However, in the evening, these trivial matters were compiled and sent to Gabriel. 91% n “Growing flowers?” Gabriel leaned weakly on the bed. After reading the surveillance booklet sent to him, he frowned slightly. “Could she possibly have the time and leisure to grow flowers?” Gabriel murmured. Gabriel ordered, “Find out what kind of flowers she’s growing. I want to know everything, including the pots and soil.” Having cleaned up too many messes, Gabriel now wanted to stabilize the situation, which meant keeping his children in check. Gabriel had to keep a close eye on them at all times, otherwise, one of them would slip away and cause him more trouble. Just like Matthew. Gabriel hadn’t expected that Matthew would run away again just after he had been angered! When he heard the news, Gabriel practically jumped out of his skin with rage. “Find him immediately and bring that good- for–nothing back to me! If he dares to disobey, break his legs and drag him back!” The butler smiled wryly. ‘Even if the Duke said so, how can we actually break Lord Matthew’s legs?‘ Fortunately, Gabriel suddenly remembered something and immediately changed his mind. “No, wait, go find Benedict and let him bring his good–for–nothing brother back!” Ever since the Duke’s estate’s shadow guards were eliminated, these newly trained guards were no match for Matthew. Matthew wanted to go out, and no one could stop him. Especially since Gabriel, the only one who could control him, was ill. Matthew no longer took those people seriously. After holding back for so many days, Matthew had to find a way to regain his ground! After leaving the Duke’s estate, Matthew went straight out of the city. Because of his father’s orders, no horses or carriages were prepared for him at the estate. So Matthew had to find a place to buy a horse first. As soon as he turned into an alley, a shadow loomed over him and a large sack fell from the sky. Matthew sensed something was wrong and quickly dodged it. Unfortunately, in the next second, someone faster than him made their move. Boom! As soon as Ross finished speaking, Nolan smashed the table beside him with one palm, his face full of anger. An hour later, Matthew slowly regained consciousness. He had barely opened his eyes when he was met with a face he knew all too well, now contorted in rage. Matthew spoke up. “Dylan? What are you…” “Matthew! Don’t you have a conscience?” Dylan asked. Inside the iron cage, before Matthew could finish his sentence, Dylan, fuming with rage, cut him off. He grabbed Matthew by the collar and yanked him up. Dylan raged, “I haven’t even settled the score with you and Anthony for poisoning me, and now you dare try to pin the blame for ruining Eliza’s herb garden on me?! Just how much do you hate Eliza and me to resort to such vicious acts?!” 09:12 Tue, 22 Apr w Chapter 270 “I’m vicious?” Matthew shot back. 3.91% After being scolded, Matthew finally regained his senses. He knocked Dylan’s hand and said coldly, ‘Dylan, I admit that we did some bad things for you, but we never thought of hurting you. And isn’t it all Eliza’s fault that we did these things? If it weren’t for her targeting Sophie, how could Anthony and I have touched you to deal with her?” “Shut your mouth!” Dylan snapped. Dylan couldn’t listen anymore. He looked at his twin brother in front of him with disappointment. “At this point, you still think it’s Eliza’s fault?” Matthew said, “If it’s not her fault, then is it my fault? Or Sophie’s fault? Dylan, do you think that Father, Sophie, Anthony and I are all at fault, and only Eliza is not at fault? “Dylan, wake up! Our whole family hates Eliza. Shouldn’t she reflect on herself?”
