Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Bella/Being a couple without feelings,…
The event, which was full of twists and turns but was relatively successful, ended with cheers.
Everyone stood up and watched the queen leave.
The guards cleared the way, accompanied by First Secretary Lorna. As they were about to leave, the Queen suddenly called out to her secretary, "Lorna, please get Miss Norman over here."
Luna was slightly startled, and quickly did as she pleased.
Isabel had no time to tidy up her appearance, so she simply wore a torn skirt, casually tied her hair into a bun, walked up to the queen and knelt down to salute.
"Your Majesty, Audrey Norman sends you greetings."
"Please stand up, no need to be polite." The queen's voice sounded.
Isabel looked up.
When the Queen travels, she is accompanied by many guards of all ranks.
Before, she was just an inconspicuous reserve lady in the crowd. It was an honor to be qualified to watch the emperor of the empire appear from afar.
Even playing the piano in the banquet hall and getting a few comments from the Queen was enough to make the ladies look at her with respect.
All these show that a transcendent status naturally represents authority.
At this moment, she was very close to the queen, and only then could she truly see the face of the empire's ruler.
Queen Seraphina Auguste was not as majestic and cold as imagined, and her eyes were filled with a kind smile.
"Your riding is outstanding, Audrey."
Isabel smiled. "I heard that when the Queen was still a princess, she also defeated all the other equestrians to win the championship. The ladies of the Principality of Ceylon all look up to you as a role model."
Queen: "That's all in the past."
Isabel said calmly, "My victory today means this history continues, and your spirit lives on."
Admiration flashed across the queen's eyes. "It seems you also possess extraordinary eloquence and wisdom."
"And a little more courage to show it." Isabel raised her eyebrows and made a witticism without flinching.
The Queen actually laughed.
The first secretary, Lorna, beside her couldn't help but glance sideways and re-examine this girl who came from a humble background but was smart and sharp.
"Goodbye, Audrey." The Queen extended her hand to Isabel, a gesture of friendship from a superior. "I hope to see more of your talents next time."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Isabel kissed the back of the Queen's hand and said with a smile, "But the next time we meet, you should be the witness of my wedding to Mr. Spencer."
"I look forward to that day." The queen nodded with a smile and then led everyone away.
Such a brief episode caused quite a stir in the hierarchical aristocratic circle.
Miss Norman, the future Duchess of Spencer, who was appreciated by the Queen, officially entered the social circle of Mellenwick.
The capital is home to the top nobles of Ceylon, and no matter how the family moves, they will see it.
Now, Isabelle was surrounded by ladies who complimented her, a stark contrast to the initial scene where no one paid any attention to her.
Lilith led a group of unfamiliar young ladies forward to talk, and Mrs. Cynthia introduced them to each other enthusiastically and considerately.
Louisa wasn't happy with the icing on the cake and left with a roll of her eyes.
Mrs. Howard came over with her nose pinched to congratulate her, but Isabel seemed not to hear and just chatted with others.
Mrs. Howard's face was ashen and she was holding back her anger. Fortunately, Sophia and Becky arrived in time to save her from embarrassment.
While talking to someone, Isabel looked up and met Sophia's gaze in the crowd.
After sending Mrs. Howard away, Sophia stepped forward with a smile: "Dear, please don't misunderstand me. I didn't mean to go against you by helping Penny out."
Isabel chuckled. "Of course, my aunt is clearly better at socializing than I am. At least tomorrow, Mellenwick won't have a reputation for being domineering and arrogant."
"Indeed, women walking in Möllenwijk have to be mindful of their words and actions. An ant you carelessly step on today might become an elephant blocking the road tomorrow." Sophia smiled and said, "I thought you, a high-spirited young lady, wouldn't understand my sincerity. You are truly a clever girl."
"Life won't always be smooth sailing. Leaving room for maneuver is also a way for yourself to retreat." Isabel nodded.
Sophia smiled. "Oh, that's right. But I don't want to be a preaching elder. I'll leave the big talk to Eleanor. Now let's talk about your wedding, my dear."
"Thank you."
Sophia knew that showing too much kindness would backfire. The two talked about other interesting things.
