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Tara followed, stepping up onto the footboard with a heavy heart.
After returning to Valor Estate, Tara accurately conveyed the message from Arcane Sanctum’s shop assistant-Amelia had to come in person to buy the medicine. Otherwise, they would need to find a heart patient who required Snowdrop Pills.
There were indeed people in the capital who needed Showdrop Pills, but they wouldn’t be willing to help a cruel mother??n??aw who had driven her daughter??n??aw to death. Anyone who got involved would be subjected to the same scorn.
The Jaffe family was currently being criticized harshly. Even the Hell Monarch’s proposal to open an embroidery workshop for women cast out of their homes wasn’t enough to divert the public’s anger.
Most of the criticisms directed at the Hell Monarch came from men, but the outrage against Valor Estate and Rebecca was a national phenomenon. It was on a completely different scale. People would occasionally debate the Hell Monarch’s actions, but the insults aimed at the Jaffe family and Rebecca were pure and unfiltered curses.
It got worse when news broke that Rebecca needed Snowdrop Pills, but Arcane Sanctum would only sell them to Amelia. The townsfolk erupted in talks of karma. Servants who overheard dared not report back. for fear that Rebecca would fly into a rage, and they simply left.
After listening to Tara’s report, Rebecca remained silent for a long time. Zoey wondered if the older woman felt any regret at that moment, and suspected she did. Someone like her would only understand regret when their own life was in jeopardy.
Unfortunately, regret was the most useless emotion. It often came too late to change anything.
Zoey had said she would stay at Valor Estate to offer some support, but aside from caring for Viola, she merely watched coldly from the sidelines. She wasn’t a compassionate person, and only sought to act in a way that was true to her conscience.
She knew she could buy Snowdrop Pills through Sophie. But if she did, Amelia would never forgive Zoey- even in death.
Meanwhile, Blake took decisive action and prepared to sell off several servants. The Jaffe family was on the brink of collapse. His eldest brother had lost his position, the second branch of their family had split off, and it was uncertain when Blake himself would be reinstated.
The only option left was to cut back wherever possible.
Typically, noble families avoided selling off their servants. There were always unsavory secrets lurking. within the estate. It was one thing if the servants were sold to a good household, but if they ended up with a cruel family, they would surely harbor resentment and spill all the dirty secrets when they could.
So, noble families were usually cautious about such actions.
But what secrets did the Jaffe family still have that weren’t already known?
Blake no longer cared. The vilest curses were already on the lips of the townsfolk every day. What more could he fear?
He had never understood Amelia until he truly took over her position. Now, he finally grasped the weight of her burdens.
Blake’s feelings for Viola were now complicated. His heart ached for the loss of their child, but he was also angry at his wife’s quarrels with Amelia. He wanted to ask about the miscarriage, but bringing it up would likely hurt her more, so he kept his mouth shut.
Rebecca’s health continued to deteriorate. The physician said it was impossible for her to last until the New Year.
It was just a matter of time.
Blake sent someone to summon Serena back to see their mother, but she didn’t return. She hadn’t come back when Amelia died to avoid any bad omens. Now that everyone outside was cursing the Jaffe family, Serena didn’t want to wade through that mess.
Apart from Tara, there was almost no one left by Rebecca’s side.
Death and despair were like a tightening noose, locking her heart in the grip of panic over her own mortality.
On Midwinter’s Dawn, a traditional holiday marking the shortest day and longest night of the year, there was no family meal to celebrate together.
Rebecca, who could barely rise from her sickbed, held Tara’s hand and cried. “Go to Hell Monarch Estate and fetch Sophie. I have something to tell her.”
Tara sighed. “Lady Sophie won’t come, Madam Rebecca.”
“You tell her I was wrong… Rebecca’s eyes were glazed over, her sunken cheeks making her look even more bitter. “I was wrong.”
Tara sat on the edge of the bed, wiping her tears.
“What good does it do to realize your mistakes now? When Lady Sophie was in the family, you had a luxurious life. You had everything??ewels, silks, and satin. Sebastian even came to your door personally.
Your condition was already critical back then. If it hadn’t been for Lady Sophie calling for Sebastian, you would have been gone long ago.”
“Tell her… I was wrong. I admit my mistakes. I want her to call…” Rebecca took a deep breath. “Call for Sebastian.”
Tara looked at Rebecca. Despite having spent most of her life by the latter’s side, she felt an Icy wave of disappointment wash over her at that moment. Tara had hoped Rebecca truly understood her errors, but it seemed she only recognized that Sophie was her last hope for survival.
“I won’t go,” Tara said softly.
Rebecca’s eyes widened in shock. “You…. you’re just going to watch me die? How cruel of you!”
Rebecca gasped for air, the sound of her struggle echoing in the dim room. She felt like a candle burning at both ends, waiting for death to claim her.
Yet, she had no reliable ally??o one was willing to help her.
As for Sophie and Rafael, they made no response to the scorn directed at them from outside.
Let everyone vent their frustrations for now.
At the second morning court session, the motion failed to pass.
During the third morning court session, the number of critics had increased. It seemed the court officials were discussing this matter in private and had banded together to oppose Rafael.
This time, the prince merely said, “Only a husband who mistreats his wife and is cruel to his family would oppose this proposal. I wonder if any of you here fall into that category?”
After a moment of silence, voices of dissent rose in response.
“How shallow of you to view the issue this way! This goes against the principles of propriety! Such arrogance from His Highness shows he has no regard for our ancestors’ teachings.”
“You’re avoiding the crux of my question,” Rafael replied coldly.
“Once a woman marries, she leaves her family to join her husband. Being divorced and kicked out of the family is shameful. If such a thing brings no disgrace and someone takes her in, it could lead them to dangerous thoughts. That could damage one’s family honor and ultimately cause chaos in the world,” another official retorted.
Finally, Davis stood up and asked, “What about women who are accepted back by their families after being divorced by their husbands? How is that different from being given refuge by someone else?”
Immediate rebuttals followed.
“It’s not the same! Even if they return to their families, they’ll be looked down upon and life will be hard for them. That’s why they weigh their options carefully.”
“How can you say it’s the same, Mr. Lloyd? Are you even a man?”
“Of course I’m a man!” Davis replied. “But while men can act recklessly taking multiple wives, passing on their lineage, and relying on their wives to care for them even when they’re afflicted with illness-there’s no chaos in the world. So, why is it that when a woman is cast off and finds a place to be sheltered, it somehow leads to disorder?
Why are you so afraid of giving women another chance at life? No one wants to take that step unless they have no choice. Do you all wish to force them into such a position? If not, then what is it that frightens you?”
Davis had remained silent until then, but once he spoke, he did so with purpose, having been instructed by his family to lend unwavering support to Rafael.