Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 196: The Rumors

Chapter 196: The Rumors

"Have you heard the latest rumors?"

Lady Tarran made sure she was standing close enough to the queen because her words had a certain purpose––she had to prove that she was doing what she was paid to do.

The annual wine-tasting gathering at Duchess Evelina Lanett’s mansion was a highly anticipated event because only the chosen and most esteemed members of the nobility could receive the invitation to visit Evelina’s mansion.

The royal family, without a doubt, belonged to the limited number of the chosen ones.

And as such, with only crème de la crème of the capital’s high society present, it was a good opportunity for those involved to start spreading nasty rumors about one Melania Lafad, the unsuspecting victim of a secret, intricate plan.

The children of Duchess Lanett, sisters Yeva and Belle, and their younger brother Dante, gathered around young Lady Tarran, salivating at the opportunity to hear the latest gossip, their excited faces signaled for Felicity to open her mouth once again, spitting out the made-up things about the royal princess,

"Her Highness, Princess Melania seemed to have grown pretty close to her new protege, the young Lafadian artist!" Throwing occasional glances at the queen and her youngest son, Prince Valon, Lady Tarran ensured that her words reached their ears before continuing, "They spend so much time together, all alone... Some even say the princess spends more time with that poor artist than with her own husband, the Crown Prince!"

Belle covered her grinning mouth with her lace fan and shook her head in disapproval, "I knew it! They are birds of a feather after all. Same kingdom, same culture."

"Goodness, how shameless of her!" Added her sister, "To take a lover, and a commoner at that! How sly of her, she must have planned that all along! Cunning little fox she is!"

"Shame, utter shame," chimed in their brother, "If the rumors are confirmed, what will be of the royal couple then?"

Lady Tarran, satisfied with the shock she had created, nodded at Prince Valon who offered her an approving nod, and said, "Who knows? If Her Highness dares bring shame upon the royal family of Geraldion... Drastic measures might be implemented. Maybe catastrophic, even."

Turning away from the gossiping crowd, Valon gently touched his mother by the arm and smiled warmly, "Mother, I think it’s time we returned to the royal palace."

"Yes... Let’s go back."

***

The rhythmic sound of the horses’ hooves over the stone road that led to the royal palace was too loud to ignore. Nevertheless, the queen’s carriage was filled with suffocating silence.

Consumed by her own inner musings, Fleur clutched the blinds of the carriage window in her right hand, her deep green eyes wandering over the moving scenery outside the window. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking about, but one thing was clear –– somehow, she wasn’t happy.

Finally, with her gaze still moving idly all over the window glass, she said rather coldly, "So everything is going according to the plan."

Valon nodded and smiled lightly, his eyes closed, "Indeed, the princess does not even suspect anything, she is so busy helping that Lafadian man that she is blind to everything else around her."

The queen released a somewhat disappointed sigh, "Make it quick. Send a warning letter to Anathaen already as soon as possible, the emperor must know that everything is set in motion. Make sure it’s addressed to your sister. It is still a secret after all."

Valon’s lips stretched into an even wider green, "Yes, Mother."

Fleur closed her eyes and finally let go of the soft fabric of the blinds. Leaning back in the comfortable carriage seat, she thought, "Enough is enough. It’s time to cleanse this continent once and for all."

***

The maid made a slow movement along the long curly locks of Melania’s brown hair, while the other maid adjusted the pearl buttons of her silk nightgown.

The princess looked at her reflection in the mirror and twisted her lips into a bitter smile.

After the incident with the royal doctor who was set on examining Melania’s reproductive health, Yanad offered a safe solution––to spend a night in his chambers at least once a week to make the rest of the family believe that they were indeed sharing a bed and trying to have a child together.

Melania hated that idea but had to agree that it was indeed better than having the queen control her every move and insist on seeing a doctor. She wanted to be finally left alone.

Once the princess was ready to go to sleep, the bedroom door swung open, inviting Prince Yanad inside.

The maids greeted him with a deep bow and the Crown Prince dismissed them with a careless gesture of his hand. Without saying a single word or even looking at his wife, Yanad marched to his bed, took one of the pillows, and threw it on the couch standing next to the bedroom window.

Ever since they started this little ruse, Yanad never slept in the same bed as Melania; he chose to sleep on the couch instead. Melania did not mind.

The princess watched him make himself comfortable on the couch, then rose to her feet, and finally said, "I am turning the lights off."

Yanad said nothing. As always.

His silence was his approval. The princess turned the magic lamps off and the bedroom turned almost completely dark, with only the dim moonlight seeping its silver light through the tall windows.

Melania started slowly walking towards the bed but had to pause as she heard Yanad’s quiet voice, "That young artist... Be careful with him, Your Highness. Even you can’t stay both blind and deaf to the rumors that are already circulating in high society."

The woman couldn’t resist getting angry, "I don’t care for them; let them entertain their dull, idle minds with whatever nonsense they can afford to come up with."

Yanad could only sigh, "I have warned you. If this escalates further, even I won’t be able to protect you from the consequences."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Good night."

Melania’s answer was calm and distant but as soon as her body hid beneath the soft embrace of the plush blanket, cold shivers shook her entire form.

She hated the idea that she had to be protected. She hated that there were rumors about her to begin with. What did she do that was so wrong? Perhaps she was still too young and naive to understand it all. Perhaps she was too stupid to refuse to play by the royal family’s rules.

She felt all alone once again.

’Yuraon... What should I do?’