Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 208: Tomorrow Is A New Day

Chapter 208: Tomorrow Is A New Day

The young king of Davoor, already drained from his exhausting journey to the North, appeared almost lifeless upon hearing the words he thought were without substance.

Both Aideen and Tillian were at a loss for how to respond to his sudden and unexpected arrival. Yuraon drilled his bright blue eyes into their bewildered faces, his voice growing sharper until he nearly screamed, "What did you just say?!"

The duke’s eyebrows furrowed into a cold grimace. He motioned for his wife to hand the letter to the king and stated, "The Crown Prince’s wife has committed suicide. He found her body himself. That’s what I said."

Yuraon’s mind went completely blank. His eyes scanned the written words, but their meaning refused to register.

Why would she do it? How could she do it? Who drove her to this?

It didn’t make sense at all. He knew that someone like Melania would never take her own life. Despite appearing so fragile, she would never give up on her life. So why?

At last, his trembling lips began to form quiet words, "I was too late... It was all my fault... I was too late..."

His devastated state made both Aideen and Tillian deeply concerned. The princess exchanged a worried glance with her husband and then gently suggested, "Your Majesty, let’s get inside first. You must be exhausted from your journey here—"

"What the hell does it matter now?!"

Yuraon’s angry words reverberated through the castle like thunder. The young man’s eyes widened with rage, veins pulsing as his strong hands crumpled the letter.

"How could they let this happen?! Why her?! I’ll kill them! I’ll kill them all!"

The king’s body shook with malice, but his glistening eyes betrayed his true feelings—his heart was shattered, bleeding with unspilled tears.

Tillian grabbed Yuraon by the shoulders and shook him gently, trying to help him regain his composure. His words were stern but well-intended, "Collect yourself, Your Majesty! This is neither the time nor place for such an outburst. Come on, let’s get inside first. We can talk once we’re alone."

Although reluctant, the young king finally allowed the duke to escort him into the castle. Once the three of them were settled in the study, with calming herbal tea and snacks prepared by Safie, Duke Valentine began,

"Now... tell me why you are here in the first place."

Yuraon set aside the delicate porcelain cup and sighed deeply, still struggling to maintain his calm.

"Princess Melania and I had been exchanging letters in secret for months," he began, his voice heavy with sorrow. "In her last letter, she mentioned that she wasn’t feeling like herself, so I decided to come to the capital incognito to surprise her with my visit. I sent a note to her lady-in-waiting, but when my messenger bird returned without a reply, I became worried."

He then retrieved an envelope from the inner pocket of his coat and placed it on the desk before the Valentine couple, continuing, "Then, I received this letter from Melania. It wasn’t addressed to me; it was meant for her family in Lafad. My messenger said there were two letters. I think Loraline, her lady-in-waiting, switched the contents of the envelopes because she suspected something was wrong."

Tillian carefully picked up the letter to Lafad and, after scanning it for a minute, released a long exhale.

"Her plan still failed... If the royal family had intercepted this letter, the princess would have been accused of espionage and executed without trial. Her lady-in-waiting was bold enough to read the princess’ correspondence, but it was meant to save her life at least. Which still..."

The young king clenched his hands in a new fit of rage. "Filthy bastards! To use her as their pawn! I need to go, I’ll destroy them all, crush them like the disgusting bugs they are!"

Concerned, Aideen quickly intervened to calm the man, gently pressing him back into his seat with the aid of her magic. As her powers took effect, she turned to her husband and asked,

"It’s one thing to be accused of having an affair... but what does her suicide mean now?"

Tillian sighed, weighing his words carefully.

"The fact that the Crown Prince decided to inform us about her death can only mean one thing—he has already made her death public. This means Lafad would declare war on Geraldion, not the other way around. The suicide of a royal princess involved in a political marriage is practically an invitation for her family to seek revenge."

Yuraon, although now confined by the invisible shackles of Aideen’s magic, hissed through his gritted teeth, "They don’t need to do anything. I will crush them all with my own two hands."

Duke Valentine placed a calming hand on Yuraon’s shoulder and shook his head.

"Your Majesty, I understand your pain, but this is hardly the time for such rash decisions. If what the Crown Prince said in his letter is true, and Anathaen was behind this scheme all along, then this war is inevitable and could escalate to a continental level."

"The fact that he was the one to declare her dead..." Yuraon’s voice shook once more.

Aideen’s eyes narrowed with empathy for the heartbroken man.

"Those who take their own lives cannot be buried by the Holy Church. They also cannot be laid to rest in the family graveyard... Prince Yanad will have to attend to her body himself; there’s no other way... What a tragedy. Poor princess..."

Tillian’s expression grew more solemn as the weight of the news settled upon him, drowning his mind in a sea of contemplation.

"Regardless of the circumstances, this presents us with an opportunity," he mused aloud. "But I’m not prepared yet. I can’t afford to take risks. Moreover, with Geraldion embroiled in war, King Zelon might see fit to launch an attack, seeking to regain control of the North. The situation is becoming increasingly complex..."

A heavy silence descended upon the duke’s study as each person became lost in their own unsettling thoughts.

Tillian glanced at Yuraon. Despite his imposing demeanor, he appeared utterly vulnerable, like a child in distress. It was heart-wrenching to witness him in such anguish.

With a long sigh, Duke Valentine assisted the young king in rising from his chair and offered him a gentle suggestion, "Why don’t you get some sleep first, Your Majesty? We can discuss matters further tomorrow when our minds are clear and refreshed. I believe it would be more advantageous that way."

Yuraon was reluctant to entertain the idea of rest; he found the suggestion somewhat patronizing. However, he couldn’t deny the wisdom in Tillian’s words. Exhausted and unable to think clearly, he reluctantly agreed.

"Very well..." he conceded. "Tomorrow is a new day."