Free Web NovelChapter 254: The Popularity Poll
Chapter 253: The Popularity Poll
Lyria’s POV
Pippa nodded eagerly.
"Yes, Your Highness," she said. "That is what many of us are calling it now—the popularity poll. Do you recall? The royal family announced that commoners could cast votes for their most favoured candidates as a way to be involved in the process," she asked.
I nodded slowly, fragments of memory returning. The announcement had been made when I was at the library with Duke Thorncrest and Baron Redwick. Yes... I remember now, even through the fog in my mind.
"The broadcast took place during the ball," Pippa continued, "immediately after the elimination. The results were displayed for all to see. It will remain visible until tomorrow."
Bridget stepped forward then, the bundle of fresh linens still in her arms, with Pippa and Elara’s behind her.
"Your Highness," Bridget said, "may we keep the linens?"
I nodded.
"Y-yes."
I wondered why she was asking me, but I kept quiet.
Bridget moved toward the tall wooden wardrobe in the corner of the chamber, and Elara gestured for Pippa to follow them, since she did not look ready to move on her own.
"Move," Elara said. "You talk too much."
Pippa pouted but obeyed, following them to the wardrobe. They opened its doors and began arranging the linens on the shelves within. The fabric looked soft and clean, smelling faintly of lavender, though it might have simply been my imagination.
I watched them for a moment, then asked, "W-what were t-the results of the p-popularity poll? I am r-rather c-curious."
Margery spoke up, her voice calm and measured.
"The candidate at the top was Duke Aurelgrave, Your Highness."
She paused, her lips curling slightly.
"Marquess Hale was second."
She rolled her eyes as she said his name, and I almost smiled.
How Corvin had ended up second was baffling. Lucian being first was not surprising, but Corvin... had the royal family manipulated it?
I said nothing.
"At the bottom," she continued, "was the Marquess who was eliminated. Second from the bottom was Duke Valenridge."
I frowned at that.
Duke Valenridge deserved better than that. His poem had been extraordinary, his presence commanding. How could he be placed so low?
Ah...I see.
I had failed to realise though it was obvious. The royal family must have influenced it. They disliked Duke Valenridge.
I said nothing, though.
"What a-about B-baron Redwick?" I asked.
Debbie’s eyes lit up.
"That was the most shocking, Your Highness," she said.
Pippa rushed back from the wardrobe, nearly tripping over her own feet in her haste.
"It was!" she said. "Everyone thought the results would be predictable. Baron Redwick carried his weight in the competition. He topped the poetry event, and many people were impressed by his handsomeness."
"Pippa," Debbie said sharply, "that is not what Her Highness asked for."
Pippa pouted.
I almost smiled at her expression, but I stopped myself. I could not let my guard down. For all I knew, these people were pretending. They could be spies—like Diana, Sally, and Theresa, only better at hiding their disdain.
"What o-occurred with B-baron Redwick?" I asked.
Margery answered.
"The Baron was eighth overall in terms of popularity, Your Highness."
I frowned.
Eighth.
That made little sense. His poem had been beautiful. He had won the poetry competition, had he not? How could he be eighth?
"And D-Duke Thorncrest?" I asked.
"Sixth, Your Highness."
"Earl H-hawthorne?"
"Tenth."
I nodded slowly. Those positions were not surprising. In fact, they felt rather fitting, at least for now.
But Baron Redwick being eighth did not sit right with me.
"Surely," I said softly, "t-there has been a mistake s-somewhere r-regarding the b-baron’s position."
Pippa nodded vigorously, as though she had been waiting for me to say it.
"Right?" she said, her voice too loud in the quiet chamber.
Elara reached over and rapped her knuckles against Pippa’s head.
"Quiet," she said. "Her Highness has only just recovered. If you make her ill again, I shall be most displeased."
Pippa pouted and rubbed her head.
"Your hand hurts," she complained.
Elara raised a brow.
"Would you prefer Bridget to hit you instead?"
Pippa glanced at Bridget. Bridget simply waved.
Pippa immediately beamed again.
"I love you," she said brightly.
I stared at them, utterly bewildered.
They were comfortable with one another—teasing, scolding, laughing. And no one looked at me with disgust. No one whispered behind their hands. No one rolled their eyes when they thought I could not see.
It was strange.
Perhaps I was still dreaming. Perhaps I had not truly woken at all.
Elara stiffened suddenly. Her posture changed. Her eyes sharpened.
The other maids did the same, and even Kathryn, who had been quiet, straightened. The chatter stopped instantly.
Elara turned to me, her expression softening.
"You have a visitor, Your Highness," she said quietly. "We shall make ourselves scarce."
Kathryn bowed.
"I shall return in the morning, Your Highness."
Before I could speak—before I could ask who the visitor was—the maids filed out of the chamber.
Debbie paused at the door, turning back to place the jug of water beside my bed.
"In case you are thirsty, Your Highness," she said.
Then she was gone.
The door closed behind them.
I sat alone in the silence, listening to the distant music drifting through the walls.
I frowned.
Who would visit me at this hour?
The Queen, perhaps. Or Jacinta, come to gloat.
I braced myself.
And then I saw it.
A shadow at the window.
It moved—no, it flowed—into the chamber, graceful as a cat.
I blinked.
And locked eyes with pale green ones.
Duke Valenridge stood before me.
His red hair was pulled back into a bun, the style severe yet somehow elegant. His silver earrings caught the firelight, glinting with each small movement.
He was dressed as though he had come directly from the ball.
He was beautiful.
I stared at him, my mouth slightly ajar.
He chuckled at my expression.
"Close your mouth, curious wolf," he said.
