Fated Eclipse: The Illegitimate Princess And Her Alpha Suitors

Chapter 258: The Problem of Marquess Corvin Hale

Lyria’s POV

I could hear Phineas speaking calmly from outside the door.

”With respect, my lord,” he said, his voice even and unhurried, ”unless Her Highness gives her permission, no one is to step into her chambers. Especially not an unmarried man, regardless of his position.”

Marquess Hale scoffed loudly.

”Every suitor candidate has been permitted to see the Princess,” he said. ”I am no different from the others.”

Brayden spoke then, his voice deeper, rougher at the edges.

”No one has seen Her Highness directly, my lord. They have only delivered gifts and well-wishes at the door. If you wish to do the same, you are welcome to leave your offering.”

There was a pause.

Then Corvin spoke again, his voice colder.

”I did not come here to leave an offering.”

”Then I am afraid you cannot enter, my lord.”

I sighed.

”H-he is not g-going t-to l-leave,” I said to the maids.

They nodded in agreement, and then, to my surprise, Bridget smiled. There was a mischievous glint in her eyes.

”Your Highness,” she said, ”you do not need to endure any more bad energy from someone with so little to offer. If you permit me, I shall get rid of him so you may rest properly ahead of this evening’s competition.”

I frowned at that.

”H-how d-do you m-mean?”

Bridget only smiled in reply.

Elara spoke up then, her voice calm and measured.

”Your Highness, you should allow Bridget to handle this. You have only just recovered, and you should not be stressing yourself over people such as the Marquess.”

I was quiet for a moment, considering the suggestion before me.

Perhaps it would be better if Bridget handled Corvin after all.

”V-very w-well,” I said. ”But be c-careful. The M-marquess is known to be p-prone to a-anger. Do not p-put yourself in d-danger.”

Bridget bowed deeply.

”I shall not, Your Highness.”

She turned then and walked toward the door. She pulled it open, stepped through, and closed it firmly behind her.

Pippa and Debbie rushed to the door immediately after she was gone, pressing their ears against the wood.

I chuckled at their enthusiasm.

But within minutes, it became evident there was little need for eavesdropping; we could hear everything being said outside the chamber.

”What is the meaning of this?” Corvin demanded. ”Who are you?”

Bridget’s voice was calm, unlike Corvin’s.

”I am Bridget, my lord. One of the maids assigned to the Princess.”

”Oh really? That bodes well then. Open the door,” Corvin said. ”I came to see the Princess.”

Bridget did not respond to his command.

”If I may, my lord,” she said instead, ”I would ask you to speak rather more softly. The Princess has only just recovered, and with you shouting as you are, you may distress her now-sensitive ears.”

There was a pause.

”Do you know who you are speaking to?” Corvin asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Bridget did not sound frightened.

”I do, my lord,” she said calmly. ”However, I wonder if you know where you are at this moment.”

”What is that supposed to mean?”

”You are standing before a Princess’s chambers,” Bridget said. ”An unmarried woman. And you are attempting to force your way through the door.”

She gasped loudly.

The sound was so theatrical that I almost laughed.

”My lord,” she continued, her voice rising, ”are you suggesting—surely not—that you are attempting to force yourself upon the Princess?”

”I am doing no such thing—”

”Her Highness has only just regained consciousness,” Bridget continued, speaking over him. ”She is weak. She is vulnerable. And though you must be quite smitten with her to behave in such a manner, that does not give you the right to force your way into her chambers.”

”I am not—”

”She is a Princess,” Bridget said firmly. ”You are a Marquess. Given the difference in your stations, you ought to be on your best behaviour. You should know when it is appropriate to approach Her Highness, and when it is not.”

She paused.

”If you wish to have an audience with Her Highness, and if you have not come merely to wish her well as the others have done, then you know the proper way to request one. You are a Marquess, after all. Surely you know protocol.”

Corvin was silent for a moment.

Then he said, his voice icy, ”Do you know who I am?”

Bridget’s voice softened.

”You are Marquess Corvin Hale of Westreach, my lord,” she said. ”I hope you will not take offence at my words. Though I doubt someone of your reputation would be offended, given that you are known to be quite benevolent.”

She paused.

”I am merely doing my duty, my lord. The rules were not set by me. They were set by the royal family. I am only following them.”

There was a beat of silence.

I held my breath.

I could not see what was happening. I could not see Corvin’s face, could not tell whether his temper had flared, nor whether Bridget was in danger.

But I was frightened for her. What if Corvin struck her?

I tried to stand, to move toward the door, but Elara shook her head.

”Wait, Your Highness,” she said quietly.

I tried to argue.

”Trust her, Your Highness. She will not fail you,” she added.

Her words reminded me of what Duke Valenridge had said the previous night, and perhaps that was why I calmed down.

Seconds—perhaps minutes—passed, and then the door opened.

Pippa and Debbie, who had still been pressed against it, tumbled forward onto the floor.

Bridget stepped inside. She closed the door gently behind her and crossed over them, heading straight toward my bedside.

Then she bowed deeply.

”It is done, Your Highness,” she said, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips.

I stared at her.

”That is all?” I asked. ”He simply... left?”

”He did, Your Highness,” she replied proudly.