Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Bella/Charvez has arrived...

The next morning, the news of Andrew's sudden death spread throughout the manor.

When everyone gathered together, they only had time to see the corpse with its face covered by a white cloth being carried away by servants.

Edmund's face was filled with sorrow, and he sadly expressed to Louisa his reluctance to part with Andrew.

Andrew's death was so strange.

The servants harbored suspicions, but dared not voice them. Furthermore, they felt no affection for Andrew, so they could only feign a few tears to express their grief. With their heads bowed, their eyes darted to each other, exchanging secret gossip.

Eleanor did not stop the servants' talk, but only looked at Lady Violet.

"Do you need a doctor to check, ma'am?"

Before Violet could say anything, Edmund interrupted, "The family doctor examined him last night. Like the other ladies, he died of typhoid fever. Bodies tend to rot in the summer. I've arranged for his remains to be cremated as soon as possible. I'll also send a generous pension to the Bill family. Don't worry."

In the crowd, Isabel and Heinrich looked at each other.

Heinrich snorted coldly and suddenly stepped forward: "Stop! Bring the body over here so we can see it."

The servant who was almost at the door stopped. The wind blew the white cloth, revealing only one hand of the corpse.

Edmund frowned and clenched his fingers. "The corpse has the virus. Grandma is old. Do you want to infect her?"

"I'm not a three-year-old, Edmund." Heinrich slowly approached, looking down at him. "If there really is a virus, why didn't the first four women who died catch it? Or... did Andrew die differently from them?"

Edmund gritted his teeth and glared back, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Are you talking nonsense? Seeing is believing. Don't you dare lift the white cloth?" Heinrich pressed closer, and Edmund retreated. "I can help you."

His hand was about to touch the white cloth.

"Hein, stop it."

Violet suddenly spoke, her cane making a crisp sound as she tapped the ground. She slowly approached the body, covered it with the white cloth again, and ordered the servants, "Carry it out."

Heinrich narrowed his eyes slightly and sneered: "Grandma, you still want to help him?"

Violet murmured, "I'm helping you."

"The wedding is coming soon, and soon your curse of 'unlucky wife' will be washed away, and Spencer will regain his glory. We can't let any more scandals happen." The old lady's face was more serious than ever, and her eyes moved across the faces of her two grandsons, full of warnings.

The matter is done. No matter what the cause of Andrew’s death was, the best outcome now is “death from illness”!

Edmund's originally guilty expression gradually turned into a smug and confident look.

"Yes, dear brother, don't forget who the cursed madman is."

Violet shouted, "Ed, stop provoking your brother! And listen to me! In Chalveys, you can fight to the death, but outside, I won't allow anyone to humiliate our family!"

The cane pounded against the marble floor, the sound as cold and hard as the warning in the old lady's words.

Isabel witnessed all this, lowered her eyes and smiled softly.

Only after arriving at Chalves did she understand why old Lady Violet had the final say.

As early as the generation of Duke Frederick, the Chalvis Estate had encountered a business crisis. It was the arrival of Lady Violet that helped the Spencer family solve the urgent problem.

The old lady came from the Ernst family, one of the seven electors. At that time, the Ernst family had only one daughter, Violet, and no male heir to the title.

According to the law of limited inheritance, the title can be inherited by women in only three situations: 1. Special approval by the Queen or the King, like the first Duke Margaret, who inherited the title for her contribution to protecting the country.

Second, ancient titles with a long history, such as the Norman family, are small and ancient, and because of their thin bloodline, there are special provisions that allow female inheritance. This is also because small barons are not a concern, but when it comes to the level of dukes, everything must make concessions to politics.

3. Create a new title. The method is simple: put a gun to the Queen's head and force her to grant a new title. This way, the "female inheritance" clause can be written into the law on the day of the title. Then put a gun to the Pope's head and force him to declare the title legitimate at the ceremony. This way, you can become a baroness and be the founder of the title.

In a sense, the source of Margaret's title is similar to the third method.

After all, the Ernst family didn't have a ruthless person like Margaret, so they could only accept defeat and find a male heir from a side branch to inherit a large fortune. Strangely, the Duke himself was quite receptive to a stranger trying to rob him of his money.

