Chapter 140 Clio Kneels
The moonlight was silver. In the alley across from the government office's back entrance, a covered carriage sat waiting.
Before long, Cressida's upright figure emerged from the back entrance.
Verity immediately jumped down from the carriage, seeing Cressida's face cold and calm.
She asked, "Ms. Hamilton, is everything done?"
Cressida responded, "For the rest, follow what we discussed before."
"I understand."
The carriage drove back to The Hamilton Mansion.
The sky changed, and another sunrise came.
Clio hadn't slept well all night. She got up early and sent Nanny to find out what was happening at the government office.
Rose came in from outside, frost from the cold autumn morning clinging to her eyelashes.
"Rose! Rose!, what did you find out? Is Prince Yosef willing to vouch for him?"
"Mother, Prince Yosef isn't in Emerald City right now. I only saw his butler, and he did suggest something, but..."
"But what?" Clio gripped her shoulders anxiously. "Tell me quickly, tell me!"
Rose frowned. "He said if we could get Mabel to come forward and forgive Michael for attempted murder, things would be simple."
Clio froze. "You want me to beg Mabel? Mabel's still unconscious—who would I even ask?"
"You could ask Donny. He can represent Mabel. The butler said only this way counts as the victim's forgiveness. Combined with our status, the authorities would have reason to be lenient, and it would look good in their report."
After hearing what Rose said, Clio stood stunned.
Rose continued persuading her, "On my way back, I also heard that Princess Sophie, Mr. Chambers, and several other officials are all helping to put in a good word. I think the punishment for Michael pawning his official robe won't be too severe."
"Mother, the urgent thing is to reduce Michael's suffering. Otherwise, with both crimes punished together, how could he bear it?"
Clio deeply agreed.
She closed her eyes, tears rolling down her haggard cheeks.
"What's the worst outcome of this?"
"The worst outcome..." Rose thought silently, then said, "Would probably be that Michael can never work as an official in the palace again."
Clio covered her face and cried out loud.
She sobbed, "Then his whole life will be ruined!"
If Michael couldn't work as an official in the palace, how could he inherit the title?
Rose really didn't want to comfort her, but she also didn't want Clio to fall ill here. After all, Rose still needed Clio's protection at The Hamilton Mansion.
So Rose said gently, "Mother, you're thinking too seriously! I heard that once there was another official who made a similar mistake. Later he was just dismissed from office, but he found another chance to return to court."
Clio quickly looked up, listening carefully.
Rose continued, "That man was a client Princess Sophie recommended for office. One day, he accidentally left his seal with his mistress, and she stole it. Using his name and the stolen seal, she accessed His Majesty's book collection—many were rare editions. She pawned and rented them out for money."
"Later when it was discovered, His Majesty was furious. Princess Sophie pleaded for him, and finally His Majesty showed mercy. He had the mistress executed and dismissed the official. Normally, he could never hold office again, but he chose to join the military and fought bravely. In less than ten years, he earned military honors, and His Majesty stopped pursuing his past mistakes."
Clio's eyes showed uncertainty.
"You mean Michael could join the military too?"
"Of course. Besides, compared to being a military official in Emerald City, it's better to go to those military fortresses. At least if he risks his life for honor, he'll have a chance to earn merit."
"The conditions out there are so harsh. Michael has never suffered hardship since birth." Clio wiped her tears at the thought.
Rose looked at her helplessly. "It's still better than Michael being idle in Emerald City."
Clio fell silent, then nodded after a moment.
She was right. Patrick was now completely disappointed in Michael.
Even if they saved Michael, without his official position, how could he win Patrick's favor?
Besides, Echo was pregnant with that damned child. If born, it might replace Michael's position.
Clio closed her eyes. "Let's send Michael to a military fortress then. Blade of Victory still has influence—have Cressida contact her old connections and arrange it."
Things had come to this point. Clio couldn't worry about whether Cressida's identity would be exposed.