Category: Than Your Daughter
Gabriel fainted from anger. After all, he had already vomited blood from anger once before, and the doctor had told him to pay attention to his emotions and not to get too excited in the future. As a result, Gabriel fainted twice in the past few days because he was too excited. In addition, the news that the gate of Duke’s estate had been splashed with dung for ten days in a row spread like wildfire. So Magnus very kindly allowed him to rest at home and gave him a few more days off. “Did Father really faint from anger because of that little bitch Eliza?” Sophie jumped out of bed as soon as she heard the news. Annie, the maid, nodded slightly. “Yes, Lady Stonor.” “What happened? It’s been so noisy outside these past few days, and neither Matthew nor Anthony came to see me,” Sophie muttered. Sophie was still recovering from her injuries, so she had not left the courtyard much these few days, and thus was unaware of the outside world. However, when she realized that Matthew and Anthony had not come to visit her for several days, Sophie became alarmed. Since the news had already spread widely, there was no need to keep it a secret. Thus, Annie told Sophie everything that had happened in the Duke’s estate these past few days. Sophie’s face instantly filled with disgust upon hearing this. Sophie thought, ‘Those two useless fools, they can’t even accomplish such a simple task! They can’t even destroy a manor properly. ‘Even if they have to do it, why can’t they at least be discreet?‘ ‘If they continue like this, sooner or later, the entire Duke’s estate’s reputation would be ruined by them, even before I become the legitimate daughter!‘ “The Duke needs to rest well these few days and cannot come to visit you, Miss. He asked you to recuperate well in the courtyard and only come out after your injuries have healed,” Annie said. It meant that Sophie was not allowed to go out. Sophie snorted coldly in her heart, but she still showed a concerned expression on her face. “Father is ill, how can I not go and see him as his daughter? Annie, help me pack up, I’m going to visit Father.” Sophie stood up as she spoke. Annie glanced at her, said nothing, turned and took Sophie’s clothes over. With a pale face, Sophie barely managed to change her clothes and then walked out. Annie followed behind her, and soon arrived at Gabriel’s courtyard. But just as she reached the gate of the courtyard, Sophie turned to Annie and said, “Since Father is not feeling well, you have to go in. Fewer people will see, so as not to affect Father’s mood.” Annie nodded upon hearing this, and waited outside the courtyard gate. don’t 09:12 Tue, 22 Apr Chapter 269 Sophie walked in alone, but when she was about to reach the door of the room, she suddenly turned and went to the other side. Standing stealthily under a wall, Sophie raised her hand and knocked on the wall. After a while, there was movement on the wall. And someone threw down a small package. Sophie hurriedly caught it, opened it, and checked. After confirming that it was the flower seed she wanted, she quickly put it away. Then Sophie left. Afterward, she went in to visit her father. After seeing him, Sophie was driven back to the small courtyard to continue being grounded. Sophie said, “Annie, go get me some flower seeds and bring some flower pots. I want to grow some flowers. Annie glanced at her again but still said nothing. The flower seeds and pots were all prepared.
Early in the morning, before the sun had even risen, Matthew and Anthony were dragged out of bed by Gabriel. Matthew said, “What’s wrong, Father? It’s freezing! Father, at least let me get dressed!” “Get dressed? What for? You’ve brought shame upon our family!” Gabriel replied. With that, Gabriel shoved both Matthew and Anthony out the door. When they reached the gate of the Duke’s estate, they saw Benedict standing there. “Benedict, what are you doing here? What in the world is going on?” Matthew, still clueless, asked. Benedict looked at the two of them and said indifferently, “Come out and see for yourselves.” As he spoke, Matthew and Anthony faintly smelled a foul odor. “What’s that smell?” Matthew covered his nose and walked outside. As soon as Matthew looked up, his pupils shrank suddenly, and he was enraged. “Who did this?! Who would dare to splash this kind of thing in our place?” Matthew almost vomited. He cursed while covering his nose, not yet recovered. When Anthony also went out and saw the scene outside, his face darkened. The entire gate of the Duke’s estate had been splashed with excrement. The stench was overwhelming, and even the commoners passing by couldn’t help but avoid it. Most importantly, there were five large characters written on the ground, like a provocation from the murderer–‘What goes around comes around! Gabriel almost immediately knew who did it when he saw this sentence. Gabriel knew even more clearly who had provoked that unfilial daughter, who had only just returned to Hasen City and had already slapped him in the face! “I know it!” Matthew finally reacted at that moment, his teeth gritted in anger. “It was her, it must have been that wretched Eliza!” “Slap!” In full view of the crowd watching from afar, Gabriel slapped Matthew hard across the face without mercy. Gabriel snapped, “You worthless piece of trash, I already warned you not to provoke her again. It’s only been a short while, and you’re already causing trouble for me again! “Just how long do you want to keep embarrassing the entire family?” Although Gabriel