The fact that there was no son in the family had not been a matter of one or two days, which aroused Mrs. Ernst's suspicion.

You wouldn't know until you investigate. Once you do, you'll be shocked to find that the so-called male offspring are actually the Duke's illegitimate children who were fostered outside. There's more than one, but a whole family. All of the more than a dozen children in the family were born to the old Duke and his different mistresses.

According to inheritance law, illegitimate children have no inheritance rights. Even if all the family property is donated to a charity association, it is not allowed to be left to illegitimate children.

Mrs. Ernst was no pushover. With this as her weakness, she didn't cry or make a scene. She immediately consulted with her daughter, Violet, to gather evidence of the illegitimate child and then march directly before the Duke to force him to abdicate. Either they expose the matter and confiscate all their property after their death. Or, except for the title, all their wealth, except for the title, must be given to Violet as a dowry.

The thing the old duke cared about most in his life was his title. In this situation, he could only retreat, otherwise he would lose everything.

In this case, Violet can be said to be marrying the Duke of Spencer with the entire Ernst family.

Like mother, like daughter. Under her mother's thunderous education, the old lady understands the importance of power very well.

If Charvis needed her money, that was fine, but from now on, she would be the true owner of the Spencer family. Until now, the land on which the estate depended for survival, as well as various investment income and expenditure, were almost all controlled by Violet.

Of course, this does not mean that her marriage to Frederick was a purely political one. On the contrary, they had a good relationship.

Love has always been based on equality; otherwise, it would be self-sacrifice on the part of one party. It was precisely because the old lady had the bargaining power to negotiate with her husband that no one in the Spencer family dared to look down on her, allowing her to be frank and be herself.

This also explains why Violet hates Sophia, an illegitimate daughter, so much, and why she can use tough measures to prevent the old Duke from taking her home.

Even today, Violet still holds the final say in this family. Just like now, whenever she speaks, no one will contradict her, whether out of filial piety or inwardly, despite their inner disobedience.

But not Isabel.

"Lady Violet, trying to cover up one's mistakes is not a good way to stop rumors."

She walked forward with a smile, pulling away the tense Heinrich. Seeing the newcomer, the latter finally subdued his aggression and stood behind her obediently.

"Edmund, you keep saying you're thinking about your brother, but you're so impatient you want to label Andrew's death a curse." Isabel looked at him directly. "What are you afraid of?"

Edmund sneered: "Afraid? What should I be afraid of?"

Isabel stepped forward slowly, "Of course you're scared."

Edmund stepped back subconsciously.

Isabel continued: "You are afraid that we will know the truth about Andrew's death. You are afraid that we will know that there is no curse on Charvis. You are even more afraid that we will know that the first four ladies were murdered..."

Everyone's expression changed and they looked at each other.

Violet was about to step forward when Heinrich stopped her.

Edmund sneered, "Miss Norman, you need evidence! Andrew is already dead, and even the ashes of his four previous fiancées are nowhere to be found? Murder? What a joke!"

"Is Andrew dead?" Isabel chuckled, staring at Edmund, and repeated in a long voice: "Are you sure, is he dead?"

Under the oppressive gaze, Edmund's heart skipped a beat.

"Yes! He's dead!"

Before she finished speaking, Isabel suddenly lifted the white cloth!

Everyone widened their eyes, gasped, and stared at the stretcher in shock.

"Who...who is this?"

The face of the corpse was so rotten that it could no longer be seen as human. Only the clothes on the body could prove its identity.

That piece of snow-white handkerchief belonged to Andrew.

Edmund's smile grew wider, his previous panic gone, his pupils sparkling with joy.

"Andrew is the one who died." He smiled faintly, staring at Isabel with his head tilted. "Did I trick you? Now... tell me, where's your evidence?"

During the brief eye contact, he saw an ambiguous smile in Isabel's eyes, like mockery, but also like pity.

Edmund froze, a nameless rage gushing out from his heart.

It's that look of looking at a fool again! It's that look of contempt and ridicule again!

