?Chapter 1153:


    A gasp escaped Elyse as shock twisted her face.


    Elena’s grip tightened, and a loud snap echoed in the air.


    Elyse drew in a sharp breath, her voice tense as she demanded, “Let go of me! Elena, I didn’t mean to do anything. It was just an ident! Let me go!”


    With a cold smile, Elena tilted her head. “An ident, huh? Is that what you’re calling it now?”


    In one swift motion, Elena plucked the ne Elyse had just tried to nt and held it up for her to see.


    “Elyse, you really never learn a lesson. Pulling a stunt thisme, and you thought you’d get away with it?”


    As the ne glittered in Elena’s hand, Elyse’s face turned pale as paper. Nervous energy flickered in her eyes as she nced everywhere but at Elena.


    The ne, heavy with worth and usation, drew Elena’s gaze downward. No details about its original owner came to mind. Still, the intention behind Elyse’s…


    plot was all too clear. Elyse wanted to frame her and then let someone else find the missing treasure right on her.


    “Tell me where you stole this from,” Elena said, her voice as steady as stone.


    Feigning confusion, Elyse tried to look as innocent as she could. “I don’t even know what you mean.”


    Disdain crept across Elena’s face as her patience ran out. Without warning, she pried Elyse’s jaw open and forced the ne between her teeth.


    Rough gemstones dug into Elyse’s mouth, cutting as she struggled to breathe around the foreign object. Terror finally reced her arrogance. Was Elena actually going to make her choke to death on that ne?


    Each frantic gasp made the dread worse as Elyse kicked and fought against Elena’s hold. “Mmm…” Her voice came out as a muffled, desperate cry. Tears broke free, streaking Elyse’s face as terror dissolved herst ounce ofposure.


    Unmoved, Elena kept a firm hand pressed to Elyse’s lips, refusing to let her spit the ne out.


    Gagging came next, harsh and involuntary. Drool leaked from the corners of Elyse’s mouth as the ne pressed further inside.


    A cold voice sliced through the tension. “What the hell are you doing?”


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    The sight of Lord Rosethorne lit up Elyse’s eyes.


    Elena let go in disgust. Elyse instantly copsed forward, coughing violently. She managed to spit out the ne atst, sobs mingling with her desperate breaths.


    Without hesitating, Elyse stumbled into Lord Rosethorne’s embrace, clinging to him with trembling arms. “She tried to kill me!” Her voice was raw and pleading.


    Still simmering from the earlier apology, Lord Rosethorne found a convenient excuse to round on Elena. Keeping a protective arm around Elyse, he shot Elena a cold re. “I don’t care whose guest you are, Healer. Putting your hands on mypanion is crossing a line. I expect an exnation.”


    A dismissive nce from Elenanded on the ne glittering on the floor. “Maybe you should be more worried about exining that to whoever the ne belongs to.”


    Confusion furrowed Lord Rosethorne’s brow. “What ne are you talking about?”


    Elena gave a small tilt of her chin, gesturing toward the floor.


    Following the direction of her gaze, Lord Rosethorne suddenly stiffened. “It… Isn’t it Her Majesty’s engagement ne from His Majesty? Why in the world is it here?”


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