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Seeing her daughter’s silence, Heather assumed she would listen and continued, “Trust your mother. Once the child is born, your husband will change his mind. And when the old matriarch sees her great- grandchild, how could she not love the child? They’ll be good to you. You just need to endure. Things will get better after this rough patch.
“The real problem is that old matriarch-she caused all this. Your father-in-law and mother-in-law were both against that wretched Ruby entering the household. When I saw her today, I understood why your husband was bewitched by her.
“Despite her ragged appearance, she has a certain frail charm. But no matter her identity, real or fake, the earl’s family will never keep her. She’s someone Grand Princess Eleanor sent to a brothel. Does the earl’s family dare defy Grand Princess Eleanor by keeping her?”
Heather stroked Leona’s gaunt face, her heart aching as she continued, “In the end, you’re the one who chose him. Even if it was the wrong choice, you’ll have to bear the consequences. You know why we’ve kept such a low profile all these years. Your father’s fief is in that bitter, freezing land. If we attract trouble and upset the king, we’ll be sent back there. How often will we get to see you then?”
Leona raised her head, forcing her tears back. “Even if I get a divorce, the king won’t send you back to the fief. I’m only asking you this—if I get divorced, will you and Dad let me come back home?” Heather’s tone turned sharp, “You foolish girl! After everything I’ve said, why are you still thinking about divorce? As for those two people your cousin arranged for you, you should send them away. I heard it was the one named Alana who struck your husband. She acted swiftly, but it only drove a wedge between you two. It seems to me that your cousin must have instigated this.”
Leona couldn’t hold back her tears. “Mom, they’re here to protect me. If Alana and Leah hadn’t been there today, do you think I would’ve only been pushed once? Sophie is looking out for me.”
“Looking out for you? You believe that nonsense? Heather scoffed coldly. “Leona, remember what I’m telling you only your parents will never harm you. Everyone else has ulterior motives, even if they don’t show it. If you’re doing well, they’ll be jealous. If you’re struggling, they’ll pretend to pity you. But none of it is genuine.”
Leona smiled bitterly. “So, if I really get a divorce, you won’t let me come home.”
Heather’s tone hardened as she replied, “It’s not that I won’t let you come home. I won’t allow you to get a divorce If you keep talking like this, I’ll go to Hell Monarch Estate tomorrow and confront your cousin to see if she’s the one putting these ideas in your head.”
Leona panicked and quickly propped herself up. “Please don’t go to her. It’s not her idea. It’s mine.”
Knowing her daughter’s weakness,
Heather spoke angrily, “You’ve always been an obedient, well-behaved child. How could you come up with something so rebellious on your own? Let me tell you this: if you dare bring up divorce again, I’ll blame your cousin, no matter what. She must have planted these reckless thoughts in your head.”
Leona lay back down, her eyes devoid of life. She didn’t know why, but she suddenly wanted to laugh. She actually did laugh a little, then quietly wiped away the tears that had slipped down her face. “I understand, Mom.”
Hearing how compliant Leona sounded, Heather was satisfied.
“Good. Focus on taking care of yourself and the baby. I’ll visit you whenever I can. As for your father, he will surely reprimand your husband. He won’t dare treat you so brazenly again.”
In Leona’s eyes, there wasn’t even the slightest flicker of emotion left. Not even tears. Her parents had been her last source of support, but her mother’s words had crushed her hopes completely.
After Harvey and Heather left, the servants in Gracehold Estate were busy cleaning up. Apart from Samuel and Ruby, who remained in the sitting room, everyone else dispersed. Even Abigail did not stay as she escorted Dorothy back to her quarters.
Before leaving, Dorothy gave strict orders that Noah was not to make things difficult for Samuel.
“Which of the young men in this family is as outstanding as he is? The king personally selected Samuel as one of the top scholars. Him losing his position is only a temporary setback. Which family doesn’t have multiple wives and concubines? It’s just that some petty people are stirring up trouble.”
“Mom, go rest,” Noah responded, but he didn’t agree. He simply gestured for his wife to escort Dorothy away.
Noah then turned his gaze to Ruby, who was sobbing uncontrollably in Samuel’s arms. He felt a surge of frustration.
“Why are you crying? If you hadn’t provoked Leona, would tonight’s events have happened?”
Still shielding Ruby, Samuel spoke up, “Dad, how can you blame Ruby? You’ve seen how vicious the people in Leona’s quarters are. They even dared to strike me, your son!”
