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Frederick knew that Sophie was wise, but there were only a few capable people in Northwatch Estate. There was no need to hire much more staff, and those who were recently hired couldn’t be fully trusted yet. Thus, many matters required Rafael’s intervention and guidance.
This was also one of the reasons Rafael frequently visited.
After speaking with Sophie for a while, he prepared to leave. He had a stack of documents awaiting his attention. As a new official at the Supreme Court, the cumbersome paperwork made his eyes ache daily.
Moreover, he needed to familiarize himself thoroughly with commercial laws. As the Minister of Justice, he had to master the era’s laws-failing to do so would. undermine his position.
As usual, Sophie saw him off at the door. They had a certain understanding, but now, Sophie’s thoughts were more complex. Each time she bid him farewell, she instinctively kept her distance. Sophie knew she had to manage her own feelings. She was set to spend her life. with Rafael, but she needed to ensure that her heart stayed under control and didn’t truly fall for him.
Though Rafael had promised not to take concubines, such promises weren’t always under his control. Even Samuel, who was a man of high status, had received concubines from his superiors. It wasn’t unimaginable for Salvador and Helen to arrange a few more for Rafael to secure his lineage.
As a member of the royal family, ensuring the continuation of the bloodline was crucial. Royal relatives would also keep an eye on Rafael’s offspring. If there were fewer than expected, trouble might be directed at her, the consort.
She had never seen a royal member who had only one official wife. Even those who managed to keep it to a single twere rare. Many had more than ten.
While she could harbor feelings of gratitude, she could not afford to let her heart become too involved.
The heart, however, was difficult to control. The mind might say not to fall for him, but the heart didn’t always listen.
The next day, Sophie sent an invitation to Silverstone Estate requesting that Evelyn and Viola visit Northwatch Estate.
The invitation was written for the following day, but Evelyn and Viola arrived in less than two hours after receiving the invitation.
Sophie had dressed casually that day, but upon hearing of their arrival, she quickly had Lulu help her change. Dressed in a moonlight-white gown and draped in a lake- blue cloak, she wore a cloud-patterned hairpin in her updo. On her wrist was a bracelet that Margaret had previously returned to her, adding a touch of understated elegance to her simple attire.
Upon entering the main hall, she saw that Lily had already seated the guests and was serving refreshments. Two maids stood by Evelyn and Viola’s side.
When Sophie arrived, both the mother and Greetings, Lady Devin.”
Sophie returned the greeting with a smile.
“Good day, Madam Prince, Ms. Prince. Pleas
When Sophie arrived, both the mother and daughter stood up and greeted her,” Greetings, Lady Devin.”
Sophie returned the greeting with a smile.
“Good day, Madam Prince, Ms. Prince. Please, make’ yourselves comfortable.”
The elderly woman wore a stone-blue brocade coat with cloud patterns, and held a small metal hot water bottle. She appeared to be in her fifties, with streaks of gray in her hair, which was neatly styled in an immaculate updo. Her demeanor exuded a sense of authority and respect.
In contrast, her daughter was dressed simply. Beneath a white fur coat, she wore an apricot-yellow gown. In her twenties, she was quite beautiful, but her face carried a faint, melancholic air. Without the touch of color in her dress, her overall demeanor might have seemed even more aged than her mother’s.
After inviting them to sit, Sophie explained, “A few days ago, Ryan was undergoing treatment when you sent the invitation, Madam Prince. I was unable to meet with you then and was worried about being impolite, so I asked someone to decline on our behalf. Now that he is much better, I wanted to invite you both to the residence and express my gratitude for your concern for Ryan.”
Evelyn inquired, “How is the young lord now?”
“He is much improved. Thank you for keeping him in your thoughts,” Sophie replied.
Evelyn smiled, and said, “I know your family has everything it needs, but we’ve recently acquired a rare herbal tonic and thought it would benefit the young lord’s health.”
As she spoke, one of the maids brought forward a brocade box and bowed to
Sophie.
“I hope you will accept it.”
Sophie responded, “How can I accept such a precious gift? I am already deeply- grateful for your visit to see Ryan. I cannot possibly accept such an expensive medicine.”
“Please, accept it as a small token from the Earl of Silverstone’s family,” Evelyn insisted, with a hint of both resignation and joy.
“Though our two families seldom interacted in the past, we have always respected the Duke of Northwatch. Hearing that the young lord is still among us brings us great happiness. If you do not accept it, it will seem as if you are looking down upon our family.”
Seeing Evelyn’s earnestness, Sophie stopped refusing. She thanked Evelyn, and instructed Lily to accept the tonic.
Evelyn seemed inclined to say more, but Viola, evidently impatient, directly asked. Sophie, “Lady Devin, could you tell us why you parted ways with Blake? Is there an issue with his character or conduct?” Evelyn’s expression darkened. “Viola, don’t be rude.”
Viola stood up, and gave a slight bow but remained stubborn. “I know I am being presumptuous, but I still ask Lady Devin to speak frankly.”
?
“Oh, Viola? Does your name also mean ‘yew? How interesting,” Sophie responded with a smile, trying to deflect the pressing tone of the question.
“My name actually takes after the violet flower, which symbolizes modesty and faithfulness, similar to the symbolic nature of the yew tree. You mentioned ‘also’. Who else in your family has the name that means ‘yew?” Viola said.
Sophie smiled. “Oh, that’s not quite the same, then. I was talking about my late sister-in-law. Her name was Yvette, and it meant ‘yew”.”
At the mention of Sophie’s deceased sister-in-law, Viola’s attitude softened considerably.
She said quietly, “I see.”
She sighed lightly and sat back down.
Seeing that Viola was no longer as agitated, Sophie continued, “Earlier, you asked about my separation from Blake. The reason is simply that he wishes to take another wife, which I couldn’t accept.” “A man taking a concubine is a common matter,” Viola said, clearly skeptical. “Did you really leave him over this?”
“That’s right,” Sophie affirmed.
Viola’s eyes showed confusion. “Why? It’s just another wife. A second wife is, at most, a favored concubine. It shouldn’t threaten your position as the primary wife.” Sophie thought differently.
How could it not have threatened her position? Blake had made it clear that his heart was only for Freya.
However, Sophie couldn’t express that to Viola. The situation then was very different now.
Instead, Sophie said, “When he married me, he promised not to take any concubines. He broke the promise he made to my mother.”
“I see,” Viola considered this for a moment. “Breaking a promise is indeed wrong, but to divorce over this alone seems a bit hasty. After all, a div
After finishing her statement, Viola smiled again. “But it might be for the best that you’re separated. Now, marrying the Hell Monarch and becoming a princess consort is certainly better than being a general’s wife, isn’t it?”
Sophie didn’t appreciate the ambiguous tone in Viola’s words.
“Fate cannot be controlled by human will. When I divorced, I never considered marrying the Hell Monarch,” she said flatly.