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Blake replied coldly, “You relied on the king’s ediet for our marriage. If I divorce you it would be disobeying the king’s order. If I don’t, we’ll just keep enduring this, dragging each other down until one of us dies. No one will come out unscathed. Didn’t you look down on women in the inner quarters? Why don’t you just stay here for the rest of your life?”
Freya threw pillows and blankets at him. “Get out! Go to Sophie since you love her so much!”
Unwilling to spare her another glance, Blake turned to leave. As he exited Grace Mansion, he saw Viola outside. Her face pale with distress, she looked at him with eyes that were swollen from crying. Her lips trembled as she asked, “So, the one you love most is actually Lady Sophie? What does that make me?”
Blake looked at Viola, his heart heavy as he recalled her two deceased maids.
“I’m sorry about Julia and Yvonne. It’s my fault, I couldn’t protect them.”
Viola clenched her fists and demanded, “Tell me, what is my place in your heart? Don’t change the subject.”
Leaning against a nearby tree, Blake took a deep breath to steady himself and tried to calm the anger that had flared up.
He spoke softly, “I’m not changing the subject. I just… deeply regret and mourn their deaths. As for your place in my heart, it is naturally that of a primary wife.”
“Just that?” Viola pressed, tears welling up in her swollen eyes. “Do you feel no affection for me? Don’t you have any feelings for me at all?”
Blake was momentarily stunned by the question.
He looked at Viola and opened his mouth, intending to explain that their marriage had been arranged by Natalie with the king’s blessing, and that it was simply a union of families. As long as they treated each other with respect, that was enough.
But seeing the tears welling up in Viola’s eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to say it. He had never expected her to ask about his feelings.
Seeing him unable to speak, Viola understood everything and smiled bitterly. “So, there’s no affection, only the duties of a married couple.”
Blake’s gaze was troubled. “As your husband, it is my duty to respect and protect you…”
“The assassins killed Julia and Yvonne. When they came for me, you fought desperately to protect me was it only out of duty?” Viola took a step back, the heartbreak clear in her eyes. “Just duty?”
“I… you are my wife, so it’s only natural for me to protect you,” Blake said, feeling guilty as he thought of how he had once treated Sophie.
Utterly disappointed, Viola wiped away her tears and said, “Since I entered your family, I’ve managed the household, served your mother, put up with your sister, and even endured your vile and venomous other wife, and now you tell me you don’t love me at all? Why did I sacrifice so much for you?”
Blake didn’t know how to respond to her question. He just stared at her blankly for a long while before asking, “What do you want me to do?”
“What do I want you to do? Are you really asking me that?” Viola laughed through her tears, her composure completely gone. “Your salary, combined with your father’s and older brother’s, can’t even cover the expenses of your family.
“How long can your reward of a hundred gold coins last? I’ve already been using my dowry to supplement the household, and now you ask me what you should do? All I ask is for a bit of sincerity. Are you really so clueless, or do you just not care? Or is your heart entirely with Lady Sophie?”
Blake opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a word. He couldn’t bear to hurt Viola, yet he couldn’t bring himself to say he had feelings for her.
Finally, he said, “From now on, don’t use your own money to support the residence I work hard to earn more. Make sure Julia and Yvonne’s families are well taken care of. there isn’t enough money in the household, I’ll borrow from elsewhere.”
With that, he stumbled away, enduring the pain from his injuries.
Viola broke down in tears. She had spoken openly, and he should at least have given some response, even if only to spare her feelings. Yet it seemed his heart was entirely with Sophie.
–
At that moment, Sophie was in the royal study.
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
Sophie knelt on one knee, offering a respectful salute with her fist over her heart. Given her official position, she was required to pay her respects as a subject whilst in a formal setting like the royal study.
“Rise!” Salvador smiled at her. “Have a seat.”
“Your Majesty, I can’t do that,” Sophie replied, shaking her head.
“Please, sit. Besides Derek, there is no one else here.” Salvador waved his hand at a servant. “Have some coffee brought in.”
Sophie inclined her head respectfully. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
After the coffee was served, Sophie took a sip and set it aside, waiting for Salvador to speak.
He made some casual conversation and inquired about Helen’s well-being before getting to the point.
“I heard that a few days ago, Valor Estate was attacked, and you went to their aid. Were you injured?” he asked.
Sophie understood she had been summoned because of that matter, so she answered respectfully, “I wasn’t injured, Your Majesty. Thank you for your concern.” Salvador nodded. “That’s good.”
He took a few sips of his coffee, then set down the cup and continued to look at Sophie with sharp eyes.
“By the way, how did you learn about the attack on Valor Estate that night? It couldn’t have been a coincidence that you were passing by with your Rose Spear, could it?” His gaze was sharp and intense as he studied Sophie’s expression.
Sophie knew that going out at night with a weapon and being aware of a potential attack on the Jaffe family would undoubtedly raise Salvador’s suspicions. Although she was the deputy commander of the Mystic Army, her position was largely ceremonial, and it was not appropriate to carry weapons at night or to know the whereabouts of assassins.
Salvador would suspect her, and by extension, Rafael, of having a network of spies.
Sophie looked up and spoke directly, “Your Majesty, as you’re aware, my family was massacred by spies. Since Ryan was found, I have been worried day and night about his safety. So, I asked my guild senior to assign a few people to keep an eye on suspicious individuals who enter the capital.
“A few days ago, we discovered that some suspicious individuals with strong martial arts skills had checked into Prestige Lodge. They didn’t leave their rooms. It was as if they were plotting something. I was concerned they might be targeting Ryan, so I had people keep them under close surveillance.
“Sure enough, that night, they dressed in dark clothing and jumped out of a window on the second floor of Prestige Lodge. But instead of heading to Hell Monarch Estate, we discovered that they seemed to be heading towards Sparrow Street.
“Since the prime minister and royal chancellor’s residences are in that area, I feared they might attempt an assassination on high-ranking officials. I immediately followed them, only to find they were not going to Sparrow Street, but heading straight for Valor Estate.” Salvador listened to her explanation with a smile, but his eyes remained sharp.
“Given your past grievances with the Jaffe family, why were you still willing to come to their aid?” he asked.
“Ultimately, it was a matter of human life. Also, I hold no deep-seated grudge against the Jaffe family. Moreover, as deputy commander of the Mystic Army, it is impossible for me to stand by and watch without intervening.”
Salvador nodded slightly. “Your explanation is reasonable. However, did you know the assassins were targeting Freya?”
“At the time, I didn’t know. After I severed the assassins’ tendons, Mr. Gregory tied them up. Since Mr. Brown had arrived with the Capital Guards by then, I left shortly after,” Sophie replied.
Salvador sighed slowly. “I see. It’s a pity the assassins were killed, so we can’t find out who was behind them. From your encounter with them, did you discern any leads?”
Sophie thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I couldn’t tell which guild they were from. The people I know are from reputable guilds and rarely use such ruthless sword techniques.” Salvador furrowed his brow. “How many blows did you exchange with them?”
Sophie hesitated, then replied, “I lost count, but it was probably around twenty or thirty moves.”
She didn’t want to mention how quickly she had subdued the assassins, but it was likely that the Royal Citadel had already investigated. The matter could not be hidden, so she could only tell the truth.