The Web of Knightspur-Chapter 127

Princess Eleanor looked at Nia who was simply staring at her as if she had done something unacceptable.

"I want to know what went wrong. What is the use of looking at me like this and yet not replying to my question?" Princess Eleanor was losing her patience. She was not the one who went up to Nia and asked her to talk with her.

Nia was the one who came to the Princess and said she wanted to share something and yet when Nia was there she was talking in puzzles.

Nia closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. She made up her heart as she opened her eyes again before looking at Princess Eleanor. "When we moved to the Princess’s maternal grandparent’s mansion, I had thought of breaking off with Duke Felix. I knew where I stood and I knew I had no right to do so. How can I be in love with a man who was superior to me in status and wealth."

Nia blinked her eyes as she saw Princess Eleanor was about to say something so she said it in a hurry. "I know what Princess Eleanor wants to say. There is nothing that can define love. Status and wealth are all material things and I agree but the feeling of closeness is important in a relationship, won’t the Princess agree?"

Princess Eleanor nodded her head. She knew that in any relationship trust and understanding are important and so was intimacy. But Princess Eleanor still could not understand what Nia was trying to get at. She had seen Nia hugging Duke Felix multiple times so what was the reason for her to say so?

"Princess you should trust me when I say, I was attracted to Duke Felix. I really was. He is a handsome man and everyone liked him in the Angevin Kingdom, I was no different. I liked him too, but it ended there. I liked him but not loved him." Nia said as she looked down at her hand that held Princess Eleanor’s. "When we started writing to one another I started feeling that maybe he cares for me but then he insisted on using your name. The Princess knows that it was Duke Felix’s idea that I write him letters under your name?"

Princess Eleanor nodded her head. She was not unaware of it but she had never thought too deeply about it. Duke Felix had reasoned out with her that if Nia’s name is used then people might target her.

Princess Lenaor looked at Nia as she said, "But it was for your safety,"

Nia giggled as if she had heard something funny, "I thought so too. Yes, initially I thought so too."

Princess Eleanor was confused as she stared at Nia waiting for her to answer. Princess Eleanor could see the unknown emotions in Nia’s eyes. She could feel that what Nia was saying now came from the bottom of her heart.

"Initially? What do you mean?" Princess Lenaor asked as she blinked her eyes nervously. She did not know what but her heart was beating faster. All she wanted to know was what was going on in Nia’s mind but the more she thought about it, the more confused she got.

"Yes, whenever we used to write, Duke Felix always talked about you. He asked what the Princess was doing and what she had learned. Does she have any plans to return to the palace or not?" Nia’s words were soft but her eyes turned sharp. She took a deep breath as she continued, "But then it usually moved on to me. The change in topic was so fast that sometimes I was confused about what was happening."

"So you think Duke Felix showed too much care about me?" Princess Eleanor asked, "Are you angry about that?"

Nia shook her head. "No, I am not angry about it. It didn’t matter to me then and it does not matter to me now. I know the Princess has no feelings for Duke Felix. He is one of your good friends. One of your childhood friends and nothing more."

Princess Eleanor nodded her head, "Yes that is true but then why would you.."

Before Princess Eleanor could complete her sentence Nia said with a smile, "Because the rumors made me believe,"

Nia’s eyes were filled with tears again as she swallowed hard, "The rumors started flowing that there is something between Dule Felix and you. I was not jealous of that. That was never a problem. The problem was I started thinking that I was you."

Nia rubbed her eyes as she continued, "Whenever the rumors would start, I would consider myself in place of you. When they said, ’Duke Felix loves Princess Eleanor so much that he writes her love letters almost daily’ I would think ’Duke Felix loves Nia so much that he writes her love letters almost daily’ I was buying in on the fantasy. And I feel in love with it."

Nia’s tone shivered at the end as she continued, "Maybe that was the reason why I thought that this thing with Duke Felix will work out in the end. Even though there were so many rumors he never stopped writing to me. But then the unexpected happened. He decided to marry Princess Macy."

Nia took a deep breath as if a heavy stone on her heart was about to be lifted up, "But Duke Felix assured me that he would marry me in the end. He will take up as a concubine. And I believed him."

"Nia," Princess Eleanor said, but she could not say anything further.

"I know what Princess Eleanor is saying," Nia’s tears were still flowing but there was a smile on her face, "But when I decided to come with you to the Roulux Empire, I had decided to give myself a chance. I wanted to understand whether what I was feeling for Duke Felix were real emotions or just a phase that would pass."

"And what is it?" Princess Eleanor asked as she saw Nia’s smile brighten.