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Besides, Heather was eager to see her daughter. However, Harvey had previously stopped her from doing so. Fearing the families would become hostile, Harvey quickly called for a carriage to go to Gracehold Estate.
The two carriages arrived almost simultaneously at Gracehold Estate’s gates.
Rafael helped Sophie out of the carriage, while Harvey jumped down first and then turned to assist Heather.
Their eyes met, and Rafael greeted coldly, “Uncle Harvey, Aunt Heather.”
“Rafael.” Harvey was taken aback to see them here, feeling a bit awkward. “What brings you here?”
“Why are you here, Uncle Harvey?” Rafael inquired.
Harvey had originally intended to prevent Helen from causing a scene, but found himself hesitant to reveal his purpose upon seeing Rafael. Instead, he simply said, “We heard that Leona was in trouble, and came to see for ourselves.”
Rafael’s eyes darkened suddenly, a hint of anger flashing in them. “My cousin is being bullied? Let’s go inside!”
“No…”
Harvey was momentarily taken aback, wanting to clarify that it was merely a domestic dispute rather than bullying. But Rafael, already holding Sophie’s hand, strode purposefully inside. “Prince Rafael and Lady Sophie have arrived!
“Prince Harvey and Lady Heather have arrived!”
With the loud announcement, Rafael and Sophie stepped confidently over the threshold.
Everyone present hurriedly stood up. “Greetings, Your Highness, Your Grace.”
Upon seeing her son and daughter-in-law arrive, Helen immediately said pitifully, “Sophie, Son, these people from the Earl of Gracehold’s family are being outrageously overbearing. Tel.ne?
even dared to push me! They clearly don’t respect the royal family at all!”
Rafael’s imposing presence was palpable. His cold gaze swept across the room, causing everyone to lower their heads. Even Samuel, who had been defiantly holding his head high, gradually bowed it under Rafael’s intense stare.
Ruby was the only one who raised her chin, her face a picture of pitiful innocence. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she gazed at Rafael like a pitiful kitten.
Rafael’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment, and Ruby’s expression turned defiant and unyielding.
Rafael turned away and, along with Sophie, was led to the main seat.
Harvey and Heather, who had entered with them, found themselves in an awkward position. Despite their high rank as a prince and princess consort, they could only sit to the side. “Who dared to bully my mother?” Rafael’s voice, as he settled into his seat, was as cold as frost.
The moment everyone heard Rafael’s question, their hearts sank.
Noah hurriedly said, “Your Highness, please forgive me. No one has bullied Lady Helen…”
“Earl of Gracehold, are you saying my mother is lying and falsely accusing you?” Rafael coldly retorted.
“N-no, that’s not what I meant.”
Although the Earl of Gracehold held a position in court, when facing someone as cold and imposing as the Hell Monarch-a seasoned general from the battlefield-his confidence faltered.
Under Rafael’s piercing gaze, he felt a chill run down his spine.
“It’s all a misunderstanding-just a misunderstanding,” said Noah.
Having gathered her wits, Dorothy immediately questioned, “Are you trying to throw your weight around, Your Highness?”
Samuel finally recalled his scholarly pride and disdain for powerful princes like Rafael.
He scoffed coldly, “Lady Helen was throwing her weight around. She barged into my family home to meddle in our internal affairs. And now, even you are stepping in to protect her, Your Highness. Are you really going to bully our humble family?”
Rafael didn’t even glance at him, his eyes filled with indifference. “He talks too much. Dylan, slap him!”
Dylan, who had been waiting outside after driving the carriage, entered the room in quick strides at Rafael’s words. Grabbing Samuel by the collar, he swung his arm and slapped him hard. The slap sent Samuel sprawling onto the ground.
Half of his face went numb, his ears ringing as his vision momentarily darkened. He struggled to prop himself up, only to be met with another slap. This time, blood spurted from his mouth as he collapsed onto the floor.
“Samuel!”
Both Dorothy and Abigail cried out at once, but Abigail didn’t dare step forward to help.
Only Dorothy, furious and panicked, shouted, “Help him up!”
The household servants rushed forward to assist Samuel, but he was already dazed, barely able to stand as his legs trembled beneath him.
Despite his mouth being filled with blood, he still managed to weakly roar, “Hell Monarch, you’ve gone too far!”
Heartbroken and furious, Dorothy turned to Harvey and demanded, “Your Highness, did you bring them here to deliberately bully our family?”
Seeing his son-in-law being beaten, Harvey didn’t exactly feel sympathy, but he did sense that things were getting out of hand. He was already considering how to de-escalate the situation when Dorothy questioned him Instinctively, he wanted to shake his head.
But Rafael spoke coldly first, “Uncle Harvey, it’s best you stay out of the matters between me and the earl’s family. I’ve heard my cousin is having complications with her pregnancy. Shouldn’t you be sending Aunt Heather to check on her?”
This was Rafael showing Harvey some respect, giving him a way to only care about his daughter without needing to bother about anything else.
Yet, Harvey chose to smooth things over, saying, “Rafael, this must be a misunderstanding. Show some consideration for me, and let’s resolve this with words, okay?”
Harvey still hoped to avoid a full-blown confrontation between the two families. He didn’t want any added trouble.
Having shown the minimal amount of respect expected toward Harvey, Rafael turned away and coldly ordered, “The earl’s family dared to lay hands on an honored concubine and falsely accuse the royal family of bullying. Since Samuel is a scholar, I’ll teach him a lesson on behalf of the king. Dylan, send word to Travis. Have him bring the household soldiers and smash everything in the earl’s residence.”
Travis had been standing by for a while. Dylan went out to deliver the command, and soon enough, he returned with dozens of household soldiers.
Though they carried no weapons-being in the capital, even household soldiers couldn’t casually bear arms they had their fists. The moment they entered, they began smashing whatever they saw. If something couldn’t be broken with their fists, they kicked it with their feet.
The scene terrified the members of the Earl of Gracehold’s family.
“Hell Monarch! How dare you insult our dignified family like this? I’ll bash my head in right here and see how you explain this to the world!” Dorothy shouted, her eyes turning dark with panic. With that, she charged toward a pillar, intent on throwing herself against it.
Naturally, Dorothy’s head never made contact with the pillar. With so many people in the room and her actions being so slow, her children and grandchildren had plenty of time to pull her back. Dorothy had only intended to use that act as a way to scare Rafael, hoping it would stop the household soldiers from smashing things.
But Rafael’s expression remained cold, and the household soldiers didn’t pause in their destruction. They continued to smash anything in sight, sending some of the more timid women screaming and fleeing to the back courtyard.
Dorothy was furious, her vision darkening with anger. She hadn’t expected Rafael to be so brazen, completely unafraid of her threat to bash her own head in.