Fated Eclipse: The Illegitimate Princess And Her Alpha Suitors

Chapter 173: The Next Trial

Lyria’s POV

I stood slowly from the bed, smoothing my hands lightly against the front of my dress.

”That is t-true,” I admitted softly. ”I s-should return before anyone notices.”

Patricia watched me carefully.

Then her hands moved.

’Do not worry about me.’

I immediately made a face at her.

”That is entirely impossible,” I informed her. ”I shall worry regardless of what y-you say.”

That earned a silent laugh from her.

Then she signed again.

’May the Goddess walk beside you, Lyria.’

Something tightened faintly in my chest at that.

I stepped forward before I could think too deeply about it and wrapped my arms around her once more.

Patricia held me gently.

It was strange.

I had not realised until recently how starved I had been for simple affection. For warmth freely given without expectation attached to it.

When I finally stepped back, I offered her a small smile.

”I shall return soon,” I promised. ”A-and next time, you must continue teaching me properly.”

One brow rose.

I tried to look dignified despite that.

”Etiquette lessons,” I clarified quickly. ”A-and reading lessons as well. Spelling too.”

That amused her greatly, judging by the unmistakable sparkle in her eyes.

I huffed softly.

”I am serious.”

Her smile softened further.

And for reasons I could not entirely explain, something about it unsettled me.

The smile itself was gentle and affectionate, yet beneath it lingered something else.

Something... sad.

The feeling brushed against me quietly enough that I nearly ignored it altogether, but it remained there all the same, lingering faintly beneath my ribs.

I almost asked her what was wrong.

But the words never came.

Instead, I only offered another smile and stepped backward toward the door.

”I shall return s-soon,” I repeated.

Patricia inclined her head lightly.

Then I waved once before slipping from the room and quietly shutting the door behind me.

The corridor beyond was empty.

For a moment, I simply stood there listening to the distant silence of the palace.

Then I exhaled softly and began walking.

I reached my chambers without incident and slipped inside quickly, shutting the door behind me with a small sigh of relief.

The room was quiet, and thankfully my supposed maids were nowhere in sight. I immediately took off my clothes, making sure to place them beneath the floorboards, and then changed into something more appropriate for my station.

I had just finished changing and was about to do my hair when I heard a knock on the door.

I startled so badly I nearly dropped the ribbon in my hand.

My head turned immediately toward the entrance.

Another knock followed.

Then a man’s voice spoke carefully through the door.

”Your Highness? Forgive the disturbance. I am a messenger bearing correspondence for you.”

I frowned slightly.

Correspondence?

For me?

Carefully, I moved toward the door before opening it only slightly.

A palace messenger stood outside, dressed neatly in royal colours.

The moment he saw me, he bowed deeply.

”Good morning, Your Highness.”

”G-good morning,” I replied carefully.

He straightened and extended a sealed letter toward me respectfully.

”I was instructed to deliver this directly into your hands.”

I accepted it slowly.

”Th-thank you.”

The messenger bowed once more.

Then, remembering myself, I quickly glanced down at the letter and pretended to skim it with ease, though I was not reading it. I could not show this man that I was unable to read fluently.

I could recognise some words, yes, but still it was not enough to read naturally or quickly as I pretended to.

I nodded when I was done, as though everything was perfectly normal.

”I u-understand,” I said softly.

The messenger seemed satisfied by that.

”Then I shall take my leave, Your Highness.”

I inclined my head politely.

The moment he departed, I shut the door rather quickly and leaned against it with a small exhale.

Then I looked down at the letter again.

Carefully, I moved toward the chair near the window and sat.

The paper trembled slightly between my fingers.

Slowly, painstakingly, I began sounding out the words one at a time.

The process remained frustratingly slow.

I hated that.

Hated how long it took.

Hated how the letters sometimes blurred together until my head ached from trying to force sense from them.

Still, Patricia’s lessons had helped.

Enough that I could stumble through this much on my own.

Slowly, I traced a finger beneath the lines as I read.

My brows furrowed deeper with every passing second.

Then finally, understanding settled fully.

I stared at the letter in disbelief.

”A p-poetry competition?” I whispered aloud.

Surely not.

I looked down at the paper again immediately, as though rereading it might somehow change the contents.

But no.

The words remained exactly the same.

The notice had been written formally, elegantly.

Clearly intended for the candidates before the official public announcement tomorrow.

My stomach sank slightly as I continued reading.

The next event within the royal courtship competition would be a poetry recital and composition examination to be held the following morning before members of the royal family and invited nobles of court.

Participants would be expected to present an original piece.

I lowered the letter slowly into my lap. First was a painting competition, and now it was poetry. I had to admit I was quite curious as to what would be done.

I was not particularly worried about Baron Redwick, Duke Thorncrest, or even Lucian himself. I was more worried about the two others who were disastrous at the painting competition.

Earl Hawthorne and Duke Valenridge.

Earl Hawthorne would likely present something honest, but Duke Valenridge... I groaned as a small laugh escaped me.

I could only imagine what daring piece he would compose. And how the royal family would react.

There was also the fact that I knew this notice had only come because Duke Valenridge himself had pointed out during the interview that the royal family had not informed the candidates prior to the announcement of the competition, so perhaps that was what they were doing now.

Well... perhaps I should get myself accustomed to some words in preparation for tomorrow. If I had been made aware much earlier, then perhaps I would have spoken with Patricia about it.