only hit Matthew, his sinister gaze also swept over Anthony. “You should be grateful that you are not well, otherwise you would have gotten a slap too,” Gabriel said. Matthew, with half of his face red from the slap, still wanted to argue, “Father, how can you be so sure that we were the ones who provoked her? Couldn’t it be Eliza Stonor who came to find fault?” “Slap!” In full view of the crowd watching from afar, Gabriel slapped Matthew hard across the face without mercy, 1/3 ས 391%[ Chapter 268 Gabriel said as if looking at a fool, “No one else would be as idle as you two good–for–nothings all day long.” And Gabriel was no fool either. Even if he didn’t like that unfilial daughter, he wouldn’t be so blind. Gabriel thought, ‘Eliza had just returned from Kingston and came all the way to the Duke’s estate to throw feces for no reason. Is Eliza out of her mind? Matthew pursed his lips. Although he lowered his head, he still looked unconvinced. Matthew even muttered, “It was Eliza who provoked her in the first place and made Sophie suffer so much.” Matthew and Anthony were helping Sophie deal with that wretch, so what was wrong with that? (+68) “Shut up” Gabriel raised his hand again, and was about to give Matthew a third slap in the face when Benedict reached out to stop him. Benedict said, “That’s enough, Father.” Benedict pushed Matthew aside, glanced at Gabriel, and said indifferently, “No matter how you pretend, the reputation of Duke’s estate is already as filthy as the sewage on the steps of this gate.” After saying this, Benedict stepped over the sewage, got into the carriage, and showed no expression. Matthew didn’t expect Benedict to say that. This was even worse than his rebuttal and sophistry just now. In the end, Gabriel, like Benedict before him, endured the faint stench of manure and went to court. As for Matthew and Anthony, Gabriel placed them under house arrest for the time being, waiting until he returned to deal with the two bastards. Early in the morning, news of what happened at the gate of the Duke’s estate quickly spread throughout Hasen City. It provided another amusing anecdote for the idle people of Hasen City. It wasn’t long before the news reached the Prince Regent’s estate. Nolan raised an eyebrow slightly. “What have those fools from the Stonor family done this time to provoke that girl to such an extent?” … Read More “Than Your Daughter 268” »
Anthony was playing chess calmly. He had someone sitting across from him, but he liked to play against himself. After listening to Matthew’s sarcasm, he thought quietly and placed a black piece on the board. Then he said indifferently, “If this little lesson can make her cry, then she should not grow any medicinal herbs and be a nun obediently.” “Hey, Anthony, are you sure the Withered Root Tree sap you gave me can destroy Eliza’s medicinal field and make her unable to grow anything?” Matthew asked. “Of course.” Anthony raised his chin arrogantly. “I found the recipe for that Withered Root Tree sap in the Sage of Poison’s poison manual. Not many people know about it. Unless the Sage of Poison comes to undo it himself, no one can save Eliza’s medicinal fields.” Upon hearing this, Matthew was instantly relieved. “That’s good. This time, we’ll teach Eliza a good lesson. We only target her medicinal fields this time, not her. So, she can do nothing about it even if she guesses it was us. After all, even if this gets out, we can brush it off.” Matthew curled his lip in disdain as he said. Anthony smiled faintly as well. “She wouldn’t dare do anything. She might even beg us for mercy for Solacecrest Manor’s medicinal fields. Then we’ll make her bow to Sophie and repent properly. Only then can we make up for the harm Sophie has suffered in the palace.” “As expected of you, Anthony. You’ve already thought of this.” Matthew raised an eyebrow. “Indeed, we should make her bow to Sophie and repent. Not only that, she also has to apologize to Sophie and clarify Sophie’s identity to the public. Only then can Sophie’s reputation be restored.” Speaking of this, something occurred to Anthony. He glanced at Matthew and asked tentatively, “To make her clarify Sophie’s identity? However, there are indeed some doubts about Sophie’s background. If we make her clarify it, I’m afraid it won’t be easy. Matthew, do you have any ideas?” “What ideas?” Matthew was stunned. Anthony said, “For example… Let Sophie become the legitimate daughter of Father? In this way, Sophie will be our blood sister. By then, no one will dare to say anything, even if they doubt it. What do you think, Matthew?” He narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at Matthew’s shifting expressions. Matthew stroked his chin and started to consider it. “This method sounds good, but will Father agree?” “Why wouldn’t Father agree?” Anthony was stunned. Matthew said, “It’s apparent that Father doesn’t want to agree. If he wanted to, when Eliza left our Duke’s estate, Sophie should have become our blood sister. But Father hasn’t made any moves till now. I don’t know what he’s hesitating about.” Anthony fell into deep thought after hearing Matthew’s words. “That’s right. So, why isn’t Father doing anything about it? What is he hesitating about? Does he not want Sophie to be his legitimate daughter? But Father dotes on Sophie so much, so it shouldn’t be the case. Just as Anthony was thinking about this, the wood in Matthew’s hand finally took shape. It was a wooden hairpin that needed to be carefully carved and polished. As soon as Matthew finished carving it, he put it away and looked at Anthony, still deep in thought. “But what you said is indeed feasible. No matter what Father thinks, we’ll go and ask him tomorrow and try to persuade him. Maybe we can get Father to agree.” Anthony nodded in agreement upon hearing this. 1/2 09:11 Tue, 22 Apr Chapter 267 But unexpectedly, Gabriel came to them the next day, full of rage and stench, before they could go to him. “You bastards, get out there and see what you’ve done!” said Gabriel, en
