"What happened! Who did this t
to her?" Nn''s voice was sharp with anger the moment he saw Eliza''s injuries.
He strode over, scanning the room quickly before his gazended on Dn, sprawled unconscious on the floor.
Judging by the horrified expressions of the nuns, Nn immediately put the pieces together. "Did this Stonor brat break in and attack Serenity?"
Serenity was Eliza''s religious name. Ever since she told Nn she was no longer Lady Eliza of the Stonor family, he had never called her that again.
Mary''s expression was ice-cold as she nodded. "Several nuns saw it happen. He barged into Saint Grace Nunnery, tried to kidnap the Holy Lady, and beat her senseless."
Though her voice was calm, the fury beneath it was unmistakable. She gently lifted Eliza into her arms.
Before leaving, Mary shot Dn a look of pure disappointment. "He''s not just disrupted our peace-he''s severely harmed the Holy Lady.
"She''s unconscious, and we have no idea when she''ll wake up. If this dys the uing blessing ceremony for the country, who will take responsibility?
Prince Nn, I expect a thorough investigation and proper punishment Otherwise, I won''t let this go."
Mary may have been a nun, but that didn''t mean she had to ept injustice in silence. If she couldn''t protect the nuns in her care, she had no right to manage this nunnery.
Nn''s gaze hardened as he looked at Dn. I understood. You focus on the Holy Lady-Ill take care of this,"
His eyes lingered on Eliza for a moment before he bent down, grabbed Dn by the cor, and dragged him out.
Once outside Saint Grace Nunnery, he raised a hand. Four ck g soldiers immediately stepped forward,
He possed Dn at their feet. Take him back. Interrogate him thoroughly."
nes up without my orders. Especially anyone from the Duke''s
His tone was cold and final. "Also, post guards at the foot of the mountain. No onees up estate-they''re not to set foot here."
"Yes" The ck g soldiers saluted and hauled Dn away.
Nn stood still for a moment, looking back at the shattered gates of Saint Grace Nunnery. His fingers brushed against the medical books tucked under his arm
It seemed he''d have to bring them to Eliza another time.
This time, Eliza remained unconscious for seven days and nights.
When she finally wake, she could feel the soft bedding beneath her, but her entire body ached so badly she could barely move. At least she was still
She forced her heavy eyelids open, but-darkness.
A terrible feeling crept over her. ''Did I blind myself with my poison!" she thought.
ow will I get
Panar wed at her chest as she thought, If I really went blind, how am I supposed to study medicine? How can I muke poisons! How revenge on the Stonor family and Sophie!
I might as well have just died. What''s the point of surviving if I can''t see?" Frustration bubbled up i inside her. She muttered under her breath, "Tim such.
A deep, slightly hoarse voice suddenly came from alsove her. "Yeah. You almost died from your stupidity."
Elza jolied in surprise. Recognizing the familiar voice, she blinked her sightless eyes and blurted out, "Prince Nn! What are you doing in my
Nn, seated in a chair beside the bed, looked down at her bewildered face. After a brief
a brief pause, he said. "This isn''t your roun''
Hura frowned. Then where am I?
"The pce, Nn replied matter-of-factly.
22
That caught her off guard. She wondered how she had ended up in the pce
As if reading her thoughts, Nn added, "Your injuries were serious. To avoid affecting t
the uing blessing ceremony, Reverend Mary and i discussed it with His Majesty. He agreed to have you brought here to recover,"
about my o
"Oh, I see. Eliza hesitated, then asked the question that had been grawing at her, "What al
She was anxious to confirm if she was really blind.
"Rx. You''re not blind." Nn reassured her. "Mary neutralized the poison. Your vision will return in a few days."
Eliza exhaled slowly, relief washing over her. She was alive, and she hadn''t lost her sight. That was already the best oue she could have hoped for.
But she hadn''t expected even better news to follow,
"Seven days ago, Dn was sentenced to eightyshes and thrown into prison, Nn told her. “Trespassing into the nummery, disturbing the peace, and injuring the Holy Lady-it was enough for His Majesty to act."
Eliza''s face lit up. "Seriously?" She couldn''t believe that Dn was actually punished.
Nn gave a slight nod. "Of course. You''re the Holy Lady of Walden, personally appointed by His Majesty. That gives you the same status as a princess. If it weren''t for Lord Mowbay''s influence, Dn would have been executed for attacking you."
Eliza knew it wasn''t that simple-executing Dn wouldn''t have been easy, even if he deserved it
But at least he''d finally faced some consequences. And for now, no matter how much he resented Eliza, he wouldn''t dare try anything again. "Is he still locked up?" she asked
"Yes," Nn said evenly. "His Majesty decreed that Dn won''t be released until you wake up. Even then, the Stonor family has to beg for your forgiveness Ent Eliza''s brows shot up. The Stonor family would beg her for forgiveness-that was thest
thing she exp
expected.
It wasn''t that she underestimated herself, butpared to the powerful Duke of Mowbay, she knew where she stood. Equal to a princess was just a title-being a Holy Lady wasn''t the same as being actual royalty.
She had already thought the eightyshes were more than she could ask for. But forcing the Stonor family to grovel? That was unexpected. Nn caught her surprise and let out a quiet snor. "It''s not just His Majesty who''s furious. The court officials have been all over Lord Mowbay
about this"
"Oh that makes sense," Eliza murmured.
"A group of officials criticizing Gabriel? That had to be giving him a headache The thought of it made her grin.
painful
Dn getting punished was one thing, but knowing that her untouchable father was also feeling the heat made her injuries feel a little less p Seeing her smiling. Nn arched a brow at her. "Want to hear what those officials said to lis Majesty?"