Chapter 793

Herbert stared at Malcolm, momentarily speechless. Malcolm shut his eyes, his mind racing as he spoke methodically. “After I settled her, I looked into her background, but found nothing suspicious. Gradually, I forgot about her. I only instructed the servants to keep an eye on her. I never laid a hand on her, which the servants can testify to. It was my oversight. I’ve been too busy and let her slip my mind. I had no idea she was actually Lord Henry’s concubine’s daughter.”

Joy flickered across Herbert’s face, but it quickly faded as he realized this was merely a facade—one crafted by his brother to placate him. He knew Malcolm well. If there were a suspicious individual nearby, he would have ordered an investigation. No matter the results, that person would never be allowed to stay; they would be chased away or kept at a distance, never allowed to get close.

Herbert’s heart grew heavy, and disbelief crept into his voice as he asked, “Why would you do this?”

Malcolm pressed his lips together, keeping his eyes closed, his face a mask of anger and disappointment. He had made a grave error, one he found hard to accept. Even worse was the realization that she was the daughter of one of Henry’s concubines, sent to him by Eleanor.

“Why would you do this? You and Marjorie have been affectionate for years. She is virtuous and devoted, and she even arranged early on for you to have concubines to extend your lineage.”

“Arranged early on,” Malcolm echoed, rubbing his brow as he slowly opened his eyes. The loneliness in his gaze seemed to swell, dark and overwhelming. “The youngest of my concubines is nearly forty this year, and the others are in their early forties. Meanwhile, this girl is just nineteen.”

The reality of the situation struck him hard. Though ashamed to speak of it, his younger brother’s relentless questioning forced him to continue. “In recent years, I’ve felt overwhelmed, yet the king has relied on our family. I had to push through. It was a moment of folly. I wanted to recapture my youth and didn’t thoroughly investigate her background.”

Outside the study, Lionel listened to his father’s conversation with his uncle, his emotions a tangled mess. After a long moment, he steeled himself and knocked before entering. The instant their eyes met, Lionel felt a wave of awkwardness wash over him. He was unsure how to face the complexity swirling in his father’s gaze. But he had formulated a plan.

“Dad, let me take two maids to verify that woman’s purity. If she’s proven to be chaste, you can stand tall in front of Grandfather and Mom.”

At well past fifty, Malcolm felt a lingering awkwardness at the idea of his son handling such personal matters. Yet, if Lionel was suggesting it, he must be certain that the result would be that the woman was pure. Regardless of the truth, once it reached Malcolm’s father and wife, it would be reported that she was untouched. That same argument would also be acceptable to Salvador.

He instinctively avoided his son’s gaze. “She has a daughter, and I’ve already instructed that she be taken away. Go ahead.”

With a slight bow, Lionel excused himself and stepped out into the crisp early winter sun. He had felt an overwhelming sense of suffocation while inside. He brought along two elderly maids who had served his grandmother and were well-respected in the household. Their words carried weight. However, as they rode in the carriage, Lionel felt compelled to clarify the situation with them. No matter what they discovered, there could only be one answer—the woman was still a virgin.

Upon arriving at their destination, Lionel found it was a three-courtyard estate. He felt a pang of sorrow at the sight. His father must genuinely care for that woman if he had provided her with such a grand home.

As Lionel knocked and stepped inside, the first sight of the woman left him momentarily stunned. He recognized her. It was about three or four years ago that she had collided with his carriage. It had been raining heavily that day, and she was soaked to the bone, her figure graceful and captivating amidst the downpour. She had fainted while speaking, so he had instructed the coachman to take her to a physician. He had also left behind some money before departing. Since then, Lionel hadn’t seen her again, nor had he known her name. It seemed that while she had been unable to connect with him, she had successfully made her way into their family through his father.

Chapter 773 (This chapter seems to be a continuation of the story and should be integrated with Chapter 793 for a more cohesive narrative)