Chapter 12 Request for Help, Preventing Rose from Entering the Family Tree
Cressida wasn't used to being hugged so closely by others.
She frowned and pushed his head away with her hand.
"Go pick ten identical fallen leaves for me, and I'll consider teaching you."
Anthony agreed right away and ran off toward the courtyard outside.
After he left, the courtyard finally became quiet.
Ivan wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"This kid hasn't listened to anyone since he was sent here. It's rare for him to listen to you."
"Whose child is he, that Ivan would personally teach him?"
Cressida remembered that Ivan had stopped taking students years ago.
Ivan smiled. "A noble person. Sit down, I'll make you a cup of hot tea."
In her past life, when she died, her two teachers had already passed away one after another.
If they had still been alive, maybe she wouldn't have died so miserably.
"Here, Cressida, have some tea." Ivan brought over a tea tray and sat down beside her.
After a cup of hot tea, Ivan smiled and said, "You've become more composed. The wind and sand of the borderlands really do shape people."
He didn't know that Cressida had disguised herself as a man to serve in Patrick's place. He thought she had really gone to the borderlands with her brother.
But Cressida smiled bitterly. "Ivan, I'm in trouble."
"What's wrong?" Ivan became serious.
Cressida briefly explained her situation, skipping many details and only mentioning how her mother favored Rose.
"My mother wants to adopt Rose. In a few days, she'll open the ancestral hall and invite the clan elders. I need to borrow someone from you—someone with influence in the palace who can speak up for me."
This was her real purpose for coming out today.
Cressida remembered that in her past life, Odette held the palace banquet mainly to follow the king's wishes and reward the Hamilton family.
Before that, to allow Rose to naturally enter the palace as a daughter of the Hamilton family, Patrick and Clio opened the ancestral hall for her and added her to the family register.
Because of this, in her past life, Rose directly took over Cressida's identity and completely became a daughter of the Hamilton family.
In this life, Cressida couldn't let them succeed. She needed help.
Ivan was silent for a long time.
By making this request, Cressida was actually crossing one of his boundaries.
After Lester died and Doyle became king, in order to purge Lester's forces and expand his policies, he killed several old officials.
As the commander of the King's Guard, Ivan had been able to retreat from such a dangerous environment by relying on his keen perception.
He never invited trouble unless absolutely necessary.
Ivan said, "Cressida, do you know why I've lived to seventy and am still safe and sound?"
"Because you're wise."
"No, it's because I never meddle in other people's family affairs."
Cressida was silent for a moment. "Ivan, my brother is dead. Rose is fighting me for my identity. She has the whole family backing her, while I have nothing. I need help."
Ivan sipped his tea for a long time, then put down his cup. "If you teach that child how to use hidden weapons, I'll do you this favor."
"Whose child is he?"
"A noble person's, so I couldn't refuse. But at my age, I'm struggling to teach him." Ivan sighed.
"Alright, I'll teach him. Who is Ivan planning to send to my house to help?"
Ivan smiled. "Don't worry about that. I have plenty of connections."
Cressida pressed her lips together. "I'll be very strict when teaching that child."
"The noble said that no matter what method is used, if he can learn one skill, that counts as success."
With Ivan's words, Cressida knew what to do.
She walked over to Anthony and saw he was still concentrating on selecting leaves.
"You don't need to look anymore. There are no identical leaves in this world."
"Who says there aren't? I'll definitely find them for you, and then you have to keep your word!"
"Even without the leaves, I can teach you. But do you have money?"
Anthony immediately stood up, his big eyes sparkling brightly.
"Yes! Are you charging a tuition fee?" He pulled ten thousand dollars straight from his sleeve. "Here, take it. Is it enough? I have more if it's not."
Cressida had only wanted to symbolically charge a few dollars, but she didn't expect seven-year-old Anthony to offer ten thousand dollars right away.
She was silent for a moment. This really must be the child of a remarkable noble.
Anthony came from wealth—she wondered if he could endure hardship.
If she didn't teach him well, she'd be letting down the noble's trust.
"As your teacher, I'll be very strict."
"I'm not afraid! If you teach me, I'll give you money every day. My father has plenty of money."
With that tone, if he weren't so young, Cressida would have taken him for a spoiled brat.
"Alright then. I'll come here once every five days from now on. During these five days, you'll practice horse stance first. When your form is stable and doesn't shake, I'll teach you the next step