Chapter 374: She Was Not Blessed

Isolde smiled faintly. “I’m not upset. What’s there to be upset about?”

She stepped into the carriage and turned to Hattie. “Go to Southern Watch and tell Oliver I won’t be coming home for dinner tonight. After checking on the shops, I’ll be heading to the Sharp estate.”

“Should I ask Oliver to come with you?” Hattie asked.

“No need. Let him go home. Allan will definitely question him, and if Oliver isn’t there, it’ll only make him angrier. He can take the heat for me—I’d rather have some peace and quiet.”

“Understood.” Hattie nodded and left to fetch a horse.

After making her rounds at the shops, Isolde had little interest in conversing with Collin. Without lingering, she made her way to the Sharp estate.

Outside the manor, a carriage stood waiting as servants loaded it with various supplies. Seeing Isolde arrive, the gatekeeper quickly rushed inside to announce her presence. She followed close behind, stepping into the main hall where the family had gathered. After offering her respects, she took a seat beside Natasha.

“Grandfather, Grandmother,” she greeted. “Are you going on a trip?”

Oliver responded, “Natasha hasn’t been feeling well. Since she’s still able to travel, I thought I’d take her out for a while.”

“If she’s unwell, wouldn’t it be better for her to rest at home?” Isolde frowned.

Natasha took her hand gently, patting it in comfort. “Resting won’t change anything. Death comes for us all—I’m not afraid. From the day I married your grandfather, he promised to take me across the land, to see the mountains and rivers of the world. But he was always busy with military affairs, and I followed him from battlefield to battlefield instead. Now, at last, our sons are grown, the empire is stable, and he has a little time. He wants to take me traveling before it’s too late.”

Hearing these words, Isolde’s heart clenched with sorrow. She leaned against Natasha’s arm, her gaze shifting subtly—Patricia was dabbing at her eyes. And when she looked at her grandfather, she saw it too—the silent grief on his face.

A bad feeling struck her. Not wanting to confront it outright, she turned to Patricia and smiled. “Didn’t you say you had a hairpin for me last time? I haven’t forgotten—I want it now.”

Natasha chuckled. “Such a little thing, and you’re still thinking about it? Do you really believe Patricia wouldn’t give it to you?”

“I’ll be right back,” Isolde told Natasha, then grabbed Patricia’s hand and tugged her toward the hall’s exit.

Once they reached a quiet corridor, she turned, her expression serious. “Tell me the truth. Is Grandmother… very ill?”

Patricia hesitated, then sighed. “I knew I couldn’t hide it from you, but Natasha forbade us from telling you. The imperial physicians came just two days ago. They said… she may not last the month.”

Isolde felt as if lightning had struck her. Her voice trembled. “No… that’s impossible. She looks fine—when I last saw her, she wasn’t even sick!”

“She’s been sick for years, Isolde. She’s only survived this long because of expensive medicine and the thought of seeing you again. But her organs have long since deteriorated. Honestly, when we left Sinmour City, the doctors said she wouldn’t survive the journey. But she endured. She held on—long enough to see you married. But it has been so, so hard. The medicine she takes makes her vomit almost daily, sometimes even blood. The only reason she seems well now is because the Queen Mother sent a special tonic to sustain her. But it won’t last. The end is near.”

Tears streamed down Patricia’s face as she spoke. Isolde felt as if something inside her had been shattered beyond repair.

Natasha is… dying? She had thought they still had so much time together.

“Then why is she leaving?” she whispered hoarsely.

“They’re not going far,” Patricia said softly. “Just to Montlins Manor—the estate Natasha gifted to your mother long ago. When your mother was little, Natasha used to take her there to pick dates in the hills. She said… if she were to pass, she wanted it to be in a place filled with happy memories. So your grandfather has taken leave from court to accompany her there. Once everything is settled, I’ll be going too.”

Isolde staggered back against the wall, then slowly crouched down, covering her face with both hands. Tears spilled through her fingers. She wasn’t ready. She couldn’t accept this.

“If she can go peacefully, with no more pain… isn’t that a kindness?”

But even as she said it, Patricia couldn’t stop her own tears. The two of them wept silently, until Christine came hurrying over.

“Enough. Both of you, stop this crying! Natasha must not suspect anything. If she sees even a flicker of sorrow on Isolde’s face, she’ll grow suspicious—and then she won’t be able to leave for Montlins Manor in peace.”

Patricia wiped her tears and turned to Isolde. “Come to my room. Wash your face—don’t let her see you like this.”

Isolde swallowed down the sobs clawing at her throat and nodded. “Okay.”

She followed Patricia inside, washed away the evidence of her tears, and reapplied her makeup. Looking in the mirror, she forced herself to smile. Once, twice—until it looked natural. She had to hide it. Only then did she return to the hall.

Natasha looked a little tired, but when she saw Isolde wearing her new hairpin, her eyes lit up. She reached out and cupped Isolde’s face, murmuring, “How beautiful… how truly beautiful…”

Isolde met her loving gaze, and her heart twisted painfully. Tears threatened again, so she quickly leaned against Natasha’s chest, whispering, “How long will you be gone? What if I miss you too much?”

“You silly girl,” Natasha laughed softly. “I won’t be far. Just a little trip. Maybe I’ll stay at Montlins Manor for a while. If you miss me, come find me there.”

“Then I’ll go home and pack right now—I’ll go with you,” Isolde said quickly.

Her grandfather, Garrett, looked at her with a complicated expression before chuckling. “And here I thought we were going on a romantic trip, just the two of us. Do you really want to be a third wheel?”

“You’re newly married, Isolde,” Natasha said gently. “You shouldn’t leave the Valen estate so soon. Be patient—if you truly miss me, come to Montlins Manor later.”

She held Isolde’s hand, her dry fingers stroking the back of it.

“I want to go now,” Isolde murmured, her voice choked.

“No nonsense,” Natasha chided with a soft smile. “You’re the Valen family’s young madam now. You must act the part. Don’t act like a child.”

Patricia added, “Yes, and Allan and Heidi won’t be away for long. Once things settle, you can visit her at the manor.”

“After lunch,” Natasha said warmly. “And it’s good you’re here—we made lamb stew today, your favorite.”

Isolde swallowed down her emotions and forced herself to smile. “Then I’ll eat.”

“And afterward, I’ll send you off.”