Chapter 859
A storm of opposition swept through the court.
“This is preposterous! If such a place is established, what will become of the principles of obedience and virtue?” one official shouted, his voice rising above the others.
“Indeed! This will only embolden women, making them disrespect their in-laws, stir up jealousy, and even cause chaos in the household,” another added vehemently.
“I don’t think this reflects your views, Your Highness. This is clearly Her Grace’s idea, isn’t it? To please her, His Highness is willing to sacrifice men’s dignity. How laughable!” came another scathing remark.
Salvador sat on the throne, observing the uproar below. He occasionally pursed his lips or let a small smile slip; this was a true spectacle. Since Rafael’s return from the Southern Frontier, praise for him had flowed like a river, while criticism was a rare bird. He sighed inwardly.
Ah, Rafael was still too young. He had struck a nerve with the officials. If women had an escape route, how could they be controlled? Rafael thought he was winning the hearts of the people, but in doing so, he lost the support of the scholars. This was Rafael’s miscalculation.
The noise continued, but Salvador remained indifferent, suggesting only that they revisit the topic at the next court session. He hoped the situation would simmer and grow, with even more voices of dissent by then.
Rafael, for his part, didn’t want Salvador to agree too quickly either. He aimed to let the matter gain traction, ensuring the populace would be abuzz about it. If this initiative were to be realized, it needed to cause a significant commotion so everyone would be aware of this new opportunity. A month of commotion would be perfect. By then, the entire capital would know about it. Plus, renovating the space and setting up accommodations would take time. A month was just right.
Rafael was confident Salvador would eventually relent, feeling pressured to comply with no real choice.
After the court session concluded, Rafael strolled out, hands clasped behind his back. The officials who had just condemned him fell silent, knowing better than to speak against him alone. Criticism, if any, would come in a group, never individually.
The Defense Minister, Davis, followed closely behind Rafael. The minister had feigned outrage earlier, echoing the sentiments of others, merely regurgitating their words. Deep down, however, Davis agreed—he truly supported Rafael. If possible, he would have raised his arms in enthusiastic applause.
As a man well-trained for two or three decades under his wife Hannah’s thumb, he now found himself thinking from a woman’s perspective. It was a skill honed over years of marriage. If this initiative succeeded, Hannah would be overjoyed. Her happiness would bring harmony to their household, leading to a more pleasant life for him as well. Most importantly, she would surely want to be involved in such a meaningful project. Once occupied with it, she wouldn’t be so fixated on his shortcomings. Sighing inwardly, he reflected on how, at her age, she had a knack for being irritable for at least the majority of the month.
The uproar in court soon spilled over to the streets, where the citizens buzzed with discussion. The reaction was so explosive it felt like a pot boiling over. Men could hardly believe the Hell Monarch could be so foolish. Had he lost his mind? They knew that if such a place for discarded women was established, their wives at home would surely cause chaos!
The noble families disapproved of Carissa’s actions, and even many women were not fully supportive. Only a few—those who understood the hardships women faced—quietly supported her. This support, however, remained unspoken, hidden from view. No one would openly endorse her.
While the outside world was in an uproar, Zoey was busy handling matters at Valor Estate. Rebecca’s health had deteriorated significantly, and they couldn’t buy any Snowdrop Pills. Everyone in the household had tried but returned empty-handed. To make matters worse, they learned the price had skyrocketed from ten to twenty silver coins per pill.
Rebecca was genuinely frightened and anxious. In desperation, she sent Bryan to beg Zoey for help, knowing that she, as part of the Earl of Silverstone’s family, had the connections and influence to secure a few pills from Arcane Sanctum.
Upon hearing this, Zoey went straight to Rebecca’s room. “I can help buy them at twenty silver coins each. How many do you wish to purchase?”
“Ten… Ten…” Rebecca’s heart raced, her breath labored. Her eyes widened as she extended her palms, a mix of joy and greed glimmering in her gaze. If Zoey was willing to buy the pills, they might as well stock up.
“So, ten would be two hundred silver coins,” Zoey replied. “Would you like to pay with banknotes or silver ingots?”