Chapter 203 +15 BONUS
Eleanor showed no mercy when she set out to entrap someone. She immediately ordered someone to fetch Sebastian.
Sebastian had already explained the situation, and the officials' wives had been present. However, he was more than willing to clarify again. Speaking from behind a partition screen, his voice was old and stern.
“Madam Warren suffers from a heart ailment and hemoptysis. This illness has persisted for many years and remains incurable. It can only be managed with Snowdrop Pills.
“Initially, I treated her out of consideration for Lady Sinclair. Since joining the Warren family, Lady Sinclair has tended to Madam Warren’s illness day and night for a year. The monthly cost of the Snowdrop Pills is considerable, and there’s no need to explain the source of the funds.
“However, Madam Warren was uncooperative. She constantly complained about the cost of the pills without understanding the precious herbs used to make them. If not for Lady Sinclair’s repeated pleas, I would have stopped visiting the Warrens long ago.
“A person’s reputation is as vital as a tree’s bark. After General Warren won a victory, he discarded the wife who had served his mother for a year. Then, taking advantage of the king’s marriage edict, the Warrens conspired to cast out Lady Sinclair to seize her dowry.
“Such family ethics and character are despicable to me, so I will not visit their estate to treat her. The only reason I still sell them medicine is because Madam Warren’s eldest daughter-in-law knelt for a long time in the snow outside my office. Out of respect for her devotion, I continued to provide the Snowdrop Pills. Why would I have done otherwise? The pills are already in short supply.
“Moreover, General Barrett marrying Lady Sinclair was him reaching above his station. Fortunately, he never touched her. They divorced, and she preserved her purity. Therefore, she can remarry without issue.”
Having finished, Sebastian left without bidding Eleanor farewell.
The focus of the gossip immediately shifted from Eleanor to Rebecca. Even if it hadn't, no one would dare gossip about Eleanor.
But what truly shocked everyone was that Barrett had never touched Carissa. Good heavens, how could he resist such a beauty? Many people had seen Aurora’s appearance, and now, hearing that she was disfigured and unpresentable made the situation even more surprising.
The Warrens had reaped what they had sown. They had a high-born daughter from the Duke of Northwatch’s family, yet they let her go because they thought she had no family backing. Little did they know that Carissa didn’t need her family’s support; she could earn military merits on her own.
“She must be regretting it now, huh? How could Aurora ever compare to Carissa?”
“If I were her, I’d be wishing for the ground to swallow me up.”
“Exactly! It’s like finding treasure but leaving empty-handed. Such character and behavior are truly unacceptable. I was considering arranging a marriage for my third son, who looks decent enough, but thankfully I hadn’t yet proposed.”
“Me too. I thought her daughter seemed quite proper and graceful, but now I wonder if it’s all just an act.” The murmurs reached Rebecca’s ears, making her so angry she nearly had a heart attack. Serena looked tearful and pitiful. But considering their family’s actions, no one dared to feel sympathy for them.
On the other hand, Carissa had shown remarkable composure and assertiveness today, standing her ground against Eleanor and even exposing her misdeeds without fear. Though it appeared reckless, upon closer reflection, she had left no room for Eleanor to retaliate. If even Eleanor couldn’t attack her directly, who knew what else Carissa might reveal? Moreover, her senior was Kyle. If he came from the Pathfinders Guild, then wasn’t she also clearly a member of the same guild? Besides Kyle, the Pathfinders Guild was rumored to house many other talented individuals.
Clearly, Carissa was not without strong backing.
With this realization, the gazes directed at Carissa became more meaningful. This potential marriage was indeed worthwhile. She was pure, beautiful, cultured, and capable. She could be graceful when needed and fierce when required—a perfect candidate for a noble wife.
Many people started contemplating marriage alliances with Carissa. Besides her personal merits, she was connected to the prestigious Pathfinders Guild.
Seeing this, Helen suddenly felt a sense of looming danger. She even forgot her dislike for Carissa and that the last thing she wanted was for Carissa to become her daughter-in-law.
Watching the other noblewomen eyeing Carissa, she blurted out, “The Warrens have indeed treated her unfairly. After Carissa marries into my family in the future, I will ensure she is well cared for!”