As the former butler of the Padilla family. Malaki was naturally sharp in certain aspects. Having vaguely sensed Eliza’s attitude, he handed her something when she was about to depart for Saint Grace Nunnery. He said, “Miss Stonor, I was born and raised in the Padilla family, and when I die, I wish to die for the benefit of the Padilla family’s bloodline. So please accept this item. Please grant me the honor to die for you. Malaki thought, ‘I may be old, but so what? I can still give myself a second life. I’m doing this for the Padilla family and Miss Stonor.’ Eliza looked at the labor contract he presented. She lowered her eyes slightly. “Malaki, have you thought this through?” Malaki looked back at Solacecrest Manor, his eyes filled with longing. Then he looked back at Eliza, just as he had looked at his former employer all those years ago, and said earnestly, “I have thought it through. I will only serve the Padilla family. Although Benedict and the others are of Caroline’s blood, they are not members of the Padilla family. But you. Miss Stonor. are different. You are a member of the Padilla family.” ‘There’s no need for choice. There had only ever been one, Malaki thought. Eliza raised her brows and took his labor contract. “Very well. In that case, I’ll be in your care. Malaki. I don’t have many people with me, so I’ll have to trouble you with everything.” Malaki’s face broke into a wide smile as he watched her put away the labor contract. “Rest assured, Eliza. From now on. I will take care of everything for you.” He called Eliza by her name instead of calling her “Miss Stonor” and decided she would be the last person he would ever serve. Renee, standing to the side, looked at Malaki with envy. ‘How wonderful,‘ she sighed. ‘I also want to be someone who serves Your Grace. If only Your Grace would accept me as a servant, I could become Your Grace’s maid. But Your Grace refused.‘ Renee, who felt sad, bit on her handkerchief, her eyes downcast as she looked at Malaki. Seemingly sensing something, Malaki swept her another glance. Eliza gave a few more instructions before leaving Solacecrest Manor, but it didn’t mean the matter of the herb fields ended here. To be more precise, her revenge had only just begun. Now that they had caught the thieves at Solacecrest Manor, they naturally turned to dealing with the Withered Root Poison in the herb fields. After assigning the men, Malaki arranged the second task Eliza entrusted him. As he ordered people into action, Malaki couldn’t help but praise inwardly, “How wicked.” “This move of Eliza’s is even more infuriating than what Matthew and Anthony did,‘ Malaki thought. He wondered how grand the scene outside the Duke’s estate would be tomorrow morning. While they were making arrangements on this side, the people on the other side were still in the dark. Inside the Duke’s estate, Matthew was sitting in Anthony’s courtyard, focusing on shaving a branch with a dagger in his hand. 1/2 09:11 Tue, 22 Apr * Chapter 266 He had been to Anthony’s courtyard frequently in the past few days, but they didn’t say much to each other. With their business concluded, they turned to their affairs without another word. They only spoke again when they thought of something, just like now. 11 As he shaved, Matthew suddenly said, “The man returned yesterday. Eliza should know the news now. I wonder how angry Eliza would be after knowing this. She might even be crying from anger. Matthew sarcastically curled his lips as he said the last sentence.
Chapter 265 All of the medicinal herbs in Solacecrest Manor were promised by her to Nolan. They were meant for the Black Flag. Those soldiers had fought for Bortenland for years, only to end up with broken bodies, crippling injuries, and lifelong pain. And now, after a month of careful cultivation, more than half of the herbs had been destroyed by these people. They didn’t even spare the fields themselves. These thieves went too far. Eliza refused to let this slide. She would never let the mastermind behind this get away with it. As for these thieves, they wouldn’t be spared either. She said, “Malaki, give them a proper welcome.” Malaki hadn’t expected this side of Eliza. He’d always thought the usually kind and gentle young lady was just like her mother. But now, it turned out beneath that gentleness was a deadly edge. She was just like her father. Malaki’s old eyes gleamed with a sharp light as he stared at Eliza, as if he were seeing the very image of the former head of the Padilla family. His long–dormant heart was stirred to excitement. ‘Mr. Padilla, our family finally has someone to carry on! Suppressing his excitement, Malaki chuckled with a full face of smiles, “Rest assured, dealing with these scums is my specialty.” He turned and gave an order. Several servants stepped forward, each grabbing one of the thieves. Two held each man down, then they carried over the buckets filled with the same poison–laced sap. After topping the buckets off with water, they forced the thieves‘ heads into them, one by one. The first