Chapter 448: Heidi and Agnes’ Grudge
Isolde adjusted her hairpin, offering a faint smile. “This is a gift from her to me, and I’ve given her a gift as well. Money is never a problem for me; I don’t need to be bought off. But she’s an elder, and I can’t stand to see her treated like that. What did you hear? I get the sense you didn’t quite catch everything they said; it sounds like you misunderstood their intentions.”
Agnes laughed bitterly, her anger flaring. “Misunderstood? I heard it clearly—she said that the Valen family has done nothing to help Arthur, that my mother has been pressuring him to submit to me. Is that a misunderstanding? She was clearly trying to sow discord between Arthur and me. If not, why would he have cut ties with me?”
Isolde asked calmly, “Were they talking in the house or outside?”
Agnes, still fuming, barely noticed Isolde’s probing. “She had someone invite him out, and they spoke privately inside the house. If I hadn’t followed quietly and overheard, she would have kept playing the innocent in front of everyone.”
Isolde pressed further. “What else did she say?”
Agnes, her eyes blazing, snapped, “What more is there to say? That wasn’t enough? I couldn’t stand hearing it, so I stormed in and confronted them. She pretended she was speaking on my behalf, but if I hadn’t heard her words with my own ears, I might have believed her. She was so convincing, like an actress on stage.”
It made sense now. Heidi had been taking Agnes’ verbal abuse without responding. If she had tried to argue back, Agnes’ temperament would have escalated things. Agnes was like a firecracker—let her vent, and she’d be satisfied, not thinking deeply about the consequences. So, Heidi had chosen to endure the abuse, seeking to keep the peace.
Isolde said, “I didn’t realize it was like this. I really misunderstood you. Well, I won’t involve myself any further. She isn’t your real grandmother, after all, so she’s not likely to wish you well. But there’s one thing I need to tell you—after all the cursing, she knows she’s in the wrong, but she didn’t dare tell Allan. The house gossips, though, and Allan won’t care for these things. Even if elders are in the wrong, the younger generation can’t lash out at them like this. If Allan finds out, there’s no way Pablo can shield you, and your mother won’t be able to either. If you still want to live peacefully in this house, I suggest you drop it.”
Agnes shot back with anger, “So, what, you’re still defending her? You want me to back down so easily? It’s not that simple.”
Isolde smiled coolly. “It’s up to you. I’m just saying, if you really want to fuel the fire, that’s your choice. But Allan has enough on his plate with the court and William, and if you stir things up, you could end up with nothing but regret. Allan won’t hurt you, but you’ll lose face in front of the servants. Is it worth it? This is none of my business, but since I’m staying at the Valen family, I’d prefer not to see more trouble. I have matters of my own to discuss with Allan. If you anger him, I might not get what I need. So I’m just offering a suggestion—think carefully. If you don’t want me to get my way, I have other ways to get what I want, but you’ll be the one to suffer.”
With that, she turned and left.
She knew Agnes would swallow her anger. Agnes wasn’t impulsive—she just had nowhere else to vent her frustration, and with Heidi taking her abuse without resistance, she found a way to direct her anger at Heidi. But after tonight, once Isolde explained the stakes, Agnes would likely back down.
Isolde didn’t want things to escalate. Heidi wasn’t yet aware of the deeper layers, and as long as Agnes didn’t…
Chapter 448: Heidi and Agnes’ Grudge
As for William, he was still determined to go to Thalvinar. He had even gone to the palace to ask the King for permission, and with Raphael and Darwin backing him, the King agreed, even helping to convince Pablo. Pablo had no choice but to approve.
With that settled, the wedding to Martha needed to be planned quickly.
Isolde returned to the Langley family, where Nicole had already begun preparations for the wedding.
Upon Isolde’s return, Nicole greeted her with a strained smile. Isolde could tell that Nicole, seeing another sister about to marry while she remained unwed, was feeling down.
To cheer her up, Isolde decided to try and bring Nicole and Keith closer and had someone summon Keith to help with errands.
Keith, however, was busy with work at Everfort Granary and hadn’t had breakfast. When he arrived at the Langley family, he was so starved that he was moved by Nicole’s hospitality, especially after she quickly arranged for a meal. He patted his stomach, turning to her with admiration. “You’re so graceful. Any man who marries you is truly fortunate.”
Isolde teased, “So, would you like to be that lucky man?”
Keith froze, realizing that Isolde had mentioned this before. Unsure of how to respond, he looked at Nicole.
Nicole blushed, and though her heart raced, she stayed still, waiting for Keith’s reply.
Keith, slightly embarrassed, said, “If you don’t mind, I’d be honored to be that man.”
Nicole felt her heart soar, overwhelmed with happiness, and tears welled up in her eyes. The weight she had been carrying seemed to lift all at once.
Isolde smiled, feeling relief. But there was still a question lingering. “But what about your parents? Will they approve?”
Keith hesitated. “They’ve been encouraging me to marry, so I’m sure they’ll agree.”
“Still, it’s sudden,” Isolde said. “Eight days isn’t much time. Given Nicole’s past, her former engagement, and her age… your parents might have concerns. Maybe you should check with them first?”
Keith nodded, “I’ll go back after I help here. I’ll check with them.”
“No need,” Isolde replied. “There’s no work left here for you. I’ve got it covered.”
Keith quickly left, clearly eager to speak to his parents.