From childhood to adulthood, he is very familiar with this kind of look!

From grandma, from grandpa, and even from dad!

They always use the excuse of sympathy or care to show this kind of compassionate eyes and tell him, "It doesn't matter if you can't compare to Hein, it doesn't matter, he is your older brother..."

Why? Why should I take it upon myself to offer sympathy?

Young Edmund was almost driven crazy by this look!

He hated it! He hated his brother who was always so high and mighty, hated his beloved father, hated those so-called family members who seemed to care about him but actually despised him, and hated everyone in the Chalvey Manor who never took "Edmund" seriously!

Now, even a little duke's fiancée gave him such a look!

Edmund's sanity was burned to ashes by his anger. He ignored the presence of the servants and shouted: "Don't look at me like that! Tell me! Where is the evidence?"

Isabel's eyes were calm. She didn't answer, but smiled and said, "Edmund, congratulations, you've made progress. You finally understand that you have to deal with the consequences of doing bad things."

Edmund clattered his teeth and sneered, "Stop talking nonsense! What are you talking about? Apologize to me now if you don't have any evidence!"

Isabel's smile grew even warmer. "Mr. Edmund, let me teach you one more thing. If you've decided to kill someone, do it cleanly and decisively. Never leave without confirming the person's death."

Facing the sarcastic gaze, Edmund froze in place.

"What did you say?"

Isabel smiled and looked back at Heinrich.

"Victor, bring the people up." Heinrich said calmly.

A gentle assistant wearing gold-rimmed glasses appeared, followed by several uniformed guards.

In full view of the crowd, the dying Andrew was carried in.

"Oh my God? Andrew is here! Then... who is the dead one?!"

"How terrifying! Could it really be that Master Edmund murdered to silence the witnesses..."

…

The whispers continued, and Edmund's expression grew uglier.

"That's impossible!"

"I'm not dead. Are you disappointed? Master Edmund!" Andrew's voice was hoarse, staring at Edmund. "I've been loyal to you, and in return you've murdered me! I'm going to expose your true face right now, you..."

"Andrew!" Edmund gritted his teeth and sneered, "Think carefully before you speak."

The threat in his tone was self-evident.

Andrew was stunned, and the fear in his bones made him pause subconsciously.

"You should think carefully, Andrew." Isabel chuckled. "He only holds the antidote to Zitengxiang and your property. But would someone determined to kill and silence you really be willing to save you? If you're already dead, does money matter?"

"Shut up!" Edmund shouted. "Don't forget who poisoned you! It was this woman!"

"Yes, don't forget, if no one instructed you to poison, you would have no chance of coming into contact with the poison!" Isabel spoke quickly.

Edmund: "Don't listen to her sweet talk! Andrew! I am the master you are loyal to!"

"A master who pushes his subordinates out to block the knife."

"You!" Edmund's face turned pale with anger at Isabel's rebuttal. "Shut up!"

"You should be the one to shut up! Edmund!" Andrew's face twisted as he suddenly shouted, "Lady Violet, I want to prove it to you! Edmund Spencer is a serial murderer! The Duke's first four fiancées all died tragically at his hands!"

"Nonsense! You have no evidence!" Edmund was furious and was about to rush forward to strangle Andrew, but was stopped by Victor.

"I hope you will remain calm, Master Edmund."

"I'm calm!" Edmund clenched his fists, scanned the room, and spoke word by word, "Andrew's testimony is worthless!"

Andrew gasped for breath, his large eyes blazing with anger. "My testimony is useless? Ha! Sorry, I still have paper evidence!"

Victor slowly pulled out a stack of papers. "This is evidence of financial transactions provided by Andrew. He and Master Edmund had significant financial dealings. The contents of a small number of letters suggest that Mr. Edmund is suspected of hiring a killer."

He took out another document and handed it to Violet. "The doctor has found wisteria toxin in Andrew. The poisoning symptoms are the same as those of the four previous Duke's fiancées who died suddenly. According to the confession of the maid Sandy, she was coerced by Andrew to try to murder Miss Norman with the spice but failed. The above evidence is in black and white, enough to prove that Mr. Edmund is the mastermind behind the murders of the four ladies."