Cressida's crime of deceiving the king was Cressida's problem and couldn't affect Michael's future.
At worst, after getting Michael into Blade of Victory, she'd force Cressida to cut ties with the Hamilton family.
Having thought it through, Clio immediately stood up. "I'll go beg Donny. For Michael's sake, I'll even kneel if I have to!"
Rose helped her up. After a few steps, she added, "It's easy to make Donny soften, but I'm afraid Cressida won't cooperate and won't help Michael establish himself in Blade of Victory."
"Cressida wouldn't dare not cooperate—she's Michael's sister! Only a heartless person would refuse." Clio spoke sternly, then softened her tone. "I'll talk to Cressida properly. She wouldn't dare be truly heartless toward me, her mother."
Rose stopped walking and didn't accompany Clio further, instead having Nanny go with her.
Watching Clio's retreating figure, Rose thought to herself, 'Clio is so foolish!'
Can't Clio see it even now? Cressida isn't just heartless—she's terrifyingly cold-blooded!
Clio went to Donny's courtyard. After explaining her purpose, the butler Gage blocked her from entering.
"Mrs. Clio Hamilton, please go back. Mr. Donny Hamilton is resting, considering how hard Mrs. Mabel Hamilton has had it."
"Don't block me. I know Donny is inside." Clio pushed away Gage's hand and rushed into the courtyard, crying out at the tightly closed door, "Donny, please have mercy and go to the authorities to forgive Michael! Patrick and I only have this one son. If something happens to Michael, what will we do?"
Inside the room, there was no response.
Clio cried dramatically, describing how hard it was to carry Michael for ten months and raise him all these years.
Finally, she even said, "Put yourself in my shoes—you have a son too. If Ethan got in trouble, you'd be worried too!"
However, seeing the door showed no sign of opening, Clio gritted her teeth and knelt down directly.
"Donny, I'm kneeling to you now. If you don't agree, I won't get up!"
Inside, Donny wanted to stand up from his chair when he heard this.
A hand pressed on his shoulder.
Cressida stood beside him, shaking her head at him.
Before coming today, she had told Donny that Clio would definitely come and kneel to beg him to forgive Michael. Donny could go out and negotiate later—after all, Michael was already dead, but at least Clio didn't know that yet. They had to make Clio pay some price.
Clio knelt for thirty minutes, crying and sobbing the whole time.
Many servants came and stood outside the courtyard, watching and whispering.
"Mr. Michael Hamilton stabbed Mrs. Mabel Hamilton, and Mrs. Clio Hamilton still has the nerve to plead for him? There's no justice!"
"Right, if it weren't for Mrs. Mabel Hamilton's good fortune, plus Ms. Cressida Hamilton providing the life-saving medicine in time, Mrs. Mabel Hamilton would have been killed by Mr. Michael Hamilton."
"Mrs. Clio Hamilton is truly heartless. If I were Mr. Donny Hamilton, I wouldn't open the door for her either."
Hearing this, Clio secretly gritted her teeth and began slapping her own face.
She knew Donny was softhearted and couldn't bring himself to be completely ruthless.
"Donny, I'm begging you. Michael is your nephew too. Can you really just watch him be severely punished?"
Inside, there was still silence.
Clio's knees went numb from kneeling, as if insects were gnawing at them.
Nearly an hour had passed, and Donny showed no sign of appearing.
Clio's heart filled with resentment. She wouldn't leave today without resolving this.
Just as she was considering whether to set the house on fire to force Donny out, Noah came running hurriedly.
"Mrs. Hamilton, someone from the authorities is here. Stop making a scene here!"
Clio's face showed alarm. She quickly stood up with Nanny's help.
Having knelt too long, Clio twisted her ankle—it hurt terribly!
But she couldn't worry about that. She said, "Quick, help me back. Is there news about Michael?"
As soon as she left, the servants outside the courtyard dispersed, and the room instantly became quiet.
Donny's face showed some gravity. He looked up at Cressida and asked, "Michael... is he really dead?"