Everyone stared at Eliza in shock-including Eliza herself. She had never


    imagined the king would grant her the title of "Holy Lady"


    Since the founding of Hortend, no such title had ever existed. And now, she was the first-Holy Lady of Walden


    too stunned to


    to respond.


    For a moment, she was too


    James smiled and gently reminded her. "Holy Lady, do you understand!"


    Still dazed, Eliza mumbled a confused thanks.


    James helped her to her feet. "From now on, you kneel only before the heavens, the king, and God."


    The meaning was clear-she now answered to no one but the king. Not even her father, the Duke of Monbay, had authority over her anymore.


    Eliza steadied herself and said sincerely, "I thank His Majesty for this great honor. I will devote myself to prayer for the nation and do my best to meet his expectations."


    Satisfied with her response, James continued, "Gather your things. You''ll be moving to Saint Grace Nunnery. I trust you know what to take and what to leave behind. An escort will arrive in half an hour to apany you."


    With that, James turned and left to report back to the king


    Holding the decree, Eliza nced at the crowd behind her before turning away without a word. She had no intention of exining herself-she just wanted to pack.


    weren''t about to let her leave so easily.


    But an announcement like this couldn''t be ignored. Benedict and the others we


    "Stop right there, Eliza Dn rushed forward, blocking her path. "Are you out of your mind? Just because of what happened at theing of age ceremony, you ran to the king and asked to be a nun, huh? What were you thinking?"


    To them, this wasn''t about duty or devotion-it was a tantnim taken too far.


    Fliza turned sharply, her eyes cold. "Dn, watch your words. What exactly do you mean by that?"


    Benedict, sensing trouble, warned, "Dn, be careful what you say:


    Speaking recklessly in a moment like this could easily bring the king''s wrath down on the Duke''s estate.


    Bur Dn was too furious to care. Oh,e on, Benedict! Look at her just got named Holy Lady, and suddenly, she''s looking down on us. I bet she doesn''t even see me as her brother anymore!"


    Manbew turned his re to Eliza, his voice tight with frustration. "So that''s it! You''re cutting ties with this family, huh?"


    Eliza didn''t hesitate. That''s right"


    Dn''s face darkened. "Eliza, what the hell are you saying! Have we wronged you so


    somehow


    Eliza''s voice was calm but ice-cold. "You should be asking yourselves-when was thest time you treated the well?"


    Dn looked at her in disbelief. “Ungrateful bratt Haven''t we done enough for you! When you were bullied before, I was always the first to stand up for you!"


    "Yeah, you used to. But now?" Eliza''s gaze turned ice-cold. "Now all you do is hit me. You don''t listen, and you don''t ask questions-you justsh out.


    "Dn, do you even know how many times you''ve raised your hand against me in the past six month?"


    Dn snapped back without thinking. "That''s because you keep picking fights with Sophie! She''s our youngest sister. Of course, I have to protect her


    Eliza felt something inside her crack a little more, She locked eyes with Dn and enunciated each word, "I''m also your sister?


    I was as if they had all forgotten that before Sophie came along, she had been the youngest


    She had nothing more to say. Without another word, she turned and headed to her room to pack.


    The moment


    ent the was gone,


    all eyes turned on Dn.


    Benedict''s voice was sharp. "Dn, you''ve been too rough with Elizately. Even


    at theing of age ceremony, you didn''t hesitate to p front of everyone."


    That was because because." Dn started to argue, but then he rememberedst time, Eliza hadn''t actually done anything wrong.


    She had even offered to pay for Sophie''s ruined gown. But Sophie had started crying, and he had assumed the worst. He had hit second thought


    Eliza without a


    A strange unease crept


    crept into Th


    Dn''s chest. His gaze shifted to Sophie just in time to catch something odd-a fleeting expression, something twisted.


    But in the next blink, she looked as sweet and innocent as ever, as if he had imagined it. Dn frowned, confused.


    Sophie, on the other hand, had noticed Dn''s hesitation. A wave of jealousy had briefly cracked her mask, but she quickly smoothed it over


    She knew D


    Dn wi


    was finally starting to feel guilty. If she let that guilt fester, it would be harder to manipste himter,


    So she did what she did best-she started to cry. Tm... Im so sorry, Dn. It was all my fault. If I hadn''t suddenly felt unwell that day, you wouldn''t have misunderstood and hit Eliza. It''s all because of me. I should go apologize to her,"


    At once, her brothers moved to console her.


    "Sophie, don''t cry. How could this be your fault?" Matthew said soothingly


    "Exactly. If anyone''s to me, it''s Dn and Eliza," Benedict added.


    Benedict''s right," Matthew agreed. "Dn''s got a short fuse, and Eliza has a history.


    1. ry. It makes sense he''d suspect her."


    Dn. feeling guilty, mumbled, "Eliza''s being too sensitive. She knows how I am. She shouldn''t take it so personally."


    Benedict hesitated for a moment, sensing something was off. But Eliza''s decision to be a nun was the bigger issue right now.


    Caleb, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke, his voice filled with disdain. "Eliza''s always been calcting. I don''t know how she managed to convince the king, but there''s no way she actually intends to spend her life praying for the nation


    "Benedict, you should keep a close eye on her. You need to inform Uncle Gabriel immediately.


    "Caleb''s right," Benedict said firmly. "The rest of you, watch Eliza. I''ll go get Father. Don''t let her leave before we''re back