TEWRIT 60

Episode 60 

Jane dropped to the floor, apologizing. Eliano sighed and said quietly,

“Did you leave the letters behind in the chaos? It’s fine. You must’ve been shaken too. Let’s just write them again. Adel, could you help? The more hands, the better. We have to send them quickly.”

Jane shook her head hard. Adel’s expression turned stiff. Eliano squinted at them suspiciously. Adel finally spoke.

“I’m sorry. His Grace, the Grand Duke, did not permit the letters to be taken out.”

“…Did he inspect my belongings? Give them back. We’re already behind.”

Eliano’s voice turned cold. Jane quickly defended herself.

“No! It was my fault. I accidentally dropped one of the envelopes. I’m so sorry!”

Adel had found one of the letters Jane dropped—and that’s how it ended up in Flint’s hands. He immediately questioned Jane about it. When he found the bundle of letters hidden in cloth, he was furious.

“Burn them. These are no longer necessary.”

That was his order. But Jane, clutching the letters, refused.

“Your Grace! Lady Eliano needs these letters! Please don’t do this!”

Flint, with the presence of a war hero, was intimidating to stand before. Jane had braced herself for the worst—even for a slap from his giant hands.

But Flint didn’t lash out. Instead, he spoke in a heavy tone.

“You must have read the letters.”

He noticed the handwriting was split between Eliano and Jane—meaning Jane had helped copy them. She nodded quietly.

“If those letters get out, it’ll bring shame to Lady Eliano. Have you sent any already?”

Jane replied that she was still waiting for Eliano’s orders.

Flint looked relieved. Then he began persuading Jane, though he easily could have just taken them.

“Give me the letters. I want to protect her. If those go public, they’ll only cause her disgrace. I won’t allow it.”

Jane didn’t understand.

“But… it’s not her fault. It was her father who did wrong. Why should that be her shame? She’s the victim! You don’t know, Your Grace—he forced everything on her! He even tried to strip her, claiming it was to check her purity! If he had hit her bare skin with that whip… she really might have died! He should be punished! The world should know!”

Flint’s expression darkened. Jane shrank in fear. But Flint calmly responded.

“If only the world thought like you. But it doesn’t. I beg you. Please don’t let those letters go out.”

“But the lady said—if things got worse…”

“I won’t let the world tear her apart. I can’t heal her heart the way I can heal her body.”

Jane sobbed.

“She wrote them… to protect you, Your Grace. If you’re blamed, she wanted to stand up for you. That’s how much she loves you… please understand.”

The words her love for you melted Flint’s rigid posture. He looked at Jane with a gentle sigh.

“If I can keep her from getting hurt again, I don’t care what happens to me. Please. Give them to me. The world must never see them.”

Hearing this, Jane remembered how Flint had raced to Eliano on horseback the moment he heard she was in danger. How he saved her from Duke Rosana. So, she handed him the letters.

Flint immediately threw the bundle into the fireplace.

Jane was left with guilt. Eliano had trusted her with her most private thoughts, and she had betrayed that trust.

Now, sitting before Eliano—who had finally regained consciousness—Jane sobbed silently. Adel spoke in a firm tone.

“His Grace does not want that day’s events to be known. No letters may be written. I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

Eliano sighed deeply. So… was it because it would be shameful for the Grand Duchess to have grown up abused? Was that it?

She rubbed her aching head and said,

“I won’t deny it—it is disgraceful for a Grand Duchess to have such a past. But the Grand Duke could become a hero for saving a daughter from a cruel father.”

Adel clenched her jaw.

“Your Highness, that’s not why His Grace burned the letters. How is any of this your shame? It’s Rosana who should be ashamed. He’s the criminal!”

Adel was so upset, she started switching between “Your Highness” and “Lady Eliano.”

After a pause, Eliano spoke dryly.

“Maybe he just doesn’t want to be the man who married a girl who was raised like livestock. He’s already a war hero—he doesn’t need that on his name. I should’ve realized sooner.”

“Lady Eliano—!!”

Ignoring her, Eliano snapped sharply.

“But isn’t this better than people calling him a kidnapper? I gave myself to him willingly. And now they call him a rapist?! Why hasn’t anyone spoken out? Are there no political minds among Howard’s knights?!”

Adel shouted back.

“Our lord doesn’t care about that stuff! He never has!”

But when Eliano flinched at the loud voice, Adel went quiet. Eliano had suffered too much.

After a breath, Eliano said clearly,

“Bring me paper and a pen, Adel.”

