Chapter 294: See the Queen Dowager

Esme recalled Doug's visit as she left the palace. Since she was going to a high-ranking official's residence, she had first sought the Queen Dowager's permission. She clearly remembered the Queen Dowager's words: "The person you are going to serve is very important to me. She has suffered greatly. Take good care of her and assist her well. You are skilled in managing household affairs, so help her with those. She is not destined to be confined to the inner chambers."

At the time, Esme believed the Queen Dowager referred to Isolde's hardships living in the manor, her lonely and isolated upbringing as a commoner despite noble birth. She had no idea Isolde had actually died and returned to life. Having her belly cut open, her child taken, and then being burned alive—what a cruel and horrifying fate. Tears welled in Esme's eyes as she silently walked away.

Isolde needed to enter the palace. While not as difficult as before, it remained challenging. Without a summons, casual entry was impossible. Oliver, however, could move freely in the King's presence. Isolde asked him to inform the Queen Dowager of her wish to pay her respects.

After Oliver left, Isolde sat before her dressing table, her emotions slow to settle. The hatred she had forcibly suppressed surged back, burning like a raging fire. She longed to storm into the Valen residence and kill Margaret and William.

Esme entered, carrying ginseng soup. She placed it on the table, picked up the half-finished embroidered egg, and handed it to Isolde. "Continue."

Isolde stared at the nearly completed egg, her mind still filled with Oliver's news. After her death, her remains had been hung on the city gates for three days as a warning. She never expected him to show regard for their past, but to climb to power by stepping on her remains—he truly had.

"Embroider. Calm your heart and be the bride you're meant to be," Esme said softly, sitting down.

"Esme, you don't understand!" Isolde cried, tossing the embroidery to the floor.

Esme retrieved it and placed it back before Isolde. "Trust me, I understand everything. But life must go on. You're about to live the life you've always dreamed of. You have someone who loves you. You're no longer a lonely little girl at the mercy of others. Now, you can protect everything you have, and even if you can't, many people will help you."

Isolde looked at her blankly.

"You have so much now. Don't let the past drag you into the mud. Revenge is important, but living in the present matters most. So, calm your heart and continue being the bride you're meant to be. My lady, you are the happiest, most beautiful bride. A radiant bride!"

Esme's voice choked with emotion; tears welled in Isolde's eyes.

Slowly, Isolde calmed herself. She picked up the embroidery and needle, stitching with steady, repetitive motions. The texture of the embroidered egg differed from the smooth silk, but the pattern had its own rhythm, circling until complete.

Yes, she was different now. She had so much—the life she had always dreamed of in her past life. She had people who loved her, people she cared about—so many. She couldn't lose all this because of hatred.

She put down the embroidery and hugged Esme, her voice hoarse. "Thank you. Thank you for understanding everything but never pointing it out. Thank you for always being by my side, shielding me from the storms."

"I don't know anything, and I haven't done anything!" Esme's nose tingled as she gently pushed Isolde away, feigning sternness. "Keep embroidering. I'm still not satisfied. As long as you don't give up, you can embroider a life that satisfies you."

Isolde sniffed. "Yes!"

Esme stood, her stern gaze softening into deep affection. She took a deep breath and left. Don't give up. Embroider a life that satisfies you.

Isolde exhaled softly, almost disbelieving how easily the raging anger had subsided. Perhaps it was because Oliver had said they still had important things to do. Though she didn't know what those things were, she knew living well was the right path.

Oliver returned that evening. The Queen Dowager was unwell, but had granted Isolde permission to enter the palace the next day to pay her respects.

Isolde couldn't sleep, tossing and turning, filled with nervousness. Memories flooded her mind, and though she had calmed during the day, the quiet of the night brought back piercing pain and bone-deep hatred. But more than anything, she was nervous about what she was going to ask.

She was awake, yet it felt like a dream. Oliver's words felt dreamlike now. What was going on? She had died and come back to life once, and Oliver had died and seen things he hadn't experienced in his past life. It was all bizarre.

She even wondered if her past life had truly been as Oliver described, or if it had all been a nightmare. But those experiences had felt so real. It wasn't a dream. So, was this a dream? Or was everything a dream, something she had conjured before her death?

She didn't know. Her mind was a chaotic mess, as though she had lived a lifetime and been abruptly pulled out of it. She wasn't herself, yet she was.

Would she find answers tomorrow? If the Queen Dowager could give her answers, then who was she? Was she truly the one who controlled everything in the unseen world?

She suddenly remembered a thought from a few days ago: Was there someone in the unseen world who controlled everything? The Queen Dowager's face had appeared in her mind. Was it coincidence, or was everything arranged?

The next day, she awoke before dawn. Esme, knowing she was going to the palace, had also dressed early to accompany her. Noelle and Britney helped her get ready, while Hattie and Hazel prepared breakfast. The room bustled. Isolde ate half a bowl of milk and bread. Palace etiquette was complicated; it was best not to drink too much water to avoid needing to relieve herself later.

The bread was filling. Since the Queen Dowager was ill, many concubines would likely come to pay their respects. It was uncertain how long they would have to wait to see her.

It was still dark when they left the house. Coincidentally, it was an early court day, and many officials waited outside the palace. Since Isolde was going to the inner palace, she bypassed the east gate and headed for the west gate.

Outside the west gate, noblewomen also waited. Most had been summoned by palace concubines and were family members of those concubines. The Queen was kind and allowed the families of the concubines to visit once a month. Now that the Queen Dowager was unwell, they had all come, hoping to make a good impression.

Layla's family was there, including Caroline, who had helped Margaret. The Hanson family had seen Isolde before—when she and William were engaged—but she had been shy and avoided attention. Even now, standing at the palace gate after alighting from the carriage, they didn't recognize her.

Princess Aveline was at the front. Noticing someone approaching, she turned and recognized Isolde. With a warm smile, she said, "Isolde, come stand by me."