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“She didn’t have a choice; she had to hurt herself for no reason. The king was really inconsiderate this time,” Victoria said with a calm expression.
Before long, Helen stormed back into Serenity Palace, her temper flaring.
Ignoring Keith’s presence, she angrily exclaimed, “It’s as if those living in the palace have no world beyond their own little corner! Narrow-minded, petty, with hearts as small as the tip of a needle! They can’t stand to see anyone else succeed.
“Sophie has earned His Majesty’s favor and is always by his side during discussions. But what do those people say? They talk about the so-called ‘propriety between men and women’ and even suggest it’s improper for her to be alone with him in the royal study.
“How ridiculous! Have they forgotten that Sophie is a court official? Where else is she supposed to be if not in the royal study? In the harem, competing for His Majesty’s favor?”
Victoria slowly sipped her coffee. “Is that what they’re saying?”
Helen’s eyes practically bulged with fury. “At first, I didn’t know. They praised Sophie endlessly, saying she had changed and was always accompanying the king in the royal study. I was proud for a while. “But the more I heard, the more off it seemed. They said they hoped no unpleasant rumors would come up, and even hinted that Sophie might be trying to climb the ranks… Oh, it makes me furious! And they covered their mouths and laughed like gossiping village women!”
Keith handed Helen a cup of coffee and offered some comfort, “Don’t let it trouble you too much, Your Grace. They’re just jealous. They envy you for having such an accomplished daughter-in-law. That’s why they speak so recklessly.”
“I know,” Helen replied, her anger still simmering. “I gave them a piece of my mind, though. After I scolded them, they said I should go back and think things over. They even suggested that poor Rafael had been made a fool of behind his back and doesn’t even know it.”
Victoria smiled, but her eyes were cold. “Who said that?”
“Lady Josephine,” Helen reported loudly.
Victoria gave a brief hum of acknowledgment. After finishing her coffee, she turned to Keith. “It seems the ones talking to Helen today have too much time on their hands. Pass on my royal edict-have them copy The Eternal Wisdom Scriptures ten times before the New Year.”
Helen’s mood lightened instantly. “The Eternal Wisdom Scriptures? That will wear their hands out!”
The Eternal Wisdom Scriptures had over five thousand words, and they were to copy it ten times. Victoria knew the punishment would leave them little time for gossip.
She glanced at Helen with cool indifference before continuing, “Since they’re copying scriptures, they should clear their minds. No distractions. I’ll have their allowances withheld, and they are to be forbidden from wearing gold or silver jewelry or any fine silks.”
Helen gasped. For her, both punishments were unbearable. Copying scriptures was hard enough, but being forbidden to wear jewelry or fine clothes meant she couldn’t adorn herself. It was a severe punishment, indeed.
She silently reaffirmed that her sister was not to be trifled with.
After Helen left the palace with Ryan, the royal edict had already reached the other concubines. The entire harem fell into a sudden, uncomfortable silence. No one dared to utter a word.
Victoria had long known that the people in the palace gossiped incessantly. No matter how strict the rules, they couldn’t stop the rumors. Only severe punishment could serve as a deterrent.
That was why she had summoned Helen, knowing that every time her sister came to the palace, she would end up chatting with someone. Those people, thinking Helen simple-minded, freely spoke of all sorts of things in her presence, including gossip.
It was the perfect opportunity to strike back and make an example of them.
If even noble concubines were punished, would Victoria show mercy to the others? In other words, the people in the palace were free to continue their gossip if they didn’t mind the consequences.
This measure would likely quell the rumors for now.
However, still concerned, Keith said, “Your Majesty, His Majesty hasn’t been going to the harem. That can’t go on forever.”
“Some things can’t be forced. If he doesn’t want to go, should I send someone to drag him there?” Victoria replied.
She waved her hand dismissively.
