Chapter 167 Taking Banned Drugs and Committing Indecent Acts in Public?

Chapter 167 Taking Banned Drugs and Committing Indecent Acts in Public?

The autumn sun was lovely.

The city's largest tavern was packed even during the day. Rita was led upstairs to a private room by a staff member. As the door opened, Rose immediately stood up.

"Rita, you finally came."

After the door closed, Rita walked over and sat across from her.

"Rose, I can't stay long. My mother forbids me from spending time with you," Rita said, her voice lacking confidence.

Back at the estate, she had always followed Rose around. Clio had been generous to Rose, giving her the finest and most expensive silks and jewelry, so Rita had benefited from being close to Rose too. But things were different now. Cressida was in charge of the entire estate, and no one dared cross her.

Rose looked at Rita, first startled, then smiled and shook her head.

"Cressida can't stand me and targets me at every turn—of course I don't blame you. I asked you out just to give you a gift. You and Michael were always my favorites."

With that, Rose produced an ornate box. Opening it revealed ten perfectly round, lustrous white pearls of the highest quality.

Rita stared in amazement, carefully picking them up. "Rose, these are for me? Where did you get the money?" These pearls weren't cheap.

Rose tucked her hair behind her ear, giving a faint smile. "Someone gave them to me. Don't worry about it."

Rita hadn't noticed before, but now taking a closer look at Rose, she realized she was wearing fine brocade, adorned with pearls and jade, and a bracelet of vivid green jade hung from her wrist. Back at the estate, with Cressida watching, how could Rose have lived so well?

Rita understood. "Rose, looks like you've found a good situation. I'm so jealous."

"Jealous of me? If you wanted, you could find someone who cares for you too. Before I left, I heard your family has arranged a suitor for you."

"It's the Ramos family. He has obtained a low-tier governmental position within the kingdom. Cressida praises his intellect and scholarly grace. I have met him once; he carries himself with quiet elegance and gentle manners."

Rita was rather fond of the young lord. His only drawback was his modest political standing. Even so, the Ramos family bore considerable prestige, firmly established among the prominent noble clans of Emerald City.

Rita had no objections to this match. But when Rose heard it, she immediately frowned.

"What? Cressida only found you such an ordinary family? Rita, do you know what kind of families she's considering for Jessica?"

Rita shook her head blankly.

Rose said, "Cressida is introducing Jessica to prestigious noble families. Every single one has connections to the royal family. How can Brad compare? I really feel for you."

Rita was stunned by her words. Coming to her senses, she felt somewhat angry. "How can Cressida do this? Jessica and I are both her family."

Rose sighed softly. "Jessica is in her good graces, and you were never close to her to begin with. As long as your betrothal appears decent on the surface, no one will dare question her. Our father is careless and indifferent to his daughters, and Reid would never defy her openly. You are the only one who suffers for it."

As she spoke, she gripped Rita's hand tightly.

"Rita, I worry about you most, otherwise I wouldn't have called you out alone. Marriage is the most important thing in a woman's life. She has cunningly outmaneuvered you. What will become of you in the years to come?"

With this said, Rita began to worry too, growing angrier at Cressida's unequal treatment, her eyes reddening.

Her mother Brynn always taught her to obey Cressida. Was this the result of obedience?

Rita cried in frustration. "I thought Cressida was good, but she deliberately bullied me."

"Listen to me—no matter how angry you are, don't confront her directly. Otherwise you'll end up like me, harassed until you can't stay."

After saying this, Rose changed the subject. "Didn't you have feelings for Peter, the son of the Chief Justice's family? Since you're not satisfied with Brad, go after what you want yourself."

Rita's crying paused as she looked up. "Rose, I wouldn't dare. That's who Jessica likes. They've known each other for a long time."

"So what? Jessica is also seeking a suitable match these days. She has so many suitors to choose from that she has surely long forgotten Mr. Nelson. If you make your move now, you'll definitely succeed. The Nelson family is high-ranking and won't treat you badly."

Rita still hesitated. "I've tried talking to him before. He never paid me any attention."

"If you listen to me, use some tactics. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—you need to seize it."

With that, Rose pressed a small packet of medicine into her hand.

Rita was startled. "Rose, what is this?"

"Medicine that will make a man like you." Rose leaned close and explained in a low voice.

Rita's face flushed red, and she immediately pushed the packet back. "No, no. If Cressida finds out, she'll skin me alive. My father and mother won't tolerate me either."

"Rita, you're so foolish. With the medicine, nothing actually has to happen—you just need to claim something did and make him take responsibility."

Rita kept shaking her head.

Rose said, "Would I ever harm you? Besides Mother, you're the person I care about most in the Hamilton family. If I hadn't heard how Cressida is being so careless with your marriage prospects, I would never teach you this."

"But—"

"Just keep the packet for now. When you find someone you like, try it once. You won't regret it—you'll come thank me later."

Rose showed off her luxurious silk gown and her position with one foot already in the door of the Howard family. Rumor had it she used this very method to make Everett devoted to her. Rita believed her.

In the end, Rita took the packet.

But even Rose herself probably didn't expect that very night, a scandal would erupt in the Howard family.

The next morning, just as Cressida got up, Verity rushed in, lifting the curtain.

"Ms. Hamilton, Everett was nearly beaten to death by Mr. Howard."

Cressida calmly sipped her porridge. "They discovered he was taking the drug?"

"More than that." Verity described vividly. "Last night, he actually ran through the streets completely naked. The common folk gathered to stare and point. Now the whole city knows."

After she finished, both Ingrid and Emma were stunned.

Emma quickly covered her face. "Just thinking about it, the Howard family has lost all face."

Indeed, what a loss of face. Bruce had always been known for his severity and stern demeanor. He had been brilliant his whole life, only to have his reputation ruined in his old age by his own grandson. It seemed this Elysian Dust really was a hallucinogenic drug—taking too much made people lose control.

Cressida asked, "Did our people spread the news?"

"Yes. It was already spreading last night. Now everyone knows Everett was seduced into taking Elysian Dust and did indecent things in the street."

After hearing this, Cressida nodded. "Get ready. The Howard family should be coming to make trouble soon."

Her guess was right. Around nine in the morning, a group of Howard family servants burst through the gates of the Hamilton mansion.