Finally, he looked at Edmund and said, "Excuse me, do you still want to quibble?"

After a long silence, Edmund slowly smiled, looking like he had given up.

"Quibbling? I don't need to quibble." Edmund laughed, "Miss Norman, it's hard for you to save Andrew, but it's a pity that it was useless. Yes, I want to kill Andrew, but so what?"

"You've broken the law." Victor pushed up his glasses.

"Hahahahaha! Law?" Edmund stared at Victor as if he had heard something ridiculous. "Victor, don't act like you're believing it. Is this your first day at Chalveys? Like that naive Miss Norman?"

He sneered, his eyes sliding over the crowd.

"He's just a housekeeper. I can kill him if I want." Edmund laughed tremblingly. "And what? You think you can reopen those old cases with just a few reports? The families of those four young ladies have already believed they died of illness. Are you trying to frame me?"

He smiled at Violet and said, "Grandmother, what would those four families do if they knew there was something fishy about their daughter's death? Even if Spencer is a Duke, it would be difficult for him to withstand the wrath of the four families, right?"

Violet's face darkened.

Andrew was so angry that he rolled his eyes and fainted!

Everyone understood his threat.

He only admitted that he wanted to kill Andrew.

He's just a housekeeper. If he wants to suppress the news, then this matter will not get out of Chalvey.

The prerequisite is that Violet nods.

Edmund was best at threatening the old lady with things she cared about.

Violet clenched her cane, closed her eyes tightly, and resisted the urge to beat and kill this unfilial grandson!

The fact that the Chalvey Estate has survived to this day is due to the hard work of her and Frederick.

The glory of Ernst and Spencer gathered together, once climbing to the pinnacle of the empire and becoming an epoch-making symbol.

Since Frederick's death, the entire family has declined, with only Violet left to uphold Spencer's dignity.

No one could understand what Chalvey meant to her!

Even these little Spencers!

She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to calm the anger in her heart.

Just as he was about to speak, a voice appeared.

"What a coincidence! Last night, while rescuing Mr. Andrew, I received four replies."

Isabel chuckled, "Edmund, I'm sure you'll be interested to know who they came from."

Victor pushed up his glasses and pronounced the name at the right moment.

Every time he mentioned a family, Edmund's face darkened, and Violet also showed a look of disbelief.

"Audrey! Are you saying that the families of those four ladies know the truth?!"

Isabel looked at Violet calmly: "Yes, the family who lost their daughter deserves to know who the murderer is!"

As soon as the words fell, the whole audience fell into an eerie silence.

Louisa shook her head blankly: "Audrey! Are you crazy? If they join forces to sue us, the entire Spencer family will..."

"Just hand over the murderer," Isabel interrupted calmly. "Killing someone means paying with your life. It's such a simple truth."

She looked at Violet and chuckled, "You should have the answer to Edmund's question. Even the Spencer family can hardly withstand the wrath of four families, right?"

Unless the real murderer is handed over and Edmund is severely punished!

Sure enough, Violet quickly thought about the pros and cons, and her eyes gradually became sharper.

Isabel lowered her eyes and sneered.

She had guessed that such a situation would occur, so she contacted the families of the four deceased in advance.

Chalves has destroyed too many lives, those innocent people who died. You can say that they paid the price for their own choices, but that doesn't mean the murderer can get away with it forever by asylum.

Violet was certainly resourceful, keeping Chalvey under tight control. The supposed curse, the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, and even the protests from his fiancée's family were all placated by the old lady, who then labeled all the truths as rumors and buried them in the dust.

She is undoubtedly a qualified host. Even after going through so many storms, Spencer still maintains his dignity on the surface and ranks among the top dignitaries.

Therefore, in her first confrontation with Louisa, Isabel understood that in order to find Edmund, she had to first push away Violet who was standing in her way.

If he can threaten you with his face, then so can I. You don't want to expose this matter, but I will act first and ask for your consent later, forcing you to make a choice!

Violet pondered for a moment, her eyes gradually becoming firm.

