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Fated Eclipse: The Illegitimate Princess And Her Alpha Suitors

Chapter 147: The Truth That Must Be Told Carefully · Oct 17, 2026

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Chapter List (452)

Page number / 10

101 Chapter 101: Shadows Convened and Truths Unveiled 2026-10-17
102 Chapter 102: Luncheon and Lingering Shadows 2026-10-17
103 Chapter 103: Shadows Before the Ball 2026-10-17
104 Chapter 104: Beneath the Chandeliers and Unspoken Eyes 2026-10-17
105 Chapter 105: A Cry Beneath the Crown 2026-10-17
106 Chapter 106: A City Holds Its Breath 2026-10-17
107 Chapter 107: Drawn from the Dark 2026-10-17
108 Chapter 108: The Name the Streets Knew 2026-10-17
109 Chapter 109: A Mask Removed 2026-10-17
110 Chapter 110: The Breath Held Too Long 2026-10-17
111 Chapter 111: The Truth They Choose 2026-10-17
112 Chapter 112: The Title They Cannot Deny 2026-10-17
113 Chapter 113: The Game They Refuse to Pause 2026-10-17
114 Chapter 114: The Performance They Perfect 2026-10-17
115 Chapter 115: The Name They Already Chose 2026-10-17
116 Chapter 116: The Names They Speak in the Dark 2026-10-17
117 Chapter 117: The Toast They Dare to Make 2026-10-17
118 Chapter 118: The Crown They Refuse to Share 2026-10-17
119 Chapter 119: The Game Beneath the Politeness 2026-10-17
120 Chapter 120: The Courtesy They Refuse to Keep 2026-10-17
121 Chapter 121: The Verdict None of Them Own 2026-10-17
122 Chapter 122: The Step That Follows the Fall 2026-10-17
123 Chapter 123: The Silence Before the Summons 2026-10-17
124 Chapter 124: The Room They Offer, The Place I Keep 2026-10-17
125 Chapter 125: The Room They Give, The Work I Do 2026-10-17
126 Chapter 126: The Corridor That Should Not Have Been Seen 2026-10-17
127 Chapter 127: Dust, Distance, and What Is Not Said 2026-10-17
128 Chapter 128: The Silence That Cannot Be Carried 2026-10-17
129 Chapter 129: The Decision That Was Already Moving 2026-10-17
130 Chapter 130: The Eyes That Now Watch 2026-10-17
131 Chapter 131: The Words That Must Be Spoken 2026-10-17
132 Chapter 132: The Room That Refused to Bow 2026-10-17
133 Chapter 133: Etiquette Has Teeth 2026-10-17
134 Chapter 134: A Quiet Search Beneath Watchful Eyes 2026-10-17
135 Chapter 135: What One Must Learn to Become 2026-10-17
136 Chapter 136: The Shape of What Awaits 2026-10-17
137 Chapter 137: Lessons Bound in Ink and Expectation 2026-10-17
138 Chapter 138: The Grace Between Words 2026-10-17
139 Chapter 139: The Line One Must Not Cross 2026-10-17
140 Chapter 140: The Window That Remembers 2026-10-17
141 Chapter 141: A Truth Given to the Crowd 2026-10-17
142 Chapter 142: A Crown Placed by Words 2026-10-17
143 Chapter 143: Rules Written for All to See 2026-10-17
144 Chapter 144: A Question Without Preparation 2026-10-17
145 Chapter 145: Questions That Cut Too Deep 2026-10-17
146 Chapter 146: The Answer That Must Not Tremble 2026-10-17
147 Chapter 147: The Truth That Must Be Told Carefully 2026-10-17
148 Chapter 148: Words Sharpened Before the Blade 2026-10-17
149 Chapter 149: The Dress That Does Not Decide for Me 2026-10-17
150 Chapter 150: The Path That Was Not Meant for Me 2026-10-17

Chapter 146: The Truth That Must Be Told Carefully

Lyria’s POV

Duke Thorncrest gave a slow nod, his gaze still fixed on me.

”Well,” he said at last, exhaling softly, ”this is rather unexpected.”

I blinked faintly.

”I find myself questioning whether you are the one meant to be learning from us,” he continued, one brow lifting slightly, ”or whether the arrangement ought to be reversed.”

Heat rose faintly to my face.

Baron Redwick nodded once in quiet agreement.

”There is a degree of composure in that answer,” he said, ”that is not easily taught.”

I did not know how to respond to that.

So I said nothing.

Baron Redwick adjusted his spectacles, his expression shifting as his thoughts moved elsewhere.

”That portion of your answer,” he said, ”regarding ailments...”

He paused briefly.

”That is drawn from the extended text of the prophecy, is it not?”

I nodded.

”Y-yes,” I said softly.

He studied me for a moment.

”...Not everyone is aware of that section,” he said.

I blinked in shock.

”R-Really?” I asked before I could stop myself.

Duke Thorncrest gave a small hum.

”No,” he said. ”Not everyone.”

He leaned slightly back against the wall, his tone thoughtful now rather than teasing.

”Each territory preserves its own variations of the prophecy,” he continued. ”Some are more complete than others. Some are... selectively remembered.”

