Chapter 166 A Coded Letter: Cressida Blown Cover

Chapter 166 A Coded Letter: Cressida Blown Cover

Everyone in the room turned to look at her.

Just as Cressida was about to bend down and pick up the item for a closer look, Verity immediately stopped her.

"Ms. Hamilton, don't touch it. That's Elysian Dust, a drug banned by royal decree. It's forbidden in the palace, but outside the court's reach, no one regulates it. Many people who take it think they've entered some kind of paradise, feeling their bodies are so light they could float away. In reality, this drug is vile. At best, it bankrupts people. At worst, it destroys their bodies and leaves them sterile."

Cressida had heard of this before. She knew Elysian Dust was a powerful hallucinogen.

Once, a celebrity from a prominent family took this drug and wrote over a hundred poems in one sitting, but in the end, his behavior spiraled completely out of control. He became erratic and would even commit shameful acts in public on the street.

The court had long banned royal family members from using this drug. If any official was discovered by the king to be using it, they would be demoted and impeached without question.

She could hardly believe that Rose would encourage Everett to do such a thing.

Ingrid frowned. "This drug is so harmful and so despised by the palace that very few people on the market are willing to sell it. Where on earth did Ms. Rose Hamilton get it from?"

Cressida sneered. "Who else could it be?"

She knew very well that the banned drugs Rose used before mostly came from Octavia.

That old woman had been holding onto the dirty secrets of various noble families' inner chambers. Last time Cressida tried to find her, she discovered that Octavia had already moved everyone and everything away.

She must have gone into hiding first, waiting for things to blow over before starting her underground activities again. Now she was back helping Rose cause trouble.

Cressida had Emma give Kassy some money and told her to leave with her people first.

Ingrid whispered a reminder, "Ms. Cressida Hamilton, if you don't distance yourself from the disaster Ms. Rose Hamilton has created, sooner or later it will destroy your family along with her."

Looking at the powder on the table, she lowered her voice, "I originally intended to handle her myself, but if this gets out, the Howard family will be the first to want her dead."

Cressida didn't explain further, only instructing Verity to handle something for her.

On a morning in mid-September, the Tower of Serenity was holding its regular blessing ceremony. Aurora Rivera always came here on this day to light candles and pray for her family's safety.

This time, Aurora first offered incense in the main hall, made a donation, and lit several prayer candles for her family members, hoping everything would go smoothly for them and they would remain in good health.

As Aurora turned around, she happened to see Cressida walking past the corridor outside the hall with her maid.

The maid beside her immediately whispered, "Madam, that looks like Cressida."

"Cressida?" Aurora always paid great attention to her demeanor, and her face immediately brightened with genuine pleasure.

Now among all the noble families, almost no one didn't know Cressida's reputation.

She was the girl allowed to enter the ancestral hall, yet she still hadn't married. Aurora immediately thought that her brother's second son hadn't taken a wife yet—perhaps she could find an opportunity to introduce them.

Cressida walked through the corridor and heard someone calling her from behind.

"Ms. Hamilton, wait."

She turned around to see Aurora approaching with a group of servants, a warm and eager smile on her face.

"Aurora." Cressida stopped and curtsied to her. Aurora smiled as she looked her over, her eyes showing some appreciation.

"Ms. Hamilton, are you here to pray too?"

Cressida nodded, "My mother hasn't been well lately, and Mabel is also sick. I wanted to pray for them."

Aurora's expression softened immediately, her face showing sympathy.

She had long heard that the lady of the Hamilton family had been in poor health for years, and her mental state was fragile as well. She felt it was such a shame—with this situation, almost everything fell on this young girl's shoulders, leaving her to support the entire household alone.

Aurora looked at her, speaking sincerely, "You really are remarkable. Running such a vast estate, you still keep everything in perfect order and care so deeply for your family."

Just as she wanted to chat more, Emma hurried over and whispered a few words in Cressida's ear. Aurora only caught a few scattered words, like "Master Conrad" and "divination" or something similar.

After listening, Cressida apologized to Aurora, "I have something to attend to, so I can't stay and chat longer."

"No problem, Ms. Hamilton, you go ahead. I've already received the banquet invitation and will attend on time." Aurora's attitude was polite and natural.

Cressida nodded slightly and said goodbye.

After she left, the maid beside her couldn't help but speak up, "I didn't expect Ms. Hamilton to be so young and already consulting fortune-tellers. Master Conrad's services aren't easy to secure."

Aurora glanced at her, "I heard she might become a princess. Asking Master Conrad to look into it is probably about this matter. Since we're here anyway, go ahead and book him for me too."

"Yes." The maid immediately agreed.

Aurora waited outside for nearly two hours before it was her turn to see Master Conrad. She had no complaints about this—after all, this fortune-teller was renowned. When Bronte was still alive, she had invited him to the palace to explain ancient texts, and he was especially known for accurately reading people's destinies.

She walked into the quiet room alone and handed Master Conrad a note with her birth date and time written on it. Sandalwood incense drifted through the room as she lowered her voice to ask, "Master, looking at my destiny, do I still have a chance to rise in position?"

Master Conrad studied the note, lowered his head in thought, his hands moving over a spread of tarot cards on the table. Suddenly, his brow furrowed.

Aurora's chest tightened, and her heart inexplicably sank.

"Your fortune has been favorable, you've always been blessed," Master Conrad slowly began, "but it appears that after middle age, there will be a marked decline."

"What?" Aurora couldn't help but press him, "Master, please explain more clearly."

"From what I can see, your family is likely to face serious trouble in the near future. It will not only damage your reputation but also throw your household into chaos. According to the cards, one of your children will make a reckless and dangerous choice, and that child will bring ruin upon your home. You need to take precautions and be exceptionally careful in everything you do."

Having said this, Master Conrad was unwilling to say more. When Aurora pressed further, he only repeated that he couldn't reveal too much about what fate had in store.

When Aurora emerged from the quiet room, she felt utterly drained, her steps unsteady, her mind in turmoil.

Cressida walked out from under a large tree not far away. Dappled sunlight fell across her composed, sharp features, giving her an air of cold calculation.

She thought to herself that everything was now in place. She was just waiting for Aurora to act as she expected—hopefully she wouldn't disappoint. Once Rose's reputation was ruined and she had tasted true isolation and helplessness, then she would send Rose to join Michael in whatever hell awaited them both.

Meanwhile, in Sophie's palace, the butler was hurrying toward the study with an unsigned letter in his hand.

Sophie was talking with Clifton. Seeing the butler rush in, she gently said to Clifton, "Go wait for me in the garden. I'll be there shortly."

After Clifton left, the butler handed over the letter, "Your Highness, someone just threw this over the courtyard wall and fled."

Sophie frowned slightly, "Didn't see who it was?"

"The guards chased after them but couldn't catch anyone. Whoever it was moved like lightning," the butler replied.

Hearing this, Sophie immediately opened the envelope. The letter contained only one sentence: [General Hamilton is Cressida.]

Sophie's eyes widened in shock, and she went completely still.