Chapter 43 I Really Should Have Killed You
Miguel and Cressida locked eyes, both seeing turbulent waves in each other's gaze, as unfathomable as the deep night sky.
Miguel had been born into royalty and raised in luxury. Even after years of hardship on the battlefield, his innate nobility had never been worn away.
Yet beneath this noble bearing, when he revealed his true ambitions, his eyes would unconsciously show the scrutiny and calculation of a predator.
Seeing his current gaze, Cressida suddenly recalled a tiger she'd once encountered in the mountain forest.
That beast had stood on a hillside, just like this, weighing her life with cold eyes.
Another sound.
Miguel sheathed his sword: "Let's hear it. If you're wrong, you won't be leaving through that door today."
Cressida dipped her fingertip in water and quickly sketched a simple street map on the table.
"The Flower Festival will only be held on Glory Street and Prosperity Street. The prince just needs to station people at high points and hidden spots—here, here, and here."
Cressida circled six locations: three-story viewing pavilions and the entrances and exits of both streets.
Worried Miguel might not understand, Cressida explained: "If trouble breaks out on these two streets, there will be four escape routes. It'll be very difficult to catch anyone."
"The Royal Capital Second Guard can only deploy fewer than a hundred patrol soldiers. When the streets are crowded and people panic, even on horseback they'll struggle to move."
"Prince Miguel Russell only needs to wait for the situation to descend into chaos and for Prince Marshall Russell's defenses to fail. Then your guard can move immediately to capture all the troublemakers in one sweep. When the king investigates afterward, you'll have the primary achievement and can legitimately take control of the Royal Capital Second Guard."
Miguel stared at her: "Don't you know that Marshall and I are brothers?"
Cressida's expression was frank: "True strength has always been about controlling situations, not being controlled by them. Seizing power at critical moments doesn't conflict with brotherly affection."
Miguel raised an eyebrow, watching her for a long moment.
"Did your brother teach you this too?"
"Yes," Cressida nodded gently, putting on an obedient appearance. "This is just my shallow understanding. If Your Highness finds it useful, that's my good fortune. If not, I lose nothing."
In reality, she'd already tried her best to warn him.
In her past life during the Flower Festival, Patrick and Clio had locked her at home, forbidding her to go out.
But Rose had gone out with Marshall, and something had happened when they returned.
Supposedly, Eldorian remnants had disguised themselves among the crowd, thrown firecrackers as a signal, then suddenly pulled out swords and attacked innocent people.
Rose had taken a sword to the arm protecting Marshall, earning praise from Doyle.
The outcome of that incident was that the Eldorian remnants escaped using the terrain, and many from the Royal Capital Second Guard were killed by Doyle.
Marshall, who was in charge of the guard, was also impeached by court officials. Later, command of the Royal Capital Second Guard fell to Yosef.
Cressida thought carefully—what had Miguel been doing during the Flower Festival in her past life?
Miguel seemed to have still been at the military fortress, not having returned.
Strangely, in this life he'd been staying in Emerald City the whole time, leaving border fortress defense entirely to Chris and the Royal Guard.
Cressida came back to herself. Miguel's expression was no longer as sharp as before.
"You risked your life to offer advice—it's not just to help me, is it?"
"Your Highness is perceptive," Cressida didn't deny it. "I want to ask Your Highness for an assistant, preferably someone skilled in medicine."
Miguel raised an eyebrow: "All this trouble, just for one person?"
Cressida met his gaze: "I'm alone trying to establish myself in my family, with threats all around. Having someone who knows medicine would make things much easier."
"Fine." Miguel agreed readily.
He took out a gold-decorated porcelain bottle from his chest and placed it in front of her.
Cressida froze: "This is..."
Miguel's tone was indifferent: "This is the royal family's special beauty cream. Anthony keeps saying you're pitiful and asked me to look after you more."
Probably because Anthony had seen the faint scars on Cressida's hands last time, he'd kept it in mind.
She hadn't expected Anthony to be the one who cared about her most.
Cressida tucked it away, somewhat moved: "Thank you, Little Duke. I can leave the estate freely now, so I can go to the martial arts hall as promised."
"Not lately. He sprained his ankle. The royal physician told him to rest for half a month."
"Is it serious?"
"Not too serious. Boys get minor injuries—no need to make a fuss." Miguel's tone remained cold.
From his tone, Cressida almost wondered if Anthony was even his biological son.
Wasn't it said that Anthony was his only son with his beloved? Yet he seemed so indifferent about a sprained ankle.
Before leaving, Cressida handed over a box of pastries she had with her.
"Please help me give this to the Little Duke."
Miguel glanced at it—cheese pastries from Sweet Haven, the city's signature treat.
He laughed mockingly: "You certainly know his preferences well."
As Cressida reached the door, he added: "The person you want, I'll send directly to your estate."
"Thank you, Prince."
Cressida left.
But Miguel couldn't ignore the sweet fragrance wafting from the pastries.
He opened the food box to see the pastry crust gleaming an enticing gold. He couldn't help taking a piece to try. The sweet, creamy taste almost reached his teeth roots.
Miguel coldly tossed the pastry back in the box, saying in a deep voice: "Hard to swallow."
Miguel put down the pastry with a cold face: "Disgusting."
After Cressida returned to the estate, Echo quietly found her.
"Ms. Hamilton, I just saw Mr. Hamilton's people call Zola over. When Zola came back, she was all smiles, like she'd gotten some good news."
Cressida understood: "Got it. Keep a close watch."
Echo: "Yes."
Cressida actually wasn't afraid of Michael stirring up trouble—what she feared most was him being well-behaved, giving her no excuse to act.
Better if he sought his own death soon, so she could help him along.
That evening, the person who'd sent her a note before appeared again.
The note landed directly on Cressida's desk.
It had just one name written on it—Verity.
Verity.
Within two days, Noah brought ten maids to her courtyard.
Noah's face was all smiles: "Ms. Hamilton, these are the most capable girls selected from the estate. Which one do you like?"
Cressida wore a light blue-green dress, sitting in a rattan chair under the corridor, leisurely holding a silk handkerchief over her eyes to block the harsh midday sun.
Her movements were unhurried, every inch the noble lady.
Her gaze swept over them—all young maids around fifteen or sixteen.
"Tell me what you can do." Cressida said.
The maids came forward one by one to answer. One bowed her head and said: "I'm skilled in medicinal cuisine."
Cressida narrowed her eyes, studying her: "What's your name?"
"Ms. Hamilton, my name is Verity." She was about sixteen, with wheat-colored skin and delicate features, but spoke steadily and clearly, well-organized.
Cressida nodded slightly. She recognized this name—this was the person Miguel had sent.
"You'll do."
She also picked four more maids, designating them as second and third-class maids, naming them Jessa, Daisy, Dione, and Nia.
After the church incident, Cressida had already dismissed Lika.
Cressida's courtyard still lacked a head maid. That position she'd long reserved for her nanny Ingrid.
After dismissing everyone else, Cressida kept Verity alone.
"Do you really know medicine?"
"Ms. Hamilton, I know some medicine and toxicology." Verity answered straightforwardly.
Cressida noticed her walking posture wasn't like an ordinary medical woman's delicate gait.
More like a female guard who'd received martial training.
"What were you responsible for when you were with the prince?"
"I was originally His Highness's personal guard sworn to die for him." Verity's voice dropped, carrying a hint of disbelief.
She probably hadn't expected Miguel to send her to serve Cressida.