Chapter 24 Cressida's Advice, Annoying Doyle?
Doyle was very kind and asked everyone to take their seats.
Odette said, "What a pity Doyle wasn't here earlier, otherwise he could have heard Miss Hamilton play. The Hamilton family is truly full of talented people - it's enviable."
Sophie, sitting on Doyle's left, suddenly smiled.
"What a coincidence! Ms. Hamilton also brought her instrument to perform. She's Cameron's own sister - why not listen to her?"
Rose's smile became somewhat stiff.
But Doyle nodded with a smile, "Good, then let me see."
Cressida went to the courtyard, and Emma set down the instrument and removed the silk covering.
"Your Majesty, for my performance today, I won't be playing music, but rather..."
Before Cressida finished speaking, as her hand touched the strings, her expression froze.
Seeing something was wrong, Odette asked, "What's the matter?"
Cressida pressed her lips together, "This isn't my brother's instrument."
After saying this, she instinctively looked up toward Rose.
The servants hadn't yet had time to put away the real instrument.
Cressida was immediately surprised, "Why is my brother's instrument over there with you?"
"Cressida, you've mistaken it," Clio spoke up to explain. "The year your brother went to war, I had two identical instruments made - one for your brother to take to the military fortress, and the other stayed at home. The one at home is yours."
Cressida had already expected Clio would say this.
Clio was betting that no one would trace back to when an instrument was made.
"I'll give you mine, Rose. Give back my brother's things." Cressida wouldn't back down.
Rose stood up, her posture weak, her face showing a sorrowful expression.
"Cressida, I can give you anything, but not this instrument. It's my only keepsake of my brother. Please don't take it away."
Odette tried to smooth things over, "The instruments are the same, there's really no difference."
"They're not the same," Cressida said quickly. "Because this isn't a real instrument."
With that, Emma directly snatched the real instrument from Rose's maid's hands and brought it before Cressida.
Cressida tapped twice on the head of the instrument, and suddenly a hidden compartment popped out.
Before everyone's eyes, Cressida reached in and pulled out a sharp sword!
When the sword appeared, Doyle stood up immediately.
"It's the Knight's Sword - the one I bestowed!"
Five years ago, when Cameron kept winning battles, Doyle had sent this sword that had accompanied him for many years to the military fortress as a gift to Cameron.
It symbolized supreme power and was the highest honor.
Everyone thought that when Cameron died, these things would have been lost in the chaos.
No one expected the Knight's Sword to be hidden inside an instrument.
Cressida presented the sword with both hands, kneeling on the ground, "My brother once told me this wasn't a real instrument, but one designed to hide a sword, which is why it has ancient English carved on it."
"But the instrument my mother gave me has no such hidden compartment. If they really are two identical instruments, why would there be a difference?"
Clio's face turned pale.
Sophie slapped the table in displeasure, "Keeping General Hamilton's instrument and insisting it's yours, even fighting with General Hamilton's own sister over it - Clio, is this how you teach manners?"
Clio quickly knelt down, repeatedly saying she wouldn't dare.
Rose looked the most uncomfortable. She could feel the scornful looks from the noble women around her.
They all thought she was fighting with Cressida over Cameron's belongings.
But as the Hamilton family's goddaughter, why shouldn't she have it? She was part of the Hamilton family too!
Clio pulled Rose down to kneel with her, "Princess Russell, please calm down. I was wrong. I thought the two instruments were no different, so I wanted each sister to have one. It's all my fault."
Doyle's expression was grim.
Suppressing his anger, he said to Clio, "For General Hamilton's sake, I won't punish you, but Clio, you should treat the children equally."
Cressida lowered her eyes, thinking Doyle's warning was very direct.
Sophie must have told Doyle something after returning from The Hamilton Mansion last time.
With things having reached this point, Odette said, "Ms. Clio Hamilton, I see Ms. Rose Hamilton's dress is soiled. Please take her to change."
"Yes." Clio felt relieved and left with Rose.
Doyle looked back at Cressida, "I heard you carried General Hamilton's remains, kowtowing with every step. I've been wanting to reward you. I intend to grant you the title of princess. What do you think?"
Cressida looked up slightly, "Your Majesty, may I ask for anything?"
"Of course. Your brother made great contributions. No reward would be too much."
After hearing this, Cressida removed her silver cloak, revealing a bright sapphire blue dress underneath.
The faces of those around changed.
All the noble women present wore clothes in very dull, subdued colors - no one dared wear bright colors during the mourning period after Cameron's death.
They'd heard that recently someone was executed by Doyle's order for wearing fancy clothes.
How dare this Cressida?
"I ask Your Majesty to lift the city-wide mourning decree." Cressida raised both hands above her forehead, kneeling on the ground.
Her words caused an uproar.
Even Miguel raised his eyebrows, quietly watching the figure in the courtyard.
Doyle's voice deepened, as if displeased, "Why? As General Hamilton's twin sister, do you think your brother doesn't deserve such an honor?"
Cressida replied, "It's precisely because my brother deserves it that I dare to speak at the risk of my life."
"If my brother's spirit in heaven knew that Your Majesty grieves for him constantly, that people's livelihoods are disrupted because of him, that they don't even dare to sell goods on the streets, he would be distressed."
"His military achievements were for the country's prosperity and peace. If mourning lasts for months, affecting countless people's lives, this goes against his original intention. Therefore, I ask Your Majesty to rescind the order."
"True remembrance isn't in these three months of mourning, but in people's hearts remembering him, Your Majesty remembering him, and his family remembering him."
The entire hall fell silent.
Suddenly, someone softly sobbed.
Doyle snapped out of his daze, "You child, how dare you..."
He didn't finish his reproach. He shook his head, "Only you would dare speak to me like this."
Sophie's eyes reddened, "Your Majesty, I think Ms. Hamilton makes sense. People know General Hamilton's death is the nation's grief, but they still need to live. Please lift this three-month mourning period."
Odette also spoke up in support.
Finally, with everyone's urging, Doyle nodded and pointed at Cressida saying—
"I will reward you greatly, because I see your brother's shadow in you."
So with a wave of his hand, he bestowed much gold, silver, and jewels upon Cressida.
Cressida accepted graciously and thanked him generously.
Doyle was very satisfied and even drank two cups of wine in good spirits.
Seeing this, Cressida became more certain that her choice today was right.
One person's glory cannot exceed Doyle's.
Cameron had made great contributions, true, and Doyle's declaration of three months of city-wide mourning was a statement to the world about how he valued great generals.
However, the Hamilton family could accept favors, but they couldn't be tactless.
Plus, with Doyle's birthday approaching, should all the people continue mourning? Doyle was human - he might feel uncomfortable about it.
Smart people in the palace had already noticed something was wrong, but their positions were awkward - it would only be appropriate if someone from the Hamilton family brought it up themselves.
Cressida took the risk and became the one to remonstrate, even at the cost of her life.
And it turned out to be exactly what Doyle wanted.
Cressida searched the crowd for Miguel, wanting to send him a grateful look.
Thanks to his reminder, she had thought of this in time.