Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 452

"I'm done talking to you!"

The words came out sharp, almost breaking. Maerwyn turned and took several quick steps away, only to stop again as something surged up inside her. She spun back, her eyes red and blazing.

"You didn't raise me," she said, each word hitting harder than the last. "It was the wet nurses. The matrons. They were the ones who fed me, who stayed with me when I cried at night, who held me when I got hurt. Where were you?"

Her voice climbed, years of resentment finally spilling over. "You were too busy dealing with Lady Elira, trying to get rid of her child, or going after whoever had just caught His Majesty's attention. Everything you did was about keeping your position, getting rid of anyone you didn't like. When were you ever actually there for me? When did you ever care if I was happy?"

Isla's face went completely pale, her body swaying as an attendant quickly steadied her.

Maerwyn stood there for a moment longer, breathing hard, as if she had nothing left to give. Then she wiped her tears roughly and turned, leaving without another glance.

Isla trembled, her chest tight, anger and something heavier tangled together until she could barely breathe.

After a long moment, she forced out through clenched teeth, "Ungrateful child... I should never have—"

"Your Majesty, please."

Hilda stepped in quickly, her voice low but urgent as she signaled the others to move further away. "Please don't say something you'll regret. The princess is young, and she doesn't see the full picture yet. It's easy for someone to influence her right now. But she is still your daughter. That won't change."

She leaned in slightly, her tone more pressing. "What matters right now isn't the princess. It's His Majesty."

Isla's expression tightened.

Yes. No matter how Maerwyn acted, she was still her daughter.

But the King...

Elowen had pushed this too far. The collapse, the near loss of the child, everything pointed back to someone from Isla's household.

And Theodric had already grown dissatisfied with her.

Isla drew in a slow breath, forcing herself to steady. "I never ordered something like this. She set this up."

Hilda nodded immediately. "I believe you, Your Majesty. But that's exactly why you need to act first. You can't wait for His Majesty to question you or hear only one side. You should return to the palace now and explain everything yourself. Alyssa came from your household. This needs to be cleared by you."

Isla closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, her gaze colder than before.

"Prepare the carriage. We're returning to the palace."

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