three, including the leader, flailed desperately, sending water splashing everywhere. “Your Grace, please have a seat.” Renee glanced at Malaki. She was inspired. She ran off and returned with a random chair she’d found, placing it behind Eliza. Eliza turned to look at her, only to see the little girl smiling innocently. She smiled helplessly and reached out to pat Renee’s head, “Thank you, Renee.” As Malaki kept a stern eye on the punishment being carried out, he also snuck a glance at the interaction beside him. His sharp old eyes briefly swept over Renee, and then he began to chuckle meaningfully to himself, clearly of something. “No! Please don’t!” “I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!” “Spare us! Please, just let us go!” ing thought וול UE, 22 APE Chapter 265 That night, Solacecrest Manor was far from quiet. TO 9170 8 By the time the night had passed, those seven thieves had been tortured until they were on the brink of collapse. No one even had to interrogate them. Everything they should and shouldn’t have said came spilling out. The mastermind behind it all was just as Eliza had suspected. Anthony never showed his face, so these small–time thugs didn’t know exactly where the poison came from. They only knew it was given to them by a man. The man had worn a mask, but his eyes were distinctive. His eyes were deeply gloomy. He had a thin build and a low voice. Just from those few clues, Eliza immediately knew it was Matthew. Malaki still hadn’t caught on. “Just those few traits? That’s enough to identify him?” He hadn’t really seen much of the Stonor brothers, so he didn’t connect the dots. So when Eliza named the culprits, he was stunned. Eliza stated calmly, “It was Matthew Stonor and Anthony Stonor.” Malaki found these names familiar. After a moment of stunned silence, Malaki exclaimed in disbelief, “My lady, are you saying your brothers?” “Yes.” Eliza’s expression was steady. But Malaki was anything but calm. Ever since Eliza left Hasen City, Malaki had been traveling back and forth frequently due to managing both Solacecrest Manor and Oriphoenix Building. As a result, it was only natural that he’d inevitably hear bits and pieces of news. He’d learned of the repeated conflicts between Eliza and the Duke’s estate. More importantly, he’d heard how Caroline’s four sons had treated their sister just because of an illegitimate daughter. At first, Malaki couldn’t believe it. But the rumors grew louder. Even the Emperor and the Prince Regent had gotten involved and had repeatedly stood up for Eliza. So, after hearing Eliza confirm that the masterminds were Matthew and Anthony, he couldn’t accept it. … Read More “Than Your Daughter 265” »
Chapter 264 Eliza asked, “Did you catch those petty thieves?” Malaki replied. “We caught the ones during the first raid, but just a few days later, another group showed up. They were more cautious and cunning. It was them who poisoned the medicinal fields.” Eliza asked, “Did anyone get affected?” Malaki shook his head. “The poison seems to target only the medicinal fields. It doesn’t have much effect on people.” Eliza sneered. “If it had harmed people, things wouldn’t be this simple.” 91% +68 After understanding the situation, she gave instructions, “Thank you for coming all the way here, Malaki. Since it’s still early. I’ll go take a look at Solacecrest Manor.” Just then, Mary was also present. Upon hearing this, she said, “I’ll go with you.” “I’m coming too! I’m coming too!” Renee quickly raised her hand. Outside Saint Grace Nunnery, a simple carriage was waiting. It had been arranged by Eliza at Malaki’s request. The road from Solacecrest Manor to Saint Grace Nunnery wasn’t short, and she couldn’t have the elderly steward walking back and forth, so she had him prepare something convenient, nothing extravagant or flashy. Just like the carriage before them. It was plain to the extreme. Inside the carriage sat three people. The driver sat outside, and with Malaki included, there were four people total, just within the carriage’s capacity. Half an hour later, they arrived at Solacecrest Manor. Getting off the carriage, Eliza looked at the grand manor with its green tiles and red eaves, and waves of emotion stirred in her heart. In the previous timeline, she hadn’t been here in a long, long time. Back then, the manor had tens of thousands of acres of fertile fields, tall mountains, and long rivers. Though it lacked breathtaking scenery, it was abundant in harvest. Unfortunately, after falling into Sophie’s hands, she had driven away all the nearby tenants out of spite toward Eliza. They left the land to waste for years, chopped down the trees, and stripped the green hills bare. Eventually, the entire Solacecrest Manor became a desolate ruin overrun with weeds. Fortunately, Eliza returned early in this timeline and took back the manor from Sophie’s hands. Thanks to Malaki’s careful restoration, the manor had now regained much of its former vitality. Malaki reported, “Ms. Stonor, Reverend Mother, please come this way. There are seven poisoned fields, all in the eas section.” Once they arrived, Eliza and Mary inspected the medicinal fields. Some of the poison had been poured directly onto fields already planted with herbs, and most of those seedlings had already been pulled out.