Chapter 114
Cloise and Henry rushed to the storeroom in a panic upon hearing the news
When they saw the wide open doors and the empty chests, Henry’s vision went black, and he nearly fainted.
“What what happened?
Eloise clutched her chest tightly, her face pale. “Everything was perfectly fine. How could it have been robbed?”
She turned to the household servants and barked, “Speak! Who did this?”
The servants all trembled, none daring to speak.
Eloise abruptly burned and strode up to the old maid who had been in charge of guarding the storeroom. She pointed a finger at her and questioned harshly, “Tell me, who was on night watch last night?”
Terrified, the old man’s legs gave way
Her face wrinkled like a bitter gourd, she choked out tearfully, “Please spare me! The wind and rain were fierce last night, and Lord Joseph suddenly appeared. He said the estate was well–guarded and there was no need to continue guarding the storeroom. He pushed and shoved me out.”
“What?” Eloise’s eyes widened in disbelief, and her voice rose in pitch. “Nonsense! Joseph never concems himself with the household’s trivial affairs. How could he possibly tell you to leave? Don’t you dare spout such lies!”
She urged, “Is it you who stole from the storeroom, and now you’re trying to pin it on my son?”
The old maid frantically waved her hands. “I swear it’s the truth! It really was Lord Joseph who drove me away.”
She pleaded, “I know how important the storeroom is. I wouldn’t dare leave without cause. But Lord Joseph wouldn’t listen and started beating and kicking me. If you don’t believe me, just look at the wound on my head!”
As she spoke, she carefully parted her hair to reveal a wound about an inch long
Eloise stared at the old maid’s forehead, her face a mask of shock and doubt. There was indeed a gash.
Though the cut had begun to heal, the dried blood was still clearly visible. It was gruesome and shocking.
“This…” Eloise gasped, instinctively covering her chest.
She stappered back two steps, her eyes filled with panic. She muttered, “How could this happen? How is this possible? Joseph may be mischievous, but he wouldn’t do something like this.”
Anxious, she turned to Henry, her voice trembling “My lord, the matter hasn’t been fully investigated yet. We can’t jump to conclusions. Ma
been some misunderstanding”
Henry’s veins bulged with fury, his temples throbbing,
He shook his sleeve violently, pushing Eloise aside and roared, “The evidence is right in front of us, and you still plead for him! He’s already bold enough to unlock my mother’s storeroom. What next? Oneday, he might even sell the entire estate!”
“No, that’s impossible. Joseph isn’t that kind of child.” Eloise insisted, her eyes red with tears, shaking her head. But even she sounded unconvinced.
Henry shouted again, “Enough talk! I’m going to catch him in the act!”
With that, he stormed off
“Wait!” Eloise called out, but Henry didn’t look back. She had no choice but to follow.
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Chapter 113
She said, “He’s always been indifferent to Grandmother’s health, and now he suddenly sends calming soup? He’s definitely to something”
Trina’s expression also turned uneasy. “He wouldn’t dare go that far, would he
Joseph had many bad habits. No one could guarantee he wouldn’t stoop to
pop to theft or deceit.
Athena shook her. “The human heart is unpredictable. You think he’s changed just like that? Whether he has or not, we’ll go check on Grandmother fast.
With that, she got up, threw on a thick cloak, and strode out the door.
Trina hurried to catch up.
The two of them quickly made their way through the winding corridors, just as the steward came rushing toward them in a panic. “Something terrible has happened…!”
Athena stopped and snapped, “What’s going on!”
“The the storeroom, Lady Margaret’s storeroom it’s been robbed… The steward’s face was pale with fright, like his soul had fled
Athens
face turned grim. “Take me there!”
She rushed to the storeroom, where a group of servants were already kneeling on the ground in fear.
Seeing Athena arrive, they trembled even harder.
She stepped forward and saw the storeroom doors wide open. The lock was still hanging properly, with no signs of tampering
But all the contents inside were gone.
A hundred large chests were emptied.
Trina gasped. Her mind immediately jumped to Joseph
But she didn’t dare say it out loud, only looked at Athena with fearful eyes.
Athena was so angry that her head felt dizzy. She took several deep breaths to calm herself
“Who was on night duty last night? At her sharp voice, the servants’ shrank back even more.
Two older maids came forward with tearful faces. “It was us, Lady Athena. We were on duty last night.”
