Chapter 53
“Do whatever it takes to stop Camilla from meeting Noah.”
That was the first thing Howard said the moment he saw Elisa—no greeting, no hesitation.
“It’s best if they never meet at all. But if it’s unavoidable, make sure she can’t see him. Tell her the child is ill and cannot open his eyes.”
They look alike, yes—but especially those ash-gray eyes. They’re identical to Baron Estevan’s. If Camilla sees that, there’ll be no hiding the truth any longer.
That was why Howard had given young Noah herbs to make him seem feverish and weak.
One day, Elisa did intend to reveal that Noah was hers and Ethan’s child—but not yet. She agreed that now was not the time and nodded in understanding.
Still, the thought of using her own child as a shield gnawed at her. The village chief, the aide, even Howard assured her the herbs had no side effects, but she couldn’t shake off the unease.
Even a mild fever could burden a small body.
If Princess Camilla’s attention were focused entirely on me, would Noah no longer need to take the herbs?
Elisa’s voice was careful, hesitant. She didn’t want her son to bear the weight of their secret.
“If that were possible, we might reduce the dosage… Do you have a plan?”
“Yes. I do.”
Elisa shared the strategy she had been mulling over. At first, Howard looked startled, but after hearing her through, he nodded firmly.
“Very well.”
With his approval secured, Elisa finally faced Camilla head-on, determined to set right what had once gone wrong.
“I haven’t forgotten Ethan,” she declared, voice steady. “I came here because I still love him.”
The moment her words ended, Camilla’s hand struck her across the face.
Smack!
The sharp sound echoed through the guest room, Elisa’s head snapping to the side.
“How dare you deceive me, a princess!”
Before the sting even faded, another slap came—harder this time. Elisa staggered back, blood trickling from her split lip and the scratch on her cheek where Camilla’s ring had struck her.
Yet she didn’t flinch. Calmly, she wiped the blood away and met Camilla’s furious gaze.
“How could I deceive Your Highness? I only spoke what was true to my heart at the time.”
Her voice was flat—neither defensive nor trembling.
“But as time passed, I began to question myself. And when I heard that Ethan had gone missing… I realized how wrong I’d been.”
“Ha! Do you think I’ll forgive your lies with such pitiful excuses?”
“Of course not. I don’t expect forgiveness. But two slaps seem a fair enough price for deceiving a princess, wouldn’t you say?”
Camilla’s eyes blazed at Elisa’s unyielding tone.
“When Ethan risked his life on the bloody battlefield, you ignored him—and now you claim to love him? Is it because your servant became a war hero and you regret letting him go?”
“You misunderstand. I never abandoned Ethan. I didn’t even know he went to war.”
“Lies! Then why didn’t you look for him when he disappeared?”
Because I was pregnant with Noah. Because I couldn’t go anywhere, no matter how much I wanted to. Because Count Leslie had forbidden it.
“I truly didn’t know. But there’s one thing I do know.”
Elisa took a slow breath and, after confirming the time, delivered her final blow.
“When Ethan returned alive from the battlefield, you were the one who pushed him back to the brink of death.”
Camilla’s face contorted with fury.
“You insolent—!”
She raised her hand again, ready to strike, but the door burst open with a loud bang.
It was Prince Howard.
His eyes immediately took in the scene—Elisa with bloodied lips and Camilla frozen mid-swing—and his brow furrowed sharply.
“What on earth are you doing, Camilla!”
His voice sliced through the room. Striding forward, he pulled Elisa behind him and glared at his sister with cold fury.
Camilla faltered for a heartbeat but soon lifted her chin defiantly.
“What do you think I’m doing? She deceived me and dared to lie to a princess. I was simply punishing her.”
“Lady Leslie is my guest. If something happened, you should have come to me first!”
“Well, I’m telling you now—so punish her at once, Brother!”
“Then tell me first—what lie did she tell you, and how did she deceive you?”
At his demand, Camilla fell silent. The last thing she needed was for people to learn she had quarreled over a man with an outsider right before her political marriage.
Especially when that outsider was Howard von Martinez—her mother and brother’s rival.
“She… she claimed that I drove Ethan to his death!”
Camilla cried, eyes welling with tears, feigning deep injustice.
But Howard’s response was indifferent.
“She’s not wrong. Ethan did fall from the cliff because of you.”
“What—! That was an accident!”
“Whether it was an accident or not, I wouldn’t know. You never told me what truly happened that day—or why you called him there in the first place.”
When he asked if she was finally willing to explain, Camilla pressed her lips tightly shut.
How could she admit she had summoned Ethan to win him back, had threatened to throw herself off the cliff if he refused her—and that, in the chaos, he had fallen instead?
Howard sighed. “From where I stand, Lady Leslie has done nothing wrong. Camilla, apologize to her.”
“Brother!”
“If you won’t, then leave this room at once. I have no need for a sister who insults my guest.”
“Well, I have no need for a brother like you!”
Camilla spat back sharply and stormed out, her heels pounding furiously against the floor. Even in the quiet that followed, her angry footsteps echoed down the corridor.
“Always so hot-tempered,” Howard muttered, clicking his tongue. He turned back to Elisa, who had sunk weakly to the floor now that the tension was over.
“Are you all right?”
Elisa, too exhausted to speak, merely nodded. Seeing the swelling on her cheek, Howard let out a deep sigh.
“If I’d arrived a little sooner, I could’ve stopped it. My apologies.”
“Don’t be. I asked you to let it happen this way.”
Indeed—Elisa had planned everything. Wounding Camilla’s pride, provoking her, and timing Howard’s entrance perfectly.
“This should ensure that Princess Camilla’s attention stays on me, shouldn’t it?”
Howard gave a small laugh. “Oh, she’ll focus on you, yes—but on me too. I’m sure by now she’s throwing everything within reach, shouting how she’ll ruin us both.”
“I’m sorry, Prince Howard. Because of me—”
“It’s fine. I’m used to being disliked. What worries me is you.”
He extended a hand, and Elisa took it, letting him help her to her feet.
“Camilla wouldn’t dare lay a hand on me, but you’re not royal blood. Next time, it might not end with just a slap.”
“I’ll be fine,” Elisa said softly.
If it meant protecting Noah, she could endure anything. This was just one of many trials to come.
Just then, the inner door creaked open, and a small head peeked out. Noah.
His wide eyes silently asked if it was safe to come out. Elisa smiled faintly and opened her arms.
“Come here, Noah.”
The boy ran into her embrace. His little body felt hotter than usual, his face flushed from the herbs.
“Do you feel sick anywhere?” she asked, brushing his hair aside.
Noah shook his head, though his lips trembled as he pointed to her split lip and bruised cheek.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. Mommy’s fine.”
“Fine? Hardly,” Howard interjected. “If Ethan saw you like this, he’d tear the palace apart—and probably grab me by the throat for not stopping it.”
He sighed. “Let’s get that treated before he finds out.”
