Chapter 172: Things Spoken Softly
Chapter 171: Things Spoken Softly
Lyria’s POV
I continued staring at her.
Patricia merely looked back at me with complete calm, as though she had not just overturned something in my mind that had remained fixed for years.
Then her hands moved.
’Close your mouth,’ she signed. ’Before flies decide to make a residence of it.’
I shut my mouth immediately.
She laughed again at that, silent and warm, her shoulders shaking lightly with the motion.
I blinked several times before finally managing to speak.
"H-how is that p-possible?" I asked, my hands moving with the words. "Y-you told the K-King as well?"
Patricia nodded once.
Then her expression softened into something quieter.
Her hands rose again.
’Perhaps,’ she signed slowly, ’if His Majesty had listened to me properly, matters would not have escalated to this extent.’
I stared at her for a while.
There was no jest in her expression.
And somehow that made the revelation far more shocking.
I had known Patricia for years. Most of my life, in truth. She had always existed quietly at the edge of my world, tucked away within forgotten parts of the palace like a secret no one cared enough to uncover.
Yet hearing that she had spoken directly to the King about something as important as the prophecy—
It unsettled me.
It was not unpleasant per se... I could not describe the feeling, but it was there.
"That is..." I began, then stopped.
My hands moved again before I found the proper words.
"T-that is quite s-shocking."
Patricia’s eyes crinkled slightly at the corners.
Then she chuckled again.
I watched her hands lift.
’You look as though you have swallowed cold tea.’
I could not help laughing softly at that.
The tension that had gathered within me loosened somewhat.
Still, my thoughts remained restless.
"You truly t-told him?" I asked again, quieter this time.
Patricia nodded.
’I did.’
Then, after a brief pause, she added—
’Though kings, unfortunately, are not always wise merely because they wear crowns.’
That startled another laugh out of me before I could stop it.
"P-patricia," I whispered in horror, though I was laughing while saying it.
She only waved one dismissive hand.
Then her expression gentled once more.
Her hands moved carefully this time.
*And you?*
I blinked.
’How are you enduring all of this?’
The question settled over me more heavily than expected.
For a moment, I did not answer.
My gaze drifted around the room.
How was I enduring it?
I had not truly stopped to consider it.
Not properly.
Everything had happened too quickly.
My hands moved more slowly this time.
"It would have b-been difficult," I admitted quietly, speaking and signing together. "V-very difficult, perhaps."
Patricia watched me patiently.
"But somehow..." I continued, "I have been r-receiving help."
Something softened in her expression at once.
I found myself smiling faintly.
"For the c-competition," I said, "Duke Thorncrest and Baron R-Redwick assisted me."
Even now, I still found it strange saying such things aloud.
Men like them were not supposed to notice women like me.
Yet they had.
Not out of obligation either.
But willingly.
"E-every question they anticipated was asked," I said. "It was almost frightening h-how accurate they were."
Patricia listened attentively.
"And then..." I hesitated slightly before continuing, "Duke Aurelgrave offered to help as well."
Her brows lifted faintly.
"But I declined," I added quickly.
"And then," I said more quietly, "Duke Valenridge h-helped me."
That earned a very visible reaction.
Patricia’s brows rose higher this time.
Her hands moved almost immediately.
’The Duke of Blackmere?’
I nodded.
"Yes."
She stared at me with unmistakable disbelief.
Then her hands moved again.
’He truly helped you?’
I almost laughed at the suspicion in the question.
"Yes," I replied. "H-he truly did."
Though admittedly, saying it aloud still sounded somewhat unbelievable.
Patricia leaned back slightly, clearly reconsidering several things at once.
I continued before she could question me further.
"And it was not only t-them," I said. "Earl Hawthorne helped m-me as well."
That drew her attention back immediately.
I told her then about the maids the Queen had placed around me.
About the obvious surveillance.
I told her how the Earl had helped me carry supplies to clean my chambers.
And then, after brief hesitation, I told her about Corvin.
About his anger.
About the moment his hand had lifted.
And about the Earl stepping between us before it could descend.
Patricia’s expression darkened immediately at that portion of the story.
Her hands moved sharply.
’He attempted to strike you?’
"Y-yes, but h-he did not succeed," I said quickly.
But her displeasure remained evident.
I exhaled softly.
"It is strange," I admitted after a moment. "T-the help always comes when I least expect it."
I glanced down briefly at my hands resting atop my skirt.
"They assist me in the oddest ways," I murmured.
And truly, they did.
None of it had happened the way I would have imagined.
Not Earl Hawthorne carrying buckets and cloths without complaint.
None of it made sense.
Yet all of it had happened.
"I am very g-grateful," I admitted softly. "M-more than I know how to express properly."
Then, after a small pause, I added—
"P-perhaps the Goddess is watching over me after all."
Patricia became quiet at that.
She studied me for a long moment before her hands finally moved again.
’Do you remember,’ she signed slowly, ’what I told you when you were younger?’
I frowned slightly in thought.
Then nodded.
"You said p-people would flock toward me because of my c-charm."
Patricia smiled immediately.
A knowing sort of smile.
’Perhaps,’ she signed, ’I was not wrong after all.’
I laughed before I could stop myself.
The sound escaped more freely this time.
"That cannot p-possibly be the reason," I said at once.
Patricia looked entirely unconvinced.
’Can it not?’
"Yes," I replied firmly. "I am q-quite certain people do not behave t-this way merely because of charm."
Her expression became deeply amused.
’You would be surprised what people are willing to do for those they find themselves drawn toward.’
I shook my head quickly.
"No."
Her smile widened further.
I narrowed my eyes at her slightly.
"You are enjoying this far too much."
She made no effort to deny it.
Instead, she reached out and patted my hand gently before signing again.
Patricia watched me for another moment before her expression shifted once more into something calmer.
Then her hands rose again.
’You are doing well now, but I do have some advice for you.’
