Chapter 688

25 BONUS

A carriage rolled out of the city, carrying Daniel on a trip to Serenvale. He was in a hurry because of some factory issues. Though nothing serious, his father insisted he go personally.

Daniel had lived in Serenvale for some time, but since his wife's pregnancy, he'd sent her back to the capital to prepare for childbirth. He planned to handle the factory affairs, then return to the capital for other business ventures.

Married at twenty, he was already a father of two sons, so he hoped for a daughter this time. Concubinage was rare in his family, and he had no plans for it. He shared a deep bond with his wife, whom he usually brought on business trips. Their family of four—soon to be five—would settle in the capital.

He hadn't visited Carissa but had seen Ryan at the academy, where his teacher was now a main lecturer.

He hadn't visited the Hell Monarch Estate because Theodore advised against it until his business stabilized. This avoided rumors of the Hell Monarch's household assisting the Sinclair family.

Theodore was wise. He knew prominent figures were wary of close association with merchants or officials, even family. Accusations could easily arise, so it was best to avoid the appearance of impropriety. Such connections could lead to ruin.

Theodore's insight made him the family's business advisor. He advised maintaining distance during prosperity and offering assistance during hardship. True families didn't thrive or suffer together; each had its own strengths to offer support when needed. As the carriage left the city, dust billowed behind it, settling gradually unnoticed as the coachman was replaced.

When the carriage reached a secluded area, the curtain was lifted, revealing a stranger. Daniel and his servant gasped.

"Who are you?"

Muffled groans followed before the carriage continued. The original coachman had replaced Daniel, leaving him and his servant unconscious.

At Harmony Palace, Kurt reported, "Grand Princess Eleanor, the man has been brought back. Should we place him in the dungeon?"

Eleanor, copying scriptures, looked up. After a pause, she said, "Don't put him in the dungeon. Place him in Orange Blossom Hall."

"Understood, Your Highness."

"Prepare some muscle-relaxing powder for him."

+25 BONUS Chapter 688

"I will, Your Highness. However, he hasn't woken up yet."

"Very well. Set things up and send someone to attend to him. I'll check on him later," Eleanor instructed.

"Yes, Your Highness!" Kurt saluted and left.

Eleanor paused, then resumed copying, murmuring, "May the gods ensure Hector Sinclair and Melanie Sullivan never meet in this life or the next…"

Her thoughts led her to repeatedly write: "Did the gods understand the anguish of loving someone one couldn't have? Did the gods know the despair of loving what one couldn't possess?"

She wrote these lines repeatedly, as if seeking an answer. Finally filling the page, she stared blankly, then tore it into shreds, crumpling the pieces and tossing them on the floor.

For two years, Eleanor had felt restless and agitated, overwhelmed by emptiness. It felt as if her heart were hollowed out or tightly wrapped, like a silkworm in its cocoon. She struggled to break free, but couldn't.

The constriction was suffocating.

In Orange Blossom Hall, Daniel slowly regained consciousness, but his surroundings were foreign.

A strange bed, unfamiliar curtains, and unknown furnishings filled the room.

He was weak, his mind clouded.

He tried to call his servant, whispering, "Walter…"

His voice trembled. Panic gripped him.

What was happening? Thieves?

He scanned the lavishly furnished room—soft drapes, a peony-adorned screen, a vanity set. It didn't resemble a thief's lair; it seemed more like a woman's bedroom.