Chapter 155: The Verdict Is Out

Isolde listened silently, continuing her meal without interruption. Only when she finished did she put down her utensils, lift her gaze, and say, “They do want to find you a good match. Don’t overthink it. Tomorrow, I’ll take you for a walk.”

Isolde had already planned to visit some of her stores the next day, so taking Nicole out for a change of scenery wouldn't hurt. Nicole, however, believed Isolde was merely placating her. She said nothing, watching Isolde leave.

Later that evening, Isolde shared a meal with Clark. With a glint of excitement in his eyes, Clark spoke about the Parliamentary Library, his tone lighter than usual. “I thought I’d be promoted to Imperial Scholar-Apprentice because of Doug, but today I found out Luka and Doug don’t get along at all.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Isolde smiled.

“Yeah, he gave me a task today. I need to write a paper and present it to the King tomorrow,” Clark said, his voice tinged with both anxiety and excitement.

“You’ll do great,” Isolde encouraged.

Clark nodded gratefully. “Isolde, once I get my salary, I’ll take you out for a nice meal.”

“I’ll be waiting,” Isolde replied with a smile.

Clark hurriedly finished his meal and rushed back to his room. Esme, watching him go, laughed. “Clark’s a completely different person now.”

“When someone gains confidence and purpose, they change,” Isolde replied.

Esme agreed with a nod.

The next day, Isolde had Noelle find Nicole and prepare her for an outing. Nicole, not expecting Isolde to actually take her anywhere, quickly got out of bed, bathed, and dressed. Though her body was still weak after days in bed, she felt mentally drained and craved a change of scenery. However, being in public without support made her nervous; she feared gossip and whispers. Nicole knew Isolde was strong-willed and would defend her if anyone treated her badly.

Collin had been busy with his Everfort Granary, finally up and running. He’d used the store Clark recommended and was focusing on external sales, so location wasn't a major concern.

When Isolde arrived at the brocade shop, only Vincenzo and a few assistants were present. Business was booming. Vincenzo had secured an exclusive deal with the brocade supplier, ensuring high demand.

Unlike before, when Vincenzo focused on martial arts, he now wore fine clothes, resembling Collin’s style—a satin tunic, jade belt, and neatly tied hair. He looked even more refined, his sharp features accentuated by his new attire. He’d also been learning accounting from Collin.

When Isolde arrived, he had just finished reviewing the previous day's accounts and was in high spirits.

“Isolde,” he greeted warmly.

“Vincenzo, how’s business?” Isolde asked.

“Couldn’t be better,” Vincenzo said with a wide grin, his eyes shifting toward Nicole. “And who’s this?”

“My older sister,” Isolde replied.

Vincenzo noticed the faint marks on Nicole’s neck and immediately recognized her from the scandal surrounding the Duke’s estate.

“Ah, Miss Langley, I’ve heard about you,” Vincenzo said.

Nicole bowed politely but said nothing. They sat down, and Vincenzo instructed an assistant to make coffee.

Isolde asked, “Is brocade still the best seller?”

“Yes, definitely. Brocade is in high demand—there’s just not enough of it,” Vincenzo answered.

“Is brocade really that good?” Nicole asked.

Vincenzo glanced at her complexion before taking down a piece of pomegranate-colored brocade. “Miss Langley, your complexion is fair. This pomegranate color would look great on you. I’ll give it to you as a gift.”

Nicole stood up in a panic, waving her hands. “I… I don’t want it,” she stammered. “I’ll buy it myself.”

Isolde shot a playful glance at Vincenzo, chuckling. “What’s with the refusal? Take it, make a beautiful dress. It’s rare that Vincenzo is so generous.”

Nicole, still hesitant, only relented when Vincenzo insisted. “If you refuse, it’s like you’re turning me down in front of everyone,” he said with a grin.

Vincenzo’s blunt style was part of his charm. In business, it made him seem trustworthy. Nicole, embarrassed, finally gave in. “Then… thank you, Vincenzo.”

Isolde gave Vincenzo a pointed look, silently wondering if he realized how easily his gesture might be misinterpreted. Giving an unmarried woman such a personal gift could easily be seen as having more than just business intentions. Fortunately, Nicole seemed to take it as a gesture of goodwill related to business.

After discussing the store’s sales and operations, Isolde stood to leave, Faith following behind, holding the brocade.

Once in the carriage, Nicole leaned in and whispered, “Vincenzo… did he used to work for you?”

Isolde smiled. “Not quite. He was originally a guard at the Princess’s estate. When I saved Lord Theodric, the Princess assigned him to protect me. Strictly speaking, he’s still part of the Princess’s household.”

“A servant?” Nicole asked, skeptical.

“Of course not,” Isolde chuckled. “His family’s well-known, and his father is currently a general in the North Camp. Vincenzo trained under his father. What I’m doing is giving him a side job—it’s honestly a waste of his talent.”

“A general’s son?” Nicole’s head drooped slightly, disappointment in her eyes. “I guess I could never match someone like that.”

Nicole was, in many ways, the only clear-headed member of the Vance family. Aside from the Duke’s estate, the Vance family was merely a failed business family, now relying on the Duke’s name to arrange marriages for their daughter. Anyone knowing the truth wouldn't consider the Vance family comparable to the Duke’s. A daughter from a failed business family wasn’t a suitable match for a general’s son.

Isolde noticed Nicole’s expression and realized she liked Vincenzo. This was complicated. Isolde wondered what Vincenzo thought; he’d probably never considered marriage. She made a mental note to ask him later.

As for Vance, after days of running around, he’d stubbornly refused Geoffrey’s advice. He’d spent a significant amount of money but hadn’t reached an agreement with Kameron or Jocelynn. The court had handed down its verdict: three years in prison for defamation and brawling.

When the verdict came down, Priscilla fainted from crying. Prudence hurried to find Geoffrey, who was preparing to break the engagement with the Valen family the next day. He’d intended to go that day, but a court delay prevented him. After hearing from Prudence, Geoffrey frowned. “The verdict has been made. There’s no changing it now.”

Prudence insisted, “But you have connections in court. How can you not change this? It’s all about the money, right? How much will it take?”

Geoffrey shook his head. “Connections won’t help here. No one dares intervene with the High Magistracy of Argentum. No amount of money would’ve made a difference. If you were willing to spend this money back then, why didn’t you just give it to Kameron and Jocelynn?”

In truth, Geoffrey’s “connections” weren’t as extensive as Prudence believed.