Chapter 256: Another Nemesis

Isolde acted magnanimously, primarily due to her inherent coldness. She immediately retired to change her clothes, leaving the two to speak outside.

Cristina puffed out her cheeks and looked at Oliver. “Should we talk at the door? Or go to my room?”

Oliver replied, “There’s no need. I just want to say a few words. I know you’re unwilling to be my concubine. Given your status, you’ve suffered. I’ll ask Margaret to resolve the situation. When the time comes, you can go home.”

Cristina hadn’t initially sought him out; she’d waited for him to find her. However, after seeing him not after dinner, she couldn't contain herself any longer. Her request was simple: she was willing to stay, but only as a concubine treated with due respect. Isolde, having been granted marriage by the King, couldn't be dismissed. She considered her request reasonable.

This stemmed from their prior engagement. Although she’d broken it off, the formal procedures weren't completed; it was a unilateral breakup. She recalled his expression at the time, believing herself superior in every aspect, deserving of his admiration. Her virtues, she felt, far surpassed those of the "wild girl," Isolde.

Therefore, his words came as a shock. A moment of stunned silence gave way to a surge of anger. Embarrassed and furious, she erupted, “You’d better divorce me now. I don’t want to be your concubine. I’m not even willing to be your wife! Who do you think you are? Do you really think you’re the heir of the Marquis Eldermere? You’re just a bastard who jinxed your parents to death! The Langley family’s fall is because of you, bastard! Why don’t you die?”

Cristina possessed a sharp tongue, a product of her father and brother’s indulgent upbringing. Highly favored, she'd never known hardship or disdain. Her brother's promotion to third-rank baron further elevated her status. Always arrogant within her circle, she'd never even considered Agnes, having never interacted with her social sphere. Lacking the wisdom that comes with experience, she underestimated the older Oliver. To her, he was inferior to the son of a seventh-rank official. She couldn’t accept his rejection.

Oliver's expression remained unchanged, as if unaffected by her tirade. He said, “I’ve already said what I wanted to say,” then turned and went inside.

Isolde was changing clothes, attended by Noelle. Cristina's words reached Isolde verbatim. Noelle exclaimed angrily, “How can she speak like that? If I were Mr. Valois, I would tear her…”

Chapter 256: Another Nemesis (Continued)

Isolde glared, straightening her clothes. “When we go out later, don’t mention a word in front of Mr. Valois. We’ll pretend not to have heard them, understand?”

“I know!” Noelle stuck out her tongue. She understood Isolde's concern for Oliver's self-esteem, fearing his embarrassment. She added, “However, it’s your duty to discipline concubines.”

“I haven’t officially married him,” Isolde said, a fleeting flame in her eyes quickly suppressed. Cristina had better flee on her own, or she might not survive.

Isolde wiped her hair and walked out, sneezing slightly. Esme had already prepared ginger soup; the mild weather made colds easy to catch.

Oliver sat in the small hall of Ningser Pavilion, having been there only twice—both times during renovations, once to send wood, and once to send furniture.

It was prepared for Isolde’s marriage to William. Life was unpredictable. Who would have thought this place would become his and Isolde's home? Wedding decorations remained; the courtyard lanterns hadn't faded. His eyes held warmth and anticipation for the future, unaffected by Cristina’s outburst.

Seeing Isolde drying her hair, he smiled and stood, taking her towel to dry her hair. “Are you cold?”

“No.” Isolde looked up. He gently lowered her head, saying, “Dry it first.”

Isolde smiled. The awkwardness from the carriage had vanished; they were interacting naturally, a relief.

After drying her hair, the two sat down. Isolde asked, “Are you tired?”

“I’m not tired.” Oliver handed the towel to Noelle, who took it with a smile before leaving.

“I just told Cristina that I will tell Rosemary to get her back,” Oliver said.

Isolde nodded, not asking for details. Instead, she said, “You just said Ashley is trying to manipulate you. In the future, you should stay away from her. Since you know she’s up to something, we should avoid her.”

“Yes.” Oliver nodded, slightly distracted.

Isolde knew he couldn't completely ignore Cristina's words. She'd heard much about jinxes and nemeses in her previous life, especially the claim that her mother had been jinxed to death by her. That feeling was deeply uncomfortable, aggrieved, and sad. She'd once believed it, blaming and hating herself.

Chapter 256: Another Nemesis (Continued)

However, at that time, she didn't want comfort from anyone; in fact, she didn't want anyone to mention it. Actually, she didn't know much about Oliver’s family, even in her past life.

Douglas’s original family was in business, very wealthy, leaving behind considerable assets now held by Margaret. Isolde had heard that Margaret and Beatrice were close friends; Beatrice had entrusted these assets to Margaret for safekeeping, to be returned after Oliver's marriage. However, this was hearsay; she didn't know the truth.

The Langley family's business dealings meant Oliver was raised by Pablo and Margaret, representing Douglas's expectations for his son.

Oliver's supposed "jinx" stemmed from a wooden sword he'd sent Douglas during his last expedition. Oliver had personally sharpened it, urging Douglas to use it to kill the enemy.

That battle was tragic. Douglas was forced to Santi Mountain, his weapon broken, only the wooden sword remaining. This wooden sword was ultimately driven into his neck.

Besides the wooden sword, over thirty arrows pierced his body. He died standing; he didn't fall! He'd driven the wooden sword into his neck himself. Douglas, mighty in life and the Thalvinar army's greatest enemy, was unwilling to be killed by them; so, before dying, he stabbed himself with the wooden sword. He, Douglas, could only die by his own hand. No one else could kill him.

However, Douglas never anticipated this decision's catastrophic consequences for his son. The Langley family initially couldn't accommodate Oliver. Beatrice sent Oliver to Marquis Eldermere's estate because Douglas hoped he would become an indomitable general. Secondly, no one was willing to raise him; his wooden sword had killed a promising Langley general.