Edmund felt a chill down his spine. "Grandma... Grandma! You can't... You can't listen to her nonsense! I didn't kill anyone! That was all Heinrich's curse! It was his bad luck!"

Violet: "You still don't repent! Still trying to make excuses?!"

Edmund immediately knelt down and said, "I know I was wrong, Grandma! Please don't hand me over!"

Louisa then begged for mercy: "Grandma, Edmund is your grandson. Once he is sent to court, he will die!"

Isabel suddenly sneered, "You admit your mistakes? You two are really interesting. Edmund, you are my grandmother's grandson, but isn't Heinrich's? If you hadn't killed so many people and framed Heinrich, would Spencer have spread rumors of the curse?"

Edmund's face twisted: "Shut up! What do you know?!"

"I know much more than you do. At least I understand that foolish people should avoid doing bad things, otherwise retribution will come swiftly." Isabel sneered, her words like a knife. "Lady Violet, please think carefully. Every trouble Spencer encountered today is closely related to Edmund, right? Are you going to cover up for him in front of so many people?"

Violet suddenly raised her eyes and glanced at the silent crowd.

"Of course they fear your authority and dare not tell anyone." Isabel suddenly leaned in close and whispered in the old lady's ear, "But I'm not afraid. I've been playing the game for so many years, and I finally have to see justice. What do you think?"

Violet frowned: "Little Audrey, are you threatening me?"

"How dare I threaten you when I'm in Chalvey?" She smiled, paused, and glanced back. "I'm speaking for Heinrich."

Behind him, Heinrich was slightly startled.

"Large families are only defeated from within. If they had united, would Charvez still be in the situation they're in today?" Isabel said calmly. "You've always thought they maintained a balance amidst their internal strife, but have you ever considered whether Heinrich would still be alive today if he truly wanted to kill Edmund?"

"He endured it again and again, for the sake of the family, and even more for you." Isabel paused. "You are their grandmother. You have already lost two sons. He just doesn't want to see you lose another grandson."

"But this indulgence was rewarded with Edmund's ignorance and your indifference."

Isabel's voice fell silent.

Edmund clenched his fists and sneered, "He showed mercy to me? Hahahaha! What a joke!"

He looked at Heinrich and asked softly, "Tell the truth to your fiancée. You hate me terribly, don't you, Hein?"

Heinrich ignored Edmund and just looked up, staring at his fiancée's back for a long time.

Violet was silent for a long time, and finally shouted coldly: "Call the sheriff! Take Edmund away!"

"I won't leave! I won't leave! Why should you say it's fair when it's my turn?"

The servant dragged Edmund forward. He stumbled and struggled, his eyes bloodshot. "What did you say when my father died?! Why didn't you let Heinrich pay for his murder? I don't accept it!"

Violet: "Shut up! Tie him up!"

Edmund had his hands tied by the servant, his face completely gloomy. Louisa was still begging for mercy, but he knew it was no use.

He suddenly laughed, and his eyes were full of madness as he stared at Violet.

"Grandma, you've abandoned us again and again... In your and Grandpa's eyes, what are my father and I? Just pitiful creatures who depend on the Spencer family?"

The scene of his father Joyce being carried out is still vivid in his mind. He cried and begged his grandmother to severely punish the murderer Heinrich, but what did she say?

She said Heinrich was Spencer's hope and the family could not afford to lose another pillar.

Edmund thought it was ridiculous.

As ridiculous as his absurd life.

With Heinrich around, no one could see Edmund. Like his father, he lived in the shadow of his brother Ludwig, wasting his life in it. Even Joyce sometimes wondered if he had a son as brave as Heinrich, would he have been more valued by his parents?

Why did even his father think he was inferior to Hein? Was it simply because he was born thin and weak, without the talent that the Spencer family was proud of? He hated the entire Spencer family for this, including his own father.

But on the eve of witnessing Joyce's death, his usually serious father called him and talked to him all night long.

The father and son talked a lot, as if they wanted to make up for the father-son love that had not been fulfilled in the first half of their lives.

Before leaving, Joyce touched his son, who was already half a head taller than him, and said with a smile: "Ed, you are great. You are no worse than Hein."

