Chapter 66: Eleanor’s Despair

Matilda was completely rattled, never anticipating Isolde possessed such power. The mention of Southern Watch shook her to the core. Who dared offend Southern Watch? Even the most powerful officials in the Eryndral Empire had to show respect to Doug, didn't they? If Southern Watch decided to investigate the past, even Prudence's return wouldn't be enough to stop it.

“Answer me.” Isolde’s voice dripped with cold menace.

“I… I didn’t participate. I don’t know anything. It’s not my fault,” Matilda stammered, her eyes darting nervously toward Anne.

Anne, however, remained calm. She looked at Isolde and said, “Isolde already knows everything. You must also know that back then, you had no control over the household. Everything was managed by Prudence, including what Xavier said. All of that was arranged by Prudence. She also gave him five thousand. This has nothing to do with you.”

Isolde lowered her eyes, masking the killing intent behind her words. “Thanks for the information. By the way, there’s something I forgot to mention. Yes, money can move mountains, but paying Xavier to do something isn’t worth it to me. He’s here to speak on your behalf. As for what Anne overheard in the study, did anyone tell you that after Xavier left, Father went out too?”

Matilda’s head snapped up in fury. “You… you were trying to get me to confess?”

“You were only too eager to expose yourself. If you weren’t guilty, you wouldn’t have said anything,” Isolde said coolly, stepping forward. “But rest assured, I will keep my promise. I will have my master speak to the Velmont family.”

With that, Isolde turned and left, her movements fluid and assured. Behind her, the sound of Matilda’s enraged shouting and objects crashing echoed in the house. Isolde had already walked far, but the noise lingered. Isolde smirked coldly to herself. From the very beginning, this had been a trap. Her mother’s fate had been sealed the moment she had come to this house. And tragically, her father remained oblivious.

If things had followed the same pattern as in her past life, Prudence would have been the winner. But not this time. This time, Isolde was waiting for her return.

Meanwhile, the Blackwell family was in turmoil. Since offending Doug, officials had distanced themselves, and the Valen family had yet to take a clear stance. Not even an agreement to take Eleanor as a concubine had been reached. Eleanor’s pregnancy out of wedlock and the subsequent miscarriage had become the talk of Argenow; Milton couldn’t even leave his house for fear of public scorn. Ever since rising to power, Milton had never endured such humiliation.

“Milton, think of something!” Samiyah cried, her voice hoarse from all the tears.

Milton, standing with his hands behind his back, glared at her and said, “What can I do? What good ideas can I possibly have? At this point, should I go beg the Valen family?”

Samiyah, still sobbing, said, “William is heartless. He hasn’t even come to see Eleanor once. If I’d known he was this kind of man, I would never have let Eleanor marry him. It was a huge mistake! It’s all Matilda’s fault. If she hadn’t promised that she could manage Isolde as a concubine and Eleanor as the main wife, I wouldn’t have taken the risk. Now, our reputation is ruined, and the doctor says Eleanor may never bear children again. What’s she supposed to do with her life now?”

Milton, furious, snapped, “Shut up! Matilda was doing this for Eleanor’s good. Didn’t you agree with her at the time? Why is it all her fault now?”

Samiyah stopped crying as he snapped at her and said, “Wasn’t it for your future? If we could get in good with the Valen family, your future would be limitless.”

Milton’s frustration was palpable. His worries stretched far beyond Eleanor’s marriage. He was also fearful of the investigation by Southern Watch. It didn’t matter if he was guilty or not. Offending Doug meant he could be falsely accused of a hundred different crimes. And there was the matter of Shadowmere. It had been a while since he had received any letters from there, and his inquiries had gone unanswered. As for the Wolf Mountain case, it was under the supervision of the courthouse, but there had been no updates. He had no idea who had been captured at Wolf Mountain.

Ever since returning from Montlins Manor, he expected someone to come and question him, at least from Southern Watch. But the delay was only making him more anxious. The Valen family’s arrogance was only adding to his despair. When he heard Samiyah say that Eleanor might never bear children again, he was so choked with emotion that he walked out without saying another word.

Samiyah, seeing him at a loss, grew even more frantic. Then, Eleanor’s maid rushed in, frantic. “Mrs. Blackwell, Miss Blackwell… she’s tried to kill herself.”

Samiyah’s vision blurred, nearly fainting from the shock. She gasped for air and hurried to her daughter. Eleanor had been saved, but she was crying uncontrollably, devastated. Samiyah, steadying herself, held her daughter tightly, scolding the servants, “Why didn’t you keep an eye on her?”

Eleanor clung to Samiyah’s sleeve, crying desperately, “Mother, tell me, will I never be able to have children again? Will I never be a mother?”

Samiyah’s heart broke at her words. She quickly tried to comfort her. “Don’t talk like that. There are plenty of good doctors in the Eryndral Empire. One of them will surely be able to help you.”

Eleanor cried even more pitifully. “Then it’s true… William hasn’t come to see me at all. Does he not want me anymore?”

“No, he’s just busy preparing for our wedding. You know you can’t see each other before marriage,” Samiyah tried to reassure her.

Eleanor shook her head violently. “Don’t lie to me. They’ve all told me. The Valen family still hasn’t come. He doesn’t want me anymore. Mother, what’s the point of living if he doesn’t want me?”

Samiyah’s anger flared as she shot a glare at the maids, “Get down, all of you. Kneel and slap yourselves. Who told you to fill Eleanor’s head with nonsense?”

Samiyah, known for her strictness, barked orders, and the servants hastily knelt, slapping their own faces.

“Mother, you have to think of a way. If I can’t marry William, I’ll kill myself,” Eleanor cried desperately.

Samiyah, already on edge, slapped her across the face, furious. “Foolish girl! You would throw your life away for a heartless man? What’s wrong with you? You think you won’t find another man? When did you become so pathetic? And this isn’t even the end. There’s still hope. I have a plan.”

Eleanor, stunned by the slap, finally regained some clarity. She stared blankly at Samiyah. “What’s your plan, Mother?”

Samiyah’s eyes narrowed, a deadly gleam flashing in them. “At this point, we’ve already lost our dignity. If Margaret also wants to lose face, we’ll make this matter big.”