“Did anyone come or go from the estate last night?” Athena asked.
They shook their heads. “No one. The wind and rain were too strong. We didn’t dare sleep. Even during the shift change, we were fully a
Athens looked at the second maid, who quickly added, “Lady Athena, please believe me. We would never steal from Lady Margaret
If the back gate hadn’t been opened, then the front gate certainly hadn’t either. There were guards stationed there.
If Joseph had tried to move that many chests out, it would’ve been impossible to hide.
“Has anything from Lady Willow’s storeroom been taken?” Athena asked.
The steward replied nervously, “Thankfully, Lady Willow’s storeroom was untouched.”
Athena
shot him a cold glance, making him quickly lower his head.
Willow’s storeroom was quite close to Margaret’s, yet it was completely untouched. That made things look all too obviou
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Chapter 113
Athena ordered, “Guard this place. Steward, go summon Lady Eloise and the Duke immediately.”
With that, Athena turned and left. If the front and back gates hadn’t been breached,
“You lot.” Athena pointed at the servants. “Grab some sticks and follow me.”
The servants locked confused but obeyed and followed her with clubs in hand.
Athena walked quickly and soon arrived at the entrance of Joseph’s courtyard.
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meant the stolen items were still somewhere inside the estate.
She raised a hand, motioning for them to stop. She ordered, “Surround this courtyard. Joseph tries to leave. Beat him back in with your sticka!“
“What? Beat Lord Joseph?” The servants became nervous, their hands trembling around the sticks.
Athena’s voice was ice cold. “Lady Margaret’s storeroom was robbed. None of you is innocent in this. If the items aren’t recovered, think carefully about what punishment you’ll face.”
She pointed to the footprints on the ground and said sternly, “I’m sure the items are in Joseph’s courtyard. If he escapes, you’ll all be blamed”
Then she turned and walked away.
The servants looked at each other in terror.
Trina chased after Athena, confused. “My Lady, since you’re sure Lord Joseph did it, why not go in and catch him red–handed?”
Athena’s face was full of hatred, her voice brimming with fury “Catching him red–handed would be useless. I’ll strike where it hurts most teach him a
real lesson.”
Even if she caught Joseph in the act, Eloise would defend him. And that foolish Henry would downplay everything in the end. All that effort would amount to nothing more than a whipping.
Trina asked, “Then what do you plan to do?”
Athena stopped in her tracks, her eyes flashing coldly. She signaled Trine to come closer and whispered a few words in her ear.
Trina’s eyes widened in shock, and she gasped. “Are you sure about this?
Athena’s expression was
on was calm, her voice firm. “Im sure.”
AD
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Chapter 114
Eloise and Henry rushed to the storeroom in a panic upon hearing the news.
When they saw the wide open doors and the empty chests, Henry’s vision went black, and he nearly listed.
“What… what happened?”
Elise clutched her chest tightly, her face pale. “Everything was perfectly fine. How could it have been robbed?”
She turned to the household servants and barked, “Speak! Who did this?”
The servants all trembled, none daring to speak.
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Eloise abruptly turned and strode up to the old maid who had been in charge of guarding the storeroom. She pointed a finger at her and questioned harshly, “Tell me, who was on night watch last night?”
Terrified, the old maid’s legs gave way.
Her face wrinkled like a bitter gourd, she choked out tearfully. “Please spare mel The wind and rain were fierce last night, and Lord Joseph suddenly appeared. He said the estate was well–guarded and there was no need to continue guarding the storeroom. He pushed and shoved me out.”
“What?” Eloisa’s eyes widened in disbelief, and her voice rase in pitch. “Nonsensol Joseph never concerns himself with the household’s trivial affairs. How could be possibly tell you to leave? Don’t you dare spout such les!”
She urged, “is it you who stole from the storeroom, and now y
I now you’re trying to pin it on my son?”
The old maid frantically waved her hands. “I swear it’s the truth it really was Lord Joseph who drove me away
She pleaded, “I know how important the storeroom is, I wouldn’t dare leave without cause. But Lord Joseph wouldn’t listen and started beating and kicking me. if you don’t believe me, just look at the wound on my head!”
As she spoke, she carefully parted her hair to reveal a wound about an inch long.
