Chapter 404: Visiting Natasha

Madilyn had a feeling that without her family's help, Cristina wouldn't accomplish much, so she ceased discussing the matter. Instead, she worried about Arthur and reminded Cristina, “If Arthur asks, just tell him his mother abandoned him before he was a month old, and that your father and I found and raised him. Arthur is a scholar; he understands gratitude, and the mother-son bond will be preserved.”

“Got it,” Cristina replied with annoyance. “Why are you so worried? Do you think he’d ever recognize that prostitute as his mother? You’ve been good to him, no doubt. If I hadn’t overheard you talking to that woman back then, I wouldn’t even know this.”

“How could you let that secret slip after all these years? You really drive me mad!” Madilyn snapped, anger rising again.

Cristina retorted, “Didn’t you see him hit me? I can’t stand how arrogant he’s become. You always told me you raised him to protect me, but now that he’s lost his position, how is he supposed to protect me? What use is he to me?”

Madilyn fell silent, fully aware of Cristina's stubbornness. With Arthur having lost his position, Madilyn couldn't help but feel growing concern. With this temperament, Cristina was bound to cause trouble eventually.

Isolde arrived at Montlins Manor, where Natasha had been feeling slightly better these past few days, likely due to the peaceful surroundings and fresh air. Wade had crafted a chair for her with two wheels, allowing her to move around with ease. Every day, Garrett would push her through the flat areas of the mountains, letting her bask in the winter sun. After decades of marriage, they finally had time to be alone together, and Natasha truly felt happiness.

When Isolde arrived at Montlins Manor, Jessica informed her that Garrett had pushed Natasha to the lakeside pavilion. Isolde nodded and, without Hattie or Hazel, made her way there alone.

From a distance, she could see the pavilion, its bamboo curtains tightly drawn, blocking out the view. She had cried in this very pavilion before, with Oliver by her side. She sighed quietly, forcing a smile as she walked forward.

When she lifted the curtain, Garrett’s bearded face appeared, smiling warmly. “See? I told you Snowy would come.”

Sunlight streamed in, and inside, a warm fire crackled in the stove, making the space comfortably cozy. Natasha sat in her wheeled chair, gazing lovingly at Isolde. “Your grandfather said he could tell it was you just by hearing your footsteps. I didn’t believe him, but now I do. Come closer and let me have a look.”

Isolde walked over, crouching by her side. She rubbed her cold cheek against Natasha’s sleeve, flashing a big grin. “Have I gotten much fairer?”

Natasha stroked her cheek but slowly furrowed her brows. “You’ve gotten fairer, yes, but your complexion looks off, so pale, and you’ve lost weight. What’s going on? Is the Valen family not feeding you well?”

Isolde chuckled. “They would never let me go hungry, don’t worry. I eat well every day. I’ve just gotten tired of the food—overeaten to the point of getting a bit sick, maybe that’s why I’ve slimmed down.”

“Overeaten?” Natasha widened her eyes, her smile full of affection. “You glutton! You can’t just eat everything…”

Isolde, playfully rolling her face against Natasha’s sleeve, pouted like a child. “I know, I know. I won’t be greedy next time.”

Natasha ran her hand through Isolde’s hair. “Don’t be greedy, but you must eat regularly to stay healthy, so you can grow strong and eventually have a healthy, chubby little one.”

“Who will take care of the baby? The Valen family doesn’t have anyone to help,” Isolde said, grabbing Natasha’s hand and looking up at her with longing eyes. “Will you help me? Take care of the baby while I get better? Please?”

Natasha’s nose tinged with emotion as her eyes grew misty. “Of course, I will. That’s all I dream about, you know?”

Garrett, quietly listening from the side, sighed deeply. Natasha, hearing this, shot him a glare. “What are you sighing for now?”

The glare in her eyes carried a hint of warning.

Garrett laughed softly. “It’s not a sigh, just a sigh of relief.”

He was struggling with his emotions. He had been through so much in life—losing his parents, the early death of his daughter, the hardships on the battlefield, countless scars and wounds that marked his body. As a general of the Eryndral Empire, he had defended Sinmour City for decades, leading countless soldiers into battle. Yet, all of his achievements didn’t make it any easier for him to accept the fact that the woman who had been by his side for so many years was now slowly slipping away.

“It’s windy here, let’s go back inside,” Isolde said, not wanting the somber mood to linger any longer. She gently urged Natasha.

Natasha held her hand. “Patricia and Christine wanted to come, but I wouldn’t let them. Do you know why?”

“Why?” Isolde asked.

Natasha smiled, her tone playful. “Because they’d just say the same things you did earlier—nagging, complaining. Don’t eat this, don’t eat that. This fruit is too cold, this fatty meat will upset your stomach, and all the time it’s ‘take your medicine, drink your soup.’”

Isolde couldn’t help but laugh at her perfect imitation of Patricia’s tone. “So you’ve come here to escape from them?”

“Exactly. Without them around, I can do whatever I want. It’s cold outside, but your grandfather had the pavilion covered. When I want to see the outside, I just ask him to lift the curtain. If I feel sleepy, I can nap here. How comfortable is this? In my whole life, I’ve never had such a peaceful moment.”

She leaned back slightly, closed her eyes, and murmured, “From the moment I married your grandfather, he was already a general. The day after our wedding, he had to go to war. From that day, I’ve lived in constant worry. Whenever he returned victorious, everyone celebrated his achievements, and I did too. But my happiness was never about his victories—it was about him coming back to me safely.”

Her hand tightened around Isolde’s. “I had so many children, but was he ever here with me? Did I ever complain? Of course not. The peace and prosperity of the Eryndral Empire is his doing. I admire him, and your uncles do too. They followed him onto the battlefield, and from then on, I rarely slept soundly. Whenever there was war, I had nightmares, waking up in fear, praying for their safe return. But I never…”

Natasha’s hand slowly loosened, her head leaning to one side.

Isolde’s heart skipped a beat as she watched, her breath catching in her throat. “Grandmother?”

Natasha murmured faintly, “I’m tired… I’ll just sleep for a while.”

Tears welled up in Isolde’s eyes as she clapped her hand over her mouth, quietly slipping out of the pavilion.