Chapter 161: I Want to Marry Him

Isolde’s thoughts drifted to someone. “Tomorrow, I’ll ask Sadie to come and treat Marley. I’ll leave Hattie here to watch over her. Please arrange a place for Hattie to stay,” she instructed.

Ryker, surprised Isolde could summon Sadie, looked at her with newfound respect. “Understood. Everything will be arranged as you say.”

Isolde pulled out 1,000 coins from her pouch and handed them to him. “This is for the doctors’ fees. Keep track of the total, and I’ll reimburse you. Also, stay here for now. Don’t return to the Duke’s estate just yet. Take care of things here.”

Ryker nodded, accepting the money. “Understood, I’ll take care of everything.”

Isolde’s gaze sharpened, and she added, “Don’t try anything clever.”

Ryker chuckled nervously. “Of course not. I wouldn’t dare.”

The weight on Isolde’s chest seemed to lift after finding Marley. She had a general idea of what had happened to her, but the details were still unclear. She needed to know everything.

Prudence was quick to act. That day, Collin came to Isolde and told her that Prudence had begun unloading all the estates and properties she owned. Many shops were leased out, but Prudence was determined to reclaim them, even at a loss on the rent. For those who didn’t want to move, she was offering them for sale at a discounted price.

“She has the deeds, and these can be privately traded. She might manage to sell all the properties and estates in a short time. Should we get involved?” Collin asked, worried.

Isolde considered Garrett’s return and replied, “No need. The properties she holds are still under the Sharp family’s name. Even if she sells them at a bargain, someone might take them, but they’re stamped with her private seal. The Sharp family could pursue her for everything, and she would have to return everything and pay the deposit back.”

Collin laughed. “So, it seems like she’s going to lose out in the end.”

“Exactly. She thinks the Sharp family won’t care since these were part of her dowry. But once Garrett returns to Argentum and learns the whole story, she won’t be able to escape the consequences.”

Collin grinned. “Sounds like a business opportunity.”

Isolde smiled slyly. “I have a lot of gold, and I’ll borrow silver from the princess. Collin, with your reputation, we can buy up the properties in bulk. When the Sharp family comes after her, we’ll be the biggest sellers, and we’ll walk away with a fortune.”

Collin raised an eyebrow. “You trust me?”

“If I don’t trust you, who can I trust?”

“I won’t let you down,” Collin promised, his eyes firm with resolve.

Isolde wasn’t concerned about the deposit penalties. Her goal was to drive Prudence into a corner, forcing her to make a desperate move.

After examining Marley, Sadie explained, “The poison she was given is the same as yours—cold poison. But the dosage was light, so it seems she was just tasting food for someone. There’s no immediate danger, but the long-term effects have weakened her constitution. With proper care, she’ll recover slowly.”

“And her madness?” Isolde asked, anxiety evident in her voice.

Sadie sighed. “That will take time. She’s been through a lot of trauma, and I’ve found several knife wounds on her body. She must have been hunted down.”

Isolde frowned. It didn’t make sense. Marley had seen Jessica just before leaving the Duke’s estate, and Jessica had handed over items that had been stolen from the manor. Marley had seemed fine at the time and hadn’t spoken of anything concerning her mother’s death. It was clear that Marley hadn’t known the full extent of her mother’s fate. So, how had she ended up like this?

“Don’t worry. I’ll treat her with acupuncture,” Sadie said, noticing Isolde’s troubled expression. “She’ll improve.”

Isolde looked at Sadie with genuine gratitude. “Thank you.”

Sadie was writing out a prescription but casually asked, “By the way, Clark is your older brother, right?”

Isolde nodded. “Yes. Do you know him?”

“I’ve met him once,” Sadie replied, still writing.

Once the prescription was ready, she handed it to Ryker before asking, “What do you think of Clark?”

Isolde blinked in surprise. “What do you mean, what do I think?”

Sadie didn’t break her serious demeanor as she looked directly at Isolde. “Well, what’s your opinion of him?”

Isolde paused, unsure of where this conversation was headed. “He’s a kind and honest person,” she replied, a little confused.

Sadie nodded thoughtfully. “Has anyone tried to matchmake for him?”

“No,” Isolde laughed. “Why? Do you know someone suitable?”

Sadie’s eyes sharpened. “What do you think of me?”

Isolde froze for a moment before her smile slowly faded. “Are you serious?”

Sadie’s expression remained deadpan. “I don’t waste words.”

Isolde’s lips trembled as she responded, “Of course! If Sadie were to marry Clark, that would be the most wonderful thing in the world.”

A rush of excitement surged through Isolde. If Jonathan supported Clark, then Prudence’s attempts to use her illness as an excuse wouldn’t be able to trap her brother for long. The Queen Mother would surely love Sadie and give her a separate residence. The thought of how Priscilla and Prudence would seethe with jealousy filled Isolde with anticipation.

Sadie nodded, her gaze firm. “Then tomorrow, I’ll ask my mother to make a formal proposal.”

Isolde’s jaw dropped. “You’re the one proposing?”

“Is there a problem with that?” Sadie asked, packing up her medical kit. “When a woman likes someone, she can pursue them. Clark is a good man. If we wait too long, someone else will beat us to it. I don’t waste time. Don’t you think it’s time to seize your own happiness?”

Good man? Isolde could barely wrap her head around the idea. But… okay.

That evening, after Clark returned home, Isolde seized the opportunity to bring him some soup.

“Clark, have you eaten?” she asked softly, pushing open the door and peeking inside.

Clark looked up and, seeing her, rubbed his tired brow. “I had a little. Did you save soup for me?”

“It’s a nutritious soup, good for soothing your throat,” she said, setting it on the table and sitting down. “By the way, did you hand in the report that day?”

Clark seemed distracted. “I did. Luka barely said a word when he looked at it. I’m not sure if it even made it to the front lines.”

Isolde smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry. Gold always shines through in the end.”

Clark’s handsome face softened with a warm smile. He looked at Isolde with a gentle expression. “Isolde, you really are a flower of wisdom.”

Isolde gave a half-smile. “I think that title belongs to someone else. By the way, Clark, have you met any women recently?”