Chapter 145: Pablo Flares Up

Despite everyone eagerly awaiting Bradley's arrival, he failed to appear. Instead, a barrel of fine wine arrived as a gift from Bradley to Pablo. The wine was publicly presented, making it impolite to not share it. Pablo immediately poured and circulated the wine, raising the spirits of the gathering.

The atmosphere was lively as the wine flowed, yet Pablo seemed displeased, occasionally glancing coldly at Geoffrey, his eyes betraying hidden anger. The wine, a gift from Bradley, was indeed exceptional; a single sip induced a warming sensation, loosening muscles and invigorating the body. Everyone marveled at its effects.

Rosemary, however, chuckled inwardly at the crowd's praise. It was the same wine served at the banquet; the excitement stemmed solely from its origin—Bradley himself.

Since it was a victory banquet, conversation inevitably turned to the battle's outcome. Pablo, however, eschewed grand storytelling, recounting the war plainly. Isolde, though, understood the victory had been fraught with peril.

The banquet continued late into the evening, past the hour of the pig, with the Queen Dowager remaining throughout. As officials departed, she stepped forward to bid farewell. Having enjoyed some wine, her complexion was flushed, almost as if rouged. Her usual regal demeanor softened with a smile as she addressed Geoffrey: "Next time you're in the palace, bring your daughter along for me to see."

Geoffrey was startled, his heart skipping a beat. He quickly replied, "Of course." He hadn't expected the Queen Dowager to mention Isolde. Usually, the naming of a "County Princess" faded from conversation within days, but this was different. What was it about this girl that commanded such admiration?

On his way out, Geoffrey pondered this, momentarily forgetting his need to speak with Pablo about the broken engagement. He only remembered upon hearing Pablo's displeased voice behind him: "Geoffrey, wait a moment."

Turning, Geoffrey prepared to explain, but before he could speak, Pablo stormed towards him, his face flushed with anger. His eyes fierce, he declared, "Geoffrey, we are both men of war; we speak plainly. Don't hold back. Is there something you dislike about my son marrying Isolde? If so, tell me, and I will do whatever I can to fix it."

Pablo's imposing presence, still in battle armor, amplified his words—harsh and direct, carrying the weight of a general. Geoffrey, though aggrieved, respected his authority, remaining calm as he explained, "You misunderstand. William is your legitimate son, and he's learned much from you. He will be a great general one day. If he were to marry my daughter, I would be honored."

"Really?" Pablo said, surprised.

Geoffrey smiled gently. "Of course. That's why, when Margaret came to cancel the engagement, I was quite regretful for some time…"

Pablo's eyes widened, veins appearing on his forehead as he snarled, "What did you say? My wife went to cancel the engagement? What nonsense!"

Geoffrey replied, "I assumed you already knew. I didn't receive any word from you, so I thought it best not to ask."

Pablo's expression darkened. "Geoffrey, you can rest assured. This marriage will not be canceled."

Geoffrey offered a bitter smile. "It already has. Even if you return to Argentum and bring it up, I'm afraid Isolde wouldn't want to marry him now."

Pablo sighed in frustration. "This girl has a temper. She must be upset after the cancellation. I'll visit her tomorrow and give her an assurance."

Geoffrey shook his head. "That may not work. This girl isn't just stubborn; she's a mule, impossible to pull back. What you don't know is that before the engagement was called off, Isolde was wronged. She didn't know that William and Eleanor were already secretly in love and even had a child on the way. When Margaret and his wife insisted that Eleanor become the legitimate wife and Isolde be made a concubine, Isolde refused. This all led to the cancellation of the engagement. She's angry, and now that Eleanor has entered the family, Isolde won't want to marry him anymore."

Pablo's face turned pale with fury, his teeth grinding. "Is this true?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"You might want to ask Margaret. She and William both said they wouldn't marry anyone but Eleanor," Geoffrey said.

Pablo bowed his head, muttering, "I'll apologize to her tomorrow. For now, I'll take my leave." He understood Geoffrey well enough to know he wouldn't lie or exaggerate, and that this situation was far more complicated than he'd realized.

Before heading home, Pablo stopped at Princess Aveline's residence. He knew Margaret's capabilities—charming, eloquent, and able to manipulate any situation. Princess Aveline, knowledgeable about Argentum, especially the failed engagement, was the perfect person to seek clarity.

Lord Garraway, also at the banquet, had gone home afterward. By the time Pablo arrived, he had bathed and was ready to receive visitors. Hearing of Pablo's late-night visit, Lord Garraway and his wife quickly dressed to meet him.

Entering the hall, they saw Pablo pacing angrily. Lord Garraway immediately stepped forward and asked, "Pablo, what's going on?"

Though furious, Pablo remained polite, greeting the princess and lord before stating, "How much do you know about the cancellation of the engagement between our families? Please tell me everything honestly."

The princess's face darkened. "Pablo, you should know better. This was handled very poorly. Both families agreed to the engagement and signed an agreement. If William had another love, he should have said so earlier. But after the engagement, he suddenly claimed he already had another woman and a child on the way. Isn't that just bullying Isolde, who's from a humble background? When Isolde refused, your wife and her stepmother began to slander her, accusing her of running away and tarnishing her reputation. Eventually, they even tried to frame her for murder. Thankfully, their plans failed, but Eleanor, in her greed, fell into the river and lost the child. That's divine retribution. To this day, the Valen family has never apologized to Isolde. This is a blatant injustice."

Pablo, consumed by fury, slammed his hand on the coffee table, shattering it. "So this is how you've treated my daughter? A noble family, renowned for its grace, and yet this is what they've done to her?"

He stood abruptly, bowing deeply to the princess and Lord Garraway. "I'll return in two days to apologize and replace the coffee table. For now, I must take my leave."