Chapter 409
It had been some time since anyone had paid attention to the affairs of the Warren family. With Barrett now having two wives, they could surely attend to Rebecca properly.
Helen remarked, “Yes, that’s true. After people argue, they often say hurtful things. No matter who comes, they’ll just keep insulting, using the most vicious words.” As she spoke, Helen shrank back slightly, clearly feeling guilty.
Violet smiled and said, “It sounds like there’s a story behind this.”
Helen smiled wryly. “Back when I quarreled with Dakota and lost, the late king came to console me. I was so upset that I almost caused a major disaster by directing my anger at him. Fortunately, my sister came to the rescue, or I would have likely ended up in a secluded residence far from the main palace, weaving spiderwebs.”
Carissa and Violet exchanged amused glances. Helen did sometimes speak without regard for the occasion. Victoria, who had doted on Helen, only offered criticism now that Helen was a mother-in-law. Helen had stayed in the palace with Victoria for several days during the New Year. It must have been because Victoria had given her lessons on how to be a proper mother-in-law.
In any case, since returning from the palace, Helen had been even kinder to Carissa than before.
A few days later, news spread that Aurora had called Mary an “old beggar.” The entire high society was shocked. Or rather, the entire city was shocked.
Despite the capital's rapid recovery from the frost rain disaster, many disaster-stricken citizens had received cotton clothing and food from Mary. Moreover, Mary had been doing good deeds for decades, and even the late king had granted her a medal, recognizing her family as a house of accumulated virtue.
Had a common person insulted Mary, the outrage would not have been so intense. However, it was Aurora, from the notoriously disreputable Warren family, who had done the insulting, sparking public anger.
In no time, people were throwing rotten vegetables and stinking eggs at Valor Estate’s walls. Some even went so far as to pour foul-smelling liquids in front of their gates in the dead of night—and it wasn’t just one bucket. This led to complaints from other residences in the same alley. Valor Estate stood at the beginning of the alley, and a wall was at the end. Therefore, to leave or enter their homes, people had to pass by the Warren family’s residence.
Some people, unable to distinguish the right door, ended up throwing their refuse at the neighboring two houses instead. This escalated into a confrontation between the Warren family and their neighbors. The confrontation quickly escalated, with the neighbors proving no match for Aurora. As a result, three people ended up with fractures and one with a broken leg.
The domestic issues also affected Barrett’s performance in his duties, leading to repeated mistakes and several reprimands from Michael, who reported directly to Rafael. The Oversight Department, responsible for overseeing and inspecting government officials, was overwhelmed with the Warren family’s affairs. For several days, the department continuously submitted reports about Barrett, his father Jonathan, and his elder brother Benjamin.
Salvador, who had initially intended to promote Barrett, was disheartened by the scandal. He remarked to Derek, “I suppose the saying that one can’t fix a lost cause is true.” Salvador was deeply frustrated because Barrett and Aurora were a match he had arranged. The Warren family dared not ask Barrett to divorce Aurora, and the king couldn’t easily force one either.
Salvador summoned Michael and asked him about Barrett’s performance. Michael spoke frankly, saying that Barrett used to be diligent but had made many mistakes after the family issues arose. Salvador instructed Michael to deliver a message to Barrett, urging him to get Aurora to apologize to Mary and resolve the matter.
Then, Salvador issued an edict praising Mary and posted a list detailing her years of charitable deeds. Alongside the edict and the list, the Royal Citadel also posted a list of donors and the purposes of their contributions. The public learned that the Hell Monarch’s household had donated thirty thousand silver coins. Before this, the Royal Citadel had never disclosed donation sums, reflecting their preference for discreet philanthropy.
The comparison between Carissa and Aurora once again became a hot topic in the capital. One had donated thirty thousand silver coins, while the other had insulted Mary as a beggar, showing no generosity at all. Carissa received widespread praise from the public.