Chapter 373: How Heartless

Heidi turned to Isolde, her voice gentle. “Isolde, is something wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Allan, however, was furious. “Look at her—does she look sick to you? Even if she were ill, unless she were bedridden and unable to walk, she should return! How can a granddaughter refuse to attend her grandmother’s funeral? It’s not like the estate is thousands of miles away—it’s barely half an hour’s journey! And you stand there saying you won’t go? There is no excuse for this!”

Isolde lowered her gaze. She didn’t argue, didn’t justify herself. Instead, she simply said, “I’m not sick. There’s no other reason. I just don’t want to go.”

“You—” Allan was so enraged that he could hardly breathe. He clenched his fists, staring at her expressionless face. Forcing himself to stay calm, he asked, “Then tell me. What’s your reason? Surely you have one?”

Isolde shook her head. “I don’t.”

She dipped into a respectful bow. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

Without waiting for his response, she turned and walked away.

Allan slammed his fist on the table. “Unfilial disgrace!”

Heidi, still puzzled, murmured, “I’ve heard rumors that she didn’t get along with her family at the Langley estate, but… the woman is dead. What could possibly justify this? Isolde doesn’t seem like someone who would hold petty grudges.”

“You think she’s still bitter over the time Prudence and Geoffrey sent her to the manor?” Heidi guessed.

Allan scoffed. “That was years ago! Even if there was resentment, it’s long past! And even if her personal feelings were cold, death demands respect. Since when does a granddaughter refuse to mourn her grandmother?!”

“Don’t get so worked up,” Heidi soothed. “Whether she goes or not, we still have to.”

Allan’s anger simmered beneath the surface. He barely picked at his breakfast before setting down his chopsticks in frustration.

“Are we still going, then?” Heidi asked.

“I was going to go help out,” Allan said, voice tight, “but if even she doesn’t care, we can wait. We’ll go tomorrow when the mourning hall is set up.”

After a pause, he turned to Kody. “Go to the Langley estate. Ask if they need anything—whether it’s money or manpower. Whatever they lack, the Valen family will provide.”

“Yes, sir.” Kody bowed and left.

Heidi knew Allan was a man who respected the rites of the dead. Perhaps it was his own advancing age that made him more sensitive to such matters. He sighed deeply.

“To be indifferent in life is one thing, but to not even bow in death… what kind of disgraceful descendant is she?”

“What resentment?” Allan snapped. “It’s not as if she murdered her father! It’s not as if she tried to kill her! Whatever their grievances were, they were still family. And whatever decisions Prudence made, they were for the greater good of the household!”

“This is beyond personal feelings. It’s about duty, respect, legacy.”

“She is a Valen now. If she behaves so coldly, the world will say we are a heartless family!”

Allan slammed the table again and barked, “Send word to the Sharp family. Tell them Isolde refuses to attend the funeral. Let the Grand General or Prudence’s kin deal with her.”

A servant hurried off to carry out the order.

Allan scoffed. “I had thought, with Pablo losing favor with Margaret, and Margaret being so biased in her ways, that Isolde could take charge of the inner household. Hmph! Good thing I hadn’t made that decision yet—turns out I misjudged her completely.”

Heidi said nothing, merely sipping her oatmeal.

Allan’s gaze darkened. “Does Pablo know about this? He’s always doted on Isolde—though not as his own daughter. If he finds out, he’ll be just as disappointed as I am.”

Heidi reached out and gently held his hand. “Let’s not be too hasty. We should wait and see.”

“Wait and see what? Tell me, have you ever heard of a grandchild refusing to attend a grandmother’s funeral?” Allan demanded.

“Does Oliver support this as well?”

He continued to rant, his frustration spilling over. Heidi, already tired of the conversation, simply sat to the side, quietly stitching embroidery, refusing to entertain his fury.

Not long after, Kody returned. “Master Allan, Oliver is aware of the situation.”

Allan sat up straighter. “When is he coming?”

Kody hesitated. “He didn’t say. Natasha didn’t, either.”

“They didn’t say? What does that mean?”

“They simply acknowledged my report, then dismissed me.”

Allan frowned. “Strange…”

Heidi, still unbothered, remarked, “Perhaps they’re busy. They might come tonight.”

“Perhaps,” Allan muttered. “Oliver has military duties—he might not have the time.”

Kody hesitated, then added, “Actually, Oliver and Natasha seem to be preparing for a trip. When I arrived, they were packing their belongings.”

Kody continued, “Lady Natasha looked quite unwell. I suspect her old illness is acting up again. Oliver dotes on her—he probably doesn’t want her attending the funeral in such a state.”

“That makes sense,” Allan admitted. “I heard Natasha’s health has been fragile ever since Sinmour City. It’s no surprise she’s still unwell. And attending a funeral at her age… it would only weigh on her heart.”

“If Oliver is taking her away for a few days to ease her mind, that’s understandable. But the younger generation must step up in their absence.”

“Still, Isolde—she’s a real disappointment.”

Heidi, finally annoyed, set down her embroidery. “Attending a funeral is about sincerity. If there is no sincerity, what’s the point of forcing it?”

Allan exhaled sharply. “If she doesn’t even have that sincerity, it only shows how cold and heartless she is.”

Esme had been quietly observing Allan’s reaction. She understood his nature—stubborn, traditional, rigid in his beliefs. He was a firm believer in virtue and respect, a devoted follower of the King’s filial doctrine. His anger now was just a preview of the storm that would come if this escalated.

She glanced at Isolde, who was calmly stitching an egg onto her embroidery. She didn’t comment, didn’t defend herself, didn’t argue. Esme chose not to add to her burden. Instead, Isolde put down the embroidery hoop herself and said, “Let’s go check on the shops today.”

Esme nodded. “A good idea. A walk will do us good.”

As they left, Hattie and Hazel accompanied them. But as they reached the gate, they ran into Arthur. Arthur walked past them without a glance, completely ignoring Isolde as though she were invisible. Isolde didn’t acknowledge him either, brushing past him as if he didn’t exist.

Hattie, however, snorted. “Acting like he’s somebody. You’d think we owed him something.”

Esme waved it off. “Ignore him. We have better things to do.”

“Of course we do, but his arrogance is insufferable,” Hattie huffed. “Even a dog knows how to wag its tail when it enters its master’s house. He doesn’t even have that much sense.”

Hazel nudged her. “Enough. The mistress has enough on her mind already.”