Becky and Philip also came forward to talk, and the scene was full of joy.
It can be seen that the young couple get along harmoniously, and the groom Philip also respects his mother-in-law and does not show contempt because of Sophia's identity.
This is truly a rare item in the world of Mellenvik.
Isabel judged everyone subtly and initially approved of Sophia's vision in choosing a husband for her daughter.
If nothing else, Sophia was the kind of person Isabel really enjoyed chatting with.
Smart and emotionally intelligent, he knows how to act and is humorous.
This graceful gesture reminded her of Aunt Mary. They both had the same grace.
However, Aunt Mary communicates with others more through the unique charm of her soul and has no desire to please others.
This is not to say that Sophia is not charming. On the contrary, she is even more charming than Mary. It’s just that if they get along too comfortably, someone must be giving in.
Most of the beneficiaries didn't mind this, but Isabel wasn't one of them.
She prefers real, flawed people to comfortable, polished dialogue.
Sophia was undoubtedly a perfect socialite, but Isabel didn't intend to waste too much time on her.
After a few words of response, Isabel took Blake out of the racecourse on the pretext of changing clothes.
Philip's manor is located in the northern suburbs of Mellenvik. Although it is not as large as Charves, it has a unique scenery and is very interesting to take a walk in your spare time.
As dusk fell, the dinner party in the castle had already begun, but Isabel led her horse away from the crowd.
The evening breeze blew on his face, and Blake lowered his head and ate grass meekly.
Isabel simply lay on the grass, put her hands behind her head and looked at the stars.
Blake is a clever young pony who has just reached adulthood. He can be as scorching as the sun on the track, but he's usually very well-behaved. When he saw his owner lying down, he rushed over anxiously, nudging her with his nose and blinking his big eyes, as if to ask her what was wrong.
Isabel couldn't help laughing. Blake's eyes reminded her of Audrey, whose big blue eyes were also so pure.
"I'm fine, Blake, please enjoy your dinner." Isabel stroked Pony's braids.
I don't know who tied this braid, it's so crooked and ugly.
OCD taking over, Isabelle sat up and re-braided Blake's hair.
Halfway through, footsteps were heard on the grass behind him.
"Who allowed you to touch its hairstyle without permission?" The man was lying on the lawn at a distance.
Isabel turned a deaf ear to him and said, "Blake, your master's aesthetic taste is questionable. For the sake of your image, do you mind if I help you?"
Blake snorted as he ate the grass, as if in response.
"How stupid!"
Heinrich snorted coldly, picked up two pieces of grass and threw them at Blake. The pony opened his mouth and chewed.
"Where's the apology you owe me, Mr. Spencer?" Isabel said casually, "Don't think I'll forget it."
"Did I promise you?" Heinrich plucked a handful of grass and sneered, "At least I still don't think it's wise for you to marry me."
"Do I have a choice?"
"I gave you a chance to choose again."
"But I refuse."
The two of them were talking back and forth, and the tension began to spread again.
Both sides fell silent, the only sound in their ears being the chirping of cicadas on a summer night.
Heinrich looked at the stars in the sky and suddenly said, "You should have heard that I am a madman."
Isabel glanced sideways, her hands casually braiding Blake's hair. "I've heard that you were possessed by a demon and even killed the priest who came to pray. The gypsy woman who exorcised you almost spread the secret of Charvis to the ends of the earth."
Heinrich scoffed, "What would you think if I told you the rumors were true?"
Isabel paused, her eyes flickering slightly, her expression expressionless. "Then I really didn't expect that gypsy women really have the ability to exorcise evil spirits."
Heinrich said nothing, but just stared at her for a moment.
"You know what I'm talking about. I did kill that priest."
He paused, his eyes dark. "Can you accept that your future husband is a lunatic? Maybe one day when he gets sick, you'll kill the person next to you?"
For a moment, Isabel felt that his gaze was like a maggot on her tarsal bone, cold, strange and morbid.
When I looked up again, it was still that stern face.
Isabel lowered her eyes imperceptibly to hide the doubt that flashed through her mind.
She has always been sharp.
