Chapter 674

Jaina, having spent her childhood with Lucas, understood the complexities of human nature. Despite having no familial connection to Eleanor, the Grand Princess had saved her and was supposedly seeking a husband for her. This seemed improbable.

Jaina had been in the capital for some time, and Eleanor had never mentioned marriage. At twenty-five, Jaina felt Eleanor would have broached the subject by now. In fact, Jaina wasn't entirely sure of her age. Lucas estimated she was seven or eight when he rescued her, placing her in her mid-twenties.

Moreover, Eleanor frequently held banquets at her palace. If she intended to present Jaina, she would have done so. Instead, Jaina remained confined to the courtyard, unable to leave her room. The old maid claimed Jaina lacked proper etiquette and that her presence might offend guests.

"Do you think there's more to the story of how Grand Princess Eleanor saved me?" Jaina gasped.

"I'm not sure, which is why we need to investigate. Tell me what happened then. And what about the dissolution of your performance troupe?"

Jaina recounted her experiences in Stonebridge County, answering Violet's detailed questions. Violet, needing to report to Rafael and Jacob, probed for every detail—from Jaina's struggles after the troupe disbanded to her encounters with bandits.

Jaina's throat was parched when she finished. After a moment, she nervously asked, "When can I meet them?"

"You're at Grovehill Estate; going out isn't convenient. The Farrells can't constantly invite you. I'll discuss this with Jacob; he's eager to meet you. Your grandfather and mother are in the capital, and your father awaits you in Cloud County. Once Jacob confirms your identity, he'll send for your father."

Tears streamed down Jaina's face. She hadn't imagined seeing her family again. She had considered it, envisioning demanding answers for their abandonment. But as she matured, those feelings seemed unreasonable.

Lowering her hands, Jaina wiped her tears. "Actually, over the years, I've wondered myself. I was thrown from a carriage. I was sick and disoriented, but I remember the person saying something about avoiding bad luck from a corpse."

Violet offered a handkerchief, but Jaina used her own.

"If it had been their own sick child, they could have waited until I died before burying me, even if I was unwanted. Why throw me away while I was alive? It was raining, and that memory hurts unbearably."

Violet imagined Jaina's terror after being abducted and falling ill. Human traffickers, fearing exposure and expense, would abandon the sick. Jaina, ill and confused, believed her parents had abandoned her.

It must have been agonizing for Jaina—who would want to confront such memories?

Jaina cried again. "I still have family! They didn't abandon me! They've been searching for me! You don't understand what this means, Ms. Spencer. After the troupe disbanded, the leader left Stonebridge County without me. I thought I was completely alone. That's terrifying."

Violet embraced Jaina, tears in her own eyes. Knowing Jaina was Jacob's sister deepened her sympathy. However, Violet withheld the news of a possible reunion after the Emberfest Festival—a secret to protect from Carissa.