“Don’t worry about it. I don’t want to bother with it either. It’s just that he’s being foolish and doesn’t realize it or he knows but is deceiving himself. He’s damaging Sophie reputation and the reputation of the female officials in court.
“I only acted to suppress these rumors because of that. I let my guard down, thinking he always saw Sophie as a subject. Who knew he had changed his mind? I didn’t catch it in time, and now rumors are running wild.”
“Even so, it shouldn’t be possible for such ugly rumors to spread in such a short time, Keith said in confusion. “After all, Lady Sophie is the commander of the Mystic Army, and Prince Rafael is fighting at the Southern Frontier. Even if she enters and exits the royal study, outsiders shouldn’t be spreading rumors. At least, they shouldn’t spread so quickly.”
“Someone spread the rumors deliberately,” Victoria said softly.
The queen dowager knew the dirty tricks that could be used in the harem. But this situation was judgment. His long absence from the harem, along with the constant company of his sister-in-law, only gave people more to talk about.
caused by Salvador’s own lack of et
How could that not raise suspicions?
After leaving the palace and returning to Hell Monarch Estate, Helen brought Ryan over to visit Sophie. Once the boy had finished speaking to his aunt and was sent on his way, Helen couldn’t help but immediately blurt out everything she had overheard in the palace, including the harsh punishment Victoria had decreed.
After hearing this, Sophie comforted her mother-in-law, saying, “The people stuck in the harem have nothing to do all day. They can’t go out like you, strolling through the streets or attending plays. Of course, they make up stories to pass the time. Otherwise, how would they get through such long days?”
“But that doesn’t give them the right to speak like that! To say such ugly things-that Rafael has been made a fool of behind his back? Is that the kind of thing people should say? Is that what elders should be saying? It’s disrespectful!” exclaimed Helen, livid.
Sophie sighed.
She couldn’t help but wish she had seen the signs earlier and gotten “injured” sooner. Before the soup incident, she had suspected something was off but hadn’t fully realized the extent. At the time, she thought the king might just be trying to gather information about the Pathfinders Guild.
But honestly, she wasn’t sure what Salvador was thinking. He was always scheming. Even when she thought she had figured him out, he would end up thinking something completely different.
Right now, things were peaceful for her. But since she couldn’t take part in military discussions, she had to rely on Winona to gather news from the front lines.
Still, things at the estate weren’t exactly quiet. Word of Sophie’s injury had spread, and plenty of people came to visit. It was strange. Before she had been injured, she hadn’t realized how vast her network of connections was. Now that she was unwell, people came to check on her constantly.
They took turns visiting her, bringing gifts and medicinal herbs. While the visits weren’t long, the constant stream of guests made her feel as though her peace had been interrupted. She had to thank each visitor and see them off with polite pleasantries, day after day.
It wasn’t until several days had passed that she could finally enjoy some true quiet.
As for Gracewood Women’s Academy and Skye Embroidery, they had asked Violet for permission before coming. However, not everyone came-only representatives were sent.
From the workshop, it was Camila and Leona. The latter had visited before, but now she returned with the former. Since her cousin was injured, Leona was the most upset.
From the women’s academy, it was Rosalind who brought gifts from everyone. She smiled as she placed them on the table.
“This is from Mrs. Ashford. And this one is from Ms. Wright.”
Despite each person only sending a single gift, the table was soon overflowing.
Since her marriage, Rosalind’s face had been bathed in a glow of happiness. Her smile was sweeter than ever, and there was a subtle flush to her cheeks. There was also the warmth of love evident in her eyes. Talking to Rosalind was always a pleasure. She spoke of her students with great fondness, pride gleaming on her face as she recounted their progress and the joy they brought her.
She said that in comparison to her previous class, these new students were much easier to teach, even joking that they were easier to teach than Trevor’s pupils had been. They understood how rare the opportunity to learn was, so hardly any of them slacked off.
Sophie listened, her smile never fading.
After a pause, she asked, “How is your husband treating you?”