Chapter 194: Do You Like Him?

Collin and Anthony were led in by the servants. Anthony said, as soon as he entered, “Shit, they’re asking me to mourn… to mourn…” He saw Isolde and his eyes widened; he could barely speak. Collin smiled and elbowed him. “What are you looking at? Don’t you recognize her?” Anthony did not look away, continuing to stare at Isolde. “You… you’ve become a different person.”

“I haven’t changed. Still the same,” Isolde replied, inviting them to sit. She still doubted Anthony; after all, they had been adversaries for years. In her heart, he was her enemy.

“You have,” Anthony countered, noticing her disappointment and feeling a pang in his own heart. Collin interjected, “This time you went missing, Anthony spent days searching for you, fretting and worrying.”

Isolde was surprised. Seeing the burning passion in Anthony’s eyes, she said uncomfortably, “I thought you’d be happy that I’m dead.”

Anthony said indifferently, “You can only die by my hands.” Isolde was inexplicably touched. “You’re a good man!” she exclaimed.

“Get lost!” Anthony glared at her. His mother had said that if a woman called him a good man, there was no hope for him.

Noelle brought wine and desserts. “Have some first. There will be food later.” Isolde’s eyes were filled with sorrow, noticeable even to Anthony. He poured her wine and asked, “I heard something happened to Oliver. Is it true?”

Isolde’s fingertips traced the rim of her cup as she softly replied, “Something did happen.”

“Do you care about him very much?” Anthony frowned, reluctant to ask but unable to resist. Isolde nodded silently. Anthony was shocked. “Why?”

Isolde looked at him and softly said, “Because he cares about me.”

“I care too!” Anthony declared, gazing into her eyes. He felt a pang of discouragement. His mother had said that if a woman loved someone, she wouldn’t see anyone else. He added, “We grew up together. Of course, I care.”

Isolde was speechless with gratitude. Later, Collin commented on Isolde's successful business dealings. He smiled. “In short, you made a lot of money this time.” Isolde smiled bitterly. “Even if she paid for it, it belonged to my mother.” It was good to have it back; she didn’t want the other party to benefit.

Anthony listened, then looked at Isolde. “Why did I think you were brainless before? I didn’t expect you to use strategy.”

Isolde replied, “Because I didn’t need to use my brain to survive in the past.”

Anthony looked at her intently. “You must have suffered a lot in the past two years since returning to Argentum, right?”

Isolde shook her head. “Not really.” She hadn’t suffered much.

Collin had other matters to attend to and left first, at Anthony’s suggestion. Isolde, knowing Collin’s busy schedule, said, “Go back first. If he’s drunk, I’ll have someone send him home.”

“Alright, Boss, I’ll take my leave,” Collin replied.

After Collin left, Anthony picked up the wine pot. “This place is cramped. Let’s drink outside.”

They sat on the stone steps, Anthony gazing at the moon. He reclined, lying back on the steps. “What a beautiful moonlight. However, it can’t compare to Windermount.”

Isolde, without looking up, softly said, “I’m indeed happy at Windermount.”

“Are you willing to go back to Windermount?” Anthony turned, his eyes shining.

Isolde was silent a moment. “I want to go back, but not now. It’s a pure place. I have to wait for my heart to become pure before I can go back. Or my body could go back.”

Anthony looked at her quietly. “What’s so good about Oliver Valois? Just because he’s the Great Marshal?”

Isolde leaned against the railing, slowly sipping her wine. Her heart ached. “Do you know why he became the Great Marshal? There are many brave and resourceful generals in the empire. However, how many become Great Marshal?”

“Everyone says he relied on the Marquis and his biological father’s power,” Anthony said sourly, believing Oliver’s position was due to privilege, not merit.

Isolde adjusted her posture. Yes, that’s what everyone thought.

“It’s because he has this country and its people in his heart. He yearns for peace, but has no choice but to go to war again and again to protect the border and the empire’s territory. He’s even willing to give up his life for this. Doesn’t he know something will happen to him? However, if he doesn’t, the empire will be plagued by war for years. Therefore, he is determined to fight to the bitter end and will not let the villains succeed.” Isolde felt indescribable pain as she spoke. As a former general, she knew the greatness of such sacrifice. Everyone had loved ones; sacrificing one's life meant the end of existence. The corpses on the battlefield were an indestructible barrier.

“Many generals and soldiers can do what you said.” Although touched, Anthony refuted.

Isolde looked at him. “You’ve never been on the battlefield. You don’t know. If you’ve seen him kill enemies, if you’ve seen him lead troops, you’ll know where he and other generals stand.”

Anthony was confused. “Why did he go to Zloimond? What do you mean by fighting to the bitter end? Moreover, why are you so sure? Have you seen him kill enemies? Have you seen him lead troops?”

Of course, she had. They had served together, killed enemies together. She had seen him sacrifice himself with her own eyes.

Isolde sighed softly. “Anthony, you don’t know him or the soldiers.”

Anthony felt something indescribable. He didn’t understand Oliver or soldiers, but he didn’t need to.

“I’m just a commoner. What do I know about this?” he retorted.

Isolde said seriously, “Then do you know why you, a commoner, can live and work in peace and earn money in business? It was these generals who blocked all infringements for you, even paying the price of their lives for your coffee and food. Anthony, things in the world aren’t so easy. If you think it’s easy, someone must be carrying a burden for you.”

Anthony froze, as if struck by lightning. He had never considered these issues before. He was just a rich man in Windermount, concerned only with eating, drinking, playing, and making money. National calamities and border wars were distant matters; what did they have to do with him?

At that moment, Isolde did not know that this conversation would hold great significance for the empire's future.