So far, no matter how cold and domineering Heinrich appears, his bottom line is still to be a gentleman, and sometimes he is even too serious.
Even if he beat up little Saxon in a fit of rage, it was perfectly normal for a male who was keen on fighting. Therefore, Isabel never equated Heinrich with the rumored lunatic.
But just now, her sixth sense sounded the alarm, telling her that there was a fleeting sinister aura about this person, even if it was only for a few seconds.
Being watched by such eyes was like being watched by a poisonous snake. It quietly wrapped around my limbs, and the dense terror instantly spread throughout my body.
This was completely different from the usual Heinrich, like two sides of a coin.
Isabel studied the man inconspicuously, but the strange feeling disappeared completely, as if it were an illusion.
"Are you scared? It's not too late to end it now." Heinrich rested his head on his arms and spoke in a calm tone after hearing no response from his side for a long time.
Isabel stared at him quietly, as if trying to discern the truth in his words, her tone indifferent as if she hadn't noticed anything.
"What are you afraid of? Rumors are just rumors," she said. "As I said, I had no choice at the beginning. Now that I've made my choice, no matter if you're crazy or stupid, I'm going to follow this path."
"Audrey." Heinrich stared at her for a long moment, then turned his head and sneered, "You think the Spencer family is too simple, and you think this path is too easy."
"So am I worthy of hearing the truth now?"
Isabel finished braiding her hair and lay down.
The scent of green grass blew in the wind. The two of them were standing not far away, both resting their heads on their arms and looking up at the night sky.
After an unknown amount of time, Isabel heard a sound coming from next door.
"What do you think of the Spencer family?"
Isabel suddenly recalled Andrew's self-introduction when he arrived, and half-jokingly said, "He's the head of the seven great families of the Holy Principality of Ceylon; his ancestors have made remarkable achievements and maintained their glory for nearly three hundred years; he's one of the seven permanent electors, and he holds all the autonomous jurisdiction of the territory, Spencer?"
Heinrich laughed along.
The night obscured the emotion in his eyes, making his tone sound relaxed. "It did last for three hundred years, yes, but it no longer has autonomy."
He paused, "It doesn't even have military power or taxation authority. It owns nothing except the Chalvey Manor. It's just a facade in name only."
Isabel's smile gradually faded, and the night wind made her feel inexplicably cold.
Spencer no longer has jurisdiction?
What's the meaning? !
Isabel is not ignorant of the world; on the contrary, she is very good at collecting information.
She had already learned about the Spencer family before coming here.
Ever since Margaret, the founding father, inherited the title, the Spencer family has held heavy military power for three hundred years. It is precisely because of this absolute military suppression that the seven electors have always held a seat.
Saxony is a new emerging power that emerged during the Northern Expedition. It has only been around for 150 years. Although it has been in constant conflict in recent years, it still cannot compare with Spencer in terms of foundation.
If the other side knew that Spencer had lost jurisdiction, would they still give in in a dispute like today’s?
If this matter was a secret, then who could deprive Spencer of his military power and conceal it, maintaining a superficial balance of power among all parties?!
Since the Spencer family had been reclaimed, why did they keep the family around? To ensure peace among the seven electors?
Who has such motivation and authority?
A series of questions followed, and Isabel looked at Heinrich with deep eyes.
He seemed to guess what she was thinking, and a sneer slipped across his lips: "Unbelievable? What if I tell you that Spencer's authority has disappeared since the day my grandfather and father had the accident?"
Isabel quickly realized: "Weren't their deaths accidents?"
Heinrich's eyes were filled with intense emotions and he closed them.
"How could the battle-hardened empire's two pillars be unprepared for an enemy surprise attack?" He took a deep breath, looking at the night sky, his expression gloomy. "They will only fall at the hands of their own people."
Isabel recalled the power struggle in the Spencer family: "Is it your uncle, Edmund's father Joyce?"
"Him?" Heinrich scoffed unabashedly. "He's just someone trying to take advantage of this opportunity to get promoted. He's the ambitious but incompetent loser I kicked out. He's just as idiotic as Edmund."
Not Joyce?
"What is that?" Isabel's eyes moved slightly as she looked at Heinrich.
