Chapter 385

+25 BONUS

"She's ill, so she moved to Verdant Monastery," Carissa replied. "She wanted peace and quiet to recover, and the monastery has the Lord's blessing."

Kiera was puzzled. "But if she's sick, shouldn't she stay at Horizon Estate? At least there, if anything happens, the household can be notified immediately." Even Kiera understood this logic; how could Yuvan not know?

Carissa was concerned. Yuvan's fief was in Valken, not far from both Verdant Monastery and the capital. If recuperation was the goal, wouldn't it have been better to bring Avis back to the capital? After all, the royal family was there, along with royal physicians and Sebastian to oversee her care. Now that Avis was at Verdant Monastery, Sebastian had sent two apprentices, Jasmine and Ivy, to care for her. But still, without family, it must be lonely.

"I'll find out more once I get there. In the meantime, Mother, please keep an eye on Ryan for me," Carissa said.

"Of course, leave it to me," Helen agreed, patting her chest reassuringly, clearly eager to help. Helen's response stunned Kiera, who had been preoccupied with snacks and unaware of events at the estate.

As soon as Carissa left, Kiera quietly asked, "Mom, weren't you at odds with my sister-in-law? How did you become so close?"

Helen sighed. "Your sister-in-law is a pitiful person. Ryan is all she has left. As her mother-in-law, I shouldn't make things harder for her. I ought to treat her like my own daughter."

Kiera found this odd.

"But back when we were in the palace, you didn't say that. When I tried to advise you, you wouldn't listen."

"Who said I didn't listen? I listened, and that's why I'm treating her well now."

Seeing her mother's slightly guilty expression, Kiera decided not to press further. As long as her mother treated her sister-in-law well, that was all that mattered.

When Carissa set out, she didn't bring many people. Travis drove the carriage, while she and Violet sat inside. Even Lulu was left behind.

It was then that Violet shared the information Skywing Spire had uncovered. "Your aunt was sent to Verdant Monastery to recuperate not because she wanted to, but because it was orchestrated by Lady Fiona Judd, Prince Yuvan's secondary concubine.

"Worse, your aunt's two daughters have completely disregarded their mother's well-being, treating Lady Fiona as their own birth mother. Such ungrateful behavior is infuriating! If your aunt is disappointed in them, then I'll definitely have to teach them a lesson," Violet said, her voice laced with contempt.

Carissa had suspected Fiona's involvement, but hearing that her cousins were complicit chilled her.

She pressed on, "And what is Yuvan's stance on this?"

Violet let out a cold laugh. "Men Do you really expect a man to cherish his wife from humble beginnings? Your aunt never bore him a son. The son under her care is actually from a concubine who passed away. She raised him as her own, even hiring the best tutors in Valken for him.

"But after your aunt fell ill, Lady Fiona took control of everything. Though the boy has the status of a legitimate son, in reality, he's the child of a concubine. Lady Fiona would never allow him to outshine her own sons. She dismissed his tutor and arranged for him to take a minor position as a chief constable at Valken's local authorities office."

Carissa frowned. "He's a scholar, untrained in combat. How can he possibly serve as a chief constable? And he has royal status. Even if he was born of a concubine, he's still registered under my aunt's lineage."

"Who doesn't know all that?" Violet scoffed. "Lady Fiona's family is powerful in Valken, while your aunt's family has lost its influence. Her relatives in official positions haven't achieved much.

"Ultimately, she's an aging woman with faded beauty, lacks support from her family, and has no legitimate sons. With poor health and a disloyal husband, it's no wonder she's become a victim of others' schemes."

Yuvan's favoritism towards his concubine and neglect of his wife were well-known in Valken, and likely no secret in the capital either.

Carissa recalled that when she returned from Meadow Ridge, Avis had been in the capital for treatment. Melanie had even asked Sebastian to attend to her. When Avis returned to Valken, Sebastian had sent some apprentices to accompany her.

Even then, Avis had seemed burdened with worries. However, she never revealed anything when asked. She insisted that aside from her declining health, everything was fine in Valken.