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With a heavy heart, she left the royal study. The royal guards followed her, ensuring she went straight home, fearing she might cause more trouble.
Back at Northwatch Estate, Frederick wasn’t surprised to see the guards. He simply smiled and greeted them.
“Gentlemen, please come in for some tea.”
“No need. We have orders to stay at the gate and not disturb Lady Devin,” the guards said coolly.
Frederick didn’t know what had happened, but he instructed the servants to bring tea and snacks to the gate. Then, he closed the door.
Once the door was shut, Frederick asked Sophie, “My lady, what happened?”
Sophie entered the main hall, removed her cloak, and sat down. She then sent for Holly and Lily.
“The king has people watching me every day now. I don’t know how long it will last, but I have urgent matters to attend to outside. After I leave, the estate must operate as if I were still here. Hide my absence as long as possible. If it becomes impossible to hide, say I’ve returned to the guild,” she said.
Frederick was an old servant of the household, and he understood that Sophie wasn’t your typical noble lady.
“My lady, go and do what you need to do. I will look after the estate,” he said.
Holly and Lily nodded in agreement. The frequent pigeon messages over the past few days indicated something was amiss.
“When do you plan to leave, my lady?” Lily asked.
Sophie’s expression was resolute, her beauty mark appearing particularly vivid. “Tonight. Leaving the estate isn’t difficult, but I need a horse. Find a way to get my horse to the countryside villa.”
Her chestnut horse was fast and well-trained, She needed to reach the Southern Frontier battlefield quickly to inform the Hell Monarch, so he could prepare a strategic defense in advance.
“That’s easy. Lady Heather’s daughter, Princess Leona, will be getting married in two days. I’ll ride the horse to deliver a wedding gift, then take the horse to the countryside villa. I’ll buy another horse to bring back,” Frederick said.
Sophie remembered her cousin’s upcoming wedding. The date had been set when she was still at Valor Estate, and Heather had sent an invitation.
It was reasonable for her to give a wedding gift, as her mother had been close to her aunt. It was unfortunate she couldn’t attend her cousin’s wedding, but there was no choice.
“Good, let’s do that,” she said. “The royal guards won’t restrict your movements. Lily, I’m close with my cousin. Go to the storeroom and pick some good things for her.”
“Understood, my lady.” Lily turned, and left immediately.Frederick took a few decorated boxes, and rode out.
As expected, the royal guards didn’t question him since their orders were to keep Sophie from leaving the house. The restriction didn’t apply to anyone else in Northwatch Estate, and such a large household naturally had daily errands and purchases.
Arriving at Hartstone Estate, Frederick announced that he was delivering a bridal gift from the Duke of Northwatch’s family.
The gatekeeper reported this, and soon, the steward of Hartstone Estate, Simon Zephyr, came out.
After greeting Frederick, Simon said, “Hello, Mr. Carter. The princess said that since Lady Devin has just returned home after her divorce, she must have been in need of money. There’s no need for her to spend on a gift for the princess. We appreciate the thought, but the gift isn’t necessary. Please take it back, and there’s no need to come again if there’s nothing urgent.”
Frederick was momentarily taken aback. When he saw the indifferent look on Simon’s face, he understood.
Heather looked down on Sophie because of her divorce and saw her gift as bringing bad luck. Hence, she rejected it.
Though angered, Frederick maintained his composure. It was a mark of his upbringing in a noble household. “In that case, please convey our lady’s best wishes to the princess. Goodbye.” “We won’t see you out,” Simon replied coldly.
Frederick was furious. He knew all the rumors that had been spreading during the past month while Sophie remained confined in the estate.
Everyone said she couldn’t tolerate Blake taking a concubine, and was jealous and disrespectful to her in, -laws. They said Blake could have divorced her outright, but the king granted a divorce edict to Sophie out of respect for her family’s loyalty.
Still, it shouldn’t matter if people were saying these things. After all, Heather and Sophie’s mother, Melanie, were biological sisters.
When Melanie was still alive, her bond with Heather was strong and they were very close. When Heather had problems giving birth to Leona, Melanie called for Sebastian to save Heather and the child. Sophie had suffered so much with the Jaffe family, but her aunt hadn’t helped. Now, they insulted her by refusing her gift.
What had Sophie done to deserve this?
Despite his anger, Frederick didn’t forget his duties: He took the horse to the countryside villa outside the city, leaving the gifts there temporarily. He would retrieve them after Sophie had left to spare her feelings.
He bought another horse and some travel provisions, then stopped by Sebastian’s office to purchase medicines for colds, epidemics, and injuries.
Frederick didn’t say anything, but Sebastian saw the medicine he was buying and gave him several bottles. “Take these to your lady. She knows how to use them.”
Frederick tried to pay, but Sebastian glared at him. “Just take them.”
ederick bowed deeply. At this point, Sebastian was the only person out of the Devin family who was willing to help Sophie. Frederick made a mental note to remember this kindness.
When Frederick returned to Northwatch Estate, he saw a carriage woman who looked exhausted and distressed.
marked outside. Lily was talking to a
“Please, let me see Sophie! I have something important to ask of her,” the woman pleaded earnestly.
“Lady Devin has divorced Blake. Whatever matters you have don’t concern her. Ma’am, please leave and don’t cause a scene,” Lily said coldly.
“Please, Lily. My mother-in-law has fallen ill. I couldn’t get Sebastian, and I can’t buy Snowdrop Pills from the physician’s office. Everyone’s making things difficult for me, and I have no other option-” “Ma’am!” Lily interrupted her. “The general and his new wife are accomplished and capable. If they can’t solve a problem, it’s not something our lady should be troubled with. You know how well Lady Devin treated you before. I don’t expect you to remember her past kindness, but at least don’t create more trouble for her. She doesn’t need more rumors of being disrespectful.”
Amelia grabbed Lily’s hand, her face filled with desperation.
“Lily, I know Sophie was good to me. Please talk to her and ask her to help me one more time. I had nothing to do with the rumors! It wasn’t me who spread them…. I’ll be in trouble with my mother-in-law if don’t get Sebastian to treat her!”
Lily shook off her hand, and glanced at Frederick. “Mr. Carter, let’s go back inside.”The gates of the Northwatch Estate closed, leaving Amelia outside. Lily refused to comment on anything about the Jaffes.
Seeing Frederick looking troubled, she asked, “Mr. Carter, what’s the matter?”
Frederick handed the reins to the stableman and stretched his left leg, which had started to ache from all the riding.
“Lady Heather refused the gift our lady sent to the princess,” he said quietly, not wanting others to overhear.
Lily was shocked. “Princess Leona and our lady’s mother were sisters and very close. Why would she… I understand.”
Even though the king had granted the title of Duke, Sophie’s return to her family after the divorce, along with all the nasty rumors, had severed their kinship.
With Sophie’s mother gone, her familial ties weakened,
In the eyes of the noble families, they believed Sophie was merely living under the protection of her father and brothers and had received special treatment from the king.
Consequently, no one respected her.