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
Violet looked at Carissa, and asked, "If they're not targeting Aurora, could they be targeting you and the marshal's household?""I don't know," Carissa admitted. She hadn't been able to analyze it yet. After all, she only knew that a few individuals with a heavy aura of bloodlust had entered the capital, and there was no other information. "I need to have Rod strengthen the defenses of the estate. Tomorrow, I'll take Ryan to the academy and have Rod station people outside for a few days until those individuals leave."No matter what, caution was paramount. With Rafael and Jacob not in the estate, it was better to take extra precautions rather than rely on luck.That day, Travis began setting up defenses. With five hundred soldiers stationed in Hell Monarch Estate under the king's nose, Salvador might feel some trepidation. However, their actual utility was significant.Setting up the defense was quite straightforward. They worked in three-hour shifts, and there were more than
The woman's face was pale, her hair and clothes drenched by the rain. Clearly embarrassed by her disheveled appearance, she used her sleeve to cover her face and murmured to Carissa, "Thank you. Thank you so much.""No need to thank me," Carissa said. "Are you hurt badly?""Not too badly... Oh!" The woman shifted her foot and winced as a sharp pain shot through her left ankle, letting out a cry of discomfort."It seems like you might have twisted your ankle," Carissa observed. She helped support the woman, and the maid rushed over to assist as well. However, the maid's hands were covered in blood, likely from scraping them on the rough ground during the fall.Carissa frowned, and said, "My carriage is just up ahead. I have some medicine and ointment in it. Why don't you come with me, and I can take care of you there."The woman hesitated. "W-Wouldn't that be too much trouble? And I still don't know your name."Carissa replied, "My name is Carissa. We've met before."The woman in
The carriage stopped at the northern corner of Silverbrook Academy, while the Marquis of Elderglen's family's carriage followed behind to avoid traffic congestion.The rain grew heavier, and the crowd increased. With Kayla's injured foot, it was inconvenient for her to return to her carriage at this time. She had to wait until the carriages bringing children to the academy had dispersed before she could leave."Are you here to send your son to school, Lady Kayla?" Carissa asked, knowing that Kayla had adopted a son but unaware of his age."Yes, it's his first day at school, so I came to see him off." A genuine smile appeared on Kayla's face as she spoke of her son, making her expression seem more natural."How old is he? What's his name?"Kayla replied, "He's seven years old, and his name is Alexander."Violet laughed and said, "From that name, one can tell he comes from a family of generals."Kayla's expression momentarily faltered, a hint of bitterness showing in her eyes befo
Carissa called Violet over, asking her to help place Kayla on her back. With Kayla securely on her back, Carissa hurried back to the carriage. "Stay here. I'll find it for you," she promised.Kayla shivered uncontrollably, her hair soaked through. It was impossible to tell whether the moisture on her face was from tears or rain, and her lips quivered violently. "Please… Please, you must find it.""Don't come out!" Carissa's tone grew more urgent. "Take care of yourself. We can't have you distressed, even in spirit."Kayla covered her face and wept.Carissa instructed the coachman to keep an eye on Kayla, then turned back to continue the search.After a little more than half an hour, the carriages began to thin out, but the rain still poured relentlessly. The sky was ominously dark. Even with the help of the coachman from the Marquis of Elderglen's family and three others, they were exhausted and unable to find the earring.Just as they were about to give up, Carissa noticed a
Barrett went out and bought a gold hairpin, and placed it in a box. Upon returning to the estate, he inquired about Serena and learned that she was in their mother's room. He went straight there.As expected, Serena was holding the jewelry box when he arrived. Seeing him, she immediately stood up, her expression wary. "Aren't you on duty tonight? Why are you back so soon?""This is for you." Barrett handed her the box and said coolly, "I bought it with my allowance."Serena looked at him with suspicion. "You bought a hairpin for me? Why?"She clutched her jewelry box tighter. For the past few days, she had been told to return the ruby tiara. Now, she was suddenly being given a hairpin?"It's to add to your dowry, and also because you've been taking such good care of our mom these past few days. Just accept it," Barrett said with a sigh, then turned to look at Rebecca on the bed. "Mom, how are you feeling today?"Rebecca was surprised by her son's actions. She replied, "Your sis