07:23 Tue, 11 Mar

Chapter 92: Teach Her a Lesson!

Prudence's face hardened with anger. Priscilla was shocked. "Did no one teach Isolde proper manners? How could she be so rude? If word gets out, it will disgrace the Langley family!"

Matilda had much to say but, with Geoffrey present, hesitated and remained silent.

Prudence turned to Geoffrey. "You need to return to the office. We'll have a family dinner later and catch up on everything that's happened these past two years."

Geoffrey understood Prudence was dismissing him to assess the situation. Worried Matilda might speak recklessly, he glared at her and said, "Take good care of Mother."

Matilda quickly replied, "Yes." Geoffrey departed.

Immediately, Vance said coldly, "Since when has she become so brazen? Matilda, can't you even control this unruly girl?"

Michelle added, "There's nothing we can do. She's a County Princess now."

Martha shouted in shock, her face twisting with bitter jealousy. "Why? Even if Uncle Geoffrey earned merit, the title should have gone to Michelle first. If not her, then me or Nicole. Why that jinx?" She stormed off, protesting, "No way! I'm going to find her! What right does she have to that title?"

Priscilla quickly rose to stop her. "Martha, don't be reckless!"

Prudence raised a hand, a dark expression on her face. "It doesn't matter. Sisters argue."

Priscilla faintly smiled. "You're right."

Isolde was merely insolent. Moreover, Martha was strong-willed; Priscilla doubted Martha would be at a disadvantage, seeing it as a good opportunity to teach Isolde a lesson.

Prudence turned to Matilda. "Explain how this County Princess title came about. Geoffrey mentioned you returned her stores. What's that about?"

Matilda immediately began complaining. "Mother, this girl behaved properly for two years after returning. Then, unexpectedly, she saved the Marquis of Eldermere. He insisted on making her the Valen family's daughter-in-law. We even wrote to you about it. But the engagement fell apart because the Marquis's heir fell for his wife's niece, Eleanor. Isolde refused to accept it, even though Eleanor was willing to be a concubine. Her jealousy was unbearable, so Margaret annulled the engagement."

Prudence said coolly, "Geoffrey mentioned the broken engagement in his letter. Just tell me how she became a County Princess."

"Yes," Matilda continued, "It's quite strange. The city guards claimed they saw her eloping with a scholar, and the whole city was talking about it. Geoffrey was furious and even punished her. But later, it turned out she wasn't eloping; she was saving Lord Theodric, Princess Aveline's son. The Queen Mother was so pleased that she granted her the title of County Princess. She even decreed that Geoffrey's title could now be inherited."

Vance was overjoyed. "Are you saying my brother's title can now be inherited?"

Matilda, sensing his excitement, felt uneasy. "Well… I believe so."

Vance turned to Prudence, happy. "Mother, this is wonderful!"

Prudence gave him a cool glance. "Of course it is. Your brother has finally brought honor to our family."

Vance, realizing his eagerness, quickly composed himself. "Yes. It's truly good news."

He exchanged a look with Priscilla, who shared his joy.

As Matilda finished explaining Isolde's title, Martha reached the Pearl Tower. Hattie and Hazel blocked her path. "Who are you?"

Martha, the most spoiled, always got her way. Seeing servants dare to stop her, she swung at Hazel, saying, "Who do you think you are? Tell Isolde to come out!"

But Hazel was quicker. Before the slap landed, she grabbed Martha's wrist, twisted it, and forced her to slap herself twice.

Martha, never harshly scolded, was humiliated by a servant. "I'm going to kill you!" she roared, lunging at Hazel.

Hattie grabbed her, twisted her around, and flung her out. "How dare you offend the County Princess? Do you want me to report you to the Queen Mother?"

Martha froze. "Who are you trying to scare? Why would the Queen Mother care about her?"

"Why wouldn't she?" Hattie said coldly. "The title of County Princess was granted by the Queen Mother. Offending her is the same as offending Her Majesty. Why wouldn't you be punished?"

Martha, instinctively fearing the imperial family, hesitated but refused to back down. She pointed angrily. "Just wait! I'll tell Grandmother!" She stormed off.

The maids snorted and shut the door. Isolde emerged. "Is she gone?"

"She put on quite a show," Hattie said.

Isolde chuckled. "Grandmother dotes on her so much she can't bear to let her suffer. Martha gets away with everything. Of course she's full of herself."

"She won't be so full of herself when she's in front of you," Hazel remarked.

"Just wait. Priscilla will probably be here soon," Isolde said casually.

"Priscilla? Martha's mother?" Hazel scoffed. "Why should we be afraid of her? What can she possibly do to you? And why wouldn't Madam Langley come herself?"

Logically, the old lady doted on Martha and would be angry.

Isolde said lazily, "Do you think someone of Grandmother's status would lower herself to deal with me personally?"

She added, "Priscilla has always been Grandmother's pawn. My grandmother rarely acts directly and prefers to let others do her bidding. Martha probably came with her tacit approval to vent her frustration or to put me in my place, making me easier to control in the future."

Isolde was right. When Martha ran back crying, showing her grandmother the red handprints, Prudence's expression darkened. Hearing Isolde's servants acted insolently, she turned to Priscilla and ordered, "Go and demand an explanation. If Isolde refuses, have her kneel in my quarter until she realizes her mistake! So what if Martha is willful? She's simply outrageous! If we don't stop this, she'll ruin the Langley family's reputation."

Martha threw herself into Prudence's arms, sobbing. "Grandmother, you have to send Mother to bring that wretched servant so I can teach her a lesson!"