Chapter 160: Marley

Pablo stood with his hands behind his back, his expression grave. “Why do you ask, Princess?”

“I sense it—something happened to Oliver, hasn’t it?” Princess Aveline inquired.

She knew Oliver’s duties and his destination. Doug had rushed to Zloimond days ago, and there’d been no news since. Even the North Camp showed increased military activity—intensive drills. The only logical conclusion was the court planned some operation against Zloimond.

With external threats easing, the King was reluctant to risk civil war. If it weren't urgent, no one would speak of war so lightly. Something must have happened—otherwise, Doug wouldn't have been sent.

Furthermore, Pablo admired Isolde and considered Oliver as his son. When Oliver's marriage to Isolde was suggested, Pablo hesitated.

Princess Aveline, always perceptive, noticed his pause. Even the Queen Mother praised her keen intelligence, which is why she received her title despite her commoner background and rose through the court ranks.

Pablo sighed deeply, his brow furrowed. “It seems nothing escapes the Princess’s attention. You are right. Something has happened to Oliver.”

“What happened?” Princess Aveline gasped, her heart racing.

Beneath a flowering Judas tree, Pablo felt yellow leaves drift onto his shoulder. He brushed them away before speaking again, his voice heavy. “Do you remember, years ago, when the Argentum River embankment collapsed, causing a great flood? You used sulfur and saltpeter to make gunpowder, and the Prince Regent used your explosives to destroy the lower dam, diverting the floodwaters. That event shocked the kingdom, and the Queen Mother honored you with the title of Princess Aveline. Do you remember?”

Princess Aveline nodded, her eyes clear with memory. “I remember well. The details of that day are vivid.”

Pablo nodded gravely. “It was afterward. The knowledge of gunpowder didn't end with fireworks. Some replicated your methods, stockpiling it to incite rebellion. The King received reports and sent Oliver to Zloimond to investigate a weapons cache. He found it, but was betrayed by an insider. Oliver had no choice but to destroy the weapons storage. The cache was destroyed, but Oliver didn't come out.”

Princess Aveline felt a chill. “Pablo, are you saying… Oliver sacrificed himself?”

Pablo sighed. “Doug didn’t find Oliver’s body. Only Darien returned, severely wounded, and later died.”

“So the explosion… no one knows what happened?” Princess Aveline felt a deep ache. How could Oliver be lost without anyone knowing?

Pablo shook his head. “No one knows. The King tasked Oliver with locating and destroying the gunpowder source, using the Queen Mother’s method. But the news leaked, and Oliver and his team were surrounded and attacked. They had no choice but to destroy the cache. The explosion was so powerful, the mountain itself was obliterated. I’ve heard reports that the entire mountain was leveled.”

Princess Aveline's heart sank. She knew the power of gunpowder—even rudimentary gunpowder, crafted precisely, could unleash devastation. No one within the blast radius could have survived.

“Oliver’s death hasn’t been made public,” Pablo added, his voice tight with emotion. “I beg you, Princess, keep this secret.”

Princess Aveline’s eyes filled with tears as she nodded. “I understand.” A civil conflict must remain secret. External threats had only just subsided. The army was exhausted, food supplies low. If internal unrest became known, another foreign attack could crush the Eryndral Empire before it recovered. What appeared to be an age of peace was, in reality, a powder keg.

“No wonder you didn’t agree to Isolde marrying Oliver,” Princess Aveline murmured. “It’s a shame. These two would have been a perfect match.”

Meanwhile, Isolde visited Ryker’s house. The small courtyard with three main buildings was considered wealthy by Argentum standards. Marley sat quietly in the yard, wearing a grey gown, her hair streaked with grey. She sewed shoes, using long, thick needles and fine silk thread. Her hands moved with grace.

When she saw someone approach, she lifted her head. Her eyes were calm, her expression serene. Seeing Isolde, she smiled. “Mrs. Langley, the shoes will be ready soon. How are you today?”

Marley’s voice was clear, but she called Isolde “Mrs. Langley,” indicating memory confusion.

Isolde stared at Ryker in shock. “You said she can’t speak?”

Ryker, equally stunned, replied, “Yes. Doctors have seen her several times, and they say she was poisoned—to the point of losing her voice. She hasn’t spoken a word since I brought her back. If you don’t believe me, I can call the doctor.”

Isolde waved her hand, then approached Marley. Her gaze softened. Despite the lines on Marley’s face, her features were gentle, and she looked well cared for.

“Marley,” Isolde called, her voice full of emotion. The woman before her had served Prunella for years and knew everything about her.

Marley smiled. “Mrs. Langley, has Geoffrey still not returned? I haven’t seen him these days.”

“He hasn’t returned. But as long as you’re here, I’m content.” Isolde sat down, gazing at Marley. Marley’s hair was smooth and neat, her complexion rosy and healthy.

Marley set her needle and thread aside and looked at Isolde with a fond smile. “You’ve become even more beautiful. You’re aging so well.”

Isolde chuckled softly. “You’re not old yourself, Marley.”

“Don’t worry. Geoffrey will return victorious. When he comes back, the baby will be born, and you will be very happy,” Marley said, her voice warm with reassurance.

“A boy, perhaps?” Isolde said with a smile.

“Always a girl, you say. But whatever it is, it will be your child, and Geoffrey will love it dearly,” Marley said kindly.

Tears welled in Isolde’s eyes. “Have I always said it would be a girl?”

“Of course you did! You’ve been saying it since you first carried the baby. I could tell from looking at your belly…”

Marley’s gaze fell to Isolde’s abdomen, and her expression froze. She seemed startled. “Your belly…?” she asked, her voice faltering. Her eyes widened in panic, and she reached out, as if to touch Isolde’s stomach.

Isolde quickly grasped her hand, gently pulling it away. “Marley, the baby has already been born. Just as I said—it was a girl.”

“Really? She’s born?” Marley looked utterly confused. “How did I not know?”

Esme, who had been standing nearby, stepped forward. “Marley, don’t you remember? You were ill for a while. During your illness, Mrs. Langley gave birth to the child.”

“Ill? I was sick?” Marley’s expression blanked as her confusion deepened. “What illness did I have? Mrs. Langley gave birth? It was a girl? Geoffrey is back yet? Is he still not back? What illness did I have?”

Her words became more disjointed, her eyes losing focus as she descended into madness.

Esme gently tried to comfort her, but Isolde pulled Ryker aside, asking in a low voice, “What did the doctor say?”

Ryker sighed. “The doctor said Marley experienced a great deal of emotional trauma, which caused her to lose some of her memories. She still hasn’t fully recovered from the poison. The reason she couldn’t speak was because of the poison, but now, somehow, she has started speaking again.”