Fated Eclipse: The Illegitimate Princess And Her Alpha Suitors

Chapter 284: The Library Window And The Shirtless Baron

Chapter 283: The Library Window and the Shirtless Baron

Lyria’s POV

The maids helped me change out of my gown and into something more relaxed—a simple dress of soft grey, comfortable and easy to move in. The fabric was light against my skin, a welcome relief after the stiffness of formal attire. The sleeves were loose, the neckline modest, and the skirt fell in soft folds that did not restrict my movements.

I settled at the desk, the morning light filtering through the curtains. Elara sat beside me, a book open between us, her finger tracing the lines as she guided me through the words.

I had asked her to help me with reading and writing. Just because the Baron was now my tutor did not mean I should neglect my studies and simply wait until he was available.

"Try this one," she said, pointing to a word I had stumbled over before.

I leaned forward, squinting at the letters. The shape of them was familiar now. I took a breath and tried.

"P-perseverance," I said.

"Good," Elara said. "Again, Your Highness."

"Perseverance," I repeated, more confidently this time.

"Excellent, Your Highness."

I smiled, a small warmth spreading through my chest. It was not perfect, but it was progress. Each word I learned, each syllable I mastered, felt like a small victory against the years of neglect and silence.

Bridget was not present. She had gone to gather information, especially regarding Baron Frederick. The thought of her out there, navigating the shadows of the palace, sent a flicker of worry through me.

But I pushed it aside.

I had to trust her.

I had to trust all of them.

Time passed.

The morning wore on, and the words on the page began to blur together. My eyes grew heavy, my concentration fraying at the edges. I set down the quill and rubbed my eyes, the faint ache behind them a reminder that I had been at this for hours.

Pippa spoke up from where she stood near the window.

"Perhaps you should leave the chamber for some fresh air, Your Highness," she suggested. "You have been at this for hours. A change of scenery might do you good."

I frowned.

"I d-do not feel like it," I said.

Debbie stepped forward, her expression gentle but insistent.

"Being cooped up in your chamber will not help, Your Highness," she said. "For better understanding, you should visit the library and get some fresh air. It will help clear your mind."

I hesitated.

"And no one apart from us knows you are there," Debbie added. "It will give you a sense of privacy. You can read, you can practise, you can simply exist without anyone watching."

I considered this for a moment.

She was not wrong.

The library had always been a place of solace for me, a place where I could escape the weight of the palace. The tall shelves, the dusty corners, the forgotten alcoves—they had been my refuge long before I had ever been called a princess.

"V-very well," I said. "I w-will try it."

The maids moved quickly, gathering my things, including a light shawl. They escorted me through the corridors, their steps quiet and swift, their presence a protective barrier against the prying eyes of the palace.

The library was empty, as it always seemed to be.

The towering shelves stretched into the shadows, the scent of old parchment and dust filling the air. The silence was deep and welcome, broken only by the soft rustle of our footsteps.

We moved to the spot I had used with Baron Redwick—the forgotten corner beside the tall window. The bench was still there, the cushions still soft, the small table still waiting.

I settled onto it, the familiar space offering a small measure of comfort.

I opened the book, trying to focus on the words when I heard sounds drifting up from below.

The training grounds.

The clash of wood against wood.

The grunt of exertion.

The low murmur of voices carried upward through the open window.

I tried to ignore it.

I truly did.

I attempted to focus on the page before me.

But the sounds pulled at my attention.

Debbie and Pippa exchanged a glance.

Then they squealed.

It was a quiet sound, barely contained, but I heard it. They pressed their hands to their mouths, their eyes wide with barely suppressed excitement.

"He is so handsome," Pippa whispered.

Debbie nodded vigorously.

"Both of them," she said. "I cannot decide which one to look at."

I frowned, curiosity getting the better of me.

I rose from the bench and moved toward the window.

My cheeks immediately grew hot.

Below, in the training grounds, Duke Thorncrest and Baron Redwick stood shirtless. The sun caught the sheen of sweat upon their skin, casting long shadows across the packed earth. Their bodies glistened with exertion, every muscle defined and moving with purpose.

Unlike Earl Hawthorne, the Baron was lean.

It was clear he did not engage in this sort of activity often. His frame was more slender, more refined—the body of a scholar rather than a soldier.

But Duke Thorncrest—

I had no idea he possessed muscles beneath his clothing.

They shifted with every gesture, every adjustment of his stance, every movement that spoke of years of training.

He leaned down, saying something to Baron Redwick.

I could not hear the words, of course.

But I saw the way the Baron nodded. I saw the way he adjusted his grip upon the wooden sword.

Debbie nearly swooned.

"I would pay them to stand like that every day," she said.

Pippa nodded in enthusiastic agreement.

Margery raised an eyebrow.

"Was this your plan all along?" she asked dryly.

Debbie and Pippa’s cheeks reddened at once.

They pretended not to hear her and instead turned toward me.

I was finding it surprisingly difficult to take my eyes off the men below.

Duke Thorncrest straightened, closing the distance between himself and Baron Redwick. He adjusted the wooden sword in the Baron’s hand, his movements precise. His fingers wrapped around the Baron’s, guiding the grip and showing him where to hold.

Then he stepped back, giving the Baron room.

The Baron swung.

The movement was smooth.

The wooden sword cut through the air, and I nearly sighed at how elegant the motion looked.

But then I caught myself.

I quickly cleared my throat and pretended I had done nothing at all.

As if he had somehow heard me, Baron Redwick adjusted his position.

He turned slightly.

Angling himself.

So that I could see him more clearly.

Then he swung again.

Debbie and Pippa practically melted.

Even Margery cleared her throat, a faint flush colouring her cheeks.

I found myself fanning my face with one hand, the warmth in my cheeks refusing to disappear.

And then a voice spoke close to my ear.

"Curious wolf," it drawled lazily. "Are you interested in half-naked men?"