?<strong>Chapter 1541:</strong>


    “Oh gosh, I haven’t really thought about that question. I need to ponder it for a bit.” Louise was momentarily taken aback, her mind whirling as she contemted deeply.


    Elyse waited patiently, sipping her milk and nibbling on her sandwich. However, even after her te was clean, Louise still hadn’t responded. Elyse, feeling lost, ventured, “Does this question really require so much thought?”


    Louise shed an awkward smile. “I don’t really have a favorite type, it seems.”


    “What about Edward? Didn’t you always speak highly of him?” Elyse asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.


    Louise chuckled. “That was merely me resigning to the fate of an arranged marriage, as is the custom in my royal bloodline. I had to warm up to the idea of spending a lifetime with someone chosen for me.”


    Elyse, caught off guard by the response, paused for a moment before saying, “So, you probably won’t have much say in your future spouse either, huh?”


    Louise propped her chin on one hand, took a thoughtful sip of coffee, and murmured, “Even though I hold a position of power, my authority is borrowed from the will of my people. Protecting them is my sacred duty, so personal desires, like who I marry or whether I bear heirs, take a backseat.”


    Elyse, impressed by Louise’s mature perspective, remarked, “I guess I underestimated you. You’re stronger than I realized.”


    Louise winked at Elyse. “I owe that strength to you. Without your guidance, I’d probably still just be a princess, not a future ruler.”


    Elyse smiled warmly. “But you’re the one who made it a reality. I merely pointed you in the right direction.”


    Their shared understanding sparked a silent smile between them as they reached out to hold each other’s hands.


    Louise suddenly remembered something and said, “By the way, I heard from my security detail that you visited the police station yesterday to inquire about Fiona. Are you nning to see her?”


    Elyse, startled by the mention, nodded and exined, “Yes, a male friend of mine is entangled in some unfinished business with her. It’s time they cleared the air.”


    She knew all too well the shadows of the past that haunted Nick. That was why she wanted him to confront Fiona, to resolve his lingering turmoil.


    Louise assured her, “That’s easily arranged. Where is your friend? Have hime to us.”


    With that, Elyse promptly called Nick.


    Nick, who was practicing the violin, rushed over in haste, thinking Elyse was in trouble. Upon arrival, and seeing no immediate danger, he eximed irritably, “You said it was urgent! Where’s the crisis?”


    Elyse blinked innocently. “Would you havee this quickly if I hadn’t made it sound serious?”


    Nick, leaning on the table and taking a deep breath, asked, “So, what’s this all about?”


    Elyse revealed, “My friend can get us into the prison.”


    “What? Prison? Why on earth would we go there?” Nick stepped back, putting distance between them. Elyse replied, “To meet the woman who sabotaged you. Don’t you want to confront her yourself?”


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