The Swordswoman’s Revenge Story after Rebirths

Chapter 64: Know the Past +8 Pearls

Harlan sighed deeply and began, “Your father was always a filial man, but that one time, he stood up in strong opposition. I don’t know what kind of agreement they made, but in the end, your grandmother relented, and the marriage went ahead. At first, they were incredibly loving. Your father, wanting to prove himself to your grandfather, fought valiantly on the battlefield, leading his troops to a decisive victory and earning a great deal of recognition. The King even awarded him a title. Your grandfather was very pleased with his accomplishments. But your mother wasn’t as fortunate. She struggled with infertility and faced immense pressure. Your grandmother grew increasingly unsympathetic. By the sixth year of their marriage, when she still hadn’t conceived, your grandmother threatened to die unless your father took a concubine. Your father refused. Then, when your mother went back to her family’s home, your stepmother, Miss Blackwell’s sister, came to live in the manor. She slipped something into your father’s drink, and just like that, Matilda became pregnant, and they had no choice but to accept her into the family.”

Isolde’s eyes narrowed as she coldly replied, “Is that so? Then why, if he truly loved my mother, did he end up having Bryant?”

Harlan hesitated, letting out a soft sigh before continuing. “That’s where things get complicated. After Matilda entered the house and gave birth to Michelle, your father never once slept in her bed. Even when Prudence threatened to die, your father refused to comply. Eventually, your grandfather had to leave to guard the frontier. During the farewell banquet, your father drank heavily in his honor. That night, your mother stayed behind at the Sharp family home to see her own mother off. Your father, drunk beyond reason, was sent to Matilda’s room.”

“Then she got pregnant again?” Isolde said incredulously.

Harlan looked at her, his gaze somber as he nodded. “Yes, and your father, still intoxicated, didn’t even realize what had happened. He thought it was just another drunken mistake. A month later, Matilda was pregnant again.”

Isolde couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at the absurdity of it all.

“Your father’s heart was always with your mother,” Harlan continued, “And when your mother finally got pregnant with you, they were overjoyed. They went to every church in Argentum to give thanks. But your mother’s health wasn’t good. She was swollen and pale, hardly eating, and losing weight despite carrying you. Your father was beside her every day, deeply concerned. Luckily, Prudence made sure your mother had a doctor by her side, watching over her during the pregnancy. But just before you were born, Garrett had an accident, and your mother was frantic. She begged your father to go to the frontier. When he returned, your mother had died in childbirth. He went mad.”

Harlan’s voice trailed off as he grew quiet.

“That summer, when your mother passed, your grandmother had already arranged her funeral before your father even returned. He went crazy, trying to dig her out of the grave, his hands covered in blood. I had to knock him unconscious to get him back to the house. Afterward, he locked himself in his room for ten days, refusing to eat, surviving only on the soup your grandmother forced him to drink. When nothing worked, she called Xavier, the spiritualist. After spending half a day with your father, Xavier convinced him to come out, but the first thing he did was send you away. Afterward, he retreated to Xavier’s monastery for three months. When he returned, he was a shell of the man he once was. There was a war, and the King sent him on a mission, but he refused to go and pretended to be sick. His once-glorious career slowly came to a halt.”

Isolde listened in stunned silence, trying to absorb what Harlan had just revealed. For so long, she had thought her father incapable of loving her mother. But hearing all this, she realized his bitterness and cruelty towards her was, in some twisted way, rooted in his love for her mother.

“I later found out that Xavier told him your mother’s death was your fault,” Harlan continued. “He said you were the soul of death reborn, and that your mother died horribly. He claimed her coffin leaked blood on the way to the burial site and that she wandered the underworld, crying for your father. Your father gave Xavier a large sum of money to calm her spirit. Xavier told him that to bring peace to your mother’s soul, he had to be more dutiful and respectful. That’s when your father became even more dutiful towards Prudence. He held a respectable government position, though without notable achievements, but at least he kept his honor. Still, he could never forgive you.”

Isolde was silent. She didn’t know how to process this. Her emotions were a tangled mess, but one thing was clear: her father’s heart had never truly been at peace.

Harlan sighed again. “I’m telling you all of this because Xavier has returned, and he’s likely going to speak ill of Geoffrey. You should prepare yourself for whatever Geoffrey decides to do. And don’t hate Geoffrey. He’s been through a lot.”

Harlan’s words hung heavily in the air as he left the room, his face clouded with worry.

Isolde, however, wasn’t done thinking. She slowly picked up her cup of coffee, mulling over the words she had just heard. “I’m the soul of death? I killed my mother?” she muttered softly. “No, I’ll prove to you that it wasn’t me. It wasn’t me who killed her; it was your foolish devotion that did. Your suffering isn’t something I caused, but my suffering… that’s all on you.”

As for Xavier, she now realized that it was Prudence who had brought him in. This so-called spiritualist might say anything to get money, but separating a family, sending a child away—it was cruel. No normal person would do that. Someone had to have pushed him, someone with power behind him.

Prudence… it seemed there was more than just the issue of the dowry to settle with her. And as for the supposed marriage contract with Miss Blackwell, Matilda should know the truth. Isolde had a feeling the match with the Blackwell family was fabricated from the start. Prudence never wanted her mother to enter the family. But why? Wasn’t it better to marry a military noblewoman than a lowborn girl?

Isolde considered all the possibilities—could her father’s status as the eldest son, born of a concubine, have fueled all this? Though he later earned great respect, perhaps his mother, Prudence, couldn’t stand seeing a concubine’s son overshadow her own legitimate son.

The pieces began to fit together. If Matilda knew about the marriage arrangement with the Duke of Blackmoo’s daughter, it could all be confirmed. And with Prudence absent, Xavier’s presence was no coincidence. There was likely a hidden accomplice inside the Duke’s estate.

Getting Matilda to speak wouldn’t be difficult. Isolde made her plan, ensuring everything in the manor was taken care of before setting off to confront Matilda.