“You insolent brat, shut your mouth!” Noah snapped before turning his fury back on Ruby. “You will go outside and stand in a corner, out in the cold. Don’t you dare move until I tell you to.”
Samuel immediately stepped forward to protect her. “She can’t! She’s already been dragged and injured by that vicious woman. Just look at her face…”
Noah could no longer hold back his rage. He slapped his son across the face and bellowed, “Insolent child! Don’t you realize the disaster that’s upon you?!”
Having been struck multiple times today, Samuel was filled with fury. “Fine! If you can’t stand me and Ruby, then we’ll leave the estate. I’ll give up my title as heir. Whoever wants it can have it. It’s just a small, insignificant title-I don’t care.”
True to his word, Samuel stormed off to pack his things and leave.
Noah sat in his chair, listening to a servant report that Samuel had packed up his belongings, including his ink, brushes, and many of the books he’d been reading, and had loaded everything onto a cart. “Did Ruby try to stop him?” Noah asked icily.
“N-no, she didn’t. She helped him pack,” the servant stammered.
Noah closed his eyes, recalling what Sophie had said. Eleanor’s illegitimate daughter, who had become a courtesan at a brothel, entering the Earl of Gracehold’s family-what were her intentions? He needed to think carefully.
Combining this with what Violet had mentioned, Noah was now almost certain that Ruby was here to sow discord, sent by Eleanor to disrupt the peace of his family.
He had initially considered two possibilities. The first was that Ruby had been sold off to a brothel after falling out of Eleanor’s favor. The second was that Eleanor had deliberately arranged for Ruby to enter his family to ruin their reputation.
Now, he was almost certain it was the latter.
Samuel had once been a promising top scholar and a distinguished nobleman with a future full of potential. However, after he became involved with Ruby, he first tarnished the century-old reputation of the Earl of Gracehold’s family by bringing a woman from a brothel into their home. His relationship with Leona then deteriorated, leading to charges brought against him by the
Oversight Department, which ultimately resulted in the loss of his position.
If Ruby remained in Gracehold Estate, who knew what other disasters would follow?
Especially considering that Leona had already been harmed to the point that it had even led to complications with her pregnancy. If Ruby didn’t leave, Leona’s chances of a smooth delivery remained uncertain.
Though Harvey and Heather hadn’t explicitly condemned Ruby tonight, their anger was evident. However, they weren’t a big problem. After all, the couple likely wished for Samuel and Leona to get along. So, they would likely counsel their daughter t?be patient and focus on safely giving birth.
What truly worried Noah was the Hell Monarch’s princess consort. Tonight, Rafael had practically torn apart Gracehold Estate.
Would Noah mention this in court? No, he wouldn’t dare say a word. The fact that a member of the Earl of Gracehold’s family had laid hands on Helen, an honored concubine, was enough to bring his family under serious accusations of insubordination.
What’s more, Rafael’s household soldiers had entered Gracehold Estate unarmed. They hadn’t used weapons using only their fists to break things. Their hands were even injured from smashing items showing how meticulously the Hell Monarch had calculated his actions.
Samuel left the estate that night. When Dorothy heard of it, she couldn’t bear the thought of her grandson suffering and arranged for them to live in a manor on Hibiscus Lane, sending no small amount of silver coins along with them.
After Samuel settled down, he immediately began drafting a scathing article condemning the Hell Monarch. Once he finished, he reached out to his old scholar friends, inviting over a dozen people to join him. However, only three or four actually showed up.
Those who did come were stunned after reading his article. They quickly made excuses, claiming they had urgent matters to attend to, and hurriedly left.
Samuel was bewildered.
He chased after one of them, grabbing him by the arm and asking, “You all read how the Hell Monarch bullied me. Aren’t you going to help?”
The scholar’s name was Sean. He entered the National Academy last year and had once deeply admired Samuel-before Samuel brought a courtesan from a brothel into his home. Today, Sean had come merely out of respect for old ties.
Samuel’s article boldly and repeatedly denounced the prince who had just reclaimed the Southern Frontier. It accused the Hell Monarch of disrespecting women-specifically, of disrespecting Ruby. Sean was left speechless.
Once that article was published, the whole world would criticize Samuel and curse his name.
Sean wanted no part of this mess.
In response to Samuel’s questioning, he merely said, “If you’re upright and set a good example, people will follow without orders. But if you’re not, no command will make them obey!” With that, Sean nodded respectfully and left.