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Fated Eclipse: The Illegitimate Princess And Her Alpha Suitors

Chapter 211: Questions Beneath the Rain · Oct 17, 2026

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Chapter List (452)

Page number / 10

201 Chapter 201: Nothing At All 2026-10-17
202 Chapter 202: Knowledge Not Meant for People of Her Standing 2026-10-17
203 Chapter 203: The Quiet Relief of Solitude 2026-10-17
204 Chapter 204: A Gift for Patricia 2026-10-17
205 Chapter 205: Beneath the Bed 2026-10-17
206 Chapter 206: Perhaps You Speak for Him 2026-10-17
207 Chapter 207: Knowing One’s Place 2026-10-17
208 Chapter 208: The Bland Tearoom Date 2026-10-17
209 Chapter 209: A Moment of Privacy 2026-10-17
210 Chapter 210: Partners in Crime 2026-10-17
211 Chapter 211: Questions Beneath the Rain 2026-10-17
212 Chapter 212: A Toast To Partnership 2026-10-17
213 Chapter 213: A Promise of the Ball 2026-10-17
214 Chapter 214: The Trouble With Dancing 2026-10-17
215 Chapter 215: A Change of Venue 2026-10-17
216 Chapter 216: The First Dance Lesson 2026-10-17
217 Chapter 217: Learning the Steps 2026-10-17
218 Chapter 218: Nervous Confessions 2026-10-17
219 Chapter 219: A Matter of Refreshments 2026-10-17
220 Chapter 220: A Request 2026-10-17
221 Chapter 221: No cherry Pie 2026-10-17
222 Chapter 222: The Voice of the People 2026-10-17
223 Chapter 223: The Question of the Bruise 2026-10-17
224 Chapter 224: The Gift 2026-10-17
225 Chapter 225: The Note 2026-10-17
226 Chapter 226: Patricia 2026-10-17
227 Chapter 227: Blood Upon the Sheets 2026-10-17
228 Chapter 228: The Queen’s Summons 2026-10-17
229 Chapter 229: Broken Porcelain 2026-10-17
230 Chapter 230: The Question of Seduction 2026-10-17
231 Chapter 231: The Accusation 2026-10-17
232 Chapter 232: Dance Till Dawn 2026-10-17
233 Chapter 233: The Council in the Dark 2026-10-17
234 Chapter 234: The Morning After 2026-10-17
235 Chapter 235: Beneath the Canopy 2026-10-17
236 Chapter 236: The Baron’s Question 2026-10-17
237 Chapter 237: Fevered Collapse 2026-10-17
238 Chapter 238: The Queen’s Unwanted Arrival 2026-10-17
239 Chapter 239: A Question of Propriety 2026-10-17
240 Chapter 240: The Physician’s Price 2026-10-17
241 Chapter 241: The Examination 2026-10-17
242 Chapter 242: What the Blood Revealed 2026-10-17
243 Chapter 243: The Private Physician 2026-10-17
244 Chapter 244: The Impromptu Meeting In The Storage Closet 2026-10-17
245 Chapter 245: The Bargain 2026-10-17
246 Chapter 246: The Question of Fear 2026-10-17
247 Chapter 247: The Valet 2026-10-17
248 Chapter 248: Summoned To The Queen’s Tea Room 2026-10-17
249 Chapter 249: The Head Maid 2026-10-17
250 Chapter 250: The Head Maid’s Duty 2026-10-17

Chapter 210: Questions Beneath the Rain

Lyria’s POV

I stared at him cautiously.

Duke Thorncrest’s grin only widened beneath my scrutiny, which somehow made him appear even more suspicious.

”I beg your pardon?” I asked carefully.

”I said,” he repeated with entirely too much delight, ”that we should play a game.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

”That expression,” he said, pointing lightly toward my face, ”suggests you believe I am about to commit a crime.”

”I am merely b-being cautious.”

”A wise instinct,” he admitted. ”But in this particular situation, unnecessary.”

I was not convinced.

He leaned back comfortably against the settee.

”Since the maids have apparently decided we ought to perish from starvation before the refreshments arrive,” he said dramatically, ”we must entertain ourselves somehow.”

”We shall play a game. A getting-to-know-you game.”

I blinked.

”As I mentioned earlier,” he continued, ”I am quite curious about you. I should like to know you better.”

The rain had softened further now, little more than a gentle patter against the glass. The grey light filtering through the windows had brightened somewhat, though the clouds remained thick overhead.

I considered his words.

”I have n-never heard of such a game,” I admitted. ”How is it played?”

His smile widened.

”We take turns asking questions,” he said. ”Each question must be answered within seconds. No prolonged deliberation. No careful weighing of words.”

