Chapter 308: It's My Fault

Oliver didn't immediately leave the palace. Instead, he went to pay his respects to the King, hoping to gauge his stance. But Clark stopped him and said in a low voice, “The decree has been written. Their heads and positions are safe, but their precious sons and young male family members will have to enlist in the army at North Camp under Isolde’s command. They’ll report tomorrow.”

Oliver was impressed. With this move, those officials would have to behave themselves unless they wanted their bloodline to end.

“There’s more,” Clark said, walking alongside him. “For the next two years, they won’t receive their salaries. By the time things settle and their resources run dry, the King will find a way to deal with them one by one.”

Oliver expected that, but he recalled Thelma’s warning. If Theodore intended to take them down, he would have to fabricate charges. When that happened, both he and Isolde would likely be implicated. Thinking of that, Oliver was filled with worry.

After leaving the palace, he headed straight for the Sharps’ estate. Isolde had been waiting for him. “My grandfather just got back. I already greeted him. Talk to me first before you go see him.” She pulled Oliver toward the pavilion.

Noticing her lips turning pale from the cold, Oliver took off his cloak and draped it over her. “Dress warmer next time.”

“Okay,” Isolde said, fastening the cloak. Sticking out her tongue playfully, she looked pleased. The cloak dragged on the ground because Oliver was just too tall.

Oliver said, “The Queen Mother gave them a scolding—fierce as ever. I was there, and even I was terrified. She told them it was only because I pleaded for them that the King spared their lives. Clark said—”

Isolde cut him off, “Clark? You just met him?”

“Yeah,” Oliver said flatly.

“Oh, okay. Go on.” Isolde cast him a sideways glance.

Oliver continued, “The King is sending all the young male members in their families to North Camp. From now on, they’ll be under your command.”

“A brilliant move,” Isolde remarked, noticing his troubled expression. “Is there anything else?”

Oliver met her gaze and replied, “The Queen Mother ordered me to keep an eye on them. If anything goes wrong, you and I will pay with our lives.”

Isolde’s face paled. “She always means what she says.”

“Exactly.” A cold glint flashed in Oliver’s eyes. “I’ll have Southern Watch keep them under surveillance. If any of them act out, we eliminate them before they drag us down.”

“What kind of leverage?” Oliver had thought about it but wasn’t sure what would work.

Isolde studied him as she proposed, “Since the King is sending their male family members to the military, why don’t you marry the single ladies as concubines?”

Oliver pondered. Is this a good idea? He looked up and met Isolde’s fiery gaze.

“You’re actually serious?” she asked.

Oliver froze. “No, I was just wondering why you’d even suggest that.”

“Liar! You were considering it. I saw you thinking!” Isolde said angrily.

Oliver quickly said, “How else was I supposed to react?”

“Flat-out refuse!” replied Isolde.

“I was going to, but I thought maybe you had another reason, so I hesitated.” Oliver answered honestly.

Isolde’s voice turned icy. “You already have one concubine. If you take another, I’ll finish them.”

“When are you kicking out the one in the estate?” Oliver asked.

“I can only do that after I officially marry you.” Isolde thought of Cristina and couldn’t help but smirk. “She must be regretting it. She was into the Marquis of Greystone but somehow ended up as your concubine instead. She’s probably eager to leave.”

Oliver pondered for a moment and said, “I doubt it. She told me she wants to be my wife.”

“In her dreams!” Isolde snapped. “Who does she think she is? Daring to ask to be your wife. Am I dead to her?”

“Actually, Ashley tried to seduce me too,” Oliver added, watching Isolde’s furious and jealous reaction with amusement.

Isolde stared at him and said, “You’re talking about that time she deliberately let me see you together, right? That wasn’t seduction. That was driving a wedge between us.”

“That time doesn’t count. I’m talking about another time. She leaned in like this,” Oliver said in disdain.

“Leaned in?” Isolde’s eyes glinted dangerously.

“Yeah, she pressed up against me and tried to sit on my lap. I could even smell her bad breath!” Oliver said, still looking disgusted.

Isolde exploded. “And you just let her sit? You let her press up against you? How did she do that? You smelled her breath. Does that mean you two… you two kissed?”

Oliver had merely wanted to tease her a little, but Isolde completely blew up. Her voice was piercing as she kept lashing out at him.

A moment later, both of them were summoned to the main hall. They stood there, heads hanging, as Garrett and Natasha sat in the main seats, looking at them. Patricia and Christine were there too.

“Isolde, what are you doing? You haven’t even married Oliver yet, and you’re already yelling at him. What will happen after the wedding? Who allowed you to do that?” Natasha usually doted on Isolde, but now she had to criticize her.

Oliver wanted to explain, but Garrett raised a hand to stop him. “Oliver, stay out of this. We can’t let her develop such a temper. She’s already a marshal. She’ll have to lead troops in the future. She can’t keep shouting at people for no reason and being unreasonable. Have you ever seen a marshal who yells at people all the time?”

“Yeah, you,” Isolde muttered under her breath. She was genuinely upset. It was not because of the scolding, but because Oliver still hadn’t explained himself earlier.

“Me?” Garrett was short when he heard what Isolde had said. “When have I ever been unreasonable?”

Isolde mumbled, “Mr. Becker said that back in the army, you used to yell all the time. People could hear you from miles away. Soldiers used to say that when you shouted, it was terrifying. And aren’t you being unreasonable now? You don’t even know why I yelled at him, and you’re already blaming me.”

Oliver, feeling guilty, admitted, “Mr. Sharp, it really is my fault. Please don’t blame Isolde.”

Hearing Oliver speaking respectfully to him, Garrett was pleased. He immediately defended Oliver and said, “You’re a good young man. I know it isn’t your fault. It’s hers.”

“Why is it my fault?” Isolde protested.

Garrett asked, “Where is this place?”

Isolde replied, “The Sharps’ estate.”

“Are you the owner of the Sharps’ estate?” Garrett asked again.

Isolde said, “Of course I am, unless you disown me.”

“Exactly! You’re the host, and he’s still a guest for now. Is it right for a host to yell at a guest? Do you still think I’m unreasonable?” Garrett said righteously.

After speaking, he got up and slung an arm around Oliver’s shoulders, saying, “Come on, let’s have a drink. Don’t bother with her.”

Oliver looked at Isolde and said, “But Mr. Sharp, it’s really my fault…”

“Alright, that’s enough. You can spoil your wife, but you can’t be afraid of her,” Garrett said in a lecturing tone, then took him away without giving him a chance to argue.

It was hard not to feel like the whole lecture had been a cover for dragging Oliver off to drink. Oliver glanced back at Isolde helplessly, who was still glaring at him in anger.