He smiled and waved goodbye to Edmund, his last words being: "You are my pride."

At that moment, the obsession of the first half of my life seemed to be dispelled.

Edmund stood there in a daze, like a child who suddenly got candy and was at a loss as to what to do.

But the next day, the father who smiled at him closed his eyes forever, and Heinrich stood solemnly by with blood on his hands.

The two brothers stared at each other across the crowd, and at that moment, the air seemed to be distorted by burning hatred.

The relationship between them is one of life and death.

Edmund laughed so hard that tears came to his eyes.

"Do you think the curses are all rumors? Do you really think Heinrich is a good man? A life for a life, hahahaha, what a life for a life!" Edmund stared at Isabel, his voice trembling, a crazy laugh flashing in his eyes, "The one who deserves retribution the most is Heinrich Spencer! So what if your husband is a duke? Hahahaha! He's still a lunatic! A lunatic who kills without blinking an eye! A lunatic who is nailed to Spencer's pillar of shame!"

He looked up, paused, stared at Heinrich, and grinned: "A madman who might kill his own bedmate one day! Hahahaha!"

Before Edmund finished laughing, he was knocked to the ground by a punch and a tooth was knocked out and covered in blood.

Everyone screamed and rushed forward to stop him, but they couldn't stop Heinrich's ferocious attack. Edmund was beaten to a bloody pulp, but he still cursed with his eyes open: "Hit me! Beat me to death! You heartless executioner! You murderer! Kill me now!"

Heinrich sneered, his eyes gradually turning red.

"Do you think I dare not kill you?"

His fists creaked.

He had heard such provocation countless times, but this time alone ignited his murderous intent.

There was hatred in the similar pupils of the two brothers, and both were gushing with rage that wanted to strangle each other to death.

Veins popped out on Edmund's forehead as he chuckled, "Hahahahaha, then just kill me. What are you afraid of? You killed your mother, you killed my father, and you even want to kill your godfather. I'm no different!"

The force on Edmund's neck gradually increased, and he was unable to breathe. However, his face was still smiling grimly, and he spoke word by word: "You will be a lonely man in this life! You don't deserve to have relatives... Between us, there will be a fight until death..."

"Go ahead! Don't hesitate... If I were you, I would end your life immediately! No mercy!"

His face flushed red, he was almost dying, and his smile was so strange that it seemed as if dying at the hands of Heinrich was an extremely satisfying revenge for him.

"Heinrich... Kill me... After you kill me, in the next life... Don't be my brother..."

Edmund's vision was blurred, and he could only see his brother's eyes - dark, full of mad anger, and full of disgust.

A long time ago, so long ago that it seems like a lifetime ago.

The owner of these eyes had once taken little Edmund on horseback and archery, and personally taught him how to hunt. Whenever his brother shot his prey, Edmund would cheer and spin around, loudly announcing the good news to his family.

Every corner of the Charvis Manor is filled with the laughter of the two children.

It turns out that he was once proud of his brother...

As spring goes and autumn comes, time passes and things change. Those yellowed pictures engraved in his memory have long since disappeared, only turning into a revolving lantern in the final moments of his life, reminding him that there is still a trace of emotion in his heart that lasts longer than hatred.

As consciousness faded, he heard Violet shout in panic, "Quick! Stop Hein!"

But no one dared to step forward.

Chalvey's servants had all witnessed Heinrich's ferocity. The enraged Tibetan Mastiff didn't recognize any relatives. Everyone could see that at this moment Heinrich really wanted to kill Edmund!

The furniture in the room was shattered into rubble, and the servants who had gathered around were all knocked to the ground.

Louisa was stopped by Eleanor, crying uncontrollably, and could only beg in vain: "Let go, Hein, let him go! I apologize on Ed's behalf! Please!"

Just when Edmund was about to die, a hand pressed down on Heinrich's shoulder.

The hand didn't use much strength, it was more of a comfort than a block.

"Hein, come here."

Heinrich's shoulders, which had been shaking with anger, strangely calmed down.

