The Queen personally escorted Jessica all the way to the gates of Eminence Palace.
Smiling warmly, she said, “It’s the dead of night–it’s not convenient for me to see you
off any farther. I wouldn’t want to cause you any trouble Ar lately, my health hasn’t been great. Jessica, since you’ve read so many medical texts, you must come visit me often and share some of that knowledge about health and longevity.”
Jessica bowed slightly and replied, “Of course, Your Majesty. I will remember.”
After Jessica had left, Danna helped the Queen back inside, unable to hide her own sigh. “Consort Adele and Prince Waldo are truly fools, she muttered. “To have such a remarkable woman right before their eyes and not cherish her… Consort Adele may realize Jessica’s worth now, but Waldo—he’s hopeless. One day, he’ll regret throwing her away for some wild country girl.”
Once everyone else had been dismissed, Danna lowered her voice and asked, “Your Majesty….
are you sure about this? Won’t Prince Derek be upset!
The Queen answered calmly, “He’s still young; he won’t understand. When the world settles, what is meant to be his will come to him in the end.
Jessica had shown her a path she had never considered before. In the current political climate, the Queen’s position was dangerously precarious. But now–now she saw a glimmer of hope, a road bathed in light. Perhaps, the only road left.
“Danna,” the Queen said, her voice steady with new resolve, “prepare some pastries tomorrow morning. I want Prince Henry to join me for breakfast.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Meanwhile, Monica trailed silently behind Jessica, not daring to speak a word.
Only after they had returned to the grounds of the Yates estate did Monica finally dare to say, “Her Majesty seemed to be in excellent spirits tonight.”
It was no small thing–very few people besides the King and the Queen Mother were ever personally escorted out by the Queen herself.
“Miss Yates… did you agree to something?” Monica asked cautiously.
Jessica shook her head, a faint, ironic smile playing on her lips. “She’s the Queen. If she wants something done, she doesn’t need my agreement. She can simply command it.”
“Then why…?”
Jessica said calmly, “I merely offered a reminder. I didn’t actually do anything.”
When they reached Moonchase Hall, they found Nolan waiting anxiously in the courtyard.
Upon seeing them return, Nolan hurried over. “Miss Yates, Mr. Yates has been waiting for you all night in the side hall.”
Because Jessica had been summoned to the palace, Garbisch–being a man–had not been permitted to accompany her.
Yet he knew full well Consort Adele bore no goodwill toward Jessica, and until she returned safely, he hadn’t been able to rest.
When he finally saw her back unharmed, Garbisch visibly relaxed–but worry still clouded his face. “Did Consort Adele summon you about the Autumn
Hunt?” he asked, voice low.
Jessica sank into a chair, exhaustion catching up to her after a long, tense night. “She did. But I refused.”
Garbisch studied the faint weariness in her eyes and said, “Consort Adele isn’t the type to give up easily.”
“She said I have one day to reconsider,” Jessica murmured, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples.
1/2
Chapter 135
Garbisch’s heart twisted painfully. He didn’t want her burdened like this. “Jessica, maybe I should just join wilde Henna bal
Even if we’ll never be close again, at least we won’t be enemies…
Jessica’s eyes snapped open, She fixed him with a sharp gaze and said, “Garbischt, when Priscilla hurt you, w hand against you too?”
wasn’t Waldo standing night there, yait
At her words, Garbisch’s face went deathly pale. “You never sought justice against Waldo, did you?” Jessica said quietly. “You let me avenga you aparta Priscilla, but Waldo… you let him go unpunished.”
“Jessica, Waldo had nothing to do with it,” he muttered, turning his face away. He didn’t dare meet her eyes.
Jessica said, “You claim Waldo wasn’t involved because you’re afraid I’ll turn against him. You know the Yates family isn’t what it once was, and opposing Waldo now would be like throwing an egg at a stone.”
Taking a deep breath, Jessica pressed a hand to her chest–the lingering pain was sharp, raw. ‘It hurt… it hurt because of Garbisch’s injustice.
“You kept silent, swallowing every humiliation,” she said, her voice thick with restrained fury, “because you didn’t want me to hate him. You thought that by protecting him, you were protecting me. But what did it earn you?”
Her lips curved into a bitter smile. “Even with all your silence, even after enduring everything for my sake–he still cast me aside without hesitation, running into the arms of another woman.”
AD