Under the night sky, his eyes darkened, and he did not answer immediately.
The cicadas suddenly stopped chirping, and the breeze blew up the dead branches and leaves, making a rustling sound.
From an angle Isabel couldn't see, his pupils were red and veins in his arms were bulging.
It seemed that even his blood was trembling as he thought of some unpleasant past events.
The bloodthirsty urge surged into my heart once again, spreading through my limbs and bones...
It was as if he had returned to the day he went to the battlefield. His eyes were a sea of blood. The charred bodies of his grandfather and father were being carried out of the wrecked carriage. Soon, guards brought a woman to him.
Heinrich still couldn't forget the crazy smile on that woman's face.
She smiled grimly, almost leaning over Heinrich's face, her eyes, similar to his, full of sinister intent.
"Hein, I killed Ludwig!" Her voice was hoarse. Her face was smiling, but her eyes looked like she was crying. Her expression was strange. "I... killed your father!"
Behind her, Ludwig closed his eyes forever. The taciturn but upright and brave man would never wake up again.
Heinrich's eyes were blank.
After a few brief seconds, gunshots rang out, and the guard's seized firearm slipped from the woman's hand.
Amidst the screams of the crowd, she fell in a pool of blood, with a bloody hole in her chest and warm and dazzling red liquid flowing out.
Blood splashed onto his face, and even a drop escaped into his dark eyes, instantly dyeing his vision scarlet.
Amidst the blood-red sky, the woman was dying but her face was peaceful, her lips moving as if she was saying something.
He tried hard to hear clearly, but he could hear nothing.
…
Feeling the cold air sweeping over her again, Isabel frowned and looked at the man with lowered eyes: "What's wrong with you?"
"Heinrich?"
"Hein?!" she repeated several times.
Heinrich came to his senses, but before he could say anything, he saw Isabel slap him in the face.
“Bang!”
The crisp sound of slaps was particularly loud in the quiet night.
Silence spread again.
“……?”
Heinrich felt the burning pain on his face, raised his cheek, and looked into Isabel's eyes.
Isabel twisted her wrist and said frankly, "I think you seem to have fainted, so I woke you up."
"I'm thinking about something." Heinrich said in a bad tone.
"Have you figured it out?" Isabel asked calmly, swatting away the buzzing mosquitoes. "Who has the guts to murder the head of the Spencer family?"
Heinrich took a deep breath and said calmly, "It's my mother."
Isabel was stunned. She didn't expect him to give the answer so directly.
Heinrich's mother was no ordinary person. She was born into a royal family and was the queen's younger sister. Her name was Georgiana August.
This is a relatively mysterious princess. The outside world knows very little about her. According to the news that has been circulated, she is said to be a very gentle and beautiful lady.
Judging from Heinrich's expression just now, something extremely tragic must have happened that year, which led to a series of subsequent chain reactions.
Isabel unconsciously grabbed the weeds and spun them in circles, a gesture that showed she was lost in thought.
So how did Georgiana end up being linked to a murderer, especially one who murdered her husband?
Suddenly, Heinrich said calmly, "You can understand it as my mother is a lunatic. She killed my father for her own beliefs."
"Faith? You mean..."
Isabel pondered the immense message contained in this sentence.
The Principality of Ceylon is based on the Holy Light Church, and the only person who can be called a believer is the person at the top of the pyramid.
To be honest, Isabel doesn't believe in any god at all, and the so-called church is just a mascot to her.
But for most people in this era, the power of faith can shake almost everything.
However, since the National Defense War three hundred years ago, the power of the Holy Light Church has long been independent of the royal power, and the two maintain a delicate balance.
What conflict led Georgiana to murder the Duke and his son, the Spencer? What was Georgiana's relationship with the church? Did the Spencer family hinder the church's power?
Or... was it really just like Heinrich said, that his mother was a lunatic? She had single-handedly stirred up trouble, causing Spencer's power to fall?
No, if that were all, the whole thing would be too bizarre.
She suddenly understood what that sentence said. The Spencer family was more complicated than she had imagined. The conflict behind it was at least not as simple as the "brothers fighting each other" that she had initially expected.
