Chapter 25 - Chapter 3.5: Eavesdropping

𝟑.𝟓: Eavesdropping

Elysia's perspective

𝐒hortly after the physician departed, King Zachary took his leave as well.

He said he'd return once he'd completed the task he'd put on hold—whatever that was. He told me not to wander off and to just focus on resting.

To all that, I'd simply nodded. I was far more invested in nibbling the leftover fruit slices.

In my defense, the fruits in this world were something else entirely. Juicier. Sweeter. Like they'd been kissed by the gods of agriculture themselves. Each bite clung to my tongue with a flavor that lingered long after I'd swallowed.

I suddenly remembered the fruit bowl Mira had prepared for my library visit before everything had spiraled downhill. I hadn't taken a single bite. If only I'd known what I was missing out on.

My shoulders slumped slightly at the memory.

Once King Zachary finally stepped out the door, I waited a few beats. Then I exhaled like I'd been holding my breath the entire time.

At last—peace. No more piercing, unreadable stares sizing me up like I was a puzzle he couldn't solve.

Not long after, the ladies-in-waiting returned. I suppose the sight of me, casually munching on an apple slice like I hadn't just been on the brink of death a few minutes ago, put them at ease. Their expressions softened with visible relief.

Then they descended upon me in a flurry of voices and concern.

"Your Highness, what exactly happened yesterday?!" Liliette.

"What did the physician say?" Seraphine.

"Does it still hurt anywhere??" Mira.

Gosh, look at them. All worried over me. My cold, dead heart is actually touched.

They knelt around me, faces tilted upward, eyes wide and brimming with questions. Honestly, they reminded me more of anxious bunnies than noble ladies. Too precious. Their ears might as well have twitched with concern.

I wasn't even thinking when I set the fruit platter aside and reached out to ruffle each of their heads.

It was instinct.

Then it hit me.

Wait—what the heck did I just do?!

The girls blinked, eyes widening in synchronized confusion. Their mouths slightly parted as they processed what had just happened.

Nice one, Elysia. You managed to bamboozled them and yourself in one move.

Physical touch had never been my thing back when I was Cassandra. Words had always been my weapon of choice—comfort, encouragement, logic.

Not hugs.

Not hand-holding.

Certainly not random head pats.

The only person I'd ever really shared physical affection with was my older brother. And even that dwindled over time as life grew heavier.

Somewhere along the line, touch had turned from a thing of comfort to a warning signal—one that screamed: Danger. Do Not Engage.

My love life had also suffered accordingly, drier than a desert. Twice as deserted, actually. Not that I'd minded.

But this?

This inexplicable urge to ruffle their hair like a proud mom handing out gold stars?

I couldn't explain it.

I froze mid-motion, my hand awkwardly hovering above Liliette's curls. I could feel their confusion burning into my skin.

Before I could fully spiral into embarrassment, I cleared my throat and quickly pulled my hand back.

"The physician said I collapsed from physical and mental exhaustion," I said briskly, redirecting the topic like my life depended on it. "I just need a few days of rest. Nothing serious."

That seemed to snap them out of their trance.

"Mental exhaustion?" Seraphine echoed, stiffening ever so slightly.

She shared a look with Mira. It was a look I was used to seeing. Guilt.

"Oh, thank goodness!" Liliette exclaimed then, pressing a hand to her chest. "You had us worried sick, Your Highness! We thought—" she gulped, "—we thought something terrible had happened. We're not letting you out of our sight again!"

"Please let us know immediately if you feel off," Mira added, her usual sternness laced with rare tenderness. "We'll take care of it. You don't need to shoulder everything alone."

Seraphine nodded silently, her loyalty speaking through her steady gaze.

Honestly… I would've been swayed by their words and gestures. If only I didn't have a massive ticking bomb hanging over my head.

The second mission.

Its deadline was in a matter of hours.

And the twins' affection levels—ugh.

The last time I checked, Luke was still stuck at a dismal 10, while Lucas sat at 45.

Not even close to the minimum 70 I needed to clear this mission and move on.

If I didn't do something immediately, I'd fail the mission… and earn my first karma points. And I didn't even know what that entailed yet. The idea alone made my stomach twist.

"I… I'd like to take a walk," I said after a beat.

All three ladies perked up like startled cats.

