Chapter 143

Aurora froze, then snapped, “Who said that? Who said I was defiled?”

“Just answer the question,” Rebecca said, her face darkening with anger. “Word has spread throughout the town. Who needs to ask? Everyone is talking about it!”

Aurora hadn’t expected news of the Southern Frontier events to reach the capital. Her mind went blank.

She raised her voice defensively. “I wasn’t defiled. Yes, I was captured, but I only endured physical suffering. My purity remains intact.”

Jonathan interjected, “Then you should find someone to vouch for you. Weren’t there others with you when you were captured? They can testify.”

Aurora’s frustration grew as she thought about her cousin and the other soldiers. Barrett had questioned them, but they all claimed ignorance. They had all been locked up together in the wooden hut, so how could they not know? Their claims of ignorance led Barrett and everyone else to believe Aurora had been defiled.

Unable to find anyone to prove her innocence, she coldly replied to her father-in-law, “There’s no need to prove one’s innocence to others. People can say whatever they want. I don’t care.”

“You may not care, but we do,” Rebecca retorted, her face flushed with indignation. “We’re the ones who face scorn and ridicule every day. We’ve become a laughingstock in the capital. We allowed you to marry into our family hoping you would bring us honor, not disgrace.”

Rebecca was seething with regret, feeling as if she were in turmoil. With Aurora’s great achievements at Victory Pass, Rebecca had been expecting a bright future. Instead, the disaster at the Southern Frontier had dragged the Warren family into the abyss.

Rebecca still had her young son and daughter to marry off. Bryan and Serena were of marriageable age, but their mother had been delaying arrangements for their respective marriages, hoping to find more prestigious matches after Barrett and Aurora gained achievements at the Southern Frontier. Now, with this scandal, who would want to align with the Warren family? Furthermore, Barrett and Aurora’s names weren’t even on the list of military achievements!

Aurora had already endured countless whispers on the battlefield. Coming home to face criticism from her mother-in-law and father-in-law was the last straw. Her pent-up anger erupted.

“When I married into this family, you were overjoyed and eager to get rid of Carissa. Now, I’ve faced defeat and capture at the Southern Frontier. Do you think I wanted this? You don’t care about the suffering I endured or the injuries I sustained. You’re only focusing on blaming me. Even when I say I haven’t been defiled, you don’t believe me. Is this what family is like? If I had known you were so hypocritical, I wouldn’t have entered your home, no matter what!”

Having said that, Aurora stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Rebecca clutched her chest, stunned by her daughter-in-law’s audacity. “She… she still thinks she’s in the right?!”

Jonathan sighed. “It’s done now. Let’s wait until Barrett returns. Although his name isn’t on the list of achievements, he was still invited to the palace for the celebration. That suggests he must have acted bravely.” (The following text is largely unintelligible and appears to be a mix of mistranslations and typos. I have omitted it.)

Jonathan gave his wife a look. “Remember Carissa, who had issues with you back then? I thought Carissa was quite good. At least during her year here, she served you diligently. She also spent her money without hesitation, buying a lot of jewelry and clothing for you and Serena. Those brocade garments you have—she’s the one who got them for you.”

Rebecca shot him a cold glance. “Why didn’t you say anything back then? What good does it do to bring it up now?”

Jonathan sat down and patted her back gently. “You’re being silly. The king’s edict was for Aurora to be Barrett’s secondary wife, not the principal one. Although Barrett and Carissa are divorced, she must still have feelings for him. Otherwise, why would she have married him in the first place? Besides, Carissa’s late mother chose Barrett, and Carissa was very respectful towards her mother’s wishes. If we could bring up her mother’s memory and persuade her, there’s a chance she might reconcile with Barrett.”