Chapter 25 Becoming a Pawn in the Game of Odette and Sophie?
However, when Cressida looked up,
she saw Miguel whisper a few words to Doyle, then leave with Anthony.
Cressida had no choice but to look away.
She wanted to return the sword bestowed by the king to Doyle. After all, Cameron was dead, and it wasn't right for her to keep it.
Unexpectedly, Doyle insisted she keep the sword.
"You and your brother were twins. Now that he's gone, this honor should rightfully pass to you."
Cressida could only accept it.
Doyle didn't stay long before leaving. After he left, Odette raised her hand with a bright smile.
"Everyone, don't hold back. Enjoy yourselves today," Odette said, then changed her tone. "Ms. Hamilton, come sit beside me."
Before Cressida could move, Sophie said with a smile, "Odette, let Cressida sit with me. I happen to have a few words for her."
Odette's expression didn't change. "Whatever Sophie says."
A servant placed a table and chair beside Sophie, and Cressida lifted her skirt and walked over to sit down.
"You just returned to Emerald City and aren't familiar with these noble ladies yet. Let me introduce them to you one by one."
After the first round of food and drinks, the noble ladies raised their glasses and came forward one by one to pay their respects to Sophie and Odette.
Cressida sat steadily beside Sophie, memorizing each noble lady who came forward.
Odette occasionally glanced in their direction.
With Sophie by her side, the noble ladies were very respectful and warm toward Cressida.
While talking with Flora Price, the wife of a cabinet minister, Cressida suddenly said, "Mrs. Smith, your handkerchief is beautifully embroidered."
She smiled at Cressida. "This was made by a skilled seamstress in my household. If you like it, I can have someone send you a few."
Cressida quickly declined politely, saying she couldn't possibly accept.
The banquet soon ended, and Clio didn't return with Rose to annoy people again.
Sophie intended to see her off, so she had servants prepare a sedan chair to take Cressida to the palace gate.
As the sedan traveled along the palace road, they heard the sound of horse hooves approaching from the opposite direction.
"Make way!" a clear voice called out.
The sedan bearers quickly moved aside.
Cressida lifted the curtain and saw a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl riding past on horseback. She was stunningly beautiful, with an air of willfulness in her features that came from being pampered since childhood.
After she passed, a servant beside Sophie apologized to Cressida.
"That was Princess Bella Russell. We had to let her pass first. We apologize for keeping Ms. Hamilton waiting."
"It's fine. Giving way to the princess is only proper," Cressida said calmly.
Lowering the curtain, Cressida recalled what she knew about Bella.
Bella was Odette's daughter and Yosef Russell's full sister.
Previously, Cressida had heard that Doyle wanted Cameron to marry a princess—that princess was Bella.
The sedan stopped at the palace gate, where Sophie's carriage was already prepared.
Cressida thanked Sophie's servant and was about to board the carriage when a group of female officials stopped her.
"I greet Ms. Hamilton. The queen, considering that Ms. Hamilton has no carriage for the rewards, has specially had me bring one."
As the female official spoke, palace servants behind her pulled out a carriage.
Cressida glanced at it and bowed her head. "Thank the queen for me."
The palace servants helped Cressida load Doyle's rewards onto the carriage.
Emma approached and whispered, "Miss Hamilton, I noticed there are two extra boxes in the carriage."
Cressida lowered her eyes and nodded calmly.
After the female official left, Flora's carriage arrived. Flora was helped down from her carriage by a servant.
"I had planned to send an invitation after returning home, but since I've run into Ms. Hamilton here—I wonder if you're free on January 4th? My daughter is planning to host a plum blossom viewing party and would like to invite you."
"Thank you, Mrs. Smith, but I may not have time on January 4th."
Cressida paused, then continued, "Actually, there is something I shouldn't really bring up, but my family is worried, so I can only ask on their behalf."
Flora immediately became serious. "Please, go ahead."
"It's about my cousin Ethan. Last year he ranked at the top in the martial arts examination."
"But to this day, he hasn't been given a position and has just been staying at home."
"My uncle is a straightforward man and doesn't dare go ask Mr. Yves Smith about it. If Mr. Yves Smith isn't too busy, could Mrs. Flora Smith perhaps ask about it for me?"
Cressida spoke tactfully. Flora's expression remained unchanged as she said, "I never ask Yves about state affairs, but Ms. Hamilton and I get along well, so naturally I'll ask a few questions for you."
"Thank you." After saying this, Cressida exchanged a few more pleasantries, then took Emma's hand and boarded the carriage to return home.
After Cressida left, Flora turned around, her expression completely changed.
"Quick, go back. As soon as you see Mr. Smith, tell him to come find me immediately!" She was in a rush.
In the carriage, Emma pinched her own face.
"Ms. Hamilton, are we dreaming? His Majesty gave so many rewards, and the queen added two more boxes."
"His Majesty's gift was to show the world his generosity. The queen's gift will definitely come with a price."
At the banquet earlier, Cressida had noticed that although Sophie and Odette seemed friendly on the surface, there were undercurrents between them.
That was normal—the palace couldn't have two mistresses.
Sophie was Doyle's own sister, and they had shared hardships together, creating a strong bond.
Meanwhile, Odette came from a noble background, had many children, and was deeply loved by Doyle.
When Sophie and Odette faced each other, with the added struggle for power, things wouldn't be so harmonious.
Cressida was just a tool in their game.
So regardless of who gave the gifts, she had to accept them first.
"Ms. Cressida Hamilton, when Mrs. Smith goes back, will she really be able to solve things for Mr. Ethan Hamilton?"
"She definitely will, and the results will be immediate. Just wait and see." Cressida's pink lips curved into a smile.
The Smith Mansion.
The doors and windows of the main courtyard were tightly closed. Flora clutched her handkerchief.
"You dared to delay matters concerning the Hamilton family. Do you know that today His Majesty, the queen, and even the princess all showed her respect!"
"It's not my fault. Patrick had someone hint at it, and I couldn't ignore him, could I?" Yves frowned.
The person Patrick sent didn't say it outright, but the implication was clear—saying that Ethan was too young to rank so high, and if he wasn't given some setbacks, he'd become arrogant.
Yves asked, "Do you think Ms. Hamilton was really just giving you a hint?"
"What else?" Flora looked at him. "Ms. Hamilton handles things properly. In front of the princess and the queen, she didn't say it directly—she just complimented my handkerchief."
"I thought it was strange at the time. Of all the noble ladies there today, many had more exquisite handkerchiefs than mine. Why single out mine? She must have had something to say."
"When leaving the palace, I deliberately waited for her, and sure enough, she mentioned that Ethan from the Hamilton family ranked high in the martial arts exam. Yves, you need to resolve this quickly. Otherwise, if she asks the princess about it, His Majesty will find out too."
Yves stood up. "I'll go prepare the appointment documents right away."
After returning home, Cressida had Emma move everything to her own courtyard.
Her courtyard had two large rooms and two small ones in total.
Emma cleared out one small room specifically to store the reward items.
Just two hours later, Clio arrived.
In the past, Clio would always send someone to summon Cressida. This time, Clio came in person.