In his chaotic state, he suddenly remembered the owner of the voice and what he had just said: "I said this for Heinrich..."

In fact, he never felt that he had suffered any injustice, nor did he feel that he had shown mercy to Edmund.

He simply hated his younger brother. It would be great if Edmund could disappear, but he didn't want to agree to do it himself.

It's not that I can't bear it, I'm just simply fed up with it.

But in the mouth of his fiancée, he seemed to be a poor guy who was bullied.

Later, he suddenly realized that he might have been wronged.

The so-called expectations placed on him in his youth were simply because he was the eldest grandson and the future heir to the Dukedom. His grandfather and father set an example for him, telling him that the leader of the Spencer family must learn to make sacrifices and give everything for the family.

He didn't find it difficult, and gradually, even his own emotions became a victim. The older he got, the more he looked like the statue in the center of the lake.

Silently, without emotions of his own, he always guards the family.

His life was mediocre, like a stagnant pool of water, and he silently accepted all the fate arranged by his family.

That's not a bad thing, Heinrich thought.

It was not until the death of the two pillars of the empire that the madness in his genes was stimulated. Only then did he realize that beneath the seemingly calm surface of the lake there was boiling magma, which might erupt any day.

There's nothing wrong with being a madman. After the outbreak, there's still desolation.

His life is a wasteland.

But now, a pair of ice-blue eyes were looking at a corner that even he himself had never seen.

Little Heinrich was born to be a machine to serve the family.

He would feel wronged and ask his father why Edmund could go out and play but he couldn't. He would cry to his grandmother in the middle of the night and ask his mother why she didn't like him...

So many emotions gradually solidified in my heart, and even I forgot about them.

He really enjoyed beating Edmund, but this was the first time he wanted to kill him.

The words "kill the person next to you" were like sparks igniting magma, causing it to erupt in an instant.

But a familiar voice brought him back to his senses.

This look is scary, isn't it?

The force on his hands gradually loosened, and Heinrich's pupils gradually returned to normal.

He lowered his head and did not look up at his fiancée behind him.

Edmund survived and was hugged by Louisa and cried bitterly.

Heinrich's face was expressionless, and his gaze at Edmund was so calm that it was disturbing.

Louisa was incoherent: "Thank you, Hein! Thank you Audrey! Thank you for letting Edmund go..."

"We don't intend to let him go." Isabel grabbed Heinrich's wrist, guided him to stand up, and took out a handkerchief to gently wipe his palm.

Heinrich pulled himself out of his intense emotions and was a little stunned by the scene before him. He only felt a gentle force rubbing against his palms, causing tingling.

Ice-blue eyes met his, a calm expression on her face.

"Killing him, don't you mind getting your hands dirty?"

"Aren't you afraid of me?"

Heinrich gradually regained consciousness and his eyes became clear.

"You didn't kill me, why should I be afraid of you?" Isabel raised her eyebrows.

Heinrich was stunned for a few seconds, then immediately pulled his hand back, but the tingling sensation in his heart remained and could not be shaken off.

"I just lost my mind, sorry." He frowned. "Victor, get my medicine."

After quickly taking two pills, he felt his wildly beating heart gradually calm down.

The sheriff arrived just in time, and Edmund stopped struggling and resigned himself to being dragged away.

At the last moment, he looked at Isabel and sneered: "Do you think you have won? I am waiting to see your retribution."

He paused and smiled meaningfully.

Isabel's face was calm.

Of course she understood that there were other enemies behind Edmund, far more troublesome than this fool.

But so what? She would kill every one that came her way.

Before he could finish his words, a pot of cold water was poured over his head.

Edmund looked up in shock: "?!"

Isabel put down the kettle and smiled: "Are you awake now? Do you think you are the villain in the play who speaks cruelly?"

"I'm sorry, but I never give my opponents a chance to come back. I hope the people behind you understand this." She waved and told Victor to hand the evidence to the sheriff.

In front of everyone, Isabel looked around.

"The crimes committed by Edmund Spencer are enough to punish him by hanging. To ensure the fairness of the law, yesterday I wrote a letter about everything that was about to happen here and sent it to the Mellenwick Capital Newspaper."