“I can’t, Your Highness.”

“Don’t force me! You think this is what I came here for?!”

Eliano’s voice cracked, followed by a harsh coughing fit. Jane quickly offered a handkerchief.

Adel handed over water but stood firm.

“You may not write, Your Highness.”

Eliano grumbled.

“You sure call me Your Highness often for someone who ignores everything I say.”

“It’s His Grace’s direct order.”

“Then call him here.”

“His Grace is busy.”

Eliano bit her lip. She wanted to argue more, but the fatigue won. Another cough, another wave of dizziness. Jane gently helped her lie back down.

“Jane cannot help you this time, Your Highness,” Adel said. “Please focus on recovering. If you need anything else, ask me. But no letters.”

Eliano said nothing. She simply closed her eyes.

“…I want to be alone, Jane.”

It was a clear dismissal. Jane hesitated and glanced at Adel. Adel, still fuming, left without a word. As Eliano wasn’t officially registered yet, she wasn’t formally Grand Duchess. But Flint had declared her as such—so she was. Not bowing properly was all Adel could do to show resistance.

When the door slammed shut, Eliano opened her eyes.

Everything had gone wrong.

The letter from Flint had arrived early. Instead of Astin rescuing her quietly, Flint had stormed into Rosana Manor himself. He became a kidnapper in the eyes of the world—and that wasn’t part of her plan.

In Eliano’s plan, Astin would have rescued her. Her father would report the abduction, while Eliano hid somewhere in secret. Later, Flint would rescue her from her captors and bring her to the Howard estate. That way, it would all appear natural.

But Astin must have been late—or maybe she couldn’t come, and sent Flint instead. Since Astin believed Eliano and Flint were lovers, the mix-up made sense.

“Why did she send him? Why?!”

Still, Eliano couldn’t blame Astin. Without Flint, she might have actually died.

She had tried to end her own life. Flint had saved her. And yet, her body was still weak, and her mind was in turmoil.

All her plans… ruined.

She had prepared herself to expose the truth about her father. If things went south, she’d do it.

This was the worst-case scenario—so she should act now.

No. Flint should have already done it. He should’ve exposed the truth and gained the upper hand.

She’d thought things would be resolved by the time she woke up. But here he was—silent. Passive. Letting people call him a criminal.

“Is it because I told him not to kill my father?”

If he had done it, it would’ve caused a political disaster. Even as a hero, he couldn’t kill a founder’s descendant and go unpunished. Her father was close to the Emperor.

Would the Emperor side with his most loyal servant—or with the war hero who saved his son?

The thoughts made her head pound.

“Idiot. Thick-headed idiot.”

And why did he burn her letters without asking?! What kind of man does that?

She heard Jane mumble an apology beside her and felt her anger rise again. But when she tried to yell at her maid, her body collapsed with a groan.

Her nerves were fried. Her strength was gone. Everything felt fuzzy.

She closed her eyes again. All she wanted was to rest.

Flint returned looking exhausted. With Duke Rosana raging both inside and outside the palace, it was no surprise.

A servant followed him, giving a quiet report.

“Your Grace, I inquired at the temple, but… they said both husband and wife must appear in person to file the marriage registration. No exceptions. I’m sorry…”

To be officially registered, two documents were needed: a marriage contract and a temple-issued marriage certificate. The certificate had to be submitted to update the noble registry—especially for nobles like Flint and Eliano. The imperial court also had to be informed.

“You acted on your own. It’s fine.”

Flint didn’t show any disappointment. The servant continued.

“There are also people from the Rosana estate keeping a close watch on the temple. If you and Lady Eliano go together, it’ll be hard to avoid a scene.”

Flint let out a quiet laugh.

“Let Rosana keep playing his petty games. You lot don’t bother.”

The servant nodded, deciding it wasn’t his business. Then he reported:

“Oh, and Lady Eliano has regained consciousness.”

At that, Flint’s pace quickened.

He’d been checking in regularly—but hadn’t once seen her awake.

He rushed to the bedroom, scolding the servant for not telling him sooner. The servant grumbled to himself about the marriage papers being more urgent. Flint even joked about notifying the Ministry of War.

“She’s awake, you said?”

Jane, still upset over the letter incident, gave a stiff bow. She shot Flint a small glare, then whispered to Eliano.

“My lady. The Grand Duke has come to see you…”

Eliano froze. Her face showed clear surprise. Jane lowered her voice and asked softly in her ear.

“You’ve never seen him since… Don’t you want to see him now?”