Chapter 111: Chapter 8. Letter to Elsa

«I'll be back as soon as I get my affairs in order.»

«Really? How long will that take?»

«I'll… I'll try to get it done as soon as possible.»

It had been two and a half years since Elsa and I last spoke.

I often thought back to her last words and wondered when that time would come. And would it ever come at all…?

For some reason, it was at night that the heaviest thoughts overtook me.

Since tomorrow I would be introduced as the new crown princess, I thought about it all day long. The sun was already behind the horizon and dusk had fallen, when I was still sitting on the bed and looking out the window.

Her mind was completely blank.

Melinda was anxiously watching from the sidelines, as I'd even given up on dinner. Tonight was the first time I'd had the chance to go down to the dining room alone, since Rachel was so busy with the final preparations for the banquet.

It was said that she had hardly left her office today.

Finally, the sky had already turned black and crumbled with stars. The bulky moon shone brighter than the palace chandelier.

In just a couple of hours, the entire empire would know that Rachel Cassius and I were engaged… Unless, of course, rumors of this had long since spread outside the palace.

At any rate, I didn't care. What did it matter how people around me would react? Especially since I was sure they would try their best to please Rachel.

I sighed as I got a headache after all this thinking.

In a good way, I should have gone to bed by now. Tomorrow was not going to be an easy day. But at the same time… At that moment, I was suddenly overwhelmed with feelings.

It felt like I wanted to pour out all the accumulated emotions on paper.

I sat down at my desk and wrote another letter to Elsa that I hoped she would read someday.

«When will you come for me? How much longer must I wait…?»

I poured out my worries that I wanted to convey to her. In a way, it didn't make sense, but maybe the message would reach its recipient someday.

When I was done, I put the letter in an envelope and gave it to Melinda.

— Send it the usual way,» I asked.

She nodded uncertainly as she accepted my order:

— Whatever you say.

I've written more than one letter to Elsa since Rachel locked me in here. I asked that they all be sent to the Marquis of Windsor's estate, for I had told her before we parted that that was where I would be. At that time I did not know that our separation would last so long, and that I would already have time to leave this house.

Melinda always unconditionally took the envelope and complied with my request.

— Madam, don't worry, I'll give it to the messenger tomorrow morning,» assured the maid, «Please go to bed.»

— Yes… Very well.

Melinda helped me change into my nightgown, and after making sure I was sure I was in bed, she quietly walked out and shut the door behind her.

Once I was in the hallway, I exhaled noisily.

The next moment… Instead of heading for the mailroom, I turned in the exact opposite direction.

Clutching the envelope in her hands, the maid reached Rachel Cassius's office, where the light was still on.

The girl knocked.

— Your Majesty, it's me.

After a few seconds there was an answer.

— Come in.

Melinda found herself in a spacious office, at the very end of which Rachel was sitting, signing a whole pile of documents. She'd been doing it all day today, hardly leaving the room, even though it was half past midnight.

But when Leriane's maid came inside, for the first time in a long time, she looked away from her work and looked at her.

— What is it?

Melinda said awkwardly:

— Your Majesty, the Mistress has written a letter again…

Rachel sighed.

— Give it to me.

The maid went over and placed the envelope on the table.

— How has she been lately? — Rachel inquired, meanwhile, as she opened it. seaʀᴄh thё Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

— Madam is, uh… rather depressed. She hardly ever leaves her room and doesn't talk much. She has also refused supper today.

— …

A sadness flashed across the girl's face, which made her think for a while.

— Your Majesty…?

— I understand. You may go.

Melinda stood awkwardly in the middle. She still hesitated whether to say it or not.

Before, the maid had been as afraid of Rachel as all the other servants of the Duchy of Cassius. But in the last two years, her attitude had changed. When she saw how hard she was trying to make her goal come true, she couldn't remain indifferent.

— Your Majesty…! — finally spoke up,» I'm sure that one day the Lady will surely appreciate all that you do for her.

Rachel frowned. She wasn't too pleased that this maid had suddenly acquired a long tongue.

— I don't need a support group like you.

Melinda hesitated.

— B-but…

— Just keep following my orders. That's all you have to do.

The maid wanted to say something else, but she didn't dare. Her Majesty already looked tired.

— I obey,» she nodded obediently.

The girl bowed and silently left the room. At that moment Rachel opened the letter and read it.

Her eyes ran quickly over the contents, and she sighed. She folded it back into the envelope and put it in a special drawer on her desk, which was keyed.

There were several such letters already lying there. And of course they would go unanswered.

Rachel couldn't believe that the girl was still so attached to her alter ego. It had been so long…

She leaned back in her chair tiredly and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

In any case, it was too late to back out now. She must see this through to the end. And then, when all the problems were behind her, Rachel could tell her everything.

At least, she believed they could both wait for that moment.

— Leah, I hope someday you can understand me.