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“Yes, I’m here to keep my grandmother company.” Randall felt uncomfortable under Sophie’s gaze, so he couldn’t meet her eyes.
Sophie ignored him and stepped forward to offer her greetings to Ruth.
Ruth was lying in bed, supported by two soft embroidered pillows. Her face was a sickly yellow, her eyes sunken. Her hair was unkempt and hung loosely, streaks of white strands scattered around her face-a result of staying in bed for so long. She looked at Sophie, coughed once, then said in a slow, feeble voice, “Your Grace, please sit. There’s no need for formalities.”
Her speech was labored and barely audible.
A palace maid brought a chair and placed it by the bed. Oscar gestured to it. “Your Grace, please sit closer. Lady Ruth is weak, and her voice is faint. It will be easier to hear if you’re closer.”
Sophie thanked Ruth and sat down, then asked softly, “Are you feeling any better, Your Grace?”
Ruth sighed. “I suppose it’s no use hoping for improvement.”
She applied a bit of lip balm to her dry lips, but instead of improving her complexion, it only made her already pale face look even more lifeless.
Sophie offered a gentle reassurance, “If you take proper care of yourself, you’ll improve.”
The warmth from the charcoal in the room was nearly too much for Sophie. Despite the comfortable heat, there was no sign of smoke, which showed the quality of the charcoal being used. Salvador didn’t treat Ruth poorly despite her being Yuvan’s mom.
“Your Grace, I asked for you to come because I wish to offer an apology on behalf of Eleanor. She committed many wrongs toward your family, things that even I found appalling when I heard about them. I’m sorry, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive her.” Sophie lowered her eyes. “When someone dies, it’s as if a light is extinguished. Whether or not one forgives, it no longer matters. There’s no need for you to carry this burden, Your Grace. You should focus on resting and regaining your strength.”
“It matters,” Ruth replied with deep sorrow in her voice, tears welling up in her eyes. “Forgiveness is what clears her karmic debt so that in the next life, she can suffer less. In this life, she didn’t find peace. But in the next, I hope she can marry a good man and live a peaceful life.”
“Your Grace, the mistakes she made in this life weren’t due to a bad marriage, nor are they connected to it at all,” Sophie said, her voice calm but firm. “Yes, I know. She was wrong in so many ways. But as you said, when someone passes, their light is gone. There’s no point in holding onto hatred anymore.” “There’s no more hate,” Sophie replied softly, not wishing to dwell on the matter further.
Oscar approached to wipe away Ruth’s tears. After a moment, Ruth continued, her voice thick with grief.
“And then there’s my daughter-in-law. That poor woman! She endured so much suffering and torment, especially when she ended up in Verdant Monastery. To think she passed away without children to care for her-what a tragic end! Every time I think of it, it feels like a Knife through my heart. But what can I do? I couldn’t intervene, couldn’t speak out, and couldn’t help. I hope you won’t think poorly of me, Your Grace.”
Though Sophie showed no sign of displeasure on her face, she couldn’t help but feel a touch of irritation in her heart.
How could Ruth not intervene, not speak out, not help? Even if it wasn’t possible, had Ruth ever truly done anything to help?
It would’ve been better if Ruth didn’t know, but she did.
Avis had been sent to Verdant
Monastery without anyone to care for her. As a mother-in-law, Ruth could have sent someone to Valken to rebuke Yuvan and his family, or arrange for someone to care for Avis at the monastery. That would’ve at least shown some effort on her part.
“It’s not for me to hold any grievances or offer forgiveness for what happened to my aunt. I have no right to speak on her behalf,” Sophie said calmly.
“Randall, kneel!” Ruth’s voice suddenly rose as she addressed him.
“You have been disrespectful. Ask Lady Sophie for forgiveness! She is both your cousin-in-law and aunt-in-law. Only when she forgives you can you have any peace with your mom in the afterlife!”
Just as Randall moved to kneel, Sophie shot him a cold stare. “Go ahead. See if you dare kneel before me.”
