Chapter 90 Let Her Bet First?
With no way to avoid it, Cressida graciously took Jessica's hand and headed up to the third floor.
When she arrived, she discovered that her mother Clio had already taken seats among the guests on the third floor with Rose and Rita.
Sophie and Odette sat behind a beaded curtain nearby. As soon as they spotted Cressida, a maid from Sophie's box immediately lifted the curtain.
"Ms. Hamilton, Princess Sophie requests your presence."
Cressida said something to Jessica and went over.
After entering the box, Cressida realized that the two boxes were connected, with Odette's seat right next door, separated only by a beaded curtain.
Cressida curtsied: "Greetings to Princess Sophie and Queen Odette."
As she looked up, she saw Yosef on Odette's side, giving her a meaningful cold smile.
Cressida calmly withdrew her gaze.
Odette smiled: "Ms. Hamilton, it's been quite some days. Someone, give Ms. Hamilton a pot of the flower tea from my table."
"Thank you, Queen Odette."
Sophie took Cressida's hand and had her sit beside her.
Just then, a maid lifted the curtain as two figures entered.
It was Marshall and Miguel.
They bowed to Sophie together: "Aunt."
Looking at Marshall and Miguel, Sophie showed a loving smile: "You're here? Miguel, why didn't you bring Anthony?"
Miguel said: "He was frightened the other day, so I let him rest at home."
After speaking, his deep eyes met Cressida's for a moment, and they both tactfully looked away.
Through the beaded curtain, Marshall and Miguel together paid their respects to Odette.
Bringing up the fireworks explosion, Sophie felt lingering fear.
"Not catching the assassin leaves me furious. I don't know who's tired of living, but if I find out, I'll make their entire family pay with their lives for their crime!" Sophie said.
Odette's tone was also concerned: "For such a thing to happen in your palace, Miguel, you really must properly discipline the palace servants and strengthen patrols."
But Sophie looked over: "Odette, that's not right. On Anthony's birthday, there were many guests, all relatives and connections - how could we guard against them strictly?"
"Besides, if the culprit came from among these people, they're all family and relatives, yet they dared to target a child like Anthony - isn't that even more hateful?"
Sophie's words were blunt, but Odette's face showed no reaction.
Through the beaded curtain, Odette remained calm: "Sophie makes a good point."
When the two of them went head-to-head, no one around them spoke up.
Cressida sat between them, saying nothing.
At this moment, Yosef suddenly said with a half-smile: "Fortunately Ms. Hamilton was there, otherwise my little nephew would have been in danger."
Marshall smiled and praised Cressida: "Ms. Hamilton is truly a heroine among women. Seeing you, one can imagine how impressive General Hamilton must be."
Yosef followed Marshall's words with a light laugh: "They are twins after all, naturally they're as similar as one person."
Yosef's words were too bold - even Sophie found it strange and glanced at him.
Cressida remained composed: "Being like my brother is my good fortune."
Miguel spoke up, his voice low.
"Ms. Hamilton, I have a few words I'd like to say privately to my aunt. Could you step out for a moment?"
Cressida was about to stand when Sophie grabbed her arm.
"Miguel, that's not right of you. Cressida is like family to us - what can't be said in front of her?"
"It concerns the investigation results of the fireworks explosion. Some things aren't suitable for outsiders to hear."
So that was it. Sophie immediately released Cressida's hand.
Sophie said gently: "Cressida, go outside and watch the excitement. The race will start soon."
Cressida immediately stood: "Yes, I'll take my leave."
Leaving Sophie's box through the beaded curtain, the oppressive feeling didn't disappear. Cressida could keenly sense two gazes following her.
Cressida went to the banquet area and found her seat.
Clio happened to return with Rose and Rita.
Seeing Cressida, Clio's gaze was cold: "Don't wander around carelessly, be careful not to offend people of noble status."
In Clio's view, Cressida's manners were mediocre, and without Clio's guidance, even worse.
"Your father and the others are on the boat next door. Don't embarrass the Hamilton family."
Cressida's tone was cold: "Mother, you should worry about yourself first."
After speaking, her gaze shifted and she saw Rose secretly observing her.
After meeting Cressida's eyes, Rose quickly smiled, immediately looked away, and went to talk with Rita.
Cressida suspected that Yosef's ability to accurately find Pippa's son Isaac was likely related to Clio.
If so, either Clio or Rose must have attached themselves to Yosef.
Clio said to Nanny: "It's too chaotic here, so I didn't bring Michael up, but I'm worried the two maids can't watch him properly in the carriage. Go check on him now and bring him some pastries."
Nanny hurried off.
Soon, the drumbeats for the race sounded - the boat race was about to begin.
Cressida stood and walked to the deck.
The sky was bright blue. Looking out, five boats of different colors stood majestically.
The inspiring drum sounds from their drummers echoed across the river, birds took flight, and waves rolled on the water.
"Why aren't you wearing the earrings I gave you?" A deep voice suddenly spoke beside her.
Miguel had appeared at her side without her noticing.
Everyone around was watching the boats on the river, and no one seemed to notice them.
Cressida pressed her lips together, her voice slightly low: "Today wasn't suitable, so I didn't wear them."
Miguel acknowledged this.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed a faint scar below Cressida's collarbone.
However, he couldn't see it clearly, as most of it was covered by her shawl.
Miguel hadn't noticed it before, but today she was wearing a chest-high ruqun dress that revealed the scar.
In that instant, Miguel suddenly remembered that the arrow through the heart that Cameron had blocked for him had also wounded this exact spot.
Such a coincidence?
Before he could ask, Jessica came running to find Cressida to watch the boat race together.
Sophie and Odette, surrounded by maids, also came out and stood on the deck.
Everyone made way for them.
As the stirring horn sounded, the race officially began.
Banners fluttered, and the five boats shot forward like arrows from a bow, splitting the water and raising thousands of white waves.
At first, all five boats advanced side by side, a magnificent sight.
The rowers' shouts thundered across the water.
But soon, the two boats funded by elderly nobles fell far behind.
Only Sophie's, Odette's, and Miguel's boats remained.
However, Miguel's black boat was clearly a step behind, while Sophie's and Odette's two boats were neck and neck.
At this moment, someone suggested placing bets.
Odette looked at Cressida with a smile.
"Ms. Hamilton, why don't you start? Place your bet - which boat do you think will win?"
Sophie's gaze also turned toward her.