Chapter 97

Ella POV

“The food was incredible, as always,” Elizabeth remarked as we stepped out the front door.

“I’ll pass that along to the kitchen staff—they’ll be thrilled,” I replied with a smile.

It was one of those rare, warm days that clung on past summer’s end, so we decided to take a walk before Elizabeth had to return to the capital. There was still so much left unsaid, but as we strolled down the path, I noticed an unmistakable shift in her mood.

“We won’t have many more days like this,” I commented, glancing at the sky. “The weather’s going to change soon.”

“Yes,” she agreed, a slight furrow in her brow. “I think it’ll be a harsh winter.”

Her tone was tight, her gaze distant as she kept glancing at me, then quickly looking away. After the easy, lighthearted mood we’d shared all afternoon, the sudden tension felt like a cold wind. I told myself not to press her—if she had something to say, she’d say it in her own time. But as we turned the corner at the end of the block, her silence became impossible to ignore.

“Does it feel strange being away from the constant noise of the capital?” I asked, hoping to draw her out.

“A little,” she said, with a weak smile. “But it’s… nice. I wish things could be more like this back home. You can’t even step outside without people shouting at you or snapping photos.”

“I’ve noticed,” I muttered, thinking of how relentless the scrutiny on her must be.

She looked down at her feet, exhaling a sigh that felt too heavy for such a simple walk.

“Something’s on your mind,” I said quietly. “What’s wrong?”

Elizabeth’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with surprise. She quickly forced a smile and shook her head. “Nothing, really. I’m fine.”

But the look in her eyes told me otherwise. There was something she wasn’t saying—something weighing her down that she didn’t feel she could share with me. And that hurt more than I cared to admit.

Elizabeth had become my closest friend, the one I could trust with almost anything. It unsettled me to think that she couldn’t—or wouldn’t—trust me in return.

Then again, I hadn’t exactly been open with Elizabeth about everything. I’d done my best to shield her from the turmoil surrounding David. The last thing I wanted was to draw any unwanted attention her way.

I hadn’t even told her about the attack at the hotel. I’d simply ignored the rumors swirling around it. Alexander, ever protective, had used his influence to keep the story out of the headlines, offering the press exclusive wedding access in return for their silence.

My father had agreed—it was better to let the matter fade if we couldn’t directly expose David’s involvement.

Still, whispers persisted. The rumors might have lost momentum in the media, but online, they remained like a shadow that wouldn’t quite disappear. I could only hope they’d eventually fade away.

But then, a thought struck me: I knew that Elizabeth spent time on social media, where rumors circulated endlessly. If she’d heard any of it, she might feel hurt that I’d kept such a significant event from her.

I couldn’t bear the idea of something like this driving a wedge between us.

I clasped my hands together, twisting them nervously. “Elizabeth, if there’s something you want to say to me, I hope you know you can say it. I won’t be offended.”

Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder, her expression shifting to something guarded. Because of the time of day, we didn’t have a guard tailing us. The patrols and house guards were out of earshot, leaving us as alone as we could be.

“I’m just worried about you,” she admitted, her voice a soft whisper. “I’ve heard some terrible rumors… about you being attacked. Is it true?”

A surge of tension twisted in my chest, but I gave a slight nod. “It’s true that I was attacked,” I said carefully. “But I don’t know exactly what you’ve heard. I haven’t been able to say much because… the situation is still under investigation.”

Elizabeth’s eyes searched mine, her worry evident. She took a step closer, keeping her voice quiet as she asked, “what can you tell me about it?”

“I was drugged, so some of it is very hazy,” I admitted softly, trying to steady my voice.

“Drugged?” Elizabeth’s face paled, horror flashing in her eyes. “How?”

I swallowed, the memory thick in my throat. “David somehow found out about my usual coffee shop. He bribed one of the baristas to slip something into my drink when I came in.”

“He attacked you in a crowded shop like that?” she said in disbelief, her voice rising with anger.

I shook my head, feeling the familiar unease creep back in. “No. He lured me to the hotel restaurant. He sent me a message and made it look like it was from you. I thought you’d wanted to meet. When I got there, he ambushed us. He injected my bodyguard with a fast-acting poison, just enough to incapacitate him. Then, while I was weak and disoriented, he dragged me deeper into the hotel.”

Elizabeth clenched her fists, her expression fierce. “How could he do that? Did no one help you?”

“No one knew I needed help,” I said, bitterly. “I looked like I was just… drunk. Everyone assumed I was safe, that I was just another guest who’d had a little too much to drink.”

“Why is he walking free?” she demanded, anger flaring in her eyes. “He should be awaiting my father’s judgment!”

“We don’t have solid proof,” I replied, frustration heavy in my voice. “My father and Alexander have people investigating, but they don’t want to move against him until they’re certain they can prove it. David is… he’s good at talking his way out of things.”

There was so much more I could say, so many dark truths just under the surface, but I didn’t dare. I couldn’t bear for Elizabeth—or anyone else—to know the full horror of what David had tried to do. Even thinking about it made me feel sick to my stomach.

Elizabeth’s face darkened with pure indignation. “He used my name to hurt you.” Her voice trembled with fury. “He won’t get away with it. I promise you, every resource at my father’s disposal will be made available to your investigators. David isn’t going to walk away from this.”

Her anger was so fierce, so genuine, that I felt a rush of relief knowing she was on my side. But a new worry crept in. I couldn’t deny that the last thing I wanted was for Elizabeth to get entangled in this mess.

The more distance she could keep from David and his twisted schemes, the better. But how could I refuse her support now? I needed all the allies I could get.

“Thank you,” I said softly, my voice choked with emotion.

“Of course,” she replied, her expression softening just slightly. “No one hurts my friends and gets away with it. My father would never allow someone that despicable to walk free.”

My heart beat fast as I nodded, accepting her words. I didn’t know the king well, but I had no doubt that she was right about that. David would be brought to justice for his many crimes. I just hoped that it would be soon, before he could hurt anyone else.