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“And Josephine?” Sophie asked.
Helen made a face. “She’s always been good at playing the victim. Before the late king passed away, she was just a low-ranking concubine. After his death, when the new king took the throne and the Quinton family’s daughter became queen, her rank was elevated.
“But it’s all meaningless. In the harem, neither the honored nor noble concubines have any real power. It’s just a matter of receiving a slightly increased monthly stipend.”
Though Helen claimed it was all the same, her deep-seated jealousy was evident. Despite her son’s victory at the Southern Frontier, Salvador hadn’t offered to elevate her status, and she couldn’t propose it herself, as it would show how much she cared.
A few days later, Jacob presented a guest list for Sophie to review. Upon inspection, she noticed that Eleanor and the Marquis of Ironridge’s family were included, as well as Dakota and Josephine, whom Helen had insisted should be invited.
The list also featured several grand princesses, the Marquis of Jadehill’s family, and some noble families, such as the Farrell family, the Quinton family, the Earl of Gracehold’s family, and the Earl of Silverstone’s family.
Most families of fourth-rank officials and above were invited too, and the Klein family was a must-invite.
After reviewing the list, Sophie said, “Alright, prepare the invitations according to this list and send them out as soon as possible.”
Jacob nodded slightly. “Understood. I will prepare the invitations according to the list.”
“Thank you, Jacob.”
Jacob added, “Now that you’re in charge of the household affairs, please be cautious with staffing. We vetted every servant before they were hired. However, His Highness has been away on the battlefield for years, and both Luke and I have been busy with administration and other tasks. Some staff may have formed connections with certain people during this time.
“We conducted a thorough check when His Highness returned, but we’re still worried that some individuals may have hidden their true affiliations. Also, we haven’t had much interaction with the people around Lady Helen.”
Sophie pondered thoughtfully. While the issues within Hell Monarch Estate were manageable since the servants had been screened, she couldn’t fully trust all the people Helen had brought with her.
“I understand what to do. Thank you for the reminder, Jacob,” Sophie said with a smile.
Jacob nodded respectfully before leaving the room.
Sophie then called for Gillian and requested a list of the people in Helen’s entourage. She instructed that the list should not be shared with Helen or anyone else.
Gillian, once away from her mistress, was sharp and vigilant. She immediately understood Sophie’s intentions.
Gillian brought over the list, which was detailed with names, hometowns, ages, years of entry into the palace, and the specific palaces where they had served. On the surface, everything seemed in order. Only three individuals had served in other palaces-Leslie, Janice, and Sonia.
Leslie had previously served Wanda, one of the late king’s noble concubines. After Wanda’s death, the queen dowager had reassigned Leslie to Helen. Janice and Sonia had originally served Lauren, a concubine the late king had favored. Her death had been sudden, reportedly due to an acute illness.
After Lauren’s death, in a fit of anger, the late king sentenced everyone who had served her to death. Janice and Sonia had only been spared because Victoria had transferred them to serve Helen, who had been sick at the time.
Most of the remaining servants had been brought into the palace by Helen from her residence. Gillian, being Helen’s wet nurse and having raised her, was not suspected of any issues. The servants Helen brought from her home were unlikely to pose any problems either.
Sophie instructed that extra attention be paid to the three individuals who had previously served in other palaces and to report any irregularities immediately.
As soon as the invitations for the birthday banquet were sent out, a few people immediately began plotting. One such person was Jessica, who specifically invited Serena to Harmony Palace and asked the latter to accompany her to Helen’s birthday banquet.
Serena was reluctant to go. She harbored lingering resentment towards Sophie, her former sister-in-law. Why did Sophie get all the luck? How did she end up as the Hell Monarch’s princess consort? On the day of the banquet, aside from Helen, Sophie would undoubtedly be the center of attention. Serena had no desire to watch her former sister-in-law bask in the spotlight and flaunt her success. However, she dared not refuse Jessica directly, especially since she had already made a mess of things previously, and was fortunate that Jessica still wished to maintain relations with her.
So, Serena replied diplomatically, “Our family didn’t receive an invitation to the banquet, so wouldn’t it be a bit inappropriate for me to attend?”
