GMHYS 23

Chapter 23

With a fierce motion, she snatched it up. Briana tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter inside.

Briana’s eyes moved rapidly.

“Oh…”

She read the letter again.

“Ohhh…”

Briana staggered. The letter was addressed to Eleanor — the wretched half-breed who wasn’t even granted the royal surname. Briana pressed a hand to her forehead. The letter slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor.

[Eleanor,

I can’t tell you how long I agonized before writing this. But I think this is the best choice.

Eleanor, I’m certain this marriage suits you better than it suits me.

If you fulfill the duties of a princess in my place, my brother will acknowledge you. And the alliance between Boswell and Medice will remain firm.

I want to be with the person I love — the one who loves me.
So I’m leaving.

Eleanor, thank you for everything. I wish you happiness.]**

It was a short, striking letter.

“That damn….”

Briana collapsed into her chair. She never imagined that elegant face had harbored such ridiculous romanticism. Her eyes blinked slowly as her mind went blank. The bride had disappeared on the morning of her wedding.

She had no idea how she was supposed to report this to the royal family. It felt as if the ground beneath her feet was sinking into a swamp.

Briana rose unsteadily.

To fix this, she needed Frederick. Thousands had come to Boswell just to attend the crown prince’s wedding.

They couldn’t afford such public humiliation. As the princess’s letter suggested, substituting that lowborn Eleanor might actually be the best of their terrible options.

The King of Medice arrived last night.

Briana gathered up her skirts without dignity and ran.

***

King Medice, Eleanor, and Countess Briana gathered in Frederick’s chambers. It was early, but all of them were pale as ghosts. No trace of sleep remained. Naturally — the bride had vanished on her wedding day.

“I ask you this, Your Majesty.”

Frederick’s voice was filled with fury.

“What do you intend to do now? Your sister has disappeared, and the alliance between Medice and Boswell is at risk.”

There was open accusation in his tone — as if asking how on earth the king had raised his sister. King Medice, Craife, gave an awkward laugh. His clenched fists hid a mind full of curses for Belisa.

He had never realized Belisa could be so impulsive and self-willed. Had she truly been unhappy with the marriage? Until she left, she hadn’t been able to sleep from excitement at the thought of meeting Frederick.

Craife shot a sharp glare at Eleanor.

“You were by her side all this time, and you didn’t know what she was thinking?”

His eyes flashed viciously. Eleanor let out a slow sigh. She was just as bewildered.

How could my sister leave me behind?

That thought refused to leave her. The one who raised her and kept her alive was gone. Eleanor had been abandoned too. She wanted to grab someone and demand answers — but she had no power at all.

In a subdued voice, Eleanor spoke.

“No one knows where my sister went… Correct?
Then what happens to the wedding today?”

It was a reminder that the real issue wasn’t that Belisa had run away — but that the wedding was imminent. Dignitaries from all nations were already present in the capital. If things went wrong, Boswell’s international standing could sink to the bottom of the ocean.

“The wedding… ha.”

Frederick ran a hand through his hair. Grinding his teeth wouldn’t bring back the bride.

“Let’s do this.”

Craife spoke quickly.

“I will acknowledge Eleanor as royal blood. She will be granted the Medice royal surname. Medice will have two princesses.”

Ruling families all bore middle names. Eleanor had none — this was mere decorative justification. But there was no alternative. Frederick grudgingly answered,

“Fine. Eleanor Medice. Acceptable.”

No one asked Eleanor for her opinion. She calmed herself slowly.

Instead of wandering the streets looking for my sister, I might be better off finding her as the crown princess.

Rank came with the power to command countless people — that was what she wanted.

“Eleanor, prepare yourself.”

“Yes, Your Highness.
Your Majesty, I will take my leave.”

Eleanor bowed softly and exited the office. Countess Briana followed with a heavy sigh — though she had no time for complaints.

This was a matter of state — not of individuals.

“We must alter the dress immediately. Come, hurry.”

“The dress…”

Eleanor blinked. Lost in lingering shock, she felt Briana seize her wrist. Dragging the bride along, Briana burst out in anger.

“Medice must have quite a unique idea of courtesy! I suppose I’ll have much to teach you. Since Her Highness will replace that woman as crown princess, you will obey my instructions from now on!”

Briana snapped. At her calling Belisa that woman, Eleanor’s eyes flashed — but Briana didn’t notice. Eleanor’s mind was on the dress.

It was planned from the beginning.

From the moment they’d tried the dress on her body instead of Belisa’s. Eleanor clenched her fists. The maids waiting in Belisa’s room bowed quickly, sensing Briana’s foul mood.

“Begin preparations. The new princess is unfamiliar with our customs, so attend her well.”

“Yes, my lady!”

Their voices rang with tension. They had already heard rumors of that morning’s disaster. As they pulled Eleanor from place to place, she murmured under her breath:

“…That damned woman.”

A curse — though she wasn’t even sure whom it targeted. She forced down the bitterness in her eyes. Dragged around like a doll, she gradually transformed into a princess — looking more and more like the Belisa she had loved so dearly.

***

The carriage carrying Belisa raced toward the small Xavier port. Though Xavier touched the sea, it couldn’t host a large ship. Only small vessels anchored there.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Belisa and her party boarded a small boat. Only after it left the port did she release a breath.

No one followed.

Exhilaration surged. They must be scrambling to salvage the wedding right now. How she wished she could see their faces.

Belisa finally opened the lips she had kept pressed together.

“It worked.”

The words slipped out like a sigh of triumph. Jane and Dixie both exhaled deeply.

“I thought I’d suffocate,” Jane said.

“I swore they’d catch us at the checkpoint!” Dixie added.

Belisa smiled faintly at them. At last, the anchor for a new journey had been raised. She stayed tense until they boarded the larger ship.

But no one paid attention to early-morning passengers.

“We’ve been expecting you, Your Highness.”

It was Matteo who greeted her.

“Sir Matteo, where is the Archduke?”

“He attended the wedding. He will return as soon as it concludes.”

Belisa nodded, a hint of tension in her face.

“Until then, I’ll stay in my room. Which one is mine?”

“The princess’s chambers have been—”

“Oh! Sister!”

Matteo’s words were cut off as someone ran toward them. Fluttering hair announced Amelie, who threw her arms around Belisa.

Her face was flushed with excitement.

“Sister, are you coming on the trip too?”