Chapter 114: Humiliate Her

Harlan instructed the servants to prepare a simple, light meal for Geoffrey. After Geoffrey ate a little, he put down his fork and turned to Harlan, asking, “Earlier, Esme mentioned that Isolde has caught the Queen Mother’s eye. What do you think that means? Is she being groomed for marriage, or something else?”

Harlan replied, “The Queen Mother rarely arranges marriages for people.”

Geoffrey nodded thoughtfully. “But what can a woman do that would be considered truly significant? The Queen Mother’s favor toward Isolde came after the incidents with Lord Theodric and Milton. Of course, it was Oliver who played a key role in Lord Theodric’s affairs, and in Milton’s case, it was her two maids who contributed significantly.”

“Is the Queen Mother looking highly upon Isolde, or is it simply that you, Geoffrey, are underestimating her?” Harlan asked with a wry smile.

Geoffrey’s expression darkened. “You’re getting bolder, Harlan.”

Harlan chuckled. “As I age, my courage increases. If you’re angry, Geoffrey, just hit me with a stick. I don’t mind.”

Geoffrey snorted. “One day, I will.”

He stood up abruptly. “Let’s go check the storeroom. See if we still have any ginseng. I’ll bring some to my mother to pay my respects.”

Harlan replied, “The key to the storeroom is with Priscilla.”

Geoffrey frowned. “Ryker doesn’t have the key?”

Harlan shrugged. “No. Anyone who wants to get anything from the storeroom has to ask Priscilla.”

Geoffrey furrowed his brows, his mind racing. After a brief pause, he said, “I suppose it’s for the best. It’s likely my mother’s idea to prevent people from stealing. It’s a good practice. No rules, no order.”

“True,” Harlan replied, a touch of sarcasm in his tone.

Geoffrey shot him an irritated glance. “What’s on your mind now?”

Harlan grinned and shook his head. “Nothing, just saying. It’s nothing.”

“You…” Geoffrey bit back his frustration. “Fine, don’t follow me. Go back to the Pearl Tower and try to charm Isolde.”

With that, Geoffrey left the room in a hurry, his temper simmering. The time he felt at peace was when he was at the office, but when he returned home, it felt like suffocating. His mood, already irritable, worsened as he walked towards Blesertin. The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became, until he decided to go to the Pearl Tower first before confronting his mother.

Meanwhile, Harlan had also made his way to the Pearl Tower, where he was leisurely drinking coffee in the garden.

“Ah, so you keep coming to the Pearl Tower for Noelle’s coffee?” Isolde teased.

Harlan grinned. “What do you think?”

“Well, from now on, I’ll send Noelle to serve you,” Isolde joked.

Harlan laughed and said, “I wouldn’t mind at all.”

Noelle covered her mouth with a playful laugh. “I won’t go. Serving Isolde is much better.”

Britney brought in some pastries. After Harlan took a bite, he shook his head. “Since Helena married, we haven’t had this kind of taste anymore. How come she hasn’t come back to visit you?”

Isolde smiled. “She came back a few days ago, but the shop’s busy. Prudence has been personally teaching her how to run the business.”

“Good for her. Helena’s a lucky girl,” Harlan said warmly.

Isolde’s smile faded as she spoke quietly, “She’s been with me since she was young. She’s been through a lot. When we fought with Anthony’s estate, she was severely injured, and the doctors thought she wouldn’t make it. But she survived and came with me back to Argentum. Things were hard for us. We were neglected, and she too faced contempt. Even her monthly allowance was withheld. She didn’t even get a taste of meat. In the beginning, we endured it for the sake of peace, but when you’re constantly hungry, you sneak out to get snacks.”

If it weren’t for Matilda and Eleanor’s cruelty, I’d have probably endured even longer. But I can’t anymore. She hasn’t had it easy either. Because of my troubles, my brother got captured, and she was beaten so badly…

Her words brought the lively atmosphere to a heavy silence. Harlan quietly spoke, “It’s all in the past now.”

“Is it?” Isolde gave a bitter laugh. “It’s not. What happened at Montlins Manor, Harlan, you know. Matilda and Michelle used those underhanded methods to hurt me. Doesn’t Father know? He knows, but I’m the scapegoat. I deserve it. I’m Prunella’s daughter. How could I ever compare to Matilda’s precious daughter? Finally, Matilda had quieted down, and Grandmother and Priscilla came back, but in just a few days, look at what’s happened? If others don’t know the truth, they’ll think I caused all this trouble. Harlan, do you believe that? When Father goes to Mother’s room, he’ll probably scold me, maybe even punish me.”

The room fell silent, and Esme comforted her, “In the end, she’s still his daughter. Geoffrey will understand.”

Isolde forced a smile, her voice faltering. “Yes, he’ll understand. Maybe when I’m dead, when my death severs his last tie to my mother, then he’ll understand.”

Her words reached Geoffrey’s ears, and they hit him harder than anything else. The previous shock from hearing her words couldn’t compare to the jarring impact of her saying, “Maybe when I’m dead, when my death severs his last tie to my mother.”

It finally clicked—why he had hated her so much, yet still called her back from the estate. She was the only connection left between him and his wife. Father and daughter hated each other, but they both loved the same person.

In the courtyard, Isolde slowly lifted her head, hearing the faint footsteps recede. Her lips curled into a smile that was either cold or ironic.

Geoffrey had arrived at Blesertin. Prudence, who had just taken her medicine, was lying half-reclined on her bed. Priscilla had placed an herbal pack on her head.

When Geoffrey entered, she merely glanced up faintly, then looked away, uninterested.

“Mother, are you feeling any better?” Geoffrey asked as he approached.

Prudence merely grunted a couple of times, not responding.

Vance entered from outside, holding some preserved fruits, and grumbled, “Although Isolde is my niece, she really went too far this time.”

Geoffrey turned to look at him, confused. “What does Isolde have to do with this?”

“No connection?” Vance scoffed, throwing the preserved fruits onto the table with a thud. He grabbed bags of medicine and said, “These are from her. She sent them to your mother for detoxification and to clear… And these pills… Mom is already at her age, and she’s being given medicine as if she’s some young woman. This is clearly an insult to her! As her father, you can’t let her disrespect her like this. What does it say about the Duke’s estate’s family values?”

Geoffrey frowned. The detoxifying medicine is good, and as for the Joy Pills, she probably doesn’t understand the medicinal properties. She must have thought they were good, so she sent them together.

“Does she not understand? Do her people not understand? The palace eunuch surely does,” Vance retorted. “Do you know what happened today? Doug had a eunuch sent here to humiliate your mother. And now that eunuch has become one of Isolde’s maids. You need to give your mother an explanation for this.” Vance slumped angrily into a chair.