- It was clear that after discovering the situation, Malaki had people try to salvage the crops. However, poisoned herbs could not survive at all. 1/3 09:17 Tue, 22 Apr Chapter 264 Eliza pulled one plant up for a closer look. As expected, the roots were already rotted by the poison. She said, “Pull out all the herbs, good or bad. None of them can be saved.” Only by resolving the issue with the fields could they begin planting again. Eliza gave the order with a calm face, 91% Mary, however, had some insight into the poison. “It’s made from the sap of the Withered Root Tree. The solution is simple. Gather the tree’s leaves, burn them, mix the ashes with plant ash, and spread them across the fields” She added, “Turn the soil and apply it once every three days. Do this three times and the fields will be usable again.” Malaki’s eyes lit up immediately. “Reverend Mother, you’re truly knowledgeable.” He was skilled in growing herbs, but not in using them. Even if he knew the poison came from the Withered Root Tree, he wouldn’t have known how to deal with it. Eliza remarked, “Malaki, please arrange the manpower starting tomorrow. You’ve worked hard these past few days.” Malaki replied, “It’s nothing. Just… Since the culprits haven’t been caught, I fear they’ll strike again once we start fixing the fields.” Eliza naturally understood. She smiled slightly. “Don’t worry, Malaki. Just make your arrangements tomorrow. We’ll catch them tonight.” ***** That night, while everyone was deep in sleep, several figures carrying wooden buckets quietly evaded the patrols and again sneaked into Solacecrest Manor. “Boss, last night we hit the eastern fields. We also hit parts of the southern ones. Should we try a different area tonight? Maybe the west or north?” “Sure. Let’s check the western side first. Lord Matthew said to hit them all anyway, one by one.” The seven or eight masked thieves carefully made their way west. Soon, they reached the target area. The leader ordered, “You two, go stand watch. Blow the whistle if anything happens. You three, fetch the water. And you, you come with me to destroy the herbs.” “Got it, Boss!” With the leader’s orders, the group moved swiftly and in coordination. … Read More “Than Your Daughter 264” »
Chapter 263 In the forest, silence lingered for a while before a low chuckle broke the stillness. “You’re right. I’m not worthy.” Nolan’s face was icy cold, his eyes sharp. “But you’re even less so” He added, “You think you can use that last loose end to threaten me? Too bad, I’m not buying it With those words, he raised his hand. Instantly, several Black Flag soldiers emerged and surrounded Isabelle. Startled, a sense of dread rose in Isabelle’s chest. “What are you trying to do with me?” 794 自 Nolan said coldly, “You should thank Serenity. If it weren’t for her, your head would’ve been chopped off and kicked wond like a ball by now.” He then turned and gave an order. “Take her away. Tie her up and send her to Kane. Let him keep her in check. As long as she doesn’t die, he can do whatever he wants. But if she escapes, I’ll hold him personally responsible” “Yes!” the Black Flag soldiers responded and moved in. Isabelle knew she shouldn’t be taken away. She had waited so long for this chance. If she were taken away now, she would never find Eliza again. Seeing things going south, Isabelle opened her mouth to shoul Unfortunately, just as she made a sound, the sheath of a sword slammed hard into the side of her neck. She was knocked out cold. Nolan retracted his hand, looking at the sword sheath with disgust. He said, “Filthy.” After the soldiers dragged her away, Nolan lifted his eyelids lazily. “You heard everything?” About 15 feet away, from behind a tree, Tina slowly stepped out halfway. “Keep an eye on people like her from now on. Don’t let them get anywhere near Serenity, Nolan said. Tina was silent for a moment before replying emotionlessly, “I only listen to Serenity.” The implication was clear. He had no authority over her. With that, she vanished into the forest. Nolan sneered, then also left the woods. “Your Highness? Why are you wandering around just after waking up? Go lie down immediately!” Returning to the convoy, Nolan was immediately spotted by Eliza, who had been looking for him after finding his carriage empty. “I’m fine. I feel much better this time. The headache is completely gone, and I’m full of energy,” he said honestly. Eliza raised a brow and nodded, “Is that so? That’s good. By the way, did you see Isabelle? I just checked the rear ca and she’s not there either. These sick or injured people truly liked to wander around the moment they woke up. Nolan’s expression remained unchanged. “Didn’t see her. Maybe she’s somewhere nearby? Should I send someone to 1/3 Chapter 263 search?” Eliza said, “Yes, let’s look around. If she dies before we reach Hasen City, that would be a problem” Unaware that Isabelle had already been dealt with, Eliza frowned. Nolan wasn’t going to let Eliza find out, so he actually did send people to search. Of course, they found nothing “Could she have left on her own?” Eliza murmured, pressing her lips together. “Forget it. Let her be. We’re not far from Hasen City now, Let’s head back.” “Alright.” Nolan nodded obediently. To him, whatever Serenity said went. Eliza couldn’t help but chuckle at how compliant he was. 自 Suddenly remembering something, she added, “By the way, didn’t you say you wanted to pre–order medicinal herbs from me earlier? I forgot to tell you, I already allocated you a section of the fields in Solacecrest Manor.” She continued, “The herbs I planted there are the types your military uses for pain and injury. You can have them all, and if you need more or have special requests, just let me know!” Nolan hadn’t expected her to not only remember but to have already prepared everything for him. He was deeply moved Serenity was kind and gentle. It was impossible that he wouldn’t fall for her. But Isabelle wasn’t wrong. His thoughts were filthy. If they were discovered, he’d be the villain who ruined her cultivation and reputation. So now, Nolan could only keep those feelings deeply hidden. … Read More “Than Your Daughter 263” »
