Filed to story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
Moreover, it was better not to offend Helen too much. Since Helen was now learning to resist, it would be difficult to extract more money in the future. It was better to return the pearls without protest and keep her complacent. Later, Eleanor could still extract plenty of wealth and treasures from her.
Despite her seething anger, Eleanor’s face suddenly broke into a forced smile. “Since you understand how to respect and be devoted to your mother-in-law, I can rest easy. Why would I covet a few pearls? As you said, I just wanted to test you.”
She waved to her servants. “Bring those pearls here.”
Sophie nodded, and smiled. “Thank you, Aunt Eleanor. And let’s not forget the three thousand silver coins you owe my mother-in-law.”
Eleanor paused before gruffly ordering, “Fetch the three thousand silver coins in banknotes as well, and bring them here.”
Helen’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Grand Princess Eleanor is so kind to me! Sophie, did you see? I told you she’s a good person.” “Yes, you were right, Mother,” Sophie replied, lowering her gaze.
A good person indeed-Helen was still deceived.
Seeing Helen’s enthusiastic reaction, Eleanor felt both relieved and disdainful.
How truly naive!
But as long as Helen continued to believe in her, that was enough. A few pearls were not a problem-Eleanor could always retrieve them later.
When the Mystic Pearls were finally brought out, there were indeed five of them. Helen and Gillian were unsure if it was exactly five-they hadn’t dared to scrutinize them closely at the time, and had only grasped a handful. The pearls were large, and it was already a wonder they had managed to hold onto five.
Three thousand silver coins in banknotes were handed over, and Helen grasped them tightly in her hands. She shot a cold snort at Sophie.
“Hmph, did you see that? You can’t measure a noble person’s intentions with a petty mind.”
Eleanor gave Sophie a haughty smile. “Oh? So you suspected me all along?”
With the items retrieved, Sophie didn’t indulge in pleasantries.
“Farewell, Aunt Eleanor,” she said curtly.
Sophie was the first to leave, ignoring Helen and Gillian. Her anger was palpable-despite all this, Helen still praised Eleanor. If it hadn’t been for it being only the second day after her wedding, she might have truly acted in a disrespectful manner.
Behind her, she heard Helen bidding farewell to Eleanor, suggesting a visit again in a few days.
With a smile, Eleanor instructed someone to see them out.
Sophie marched out, and boarded the carriage by herself. She was fuming, planning to have a few words with Helen once she was on the carriage.
However, as Gillian helped Helen into the carriage, the latter trembled with rage and cursed loudly.
“That old hag, how dare she deceive me? She must have truly wanted to covet my pearls! That vile woman! That old hag!”
Sophie raised an eyebrow.
Oh? So it was all an act?
Impressive-Sophie didn’t even realize it, and it turned out to be Helen’s counter-strategy against Eleanor.
Gillian climbed into the carriage, sneezing repeatedly. She had been standing in the cold earlier, and now, the chilly wind was too much for her old bones to handle.
Helen shoved the pearls back to Sophie.
“Here, take them. Also, you can keep two thousand of the three thousand silver coins. If you hadn’t gone to see her, she definitely wouldn’t have returned the pearls or given us the money.”
As she spoke, she counted out the banknotes and handed them to Sophie.
“Take them. Why are you just looking at them?” she snapped.
Sophie blinked, unable to believe her ears.
She looked at the two thousand silver coins in banknotes that had been handed to her, feeling a mix of astonishment and disbelief.
Wow, Helen really was generous with her money. It seemed so easy for her to give it out.
Sophie could see Helen was truly becoming a gullible fool.
No, she already was a fool.
“Have you finally seen Eleanor’s true colors, Mother?” Sophie asked with a smile, her tone considerably softer.
Helen’s face darkened. “Do you think I’m blind? Even after all this, how can I not have figured her out?”
“I saw you speaking to her so politely, and thought maybe you were still deceived by her,” Sophie replied.
Helen snapped, “How can I not speak politely? One of us has to be strict and tough, while the other has to be soft and accommodating. We can’t really tear down all the pretenses we have with her. She’s on good terms with most of the noblewomen. If she twists things around and tarnishes my reputation, won’t I be humiliated? You’re different-you’re fearless and lack awareness!”
Sophie remained silent, counting the banknotes. Each banknote was worth one hundred silver coins. She casually handed one to Gillian.
“This is your share of the winnings.”
Gillian’s eyes widened, and she seemed to have trouble catching her breath. “Your Highness, this is one hundred silver coins!”
“That’s right. You’ve served Mother for many years. Since she won the money, you naturally deserve a portion of it,” Sophie said with a smile.
Helen shot Sophie a sidelong glance.
“Why are you giving her this? She has no worries about food and clothing. As long as she’s by my side, I’ll provide for her in her old age. It’s dangerous for her to have so much money on her at her age. She could easily be swindled.”
But Gillian quickly thanked Sophie, and took the banknote.
Sophie observed the old attendant’s reactions. She guessed that Gillian’s daily needs were likely covered, but beyond the regular stipend from the palace, Helen probably didn’t offer much additional reward. It wasn’t that Helen was harsh, but rather, she treated Gillian as one of her own.
Some people were like that-kind to outsiders but indifferent to their own, sometimes even pinching pennies from their own to benefit outsiders.
Sophie pocketed the rest of the banknotes, thinking that, for now, it would be fine if Helen continued to see her as an outsider.
Better to remain an outsider than to be treated like one of her own, especially if it was like this.
When Gillian received the banknote worth a hundred silver coins, she stared at it with wide-eyed amazement as if she had never seen such a sum before. Helen couldn’t help but scoff at the older woman’s reaction.
“Look at you! Have you ever lacked anything in these years?”