Chapter 376: Something More Beneath the Surface

Oliver smiled. “Come now, why would she be avoiding you?”

“Obviously because she’s feeling guilty,” Pearis stated. Allan’s sharp gaze locked onto Oliver. “Do you know about her grandmother’s passing?”

“I do.”

“And you know she refuses to return for the funeral?” Allan’s irritation flared.

“I do.”

“And you still let her do as she pleases?” Allan slammed his palm on the table.

Pablo, knowing Oliver wasn’t one for arguments, quickly interjected. “Don’t be angry, my lord. Isolde is a thoughtful girl. If she’s not returning, she must have her reasons. Perhaps we should leave it be.”

“Leave it be?” Allan scoffed. “Easy for you to say! She’s part of the Valen family now. If word gets out that she’s so heartless and indifferent, it won’t just harm our family’s reputation—it goes against human decency! Never mind face and honor; we still have obligations! Without filial piety, how are we different from beasts? The King and the Queen Mother rule with virtue, using filial duty to set an example. Have you, after all these years as a court official, forgotten their teachings?”

Pablo, caught in the crossfire, fell silent.

Allan turned back to Oliver. “You know the situation. They’re short on hands. Geoffrey, ever since the battle of Zloimond, has yet to recover. As his son-in-law, you should be lending a hand, not indulging your wife’s whims. This is your failing. I know you’re not one for socializing or navigating these matters of custom, but kinship demands support. As a general, how can you be so blind to right and wrong?”

Oliver nodded dutifully. “Yes, I will remember your guidance.”

“Tomorrow, she must go back.” Allan, satisfied with Oliver’s compliance, assumed he would persuade Isolde and dropped the matter.

The funeral arrangements were overseen by Vance. Grief-stricken, he wept several times a day. Whenever relatives arrived, he would fall to his knees in mourning.

Prudence’s death notice had been sent to her hometown, meaning the funeral had to wait for her relatives to arrive before she could be laid to rest. Until then, the body remained in the hall, unsealed in its coffin. This was the custom. If the family lived nearby, the wait was just a few days. If they were far away, it could take up to a month. Winter made it easier; in summer, the body would rot. But customs were customs—there was no changing them.

Fortunately, Prudence’s family wasn’t far. They would arrive in a day or two.

Geoffrey, still gravely ill, did not don mourning clothes. According to Ervndral Empire funeral rites, a child in critical condition could forgo the mourning garb, but like Isolde, he neither wore mourning clothes nor knelt in the funeral procession. Being bedridden, no one could enter his chambers. When the mourning attire was sent to him, he had Harlan burn it. No one knew.

Vance, however, whispered to the relatives, “He was perfectly fine before. But ever since Mother died, he hasn’t left his bed.” His words were meant to imply Geoffrey was an unfilial son, but the relatives took it another way, believing his grief had made him ill. And so, no one spoke ill of him.

During the mourning period, all family members were expected to attend. Isolde’s absence did not go unnoticed. But she was, after all, a married granddaughter. Perhaps she would arrive for the final rites.

However, when Prudence’s family finally arrived, and the funeral hall was formally arranged for burial, Isolde was still nowhere to be seen. Officials from the court began to arrive. Allan and Heidi also came. Allan was already fuming—Oliver hadn’t just failed to bring Isolde; he hadn’t even shown up himself. Worse still, the couple had moved to Paletein Manor, avoiding the family home entirely.

Noticing the lack of helping hands, Allan sought out Vance. “If you need assistance, just ask,” he offered.

Vance, still in tears, replied, “Lord Allan, you are too kind. Everything is in order now. Only, Isolde never came. Mother must be restless even in death.”

Allan’s irritation deepened. He resented Isolde more with each word.

It was Heidi who asked, “Did Isolde and Prudence have some past conflict? Perhaps a misunderstanding? If so, tell us. We might be able to smooth things over.”

Vance wiped his eyes, his expression puzzled. “A misunderstanding? What misunderstanding could there be? Isolde was in the estate all those years. Even when she returned two years ago, Mother and I were in Caelmont. They barely spent time together. What misunderstanding could there be? Mother always treated her with care, knowing she had suffered, and made sure she had the best of everything. But…”

“But what?” Heidi pressed.

Vance hesitated. “I know Isolde resented being sent away to the estate as a child. She quarreled with Geoffrey over it many times. Eventually, Mother told her that sending her away was Mother’s decision, not Geoffrey’s. She did it to ease the tension between them. But perhaps… Isolde never forgave her for it.”

Allan sighed. “Geoffrey was wrong back then. A father shouldn’t send his own daughter away, leaving her to fend for herself. She must have endured a hard life there. Garrett and Natasha were in Sinmour City at the time and couldn’t help her either. She did suffer. But she can’t be so ungrateful. Holding a grudge is one…”

His words were meant to imply she was the cause of the turmoil, but Allan, deep in thought, didn’t dwell on them. Instead, he muttered absentmindedly, “Things will get better.”

Vance had hoped to win Allan over, to have him punish Isolde, but to his disappointment, Allan didn’t seem interested in pursuing the matter.

On the way home, Allan was lost in thought. “What’s wrong? Still upset with Isolde?” Heidi asked with a smile.

Allan’s response was indifferent. “Shouldn’t I be?”

“Perhaps, but only for a while. The situation hasn’t blown up—just some gossip.”

Allan hummed in agreement, then murmured, “Vance’s words trouble me. I’ve observed Isolde since she married into the family. She’s someone who repays kindness and never forgets a grudge. That’s not necessarily a bad trait. People with strong wills tend to be reliable. I don’t fear her being malicious. What unsettles me is this: if she had old grievances, I wouldn’t be surprised. But Vance claims Prudence treated Isolde exceptionally well—better than others in the household. That doesn’t add up. I may not know all the details about the Langley family, but I do know Prudence was once harsh toward Isolde. That much I’ve heard.”

He paused before continuing, “I expected her to be reluctant, but she should have at least put on a show of propriety. That’s why I kept pressing Oliver to make her go. But after hearing Vance, I can’t help but feel… something else is at play here.”