Chapter 1204
As the year ended, the common folk bustled with New Year preparations. This activity, however, fueled gossip, and rumors about Rosalind spread rapidly. Victoria's commendation had little effect; whispers suggested a hidden narrative behind Rosalind's predicament. This interpretation gained momentum, as if deliberately promoted.
Even a Hell Monarch Estate representative spoke, along with academy witnesses who attested to Rosalind's attempt to protect students, resulting in accidental contact with the assailant. The public, however, craved scandal, delighting in the downfall of the powerful.
The more illustrious Rosalind's reputation had been—her beauty, lineage, and talents—the more vicious the slander became. Old gossip resurfaced, embellished and distorted. Some claimed she was aloof and arrogant, citing the incident at Eleanor's banquet where she allegedly misidentified a painting, insisting it was by Kyle when it was not. Trevor, doting on his granddaughter, supported her mistake. Those present knew Kyle's insignia was absent, suppressing their laughter out of respect.
Further accusations claimed her poems and artwork were plagiarized, part of Trevor's plan to marry her to the Hell Monarch. Her hopes were dashed; Rafael preferred a divorced woman. She then sought the Farrell family's eleventh son, Thomas, but he rejected her.
These rumors spread relentlessly. Despite Rosalind's confinement and Trevor's orders, people gathered outside the estate gates, eager for the spectacle. When servants attempted to disperse them, someone dramatically fell, accusing the Chancellor's household of bullying. Unable to completely remove the crowd, the situation worsened.
Trevor's wife, Mildred, already in poor health, fell ill. Sebastian arrived at Highstone Estate with his medicine box. Seeing the gossiping crowd, he lost his temper. He slammed his box, grabbed a storyteller by the collar, and delivered a sharp slap.
Sebastian rarely struck anyone, especially not with a slap. His perfectionism led his hand, even in anger, to instinctively target the offender's lips with unnerving accuracy. The storyteller's lips split, blood staining Sebastian's emerald ring. Miraculously, his teeth remained intact, a testament to his "iron jaws."
Stunned, the storyteller's cries were stifled by pain. He hesitated upon seeing Sebastian, the renowned physician. Several allies stepped forward, but Sebastian produced a small bottle of poison.
"Come," he said. "Let's see who's brave enough to test my latest poison."
The acrid stench and mention of poison created immediate panic. The onlookers recoiled, their bravado vanishing. With Sebastian's reputation, none dared offend him.
The crowd dispersed, the storyteller's allies carrying him away, pale and trembling. The Young family members thanked Sebastian profusely.
Sebastian turned to Trevor: "You care about reputation and appearances, but I don't. Lady Carissa asked me to come. She made the right choice." Indeed, Carissa had summoned him. In the capital, no one held the influence Sebastian commanded across all societal levels. The aristocracy revered him, martial artists respected him, and all bowed to him—a legendary physician, a lifesaver, a miracle worker.