Chapter 1253:

Elyse chuckled, a note of disbelief in her voice. “Oh, please. They’re siblings.”

He nodded, though doubt lingered in his gaze. “True… but still…”

Knowing more than she cared to admit, Elyse decided to steer him away from this line of thought.

“You should leave now. I’d like to sleep,” she said.

His face softened, and his eyes took on a pleading look. “Just let me rest here.”

She raised an exasperated eyebrow. “You want to sleep here again?”

A sigh escaped him, weariness heavy in his voice. “I haven’t slept since Louise arrived. I toss and turn all night. If you don’t let me stay, I might lose my sleep again.”

Elyse rolled her eyes, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite herself. “Oh, stop being dramatic.”

He lowered his voice, vulnerability seeping through. “It is. The only peace I find is when I’m by your side.”

This was the first time Elyse had witnessed such a side of Jayden. She found herself unable to deny him.

As Elyse paused, uncertain about allowing Jayden to stay, he rose and declared, “If you remain silent, I’ll assume you consent. I’m off to freshen up.”

Elyse clenched her jaw. She saw him as unpredictable. She consented to his stay but imposed one firm condition: he must not get handsy.

Jayden sulked, visibly unhappy, but he yielded to her commanding gaze.

Elyse’s thoughts were consumed with her upcoming performance. She had to visit the site the following day, and anxiety weighed heavily on her. She wasn’t in the mood for anything else, especially not with Jayden.

Exhaustion overtook her quickly, and she soon fell into a deep sleep.

Jayden observed her for some time before finally succumbing to sleep as well.

The next day, during their site visit, salacious rumors about Elyse began to spread online. However, with the performance looming and the accusations baseless, the gossip failed to garner much attention. Everyone was focused on the rehearsal.

Finally, the day of the performance arrived.

It was a momentous occasion, not just for the celebration of the war’s end, but also for the declaration of the next successor to the throne. Chesney, Louise, and Garret each stood before the crowd, potential future rulers of the nation.

Below them, Elyse watched as the elegant and poised Louise greeted the audience from the elevated stage. Her heart warmed. This young princess was undoubtedly destined to ascend.

As each candidate presented their speech, it came time for Louise to address the gathering. She spoke briefly, her eyes searching the crowd until they found Elyse. . . .