The person who appeared outside Nolan’s carriage was Isabelle. “Your Highness, I can’t do anything to you anyway, so why be so guarded against me?” Isabelle smiled faintly as she spoke. Nolan frowned, his gaze filled with displeasure. “If you have something to say, out with it. If not get lost.” His blunt attitude was a stark contrast to the subconscious smile he had just shown, like night and day. Isabelle sneered inwardly. ‘What an act. He treated other women differently just because of Eliza. But this special treatment might not last long. It might easily fall on another woman someday. After all, she thought all men in the world were the same. Suppressing the disgust in her heart, Isabelle put on a gentle smile. “Alright, I know Your Highness dislikes me, but I do have a deal I’d like to talk to you about.” As she said this, Nolan didn’t even spare her a glance. His tone was cold and contemptuous. “You? What makes you think you’re qualified to make a deal with me? The only reason I’ve tolerated your presence in this group is because of Serenity.” Isabelle’s smile stiffened slightly, and she clenched her teeth subtly. “Of course I know that. But is Your Highness unwilling to even hear the terms of my deal? Because this deal concerns the incident that happened to the Bennett family all those years ago. You… truly don’t want to know?” Her final sentence carried a hint of smugness. After all, she knew as long as it was about the Bennett family, Nolan could not stay unmoved. But she hadn’t expected that Nolan truly wasn’t moved at all. “The matter of the Bennett family has nothing to do with you. Leave!” Nolan shouted coldly. The Black Flag soldiers stationed around the carriage heard the commotion and immediately moved forward. Isabelle sensed trouble. Not wanting to make a scene and alert Eliza, she couldn’t afford to hesitate anymore. She blurted out urgently, “I know you already uncovered and killed those responsible for framing and destroying the Bennett family back then. But do you think that’s all there is?” She continued, “No. Aside from the ones who framed your family, there’s still someone else, someone who caused your mother’s death. That person is still out there, free! Don’t you want to know who it is?” Then, Nolan drew his sword and thrust it forward. Its sharp tip instantly hovered right in front of Isabelle’s eyeball. She swallowed carefully, not daring to move a muscle. Nolan said coldly, “If your words today turn out to be lies, you know what the consequences will be, right?” A faint red glimmer still lingered in Nolan’s eyes, and combined with his murderous expression, it was utterly terrifyin Isabelle didn’t want to admit it, but she was truly frightened by him in that moment. Clenching her teeth, she forced her trembling body to hold steady and replied as calmly as she could, “I know. But I swear. If there is even a single false word in what I say next, may I be torn apart.” 1/3 09:20 Mon, 21 Apr 0 Chapter 262 +50) Nolan coldly observed the subtle changes on her face. After a moment of tense silence, he finally uttered one word, “Speak.” Juhelle hurriedly said, “Half a year ago, I happened to overhear something and learned that after the former emperor ordered the extermination of the Bennett family, your father stayed behind to delay the killers. Your mother escaped through a secret tunnel with you, who had just been born.” She continued, “You two had successfully escaped Hasen City, and no one knew your whereabouts. But then, someone unexpectedly saw you and secretly reported your location to the imperial soldiers. That’s how your mother was caught and ultimately killed by them.” She added, “You must have suspected something like this, but you never found any clues, so you never knew who that person was After saying this, Isabelle smiled sweetly. “Would you like to know who that person was? I can tell you, Your Highness, but only if you agree to make a deal with me? Nolan narrowed his eyes slightly, his demeanor seeming to ease a bit. “What’s the deal? Speak.” He didn’t doubt the earlier part of Isabelle’s story. Because, just as she said, ever since he overturned the case of the Bennett family, there were always a few inconsistencies that didn’t add up. For instance, the secret tunnel from their residence led directly outside the city. His mother had already escaped. The soldiers later found the tunnel, but they somehow managed to quickly and accurately locate her escape route. There were no traitors inside the residence, so the only possibility was that someone outside saw them and reported them. He had searched for a long time but couldn’t find the person who had tipped them off. Now, unexpectedly, someone had come to deliver that information. Suppressing the murderous urge in his heart, Nolan calmly stared at Isabelle outside the carriage. Isabelle said, “There are some things I don’t want Liza to hear. I imagine you don’t either. So either let me onto the carriage, or Your Highness may step down and accompany me to a more secluded place for a proper discussion.” Faced with his chilling gaze, Isabelle forced herself to smile faintly again. Letting her on the