Baron Redwick inclined his head.

”In recent years,” he added, ”there has been a gradual spread of the fuller interpretation. However, it is far from universal.”

I frowned faintly.

”I had t-thought...” I began, then hesitated.

That everyone knew.

That it was... obvious.

Duke Thorncrest watched me closely.

”There is a great deal that the royal family does not present openly,” he said, his tone mild, though there was an edge beneath it. ”And even more that they allow to fade into obscurity.”

Baron Redwick was quiet for a moment.

Then he spoke again.

”In light of that,” he said, ”there may be... advantage in how you choose to present that knowledge.”

I looked at him.

He met my gaze steadily.

”Rather than stating it directly,” he continued, ”it may be more effective to imply it.”

I tilted my head slightly.

”I-impl—?”

”That there is more to the prophecy than what has been publicly emphasized,” he clarified.

Duke Thorncrest’s lips curved faintly.

”A suggestion,” he said, ”rather than a declaration.”

Baron Redwick nodded.

”You need not accuse,” he said, ”nor contradict outright.”

”But,” Duke Thorncrest added smoothly, ”you may allow others to arrive at that conclusion themselves.”

I considered that.

”...To let t-them q-question it,” I murmured.

”Precisely.”

Baron Redwick’s gaze sharpened slightly.

”The royal family has already positioned you as the source of disruption,” he said. ”It would not be inappropriate to redirect some measure of that scrutiny.”

My fingers curled faintly.

”...Respectfully,” he added after a brief pause.

Duke Thorncrest smiled slightly.

”Subtlety,” he said. ”That is the key.”

I nodded slowly.

”I u-understand,” I said.

And I did.

If they wished to shape the narrative, then I would not oppose it directly.

I would simply... alter how it was seen.

Duke Thorncrest pushed himself away from the wall then, his attention shifting once more.

”Well,” he said, ”shall we continue?”

Baron Redwick inclined his head.

”By all means.”

Duke Thorncrest turned fully toward me, his expression settling into something more focused.

”I have a question for you, Your Highness.”

I straightened slightly.

The neutrality returned to my face, steadier now.

”I am r-ready,” I said softly.

His gaze lingered on me for a moment, as though measuring that claim.

Then he spoke.

”Why,” he asked, ”did you choose not to participate in the selection prior to now?”

The words were calm.

But they struck deeper than the last.

”Why,” he continued, ”did you remain in the shadows?”

Silence followed.

This answer was dangerous. I could not speak the truth plainly.

So I considered what would be appropriate to say.

I weighed each word before it was even formed.

Then, slowly, I answered.

”As His Majesty and Her Majesty have stated,” I said, my voice quiet and even, ”I have long found myself... unsuited to courtly life.”

Duke Thorncrest’s gaze did not waver.

”And by that,” I continued, ”it has been understood that I preferred to remain... apart.”

I kept my expression still.

”I was not at ease in such settings,” I added.

”Nor particularly inclined toward them.”

Silence followed.

Then Duke Thorncrest tilted his head slightly.

”That,” he said, ”is rather convenient.”

I stilled.

His tone was not mocking.

But it was not accepting either.

”Given the statements made by the King and Queen,” he continued, ”it presents a version of events that is... incomplete.”

I held his gaze.

”Is it?” I asked quietly.

Baron Redwick shifted slightly beside him.

”There are always two sides to a matter,” I said, my voice steady.

Silence fell again.

Baron Redwick exhaled softly.

”...Do not say that,” he said.

I blinked.

He adjusted his spectacles.

”Not directly,” he clarified. ”Not in such a manner.”

Duke Thorncrest nodded.

”It invites opposition,” he said, ”and places you in a position where you must defend your statement.”

Baron Redwick inclined his head slightly.

”You do not want to appear as though you are contradicting the royal narrative,” he added.

”...Even if it is not entirely accurate.”

I swallowed.

”T-then... w-what should I say?” I asked.

Duke Thorncrest’s expression shifted, something sharper settling into it now.

”You will have to perform,” he said simply.

I stilled.

”Not falsely,” he added, ”but... selectively.”

Baron Redwick gave a small nod.

”You may present your experience in a manner that aligns with their expectations,” he said, ”while still retaining control over the implication.”

I frowned faintly.

Duke Thorncrest stepped slightly closer.

”You were uncomfortable,” he said. ”That much is believable.”

I did not respond.

”And you may say so,” he continued. ”You may say that, when you were younger, you found the attention... overwhelming.”

Baron Redwick folded his hands loosely.

”That you required time,” he added, ”to adjust.”

Duke Thorncrest’s gaze remained fixed on me.

”That you matured,” he said. ”Gradually.”

I felt something tighten in my chest.

”And yet,” he continued, ”even after that, you were not entirely at ease.”

Baron Redwick nodded.

”So rather than making a declaration that you were ready,” he said, ”you remained where you were most comfortable.”

Duke Thorncrest’s voice softened slightly.

”Not out of defiance,” he said. ”Not out of refusal.”

”But hesitation.”

Baron Redwick finished the thought.

”A reluctance to impose yourself where you were uncertain you belonged.”

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