The chilling command in her voice stopped Randall in his tracks. His bent knee straightened abruptly.
Sophie stood. “If there’s nothing else, I will take my leave, Your Grace.”
From behind, Ruth called out urgently, “Your Grace, no matter what happens in the future, please protect my grandchildren!”
Sophie halted and whirled around to face Ruth, and said coldly, “Lady Ruth, you have such a compassionate heart. It’s a pity my aunt never received such kindness from you. Since that’s the case, I don’t think your grandchildren need anyone’s pity or protection.” “Your Grace, they’re still your family-they’re your cousins! You have to look out for them!” Ruth cried.
“If they behave, why would they need someone to look out for them? Do you honestly think the royal family’s offspring will be reduced to beggars? You’re overthinking this, Your Grace. If you’re not, perhaps you should speak to your children and grandchildren-not me.” Without waiting for a response, Sophie turned and walked away.
Randall hurried after her, blocking her path. “Cousin!”
“Aunt Avis didn’t give birth to you,” Sophie snapped, her voice seething with contempt, “so don’t call me that.”
Among Yuvan’s three sons, Randall wasn’t the most despicable. However, Avis had raised him after his birth mother died, yet he hadn’t shown any devotion to her as a parent. When Avis was alive, Randall never respected her. Now, after her death, he cried and claimed to regret his actions.
How despicable!
“Your Grace, I just wanted to sincerely apologize. I didn’t mean anything by it,” Randall stammered, unable to meet her gaze.
“What’s the point of saying that to me?” Sophie shot him a cold look, her eyes full of disdain. “Say it to the one who raised you. Now, get out of my way.”
Randall’s eyes dimmed. “I know words won’t make a difference, but you know my position in my family. No one listens to me. I’m powerless to change anything.”
“That’s not an excuse you should be using,” Sophie snapped. “You are
Prince Yuvan’s eldest son. Even if no one listens to you, you have the power to protect your mom in secret. But you’re too afraid of angering your dad. You stood by and watched as the woman who raised you died alone and forsaken. You and your two sisters are worse than animals.”
If Sophie had been her old self, she would have beaten him up.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry for what happened to Mom!” Randall cried, tears streaking down his face.
Seeing him break down only infuriated Sophie further. It was pointless to get worked up over someone like him.
Sometimes, having a rebellious son was better than having one who was nothing but a useless lump. Look at him-abandoned in the capital to fend for himself, and he still couldn’t find a shred of resolve.
Her voice sharp, she snapped, “Why are you crying? If you’ve made a mistake, make it right! If you truly feel guilty for your mom, then stone clinging to some notion of father son affection. His Majesty kept you in the capital not just to serve as a hostage. Think about it and stand up for yourself!”
After saying that, she couldn’t help but kick him before walking away.
Randall stood frozen, Sophie’s words striking him like a bolt of lightning, illuminating every dark corner of his mind.
Without thinking, he blurted out, “Lunvale!”
Sophie stopped in her tracks, turning to face him. “Lunvale? What do you mean by that?”
Randall had acted on impulse and shouted, but he wasn’t mentally prepared to do anything else. When he met Sophie’s sharp gaze, he quickly backed down and became timid as usual. “I-It’s nothing,” he stammered. “I’m going back to take care of my grandmother.”
With that, he hurriedly turned and ran off.
That single word, “Lunvale”, sent Rafael and Sophie hurrying back to Hell Monarch Estate as soon as the banquet had ended.
In the council hall, a large map was spread out before them. Lunvale was located in Ebonflow. It was once the fiefdom of Lorenzo, Augustus’ brother. Generations later, it had become the domain of the Realm Defender.
The title of Realm Defender was just that-an honorary title with no military power behind it. The current Realm Defender was Tiberius Sanford. A Realm Defender usually received a salary from the court, but by this generation, the benefits had been significantly reduced. During previous investigations, Tiberius hadn’t been overlooked. Though Lunvale was still relatively prosperous, it was far removed from both Valken and Stonebridge County. Moving troops to Lunvale would take significant effort.