Before this, due to her significant blood loss, Eliza had barely been able to stand in the Imperial Pce for more than a moment.


    As she left, dizziness overtook her. Despite this, she gritted her teeth and forced herself to maintainposure in front of the King, nning to rest once she boarded her carriage.


    But the moment she stepped outside the pce, everything went ck. Unable to see ahead, she collided with someone.


    She was caught just in time. Eliza bit down on her tongue hard, the sharp pain snapping her back to her senses. As she looked up, her heart skipped a beat.


    The man who had caught her had a striking, coldly handsome face, but it was his silver hair that immediately gave him away.


    Everyone in Bortend knew that hair-it belonged to the notorious and ruthless warrior, the Prince Regent, Nn.


    "My deepest apologies for mypse in manners, Your Highness Eliza quickly straightened and gave a respectful bow.


    What really made her uneasy wasn''t his fearsome reputation-after all, Bortend owed its peace to his power and military might


    She had heard rumors about him detesting women getting too close to him.


    Before returning to the city, officials had sent him several women as gifts, but by the next day, they were all found dead, their hands severed. It was said that even the smallest touch from him would lead to their death.


    Though these rumors might not be entirely true, Eliza wasn''t about to take any chances. She bowed again, carefully apologizing.


    To her relief, the Prince Regent didn''t seems to pay much attention to her. He only gave her a brief nce, then withdrew his hand and walked past her into the study without saying a word


    Fliza let out a quiet sigh of relief. It''s trac-he really does hate women. Next time, I''ll make sure to keep my distance.


    But what she didn''t know was that after she left with James, Nn, who had already entered the pce, suddenly turned around and looked at her. His gaze lingered on the marks of injury on her back, and for a moment, be froze, staring after her.


    rk inside the pce, Magnus immediately understood who Nn had run into and asked, "Uncle Nn, did you bump into Eliza Stonor!


    "Eliza Stonor?" Nn repeated, clearly confused.


    Magnus, knowing his uncle had only just returned from years of warfare and wasn''t familiar with people in the capital, exined, "She''s the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Mowbay, Caroline''s daughter,


    Nn raised an eyebrow. "Ah, so she''s the Duke''s favorite


    Magnus chuckled and waved a hand. "Not anymore. The Dukes new favorite isn''t her.


    It wasmon knowledge in Hasen that six months ago, the Duke of Mowbay had brought a daughter back from somewhere, iming she was the daughter of a benefactor.


    However, everyone with eyes could see the resemnce between her and the Duke. Everyone was thinking. Abenefactor''s daughter? Please. If she weren''t his own, how could they look so much alike?


    own daughter to


    "Who would''ve thought that the proud Duke had such a tangled mess beneath his noble exterior, Magnus scoffed. "He drove his ov want to be a nun, all for the sake of some illegitimate child. In this city, no one''s heart is truly pure"


    Hearing this, Nn looked momentarily surprised. "Who wants to be a nun?"


    "Eliza Stonor," Magnus sighed. "She showed up early this morning, covered in wounds, asking for my help. She wanted me to make a way for her. He added, "You know, Caroline once looked after me when I was younger. I couldn''t turn her down, so I promised I''d give Eliza a chance.


    Noun never expected that such a stunningly beautiful young girl I would want to be a nun.


    He was clearly taken aback. "What kind of chance?"


    Magnus grinned. "Tm picking a nobledy to go to the Saint Grace Nunnery to pray for the country. I told Eliza she could meet Mary Mendoza. If the Reverend Mother epts her, then I''ll give her my blessing