The most unsettling sight in this chamber was a portrait of Duke Fabian prominently affixed to the wall. The arrangement and reverence with which it was displayed made it seem like Eleanor was practically worshipping him.
Elisa's heart raced, and she couldn't help but shiver as she took in the eerie scene before her. Her hands quivered, and her mind struggled to make sense of the situation. She picked up a cufflink, one that Elke had inquired about to the whole palace. Nobody had seen them. It was because Eleanor took it.
The unmistakable favor Eleanor showed toward Duke Fabian was evident – her persistent inquiries about him during dinner, her blatant request to the king to arrange a marriage between her and Duke Fabian as Elke's replacement. It all suddenly made chilling sense.
"No," Elisa whispered, her voice barely audible.
