Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Bella/Hein... Stop! ...

"If I'm not mistaken, it was Louisa who just walked out of the banquet hall?" Sophia took Isabel's arm, and the two of them walked gracefully, avoiding the crowd and chatting.

"Yes." Isabel took a glass of brightly colored wine from a passing servant. "It's a special cocktail prepared for the wedding, called A Midsummer Night's Dream. It tastes good. Would you like to try it, Aunt?"

Sophia took the goblet and sniffed it expertly. "It's fragrant, and the color is unique, like violets in a garden. If I weren't feeling unwell recently, I would definitely savor it carefully. Thank you for your kindness, my beautiful bride."

"Well, that's the regret of this glass of wine." Isabel raised her eyebrows, ordered the servant to leave, and took a sip of the wine herself.

His icy blue eyes remained fixed on Sophia the entire time. After swallowing the wine, he suddenly smiled. "See, it's not poisonous."

Sophia's smile remained unchanged, but she looked surprised. "Audrey, what are you talking about?"

Isabel slowly swirled the liquid in the glass. The light illuminated the glass, reflecting a beautiful and dreamy purple light.

"Aunt, don't you understand?" She chuckled and leaned closer, lowering her voice. "You've seen it, haven't you? Louisa talked to me for so long. Guess what she said?"

Sophia's face was calm, and a smile flickered across her eyes. "Oh, I never could have guessed that. I suppose it's a plea for mercy. Everyone knows that poor Louisa only has Edmund in her heart, even if he has committed such a heinous crime."

Isabel smiled. "Aunt, do you think I should let them go for the sake of our in-laws?"

Sophia paused, her eyes moving slightly, as if trying to judge the deeper meaning of her words.

"Of course not." After a long moment, Sophia lowered her eyes and sighed regretfully, "To kill so many people for the sake of inheritance rights, I think no citizen with a conscience can forgive him."

Isabel nodded in agreement. "Aunt is absolutely right."

She paused, stared at Sophia, and raised the corners of her lips: "So, from today on, are you ready to end up like Edmund, Aunt?"

Sophia's smile froze.

In the brightly lit hall, people in elegant clothes were coming and going, and there was singing and laughter everywhere.

No one knew that the two ladies who seemed to be having a good conversation in the corner were caught in a cold confrontation.

A beautiful face always makes people like her. Soon, a gentle smile flashed across Sophia's dark eyes, but she still looked like she was wearing a mask. "I thought a mature opponent wouldn't reveal their cards so easily."

The two continued to walk forward, as close as ever.

"Pretend to be ignorant? Keep the enemy in the dark, and then quietly counterattack?" Isabel took a sip of wine and looked at Sophia. "If you were Edmund, that's what I would choose. Unfortunately, you are not..."

"The moment she saw Louisa approaching me, a qualified mastermind would have been prepared to reveal her identity." She looked at Sophia, slowly revealing her inner thoughts. "Obviously, you're well aware of this. It would be extremely boring to act out another insignificant scene. Am I right?"

Sophia lowered her eyes, her smile revealing understanding.

At this point in the conversation, both sides have made their cards clear.

Sophia finally took off her mask. Her tone was gentle, but her eyes were cold. "You are smarter and more difficult to deal with than I thought. A fool like Edmund deserved to die at your hands."

Isabel said nothing.

Sophia raised an eyebrow, took her arm, and continued: "Actually, you didn't need to remind me, Louisa, you have already guessed it was me."

Isabel smiled. "Men always overlook women's ambitions. Edmund probably thinks you, like Louisa, are just his dodder, relying on your service to him in exchange for some help."

Sophia's eyes flashed with sarcasm. "Oh, that's right. I just begged him, hoping that after he inherited the title, he would allow me to become a legitimate daughter of the Spencer family."

"If I were a man, this statement would have alerted him. But because I'm a woman, and a notorious, worthless illegitimate child, he naturally assumed I was a pathetic creature seeking refuge, and so he believed it."

"But he forgot that the legitimate daughter of the Spencer family will also have the right of inheritance, even before him." Isabel said slowly.

Sophia laughed. "Yes, Hein also understood this, so when I begged him, he didn't agree. Maybe you won't believe it, but I actually prefer my opponents to be wary of me. It at least acknowledges the threat I pose to them."

"A lady who struggled to rise from the bottom to become a countess and even married her daughter to a royal duke is indeed an opponent worthy of attention." Isabel looked at her.

"After just a few encounters, you're still a worthy opponent to say this to me." Sophia released her arm and gently waved her feather fan, her eyes dark and unclear. "But... what I want to teach you is that respect alone is not enough."

She leaned close to Isabel's ear and whispered, "You have to be ruthless."

Isabel lowered her eyes, a look of contemplation passing through her icy blue eyes.

The orchestra played piano music. Amid the melodious music, Sophia raised her head, picked up the champagne from the waiter's tray, and returned it to Isabelle. She seemed to have become the kind aunt again.

"Happy wedding, dear." She smiled and stretched out her words. "We have a long way to go."

As they looked at each other, the door to the second floor opened and Heinrich and the Queen came out, followed by Lady Violet with a grim expression.

Everyone looked at him from a distance and nodded respectfully.

Heinrich accurately found his wife's figure, and their eyes met in the air.

The other person gave him a subtle look, revealing no emotion.

Isabel instinctively sensed that something seemed to be wrong.

She met Sophia's fake and friendly smile, raised her glass, and said slowly, "There's a long way to go."

Sophia turned and left.

Isabel stared at the liquid in the glass in a trance until Heinrich approached.

"The Queen just spoke to us, and Philip asked her to grant Aunt Sophia the power to return to the Spencer family." Heinrich lowered his voice, his emotions complex and difficult to discern.