I frowned slightly.

”That seems r-rather rushed.”

”That is rather the point.”

He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees.

”After the one who asks poses the question, the other answers. And after the answer, the one who asked must answer as well.”

I blinked again.

”We b-both answer?”

”Yes.”

He gestured toward the teapot sitting upon the low table before us.

”If anyone fails to answer,” he said, ”they must drink from that.”

I looked at the teapot.

Then I looked at him.

”You just c-came up with that,” I said.

He nodded shamelessly.

”Yes.”

”You d-did not even attempt subtlety.”

”I find honesty refreshing.”

I stared at him for a moment longer.

Then, despite myself, I felt my lips twitch.

”Are you in?” he asked.

I hesitated.

The game seemed harmless enough. And I was also quite curious about him.

”Very well,” I said. ”I a-am in.”

He clapped his hands together once, softly.

”Splendid.”

He sat back again.

”Let us begin with an example,” he said. ”What is your name?”

I stared at him.

”That seems r-rather obvious.”

”Humour me.”

I sighed.

”Lyria,” I said.

”Excellent,” he said. ”Alistair.”

He smiled.

”You see? Quite easy.”

I nodded slowly.

”It does s-seem rather straightforward.”

He chuckled.

”It is.”

He tilted his head slightly.

”Tell me,” he said. ”Do you enjoy games?”

I considered this for a while.

”I have not p-played many,” I admitted. ”But I do not d-dislike them.”

”So you enjoy them.”

”I s-suppose so. Yes.”

His smile widened.

”Good.”

He gestured toward me.

”Would you like to go first?”

I nodded.

I was quiet as I thought about what to ask for a moment.

”What is your f-favourite food, Your Grace?”

He did not hesitate.

”Roast pheasant,” he said. ”Prepared with herbs and a light glaze. My cook makes it exceptionally well.”

I nodded, filing the information away.

”Your turn,” he said.

I paused.

”Cherry pie,” I said.

He laughed.

”Cherry pie is not a food,” he said. ”It is a dessert. A snack, perhaps.”

I shrugged.

”I love it,” I said. ”I could e-eat it over and over a-again.”

He chuckled.

”Fair play,” he said. ”I shall allow it.”

He leaned forward slightly.

”My turn,” he said. ”What is your favourite weather?”

I did not hesitate.

”Cloudy.”

He stared at me with wide eyes.

”Really?” he asked.

I nodded.

”Yes.”

He blinked.

”I thought for certain you would say sunny.”

”No,” I said. ”T-there is something about cloudy weather. The sun is not so h-high as to make one sweat. T-there is no rain. It is simply... c-comfortable.”

He continued staring at me for a moment.

Then he laughed.

”You surprise me,” he said.

”Is that g-good or bad?”

”I have not yet decided,” he said with a wink.

I felt my lips twitch again.

”Your t-turn,” I said.

He nodded.

”Sunny,” he said. ”I prefer the warmth. The light. The way everything seems brighter.”

I nodded.

”Your favourite s-season?” I asked.

”Winter,” he said at once.

I blinked.

”Winter?”

”Yes.” He smiled. ”I enjoy the cold. The way the world grows quiet. The excuse to remain indoors beside a fire.”

I considered this. ”That sounds c-contradictory. You like s-sunny weather but enjoy staying i-indoors during winter?”

”I am quite contradictory, Princess,” he said with a smile. ”Now, your answer.”

”Autumn,” I said.

”Autumn?”

”Yes. T-the colours. The crisp air. The sense that something is e-ending, but something else is preparing to b-begin.”

He was quiet for a moment.

Then he nodded slowly.

”I understand that,” he said.

He tilted his head.

”Your favourite colour?”

I hesitated.

”I do not r-really have one,” I admitted.

He raised an eyebrow.

”No?”

”All colours are beautiful,” I said. ”It feels strange to pick only one. I like different shades of different colours. It depends upon the context. The lighting. The surrounding hues.”

He watched me carefully.

”That is a rather thoughtful answer,” he said.

I shrugged slightly.

”You asked,” I said.

He smiled.

”Yes,” he said. ”I did.”

The rain had nearly stopped now. Only the occasional drop tapped against the glass, a soft counterpoint to the silence that had settled between us.

Duke Thorncrest leaned back.

”Your turn,” he said.

I thought for a moment.

”What is your f-favourite memory?” I asked.

He was quiet for a while, and just before he could answer, we heard a knock at the door.

We turned just in time to see the maids walk in with the snacks the Duke had requested.

”I would have thought, given the occasion, this would have been prepared rather earlier than this,” he noted.

Diana bowed then.

”We apologise for the delay, Your Grace. There were some things that we had to resolve,” she said.

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