"A walk?" Liliette asked, clearly alarmed. "You're supposed to be on bed rest."

"I know. But I just—want to stretch my legs. Get some fresh air. I promise not to overdo it."

Seraphine frowned. "Your Highness, that doesn't sound wise."

"I'll feel worse if I just lie around doing nothing," I said. Then, lowering my voice, "Please. Just this once. And… don't tell the King."

The three exchanged glances. Seraphine opened her mouth—probably to protest again—but I shot her a pleading look.

They sighed in unison, clearly defeated.

"Fine, your Highness," Mira muttered. "But we're coming with you."

"And if you even look faint," Seraphine warned gently, "we're turning back."

"Deal."

With their help, I got dressed and we quietly slipped out of the chambers.

To them, this was a random stroll. A harmless walk to clear my head.

But in truth, I was on a mission (pun intended). A frantic search to find the twins and—somehow—win them over before time ran out.

I had memorized their routines ages ago from my days of quietly observing them. If I was lucky, they hadn't deviated much from it.

We scoured the gardens first. Then the training field. Then the library. I even glanced into the west wing balcony, where Lucas often liked to read in solitude.

All empty.

Meanwhile, my ladies-in-waiting were hovering over me like mother hens. Every sigh I made, every pause in my step, sent them into worried overdrive.

I tried to ignore them.

My thoughts were elsewhere.

I began to wonder—was it even a good idea to have brought my memories from my past life into this one?

Would it have been easier to just start fresh? To have done away with the weight of Cassandra's wounds and fears?

To just… be Elysia?

If that was the case, yesterday wouldn't have happened.

What if Cassandra's trauma got in the way of Elysia's peaceful life again in the future?

Before I could follow that train of thought deeper, I heard it—

Voices.

Familiar ones.

Coming from the side corridor that led to the noblemen's leisure hall—a velvet-curtained lounge where brandy flowed, card games dragged into midnight, and political arguments reigned supreme.

I inched closer.

There—behind the open doorway, voices spilled out, laced with tension.

My breath caught in my throat.

Luke and Lucas.

I motioned for my ladies-in-waiting to stay silent and ducked behind the door well, just out of view.

They looked at me, confused, but I held a finger to my lips.

"Shhh."

This was important.

I needed to listen.

"...You didn't have to walk out on him like that, you know," Lucas was saying, voice tight with frustration. "This conversation was long overdue."

Luke scoffed, frost lacing every word. "Ha. You're even more ridiculous than the old man. Where's all this foolish talk coming from out of the blue? After all these years, we're just supposed to sweep everything under the rug? Pretend we're some happy family now? Don't make me laugh."

"Luke, it's been years. Everything he said—was the truth. We've hurt her enough… Just stop. Being stubborn isn't helping anyone."

"Oh, so now I'm the stubborn one?" Luke barked out a laugh. "The way I see it, you're the one too soft to see things clearly. That girl never once tried to make things right. She pushed us away. One pathetic pie and a few friendly words, and now you're ready to fall at her feet?"

"Go ahead and be the goody-goody older brother that helpless little princess Elysia can cry to. Lick her shoes while you're at it. Just don't expect me to tag along this time, buddy."

The sarcasm dripping from Luke's words was like acid.

"Luke," Lucas said again—lower, harsher this time. "She was nine."

Silence.

"She was a kid," Lucas continued. "We acted like victims, but we were just selfish. Immature. What did you expect from a child? We should've protected her—not blamed her. Even now…"

Lucas's voice faltered.

"And if you ask me…" he murmured. "I don't think she even remembers what happened."

"What are you even talking about?" Luke's voice cracked slightly.

That was all I needed to hear.

My chest felt tight. My mind reeled. They were talking about me.

I had no idea what exactly was going on yet, but something told me I had to walk in at this moment.

If I didn't, I would regret it.

I turned to the girls beside me, who still looked utterly lost.

"Please," I said gently. "Wait here. I'll call for you later."

"Your Highness, we can't—"

"Please," I said again, this time with quiet insistence. "Just this once."

Their concern didn't fade, but they reluctantly nodded and stepped back.

I drew in a deep breath, steeling myself. Then I stepped out from behind the doorway—

Into view.

Toward the twins.

Toward the past.

Toward the mission.