Eloise stared at the old maid’s forehead, her face a mask of shock and doubt. There was indeed a gash.
Though the cut had begun to heal, the dried blood was still clearly visible. It was gruesome and shocking
“This “Eloise gasped, instinctively covering her chr
She staggered back two shops, her eyes filled with panic. She muttered, “How could this happen? How is this possible? Joseph may be mischievous, but
he wouldn’t do something like this”
Anxious, she turned to Henry, her voice trembling, “My lord, the matter hasn’t been fully investigated yet. We can’t jump to conclusions. Maybe there’s
been some misunderstanding”
Henry’s veins bulged with fury, his temples throbbing
He shook his sleeve violently, pushing Eloise aside and roared, “The evidence is right in front of us, and you still plead for him! He’s already bold enough to unlock my mother’s storeroom. What next? Oneday, he might even sell the entire estate!”
“No, that’s impossible. Joseph isn’t that kind of child.” Eloise insisted, her eyes red with bears, shaking her head. But even she sounded unconvinced.
Henry shouted again, “Enough talk! I’m going to catch him in the act!”
With that, he stormed oft
“Wait!” Eloise called out, but Henry didn’t look back. She had no choice but to follow.
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When they arrived at Joseph’s courtyard, they heard a commotion from inside before they even entered
“You damned bastards! How dare you block me?” At the gate, more than ten servants stood
i stood with slicks, preventing Joseph from leaving.
Πα
He looked like a furious roostet, shouting at them. “Get out of my way! Do you hear me?”
None of the servants moved.
It was obvious to everyone
eryone that Joseph had taken the items from Margaret‘ storeroom
Athena had already given orders. Anyone who let him escape would have to repay the lost items and even take his place in jail.
Not only that, but whoever disobeys will have to take the fall for him and do the time.
The servants held fem at the entrance, trying to persuade him. “Lord Joseph, you must not come out. You cannot leone
Joseph’s face turned livid. He couldn’t fight his way out, and no one dared to let him through
His face was filled with anxiety, unsure of what to do. Then, he saw Henry and Eloise approaching
“Father, Mother…” His face tumed pale, and his lips trembled.
But a moment later, he composed himself. He couldn’t let others look down on him anymore. What he had done, he believed, was for the good of the
family
Eloise quickly stepped forward, worriedly asking “Joseph, tell me the truth. Was it you who took the things from your grandmother’s storeroom?”
“Mother, what are your saying? I don’t understand.” Joseph tried to act calm
But his darting eyes and guilty look betrayed him.
Seeing this, Eloise understood completely. She knew her son’s nature well. It was indeed he who had taken the items.
She urged him, “Joseph, don’t be childish. If you liked something in the storeroom, you could’ve asked your grandmother, Why take everything and hide it in your own courtyard? Return them at once.”
She tried to signal him with her eyes, but he refused to move, “Mother, I didn’t take anything. I didn’t.”
“You disgraceful son!” Henry shouted and stormed forward, grabbing Joseph by the collar and slapping him hard across the face
Joseph stumbled, nearly falling. Eloise hurried to shield him. “What are you doing? We’ve barely spoken a word and you’re already hitting him?”
“Mother” Joseph sobbed behind her, “Father has never liked me. But this time, I want to prove I’m not worthless.”
“Nicolas supports the family, so can I. The family is in trouble. I can’t just stand by and do nothing. I take the blame for this Joseph wiped away his
“Joseph” Elone was shocked. “What nonsense are you talking about? Return your grandmother’s things immediately!”
She leaned close to whisper,” your grandmother finds out you stole from her, you’ll suffer family punishment
Joseph’s body trembled. He glanced fearfully at Hanry, then whispered to Eloise, “Mother, I’m not afraid. I’ve already inquired about the price. Those items can fetch a few hundred thousand of coins Use it to help the family.”
“il Grandmother asks, I’ll take full responsibly” He stood tall, as if righteous and self–sacrificing Henry was so angry that he nearly passed out.
Painting at Joseph, he cried out again and again, “You idiot!”
Eloise saw that he was only yelling but not acting, so she stepped forward and said, “Henry, Joseph is right. We must first get through the family crisis. As
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for Margaret, we’ll have to keep it from her for now”
Henry’s eyes flicked around. He didn’t reply.
At that moment, a crisp voice rang out. “There’s no need. Grandmother already know