Isabel frowned. "The Queen should know what Lady Violet means."

"Philip joined forces with the Brunswick Counts to plead with the Queen... in front of the Electors. Even the Archbishop endorsed Sophia, saying that devout Saints deserve equal human rights." Heinrich glanced at the old lady, who was being helped back to her room by Eleanor, and said in a deep voice, "Grandma was helpless. Even the Queen couldn't defy everyone. She had no choice but to agree."

Isabel fell into thought.

It seems that what she expected was right.

Whether between her and Edmund, life or death, Sophia is the one who reaps the benefits.

With Edmund down, all Sophia has to deal with now is...

Isabel raised her eyes and stared at Heinrich for a long time.

"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?" Heinrich was confused. He touched his cheek and felt that he was still as handsome as he was during the day.

Isabel rolled her eyes and said helplessly, "Recently... no, not just recently. Have Victor remind the guards around you to be vigilant at all times and pay attention to your personal safety."

Heinrich looked at his wife strangely, a hint of resentment in his eyes. "What makes you doubt my ability to protect myself? Do you think I've been able to survive so long in Chalvez because of Margaret's blessing?"

He took a step forward, quietly clenched his fists, and arched his biceps, making his dress look bulging.

Isabel raised an eyebrow, her eyes scanning the other person's deliberately displayed muscles.

From his handsome face full of resentment, to his well-proportioned and strong abdominal muscles and narrow waist that can be seen even with clothes, and then...

"Hey, what are you looking at?!" Heinrich lowered his voice, his earlobes already red.

In the corner, a tall man stood in front of Isabel, casting her in shadow.

Although she had a slender figure that could be completely covered, she crossed her arms, looking calm and confident that she could suppress everything.

"Can't I see?"

"!" Heinrich's breath caught, his face flushed. "You can't watch it now!"

"Then when will we see it?"

Heinrich choked.

There was a teasing smile in his ice-blue eyes.

Heinrich's face tensed, and he finally realized that he was being teased!

"You want to see it? Come on!" He snorted and grabbed Isabel's hand, going straight to the second floor.

The slender white wrist was grasped tightly and pulled forward without explanation.

"etc!"

"No!" Heinrich sneered, not even turning his head. "Aren't you anxious?"

Isabel didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "I mean, walk slower! My skirt is too long."

"The skirt is too long?" Heinrich suddenly stopped and turned around.

Isabel was still struggling with the hem of her skirt, and in a moment of carelessness, she bumped into his arms. Before she could react, her vision spun around, and she was lifted up by Heinrich.

"That's all right."

"Hey! Hein!"

Heinrich carried his wife on his shoulders with one hand and walked with great speed.

"Hein... stop!" Isabel patted his back helplessly.

"Don't stop!" Heinrich finally managed to suppress her and was very proud.

Isabel held her forehead and smiled, then pinched his waist and twisted it hard.

Heinrich tried his best to suppress the grimace on his face: "Hiss!"

"This is what happens when you don't listen to me." Isabel smiled and warned lightly, "My shoe fell off, go pick it up."

Heinrich grimaced and turned around to see that his two high heels had fallen to the ground.

"Oh, you were the one who was anxious, and now you are the one who is dawdling." Heinrich snorted, but his movements were very honest and relaxed. He picked up his shoes with one hand and walked towards the bedroom again.

"Are you sure I'm the one who's anxious now?"

Isabel adjusted herself to a comfortable position, putting her arms around his neck to gain leverage and alleviate the discomfort in her stomach.

However, in this state, the hot breath she exhaled while speaking happened to spray right next to Heinrich's earlobe. The tingling sensation immediately spread the blood, even making his entire face flush again.

Heinrich slowed down his pace, his face stern with panic: "...I'm not in a hurry! What's there to be anxious about?"

"Humph, we're just partners, can we really..." He spoke quickly and paused.

Isabel stared at his profile and chuckled, "What can I do?"

As they spoke, the two were already standing at the bedroom door.

She gently broke free from her restraints, stood barefoot on the ground, looked up at him, and asked with a smile: "Tell me, what can I do?"

Heinrich took a deep breath and turned his head. "I'm leaving now! You can get some rest!"

As he said this, he walked forward with his head down, as if he was afraid of being caught up.

"Where are my shoes?" A female voice came from behind me, slowly and even with a smile.

Heinrich turned around again, threw down his shoes, and prepared to leave immediately.

This time, just after taking two steps, the corner of his clothes was pulled by a strong force.

The force was small, but it forced him to stay where he was.

"Heinrich." Isabel approached her husband, whose back was turned.

The close distance allowed Heinrich to smell the fragrance of his wife. Realizing this, his senses became uncontrollably sharp and the muscles under his shirt stiffened slightly.

"Turn around."

Isabel grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it gently.

Like a master holding a rope, directing the direction of the puppy.

It was not until he lowered his eyes and saw those ice-blue eyes that Heinrich realized that he had obeyed her instructions again.

Just when I was trying to resist the honest nature in my heart, I heard a familiar cold voice.

"Look up at me."

Heinrich lowered his eyes stubbornly.

"Why not?" Isabel looked up at him, "As you said, we are partners, but..."

"We're also husband and wife." She smiled, her ice-blue eyes, which always represented calmness and rationality, now revealed a hint of temptation. "Then...what can husband and wife do, can't we?"

Heinrich was stunned, his eyes reflecting her face, and the last bit of his rationality almost disappeared.

His Adam's apple moved slightly, and a heat rushed to his chest, causing him to tremble slightly.

Isabel smiled at him and opened the bedroom door.

"come over."

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The author has something to say: Hehe!

My younger sister and brother-in-law are still in Makkabaka, while my older sister and brother-in-law are already adults.