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“I’m only taking a brief break myself. It’s uncommon for a lady of the estate to be idle. I’ll be taking over responsibilities from Luke in a few days,” Sophie replied.
“Alright. Most of the staff in the estate are new, with some coming from the palace with me. Although they’re young, they are considered long-time members of the household. Luke also accompanied me from the palace and has with me for many years, so he is absolutely trustworthy. You can manage the rest as you see fit.
“As for my mother, she has always liked to sleep in. Don’t go to her too early to greet her. You should sleep in a little yourself.”
Sophie smiled. “I’ve already greeted her and paid my respects once since we got married. After that, she has been coming to have breakfast with me. You leave early, so you might not know about that.” Rafael was quite surprised. “Really?”
He knew that his mother and Sophie had a good relationship now, but he hadn’t expected it to have progressed to the point where Sophie didn’t need to formally greet her, and that Helen even came to seek her out personally.
He couldn’t help but smile. “The peaceful interactions between you two is something I hadn’t anticipated.”
“I didn’t expect it either,” Sophie said with a laugh.
Since Rafael had returned early today, he planned to have a meal with everyone. However, upon hearing of this, Helen claimed she wasn’t feeling well and requested that her meal be brought to her room. Rafael thought she might truly be unwell and was about to visit her when Sophie stopped him.
“She’s not unwell. It’s just that you’ve been leaving early and returning late recently, giving her fewer greetings and talking to her less. Now that you suddenly want to have a meal together, she might think you want to criticize her about something.”
Rafael was astonished. “Why would she think that? When have I ever spoken ill of her? She’s my mother-what right do I have to criticize her?”
Sophie pinched his cheek playfully. “If you stop scowling in front of her, she won’t think you’re going to lecture her.”
Rafael caught her hand and, with a playful peck on her lips, replied with a smile, “I can’t help it—it’s just my natural aura.”
“You often smile when you’re with me, don’t you? You should smile more at her too.”
Rafael nodded. “Alright, I’ll do as you say.”
Sophie went out to give instructions, telling the servants not to bring food to Helen’s room. Instead, Sophie would personally invite her to the dining hall.
Helen was a bit fidgety, and asked several times how Rafael was feeling today.
Sophie reassured, “He’s in a good mood.”
Relieved, Helen followed Sophie to the dining hall. Rafael was already seated and, upon seeing her, stood up and greeted her. “Mom, you’re here.”
His tall, upright figure, combined with his habitual calm demeanor, conveyed the imposing presence of a seasoned general.
Then, in a show of obedience to his wife’s advice, Rafael slowly smiled at Helen.
Helen was taken aback.
In her mind, she recalled the signs before the late emperor’s outbursts-he would also slowly show a smile or a cold grin before erupting into fierce anger. Rafael increasingly resembled his father in this regard.
However, Helen nodded and said, “Sit down.”
She settled into her seat with a steady calmness. With Sophie around, she felt assured that Rafael wouldn’t exhibit any signs of anger like his father.
A short while later, Kiera and Ryan arrived and took their seats.
The meal proceeded in silence, with no exchange of words or glances between mother and son.
However, Sophie served Helen her favorite dishes, showing how attentive she was to Helen’s preferences.
Thinking of this made Helen’s mood significantly brighten. She even enjoyed an extra bowl of soup.
After the meal, as coffee was served and the servants cleared the dishes, Helen suddenly felt a wave of emotion and was on the verge of tears.
She wasn’t sure why, but she felt a mix of bittersweet happiness.
Wasn’t this what she had hoped for all along? Her children were by her side, quietly enjoying a meal together. There were no complaints from her son, no scolding, no reprimands, and no signs of impatience or resistance.
As they drank their coffee, they chatted about the current happenings. One of the matters that came up was what happened to Mary, the matriarch of the Marquis of Jadehill’s family.
Luke said, “The rumors outside have not ceased. In fact, the outcry against Freya is growing louder. I’ve heard that General Jaffe took her to Jadehill Estate to apologize, but the current marquis refused to see them. After hearing that, Freya in a fit of anger.”
ended up running awa at Freya
There were no longer any reservations about discussing the Jaffe family’s matters in the estate, as everyone knew that Sophie didn’t mind it.
Luke continued, “It is said that Madam Clayton is also dissatisfied with the Marquis of Jadehill’s actions. She didn’t take Freya’s words to heart. Madam Clayton said since the deed was done, let people talk as they please. She isn’t bothered by it.”
Sophie was reflecting on Mary’s noble demeanor when Helen furrowed her brows and interjected, “How can she not care? If someone dared to speak about me like that, I would up. Madam Clayton is simply too easy to bully. If she is so easily bullied, what about her
Madaly have them beaten descendants?”
Rafael replied, “Madam Clayton has lived to such an old age. She has probably heard and seen all kinds of things. She is a kind-hearted person, and she likely doesn’t take such insults to heart.” “That’s not acceptable!” Helen retorted. “Madam Clayton clearly did a good deed, but is being called an old beggar. She is a noble lady with a title, and Freya is nothing in comparison.”
Realizing she had used harsh language, Helen awkwardly added, “Such lack of propriety. I don’t know how that young lady from the Prince family manages that household.”
Luke chuckled and said, “You may not know, but their household is in chaos. Madam Viola does want to manage the household. Unfortunately, Madam Freya is also a rightful wife, and is difficult to manage.
“Since she is also General Jaffe’s rightful wife, she is harder to discipline than a concubine. Moreover, Madam Freya knows martial arts, so Madam Viola’s ne attempts to impose rules have been unsuccessful. I’ve heard that the two maids she brought with her were beaten by Madam Freya.
“General Jaffe comes home every day to handle these domestic troubles. With his time and energy spent in that manner, how can he focus on his official duties?”
Helen remarked, “That young lady from the Prince family is rather pitiable, though.”
Violet scoffed. “Pitiable? Hardly! They’re all cut from the same cloth. You might not know this, but when Sophie married the marshal, Viola’s marriage was also on the same day. She tried to overshadow Sophie at every turn, and even told her maids that Sophie’s dowry was so little. The look on her face when others came to add to Sophie’s trousseau was quite something.”
“Is that true? How do you know?” Helen asked.
“Of course, it’s from my sources. The Prince family’s management isn’t great. They can’t control their servants’ mouths. Viola’s bitterness towards Sophie is quite evident,” Violet said with a touch of pride. It turned out that Winona’s people were indeed very useful.
Sophie recalled her two meetings with Viola. The first time was uneventful, but by the second meeting, she had sensed hostility.
“We don’t have to deal with her anyway. Let her be angry,” she said.
“She’s ungrateful,” Helen spat in disdain.
She thought of how her son’s military power had been taken by the Prince family, and added, “To say she’s pitiable is to overlook that every pitiful person has their own faults. Her entire family isn’t worth much, and they even took my son’s military authority…”
“Mom!” Rafael’s expression darkened immediately. “What are you saying?”