Violet and Louisa were dumbfounded, and Edmund's smile froze.

What a cruel move!

The privileged class has always known how to use power for personal gain. Even if they commit a heinous murder, they will always be able to save their lives after some manipulation!

A moment ago, they all thought so.

Even Violet did not really intend to sacrifice Edmund's life. She just wanted to adapt to the current situation, hand over her grandson first, and then negotiate with the other four families. The rest could be settled with other bargaining chips at the negotiating table.

But unexpectedly, this woman completely cut off his retreat!

Once this matter is published in the newspaper, the entire Principality of Ceylon will pay attention to this case, and it will be harder than climbing to the sky for Edmund to save his life.

More importantly, Violet will definitely weigh the pros and cons again, and once the cost of rescuing her grandson exceeds her imagination, she will give up.

Edmund knew his grandmother so well!

"Are you...are you crazy?! You are the future Duchess of Spencer! How could you let such a thing out?!"

Isabel said calmly to everyone, "It's because I will be the future mistress of the Spencer family, so I have to do this."

After a pause, she looked at Violet with a deep look in her eyes: "Only when the rotten flesh is removed can new flesh grow. This is the secret of continuing the family life."

Violet was silent, her face extremely ugly.

The frequent incidents in a short period of time have exhausted the old lady.

She looked into Isabel's blue eyes and vaguely felt that a new era had arrived at Charvis and she was no longer at the helm.

She is old...

Heinrich suddenly stood up and stood side by side with Isabel.

"Take Edmund away and hand him over to the sheriff's office to await trial. No one is allowed to visit him without my order."

Victor: “Yes!”

The tall figure loomed over Isabel, like a silent statue dutifully fulfilling its guard duty.

He glanced at everyone, finally looking at Violet.

"You are tired, you should go and rest. We will take care of the rest."

Violet stared in amazement at her grandson and future granddaughter-in-law standing together.

It was as if announcing to her who was the new master of Chalvey.

After a long moment, she sighed and nodded slowly, "Eleanor, help me back."

The old lady walked out with a staggering gait, her back, which had always been straight, gradually bent.

After watching her walk away, Isabel and Heinrich exchanged a glance, and the latter said, "You are now fully responsible for everything here."

Isabel nodded, looked around, and her eyes fell on Andrew.

Andrew, who was pretending to be dead, had his eyebrows twitched and muttered to himself: You can’t see me, you can’t see me…

"I almost forgot about this guy, Victor." Isabel said with a sneer in her eyes, deliberately exaggerating. "Let Mr. Andrew Beale, the Spencer family's butler, who heads the seven great families of the Holy Principality of Ceylon, whose ancestors have made remarkable achievements and continued their glory for nearly three hundred years, who possesses the most noble and ancient bloodline, is now one of the seven permanent electors, and holds exclusive jurisdiction over the territorial autonomy; who owns the largest Chalvis Manor in the country and effortlessly maintains its luxury, even though it costs 10,000 Ceylon rupees annually... face legal sanctions."

Andrew regretted it so much that he cried for mercy.

"You don't think I'll let you go, do you?" Isabel chuckled and waved her hand, "Take me away."

The professional assistant stepped forward again and, ignoring Andrew's pleas for mercy, arranged for the soldiers to take him away and hand him over to the sheriff.

As for whether Edmund would soften his heart and give the traitor the antidote, that was not their concern.

When dogs bite each other, both get a mouth full of fur.

Isabel chuckled, picked up her skirt and slowly walked away.

Suddenly, she turned around and asked, "Why don't you keep up?"

Heinrich snorted coldly, but followed obediently. "Anything else, ma'am?"

"Next, of course, is the wedding." Isabel smiled and raised an eyebrow, her skirt drawing an elegant arc in the air. "Mr. Tirov's portrait is finished. I sincerely invite you to view it. Would you be so kind as to do me the honor?"

"Why not?" Heinrich coughed twice and extended his arm, and Isabel took it.

The two walked side by side, heading deeper into the manor.

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Author's Note: Next Chapter! Marriage!