carriage was out of the question. Without hesitation, Nolan chose the latter. He stepped out of the carriage and followed Isabelle into the woods, not far from where the convoy had stopped. Isabelle said, “The deal I want to make with Your Highness is very simple. I want to be taken into your residence as your first concubine. “What a shameless woman.” Nolan coldly threw a scathing remark at her. Isabelle’s face darkened. But Nolan wasn’t done. He sneered. I’ve seen plenty of women fight to be the main wife. But one so eager to become a concubine? This is a first.” Isabelle’s voice turned just as cold. “If it weren’t for Liza, do you think I would ever choose to be your concubine?” “For Liza?” Nolan looked disgusted. “Don’t make me sick. And don’t mention Serenity’s name when you say such revo things. You’re not worthy.” Isabelle snapped, “You’re the one who’s unworthy!” … Read More “Than Your Daughter 262” »
(+50) The moment Nolan mentioned a headache, Eliza didn’t even have time to react to how intimate he’d just sounded calling her by name. Her expression changed instantly as she asked with urgency, “A headache? What kind of pain? Does it come in waves, or is it constant and sharp?” Nolan replied, “It comes and goes… like there are dozens of voices shouting inside my head. It’s loud. It hurts.” He stared straight at her. The man who was always poised and untouchable now looked like a wounded wolf–lost, fragile, trying to bare his pain to the only human he trusted. Eliza had never seen Nolan like this. Even that first time by the stream on the back hill, when she’d witnessed one of his episodes, he’d still kept some degree of clarity. But now? It was like he’d peeled off every layer of defense, exposing his most vulnerable side completely to her. Her heart ached. She reached out to check his forehead, then gently took his pulse. “Shh, it’s okay. I’ll read scripture for you -just sit quietly and listen. The pain will go away soon.” But Nolan, apparently struck by a rebellious streak, suddenly caught her wrist just as she was pulling her hand back. His voice was low and rough. “Eliza… I don’t want scripture.” “Then what do you want?” she asked, slightly thrown. Of course, when someone’s ill, they get to make the call. But halfway through that question, she realized something was off. “Wait… did you just call me Eliza?” Hadn’t he always called her Serenity? Across from her in the carriage, Nolan sat still, eyes dark and unreadable. He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, after a long pause, he said again, “My head… it hurts…” She didn’t know if it was part of the illness or just him pretending to be dazed, but he kept murmuring the same thing, like a broken record. Eliza met his crimson gaze. For a brief moment, she thought–maybe it was just her imagination–but she could swear she saw longing there. She hesitated. “If you don’t want scripture… do you want me to go get more medicine?” “No.” This time, he answered quickly. Then his voice turned soft again, pleading. “My head hurts. No medicine… not enough. “That last part clicked. Eliza hesitated. Could she bring it out now? Was it the right time? Her transplanted Bloodshade Blossoms weren’t ready. And the century–old bloom still hidden in her pocket farm… if she used it now… “Eliza,” Nolan suddenly said, “my head hurts. Can I… touch you?” Eliza froze. “What?” 1/3 (+50) Chapter 261 She was speechless. Was this man joking? Was he testing her? Since when did touching someone make migraines disappear? If not for the crimson in his eyes, the signs of an actual episode, she’d have sworn he was just faking it to mess with her. Still, she didn’t answer. And then, like a disappointed puppy, Nolan slumped his head low and murmured, “You won’t let me touch you… it hurts.” She didn’t respond. Fifteen minutes later, Eliza sat in the carriage, both of her hands gently rubbing his scalp. Her fingers threaded carefully through his soft silver hair as she asked, “Is this okay? Too much pressure? Am I pulling your hair? If it still hurts, just let me know, all right?” Nolan, now half–lying beside her, eyes closed, let out a low sigh of contentment. “It’s perfect… not too much… you didn’t pull. It hurts just a little–but when you touch me, it’s better.” Relieved, Eliza gave a faint smile. Thank goodness she still remembered the pressure points Mary had taught her. Combining that with a bit of massage technique actually seemed to help. She leaned in closer, adjusting her fingers along his scalp, carefully seeking the right acupoints. After a while, the carriage became very quiet. Even with the rattling wheels outside, the soft sound of Nolan’s steady breathing filled the space. Eliza looked up–he was asleep. Really asleep. She slowed her movements and, once she was sure he was soundly resting, gently retracted her hands. Gazing down at the tension that lingered on his brow, she hesitated for a moment, then quietly reached into her pocket farm and pulled out a vial of pure, undiluted spirit water. She uncorked it and carefully held it to Nolan’s lips. Thanks to the relaxing massage, he was completely defenseless. When she lightly tapped the bottle to his mouth, his lips parted just enough for her to pour it in–bit by bit. Once it was done, she wiped the edge of his lips with a cloth, then sat quietly by his side. After a long silence, her voice finally broke the stillness–soft and low, as if whispering into his dream. “Don’t worry,” she said gently. “Your medicine… it’s finally enough.” … Read More “Than Your Daughter 261” »