Chapter 182: Meaning Without Words
Chapter 181: Meaning Without Words
Lyria’s POV
I swallowed before I spoke.
Every gaze in the hall still rested on me.
When I spoke, I made certain my voice came out steady. I took my time with each word, shaping them carefully so they would not stumble over one another.
"It is... quite simple to me," I said.
I paused briefly, spacing my thoughts.
"I do not know if the same could be said for others," I continued.
My words came out slow because I was making a visible attempt at not stammering. I knew how the court would look down on me if I let it show, and I could not afford that.
"When the theme was announced," I said, "I think most people would have thought of home in its literal sense."
My gaze lowered slightly as I spoke.
"A place one returns to," I continued. "A building. A hearth. A door that closes behind you. Somewhere you are safe to enter and leave without question."
I took a slow breath.
"A place that is warm," I added. "That smells of food being prepared. A place where there is rest. Where even pets are allowed to wander freely because they belong there as well."
I let the words settle for a moment before continuing.
"But from what Duke Aurelgrave has written," I said, "it is clear that home is not limited to that."
My fingers tightened slightly together.
"Home is more than a structure," I continued. "It is the people we trust. The family we are given, or the family we choose. The friends we argue with and still return to. The people we feel safe with even when we are not at our best."
I hesitated briefly, then continued more quietly.
"The people we may offend without meaning to, and still hope to be forgiven by. The people we love even when we do not understand them fully."
My voice steadied further as I went on.
"It is the people we run to," I said. "The people we laugh with without thinking. The ones we feel most ourselves around, even when there is nothing formal about them."
I lifted my gaze slightly then, enough to gaze at everyone present, suitor candidates and the few nobles present.
"It does not require a building," I said. "Or walls. Or a roof."
I paused and then added.
"Home is the people we love."
When I stopped speaking, the silence that followed felt heavier than before.
I remained still. I wondered how my words would feel. I had no idea if I was correct, but that was what I understood from the poem Lucian had written, and yes, it resonated with me.
Jacinta’s expression shifted slightly. Not enough for most to notice, but enough for those paying attention to her face rather than the moment to see the faint narrowing of her eyes as she turned toward me... well, I was the only one who saw it.
"Is that what you intended?" she asked Duke Aurelgrave.
Lucian’s posture did not change. He stood as he had been standing, composed and steady. When he spoke, his voice carried without effort.
"Yes," he said. "That is precisely what I meant."
There was a pause, brief but deliberate, before he added, "Princess Lyria has interpreted it correctly."
I inclined my head slightly at that, acknowledging it without drawing attention to myself. A small, careful smile followed—enough to be polite, not enough to invite scrutiny.
Jacinta did not respond immediately. Her gaze remained on me for a moment longer than was necessary, as though measuring something that could not be spoken aloud in front of the court.
Then the Queen made a small sound, and lifted one hand, dismissing Lucian.
He understood the motion and bowed deeply.
Then he stepped back into place as though he had never been the focus of attention at all.
"Duke Alistair Thorncrest," the footman called next.
Duke Thorncrest moved from where he stood, a smirk on his face. He carried himself differently from how Lucian did, but there was also that confidence in his steps.
I thought he was going to head straight for Jacinta like Lucian had done, but instead he headed for me, stopped at a respectable distance, bowed, and then extended his parchment to me.
I looked at the parchment and then at him in surprise.
He raised a brow as if asking if I was going to reject him, and then I exhaled and took the parchment from his hand.
I held it as though it were ordinary.
As though it did not carry anything heavier than ink and paper.
But even as I did, I could feel the attention of the hall settle again.
Jacinta’s frown had deepened, and she moved back to her seat. The Queen stared at me with a frown, and the King had a blank look on his face, but I knew enough to know he was annoyed. Who knew, perhaps I may be summoned to the Queen’s chambers after this competition ended.
Or maybe Jacinta would come to see me to put me in my place as she did sometimes.
Duke Thorncrest stepped back and then gave a smile as my gaze moved to the parchment.
I could pretend all I wanted, but I was scared that whatever was written in the parchment would be too difficult for me to read out.
I closed my eyes and then took a deep breath. Whatever it was, I was going to push through. The royal family would not be able to find the sick joy they sought in seeing me stumble.
"Is something the matter?" Jacinta asked me, a smirk on her face.
"No, Your Highness," I told her calmly. "Everything is quite alright."
"Then why are you not reading?"
"I am not accustomed to public speaking, especially reading in public, as you know, so I am preparing myself for what is to come," I told her.
Her gaze locked on mine. "Hmm, is that all?"
"It is," I said calmly. "And I must thank you, because you have now given me the courage to speak. You are a dear sister."
