Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 150: Tell Me, Do You Feel The Same?

Chapter 150: Tell Me, Do You Feel The Same?

Felicity’s tone suddenly softened again, acquiring its previous melodic quality,

"Geraldion is still divided, Your Highness. The Crown Prince is doing his best to tip the political scale in his direction and we all hope he will be able to do so, especially with such a supportive wife by his side. However," the lady’s smile transformed into an unexpectedly canny grin, "If you make the mistake of befriending the wrong people, His Highness’s efforts will be for naught. Prince Yanad can erase his father’s sin, Your Highness, I am certain you want this too."

Leaning against the back of her chair once again, Felicity picked up her cup and concluded,

"Be careful around everyone except your husband, Your Highness, especially Prince Valon. And if you can, do accept my every invitation. I am sure we can become quite wonderful friends."

***

The rest of the time in the Tarran mansion Melania spent as if she was under a spell. The conversation with Felicity drastically changed its tone and turned rather meaningless, with the two of them discussing everything starting from the trendy dresses in Lafad to the best tea shops one could visit in the Capital.

As the princess finally found herself inside the carriage heading back to the Royal Palace, she could not help but feel as if someone had just taken an enormously heavy load off her shoulders and chest and she could finally breathe again.

Noticing her lady’s distress, Loraline rushed to inquire,

"Is everything alright, Your Highness? Lady Tarran seemed like a pleasant young woman. Did you not enjoy your company?"

As if coming out of a trance, Melania shook off the remnants of the lingering uneasiness and offered her lady-in-waiting a subtle smile,

"No... I had a wonderful time in the Tarran barony. I think I will be a often guest there from now on."

"Oh, really? That is fantastic, My Lady! I knew that meeting new people would be very beneficial to your mood and who would have thought that our first random choice would be so fortunate!"

Loraline continued to share her excitement with the princess but Melania could no longer hear her. Pressing her throbbing forehead against the cold glass of the coach’s window, she breathed a heavy sigh and closed her eyes.

’So this is how it is going to be from now on, huh? I will be constantly ignored by the Royal Family and my lawful husband while torn between politically torn nobility, always watched and controlled by those who want to see Yanad on the throne... I wish I had never accepted that invitation...’

The moment the princess stepped into the palace, she was greeted by one of the butlers carrying a small silver tray in his gloved hands with a lonely white envelope carefully placed on it.

"Welcome back, Your Highness. A letter was just delivered for you, I was asked to personally hand it over to you when you return."

"Another letter? I am exhausted just to think about opening it."

Melania murmured these words under her nose but still accepted the envelope and thanked the butler for his hard work. She then excused herself and told Loraline that she wanted to rest alone in her bedroom.

"Certainly, Your Highness. I will be in my room if you need me."

Once the lady locked the door to her bedroom with a key, she released another long sigh, finding a sense of relief by being left alone again, then walked to her desk, picked up the thin letter opener, and without reading the envelope, proceeded straight to retrieving the letter inside it.

As her eyes began to carelessly skim through the writings on the paper, the princess suddenly paused and widened her eyes, her fingers trembling while her gaze had no choice but to return to the very beginning of the letter,

"My Dearest Melania,

I hope this letter finds you well and in good spirits. As I sit down to write to you, memories of our past encounters flood my mind, filling me with warmth and a longing to see you once again.

I fondly recall the times we spent together, exploring the markets and sharing laughs as we sampled various delicacies in the Capital of Geraldion. Your presence brought a lightness to my days, and I cherish those moments dearly.

The dance we shared remains etched in my memory, a fleeting yet unforgettable experience. It brought us closer, if only for a moment, and I find myself yearning for more of such moments with you. Tell me, do you feel the same?

In light of our dance, I’ve decided to take up a dance class upon returning to Davoor. "Good enough" is not a quality suited for a king, and I wish to improve myself in every aspect, including dancing, to be worthy of your company when the opportunity to meet presents itself again.

Melania, never have I ever felt so mesmerized by a woman before, and I find myself drawn to you more with each passing day. Though we may be separated by distance, know that you hold a special place in my heart. I think of you often and I pray that Davoorian Gods guard your safety and well-being.

With warm regards,

Your friend and hopefully a constant future dance companion,

Yuraon"

Princess Melania could not believe her eyes. She kept reading the letter over and over again, memorizing every single word and the curl of the King’s handwriting as if afraid that at any moment, at any blink of her big brown eyes, its contents would disappear forever, leaving only a torturous emptiness inside her palms.

With a sense of urgency, she opened the small drawer of her wooden desk and started frantically rummaging through it in search of the writing set.

At last, having found a clean sheet of paper and the ink kit, she placed Yuraon’s letter in front of her and started writing, carefully outlining each and every word which was filled with a poignant sense of melancholic affection.

She was nervous, scared, anxious, and undeniably happy. And after what seemed like an eternity spent behind the desk, the princess ended the letter with a final punctuational mark that seemed to have echoed in tune with her very heartbeat.