The air fell into silence, and even Blake stopped chewing.
Isabel pulled herself out of her thoughts and looked quietly at Heinrich who had his eyes closed.
Putting aside those complicated calculations, the pain he felt watching his mother kill his father was unimaginable...
Although Isabel wanted to get to the bottom of it, she gave up after seeing him at that moment.
After a long while, he heard a sneer beside him: "What? Sympathize with me?"
Isabel calmly looked away: "What's that? There are many people in the world who are suffering more than you."
"That's right." Heinrich rolled his eyes. "I'm just saying this to tell you that you're marrying a lunatic with a genetic mental illness, and there's a whole mess going on at home. Are you ready for the challenge, ma'am?"
Isabel lowered her eyes and examined Heinrich's expression again. Even though he had been labeled a mental patient, he remained calm at this moment.
The shadow under the sunlight seems to be really an illusion.
But... she never had any illusions.
Is it the aftereffects of painful memories? Is it just about the mother?
There were also mysteries surrounding Heinrich, and a series of questions came to his mind, but it was not the time to ask them.
Isabel regained her composure and raised an eyebrow, saying, "My answer has never changed. But you, do you mean you won't cancel the engagement?"
Heinrich paused and sneered, "Having come this far, you still want to test my strength. Can I stop you?"
"Okay, then we've reached a consensus." Isabel remained calm. "Also, where's the apology you owe me?"
Heinrich was silent.
Isabel scoffed and patted the grass off her body.
The moment she stood up, the night wind blew her golden hair, and the soft hair swept across Heinrich's face in the direction of the wind.
In the darkness of the night, she suddenly heard a very low voice: "Sorry."
Isabel pretended not to hear. "Speak louder. What are you talking about?"
Heinrich sat up suddenly and snorted, "I said, sorry! Do you hear me?"
Isabel raised an eyebrow and turned around leisurely.
"I heard you, Mr. Spencer. I hope you'll speak softly next time you question me. Otherwise, no matter how tough you were at the time, your apology will be just as embarrassing now."
She took Blake's hand and slowly walked towards the castle.
Someone behind her stood up and followed, walked in front of her in three or two steps, and grabbed the reins.
"Sit on it." He said in a bad tone.
Isabel glanced at the messy hem of her skirt, vaguely revealing her snow-white calves, which were bitten by mosquitoes.
She smiled and mounted the horse swiftly.
The moon was at its zenith and music could be heard from the castle.
Heinrich took Blake for a stroll, while the pony with a head full of braids carried his fiancée.
Isabel sat on the horse and was able to take a closer look at the man in front of her.
The moonlight shone on his angular profile. His lips were tightly pursed, and he always had a cold expression that kept strangers away.
What he said and did wasn't that bad.
"Heinrich." She suddenly called his name.
"What again?" He didn't even turn his head.
"If you think we shouldn't be husband and wife, then I think there's another identity that might be suitable," Isabel said calmly.
Heinrich's eyes paused, "What?"
"Partners." Isabel said calmly, "Be a pair of partners who have no feelings for each other but can fight side by side."
Heinrich said nothing.
The night breeze ruffled his black hair, and his three-dimensional facial features and ivory skin were pleasing to the eye in the moonlight, like a sculpture by a classical artist.
Leaving the wilderness and grassland, the castle was right before their eyes. They no longer had the freedom to gaze at the stars. Instead, they had to dress neatly, be crowned as Mr. Duke and Mrs. Duchess, and rush to the battlefield without gunpowder smoke.
Heinrich grew up in Chalves and was accustomed to intrigue and deception.
This was the first time in his twenty-plus years of life that someone asked him: Do you want to be a partner?
He stared at Isabel on horseback, looked away, and snorted coldly: "Whatever. I hope you won't hold me back, Miss Partner."
Isabel calmly replied, "Same words to you, Mr. Partner."
Blake snorted and joined in the conversation, but Heinrich stuffed a handful of tender grass into his mouth, forcing him to chew it. His head full of braids swayed in the evening breeze.
Under the blue sky, night falls.
The two of them and their horse walked together towards the brightly lit castle.
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