At Harmony Palace, Eleanor questioned the middle-aged man before her. His head was bowed, and she asked sharply, "How is this possible? How did Carissa find out about Cece's identity?! Did that wretch herself tell Carissa's people?"The man was tall and handsome, though a bit weathered. Hearing Eleanor's accusation, he quickly shook his head. "It's impossible. Celeste would never take the initiative to tell Lady Carissa. She has always been so obedient to you and never dared to disobey your orders.""She wouldn't dare." Eleanor's eyes flashed with hostility. "Her mother is still imprisoned in my palace dungeon. If she wants her mother released, she had better be obedient.""Of course. She'll definitely listen to you."Eleanor glared coldly at him, growing more enraged at his demeanor. "Go and ask her. Also, instruct the others to keep a lower profile and not let anyone learn of their identities. I suspect that Carissa only learned about Celeste and is making a fuss to provoke me,
Celeste's eyes were cold and contained a hint of disdain, even when addressing her father.She replied, "How could a mere concubine in the Earl of Gracehold's family possibly have any private dealings with the Hell Monarch's princess consort? If Mother doesn't trust me, I don't mind drinking a glass of poisoned wine to alleviate her concerns."Henry frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about? If she wanted you to drink poison, why would she spend so much money on your upbringing? Don't forget your mission—your mom is still in her hands."Celeste's eyes glinted with mockery and bitterness. "If you truly loved my mom, why didn't you stand up to Mother? Instead, you let me suffer and be mistreated just to keep her by your side."Henry's face darkened. "You've thrown the Earl of Gracehold's family into chaos. Grand Princess Eleanor is pleased with the turmoil. She's merely displeased that your identity was exposed. Your sister has already set out and will encounter the Hell Monarch
When Samuel was summoned back to Gracehold Estate, he continued to maintain a haughty attitude. He insisted that he had done nothing wrong, and claimed that the reprimand and the stripping of his title as heir were signs of the king's folly.The young man was arrogant and self-righteous. He looked down on everyone around him, including his own parents and family. He was convinced that he alone was in the right.Seeing Samuel's obstinate attitude, Noah was enraged and slapped him across the face. "Go and apologize to the duchess immediately! If you dare to voice any more dissatisfaction with the king, get out and never set foot in our family's residence again. And that includes the manor on Hibiscus Lane!"Samuel had returned home with a lingering sense of unease. After losing his status as heir, he had hoped that his family would support him through his protests. If they had, he would have reluctantly yielded and brought Ruby back with him.However, no one sided with him when he
Leona said, "Help me sit up and let him in. Let's see what he has to say.""Your Grace, are you sure you want him here?" Hazel recalled how Samuel had pushed Leona into the table, and was both angry and worried.Leona reassured her, "Don't worry. Have Alana and Leah watch from the side. He won't be able to touch me."Leona had given up on this man, but if he had something to say, it should be said clearly and directly.Hazel helped her sit up and placed a cushion behind her back. "You shouldn't be out of bed. The physician said you're not to move around.""I know," Leona replied flatly, her pale face betraying no emotion.Since Heather had forbidden her from seeking a divorce, she had spent her days lying listlessly in bed. Not only was she uncertain about the future, but she didn't even know what would happen the next day. But today, Samuel's angry arrival gave her a glimmer of strength. She wanted to do or say something.The footsteps grew louder and more urgent as he strode
Samuel was furious and embarrassed. He snapped, "You think so little of me, yet you're still eager to cling to me? Our feelings were never truly mutual. Our marriage was your obsession from the start, and I was simply pressured by the influence of the royal family…""Be quiet." Leona's eyes were red, and her lips trembled again as he spoke of their marriage. She felt deeply ashamed and distressed. "I did have feelings for you, but you also claimed to have feelings for me. That's how this wretched union came about. If my family had any power, would you have dared mistreat me?"Her tears fell uncontrollably despite her best efforts to hold them back. Though she tried to remain composed, her natural weakness meant that her emotions got the better of her, and the tears flowed freely.She was so thin and fragile, and she was trying to stifle her sobs but failed. Her appearance stirred a fleeting sense of guilt in Samuel. Yet, this guilt was short-lived. He had vowed to be loyal to
Samuel returned to the manor on Hibiscus Lane and immediately went to rinse his mouth, spitting out the blood. He couldn't let Ruby worry.In Hibiscus Lane, there were only two shop servants—one in the kitchen, and the other likely attending to Ruby. Samuel used the cold water in the dining room to rinse his mouth, feeling a sharp pain throbbing in his head. The left side of his mouth felt as though it were splitting open, and he had to endure the pain for a while before he could force back his tears.Leona was so ruthless. She had her husband beaten time and again. Samuel had been blinded by her gentle and mild demeanor, not realizing how jealous she truly was.Her cousin, the Hell Monarch's princess consort, was just like her—they were one and the same.He had been beaten, and both his grandmother and father would surely know. So, he had an excuse to leave in anger. If he were asked to return again, he wouldn't go back so easily."Bill, bring me that handkerchief..." he call
After being roused from his stupor by the servants, Samuel sat in the courtyard, feeling as though his heart had been hollowed out. No matter who called out to him, he remained unresponsive.Outside Hibiscus Lane, Henry's men kept a close watch. When they reported back to Henry, he frowned. "Didn't Celeste say she would sever ties with him properly? Forget it. He's of no use anyway. The reputation of the Earl of Gracehold's family is already notorious. It wouldn't matter what he did."Samuel spent two days at Hibiscus Lane, refusing to eat or drink. Celeste's departure wasn't the most devastating blow to him. The real blow was the words she had spoken before leaving.He had high ambitions and had achieved the rank of third place in the national examinations, garnering the admiration of many noble young women in the capital. He saw himself as a genius, someone born to stand apart from the ordinary, destined to rise above the common crowd. In his mind, he wasn't just exceptional
That day, Claire reported that several suspicious individuals had entered the capital and checked into Prestige Lodge.The reason they were considered suspicious was because they carried a distinct aura of violence, one that set them apart from the usual martial arts practitioners. This bloodthirsty presence was something the scouts were highly sensitive to. As soon as the scouts detected it, they began to track the individuals closely. After they checked into Prestige Lodge and didn't come out, the scouts reported their findings.Upon hearing the report, Violet went to find Carissa.Carissa frowned when she heard the news. The capital was the most prosperous and bustling place in the kingdom, with a significant number of merchants and martial artists coming and going."People who have killed excessively often carry a distinct scent," Violet said. "That's what Claire said, and that's why those people are highly suspicious. Could they be plotting to assassinate the king?"Carissa