Jessica smiled and said, “The invitation was sent to my mother and also to my in-laws. Since it’s an invitation to me, I am free to bring anyone I choose.”
Serena forced a smile and replied, “You make a valid point, Lady Jessica. It’s just…”
“Do you still want to be Rafael’s concubine? Tomorrow, I’ll create an opportunity for you. If you fall in front of him and he catches you, he will have no choice but to take you as his concubine,” said Jessica, her impatience evident.
Serena’s eyes widened in sudden, intense joy. “Really? If I get what I wish for, I’ll never forget the assistance you and Grand Princess Eleanor gave me.”
“There will be many witnesses present. As long as he catches you and holds you in his arms, he will have to take responsibility for ruining your reputation. I know
Rafaelwell-he is a responsible and wouldn’t let an innocent woman be mocked and left without being able to marry in the future,” Jessica replied.
Serena’s excitement was palpable, her mind swirling with thoughts of Rafael’s handsome and imposing face. Her heart raced with anticipation. She knew she was not as beautiful as Sophie, but she was younger and untouched. If her wish came true, Rafael would surely favor and cherish her.
Jessica continued, “When the time comes, I’ll make sure you have the right clothes and jewelry. But you have to keep this secret-don’t tell anyone. Your household is already known for not keeping things in order. If the servants find out and word gets out, it could ruin your entire future.”
“Yes, I’ll definitely keep it a secret,” Serena promised, trying to calm her racing heart. The thought of Rafael made her face burn with a deep blush.
After Serena left, Jessica scoffed, “What a fool.”
“Does she really think she can join the royal family with her status? It’s her own greed that blinds her. She has only herself to blame,” Eleanor said with a cold glint in her eyes.
Rafael would never take Serena as a concubine, but if he were to catch her, it could become a scandal that would tarnish his reputation.
“Mom, Serena may be hopeless, but we should still find someone suitable to marry Rafael as a concubine. That way, we will have control over all future actions at his household,” said Jessica.
Eleanor smiled coldly. “Why the hurry? To accomplish that, we still need Helen to step in.”
“Aunt Helen?” Jessica’s anger flared as she recalled their previous confrontation when Helen and Sophie had demanded money from them. “She’s allied with Sophie now. Can she still be of any use to us?” Eleanor slowly picked up her cup and took a sip. “She may not heed our words, but psychological tactics always work on her. There is someone who can handle this matter.”
Jessica’s eyes brightened. “Psychological tactics? You mean Aunt Dakota?”
She slapped her thigh. “Mom, you think of everything! Aunt Dakota’s daughter-in-law, Adelaide, has a daughter. Then, there’s Kendrick’s concubines too. Inez has a son and a daughter, while Matilda has a daughter and is currently pregnant.
“If Aunt Helen finds out about Matilda’s pregnancy, she will undoubtedly be eager to push Rafael to take a concubine. If that sparks a quarrel between them, it will be quite entertaining.” Eleanor sipped her coffee leisurely.
When it cooled, she asked for a fresh cup, then said, “They will never be united in purpose-there will always be conflict and friction between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. It’s up to us to stir the pot. Helen is easy to manipulate. As long as she and Sophie are at odds, using Helen will be straightforward.”
“You’re right, Mom,” Jessica agreed, nodding.
Eleanor pondered for a moment, then added, “In any case, we should aim to make Rafael’s household chaotic and unsettled. Ideally, it will be like the Jaffe family. That will force Rafael to focus on his household affairs and neglect other matters.”
Jessica hummed in agreement. Although she had doubts about focusing on Rafael’s household, she trusted that her mother had her reasons.
–
Serena returned to her home and sat at her vanity in her bedroom. As she gazed into the mirror, she studied her reflection. Her cheeks were slightly rounded, giving her a full, lustrous appearance that was traditionally associated with great wealth and prosperity.
Her maid, Vivian, asked, “My lady, you’ve been gazing at the mirror for a while. Has your makeup faded? Would you like me to redo your hair and adjust your accessories?”
“Vivian, do you think I look good?” Serena asked, touching her fair and supple face.
“My lady, you’re naturally beautiful,” Vivian replied.