifts the moment he recognizes the seal. Without hesitation, he signals to his companion, who immediately moves to open the heavy gates. The iron doors groan as they part, revealing the palace courtyard beyond.

She walks along the path that winds through the garden, where blooming flowers paint the landscape in vibrant colors. Their fragrance lingers in the air, delicate and sweet. Normally, such beauty would capture any woman's attention but not hers.

Veyna has no interest in beautiful things, nor any desire to possess them. They are fleeting, meaningless.

She exhales a quiet sigh, keeping her pace steady.

What could he possibly want?

Without realizing it, her feet have already stopped in front of the grand, beautifully carved door. The intricate details of the woodwork stand as a silent testament to the palace’s elegance.

The guard stationed at the door shifts his attention to her, his posture straightening before he offers a slight bow, a sign of respect.

"What brings you here, my lady?" the royal guard asks.

"The Crown Prince requested my presence," she replies, her voice steady.

The guard nods, showing no surprise. It seems he is already aware of the order.

"Then, I shall escort you to the study," he says, stepping aside to open the door for her.

She follows him quietly, her footsteps light against the polished marble floor. Her eyes roam the grand halls of the palace, taking in the towering pillars and ornate chandeliers. She is not here often, only during banquets, where her presence is expected but never truly welcomed.

It’s not as if she has close friends within these walls. There is no one she holds dear here, no bonds that tie her to this place. Her father has long since passed, and as for the king, he couldn't care less about her.

As they walk through a hallway open to the palace gardens, Veyna's gaze drifts to the side, where a figure sits by the water fountain. A man dressed in loose attire, his pale blond hair catching the sunlight.

She recognizes him instantly.

Edric.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***