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When Sylvia moved to her new residence, all the concubines sent gifts. The royal relatives, upon hearing the news, hurried to send their congratulations as well.
As for what to send, other households usually left the decision to the lady of the house. But at Hell Monarch Estate, the ones in charge were Jacob and Luke.
They searched through the storerooms, but nothing seemed quite right. Either the items were too expensive, or they were just simple gold, silver, or jewels. Even the golden vases seemed too small and trivial.
As for the larger items, such as coral trees or folding screens, Jacob wasn’t inclined to part with them. The coral tree, in particular, was rare. The one in the estate had been a wedding gift from the Pathfinders Guild when Sophie married.
In the end, their eyes landed on the most abundant item in the storeroom-Kyle’s orchid paintings.
This would certainly make a strong impression-expensive and elegant, yet not unique to the estate. If it wasn’t enough, snow would soon fall, and the orchids would bloom. So, they could just have Kylie paint more.
However, out of respect for Kyle, they first sought his approval. Kyle saw no problem with it. After all, they had plenty of those paintings. His muscle memory with each brushstroke over the years meant that a new painting could be completed in just a couple of hours.
Upon returning in the evening and hearing this, Sophie was a little reluctant to part with it. But since it was for Sylvia and would remain in the palace, Sophie knew it wouldn’t be sold off. And knowing that Sylvia would likely appreciate Kyle’s art, she decided to go ahead and send it.
She personally delivered it to the palace. Tranquil Palace was bustling with activity now, with ladies from all over waiting their turn to be seen.
After a short wait, it seemed someone had informed Sylvia. Citing her busy schedule, Sylvia graciously invited Sophie in.
No one had objections after all, when the rebel forces had caused chaos in the capital, it was Sophie who had led the Mystic Army to victory, ensuring the stability and prosperity of their lives.
After a proper greeting, Sophie presented the painting.
At first, Sylvia didn’t pay it much attention, assuming it was another typical gift. But when she saw Kyle’s signature, she paused for a moment, then eagerly asked, “Is this one of Mr. Spencer’s orchid paintings?” Sophie nodded with a smile. “Yes, it’s a piece by my senior guild member. I hope you like it, Your Grace.” “Quickly, send someone to call His Majesty to see this!” Sylvia was thrilled, smiling at Sophie. “Why would I dislike it? I would never! This is a treasure. Please have a seat, Your Grace.”
Sylvia’s mother, Gladys, was also present. Sophie took a seat beside her, exchanging a few pleasantries.
As the joy of the palace relocation filled the air, compliments flowed freely. Sophie also praised the beauty of the palace, and she had made up her mind to be more diplomatic today.
Sylvia instructed the palace attendants to show them around. It so happened that the peonies were in full bloom, and they all went together to admire the flowers.
Sophie went along with them. Shewas conversing with Gladys and was suddenly startled when someone collided with her. She instinctively reached out to steady the person before they could fall.
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The woman, clearly startled, pressed her hand to her chest and quickly thanked Sophie. “Thank you for your assistance, Your Grace. I would have fallen without it, and that would be embarrassing for a concubine like me
Sophie noted that the woman was beautiful. She was dressed in palace attire and wearing a white, silver-edged cape in the cool breeze. She seemed delicate and familiar, though Sophie couldn’t place her at first.
When the woman referred to herself as a concubine, Sophie deduced she must be a member of the harem. She nodded and politely said, “It was nothing, Your Grace. No need to thank me.”
The woman, who was none other than Jeanette, blinked and said, “Do you not remember me, Your Grace?”
Sophie studied her for a moment before recognition dawned, and she quickly said, “Lady Jeanette, my apologies for not recognizing you at once.”
Jeanette’s face lit up with admiration. “Your Grace, I have long admired you. It is truly an honor to see you again today.”
Sophie smiled. “You flatter me, Your Grace.”
Upon realizing Jeanette’s identity, Gladys immediately curtsied. “Greetings, Lady Jeanette.”
Jeanette returned the gesture with a modest half-bow. “There is no need for such formality, Mrs. Lloyd. Why don’t we enjoy the flowers together?”
Gladys exchanged a glance with Sophie. Seeing that Sophie had no objection, she smiled and offered, “Dare I ask you to join us, Your Grace?”
Jeanette returned the smile, her voice soft and sweet. “It would be my utmost pleasure.”
The garden at Tranquil Palace wasn’t small, but it couldn’t be compared to the royal garden.
If one took their time strolling along, admiring the flowers, or stood still to enjoy the view for a while, one could easily spend a good portion of the afternoon.
But Sophie was accustomed to walking briskly. Flowers didn’t require her lingering attention-she could glance at them and move on, seeing little difference between one bloom and the next.
She had seen fields upon fields of flowers, all of which had left a lasting impression on her. These meticulously tended peonies in their pots, though, hardly stirred any great interest.
By the time they finished their walk, some of the other ladies hadn’t even finished their coffee. Just as Jeanette began to speak of Skye Embroidery, they found themselves back at the main hall of Tranquil Palace.
Jeanette forced a smile. “Shall we go inside and congratulate Lady Sylvia?”
Sophie shook her head. “I have matters to attend to, so I’ll have to excuse myself.”
“Your Grace.” Jeanette’s voice was hurried, and she quickly called after her.
Sophie turned. “Is there something you need, Lady Jeanette?”
Jeanette quickly masked her urgency with a smile. “No, nothing at all. I only wanted to thank you, on behalf of all women, Your Grace. Your kindness and generosity, your concern for the suffering of the people, are truly humbling to those of us here in the palace.”
Sophie was left somewhat puzzled. What did she mean by “concern for the suffering of the people”? She certainly wasn’t as noble as Jeanette seemed to imply.
Furthermore, while Jeanette may have felt humbled, what was with the “us” she referred to? Was she speaking of the other concubines in the palace?
Was this a genuine gesture of gratitude, or an attempt to stir resentment? To praise Sophie and, at the same time, subtly undermine the other concubines was that an act of foolishness, or something more calculated?
Gladys’ expression grew tense as she quickly glanced around. Sure enough, she noticed several pairs of eyes trained on them, each gaze filled with varying degrees of curiosity and judgment.
“Your Grace, I was just about to return home as well. Shall we leave together?” Gladys said quickly, trying to divert the attention away from the uncomfortable situation.
Sophie nodded. “Very well. I’ll bid farewell to Lady Sylvia.”
The two women entered the room together and left together, deliberately avoiding another glance at Jeanette as they made their exit.
On the way out of the palace, Gladys remarked, “Lady Jeanette was once quite favored by His Majesty. He showered her with affection for a time. But lately, he has been too preoccupied with state matters to visit the harem.
“She probably thinks she has fallen out of favor, hence her odd behavior today. Don’t take it to heart, Your Grace. I’m sure the other ladies understand as well and won’t be swayed by her words.”
Sophie gave a small nod. “I didn’t take it to heart. I just don’t understand her intentions.”
She had no animosity toward Jeanette. Yet today, the woman kept approaching her first to admire the flowers, then with compliments. Then just before Sophie left, Jeanette made that sarcastic remark. It was very confusing.
The other concubines would likely find Jeanette’s words strange, perhaps even a bit unsettling. However, it was unlikely to cause any significant discord. What would truly spark a conflict between Kylie and Sylvia was that Sylvia had paid attention to Skye Embroidery and Gracewood Women’s Academy, while Kylie had stayed out of it and even criticized it.
However, Sophie didn’t know much about the palace’s complicated matters. She just analyzed it on the surface. After leaving the palace, she forgot about it and considered it a small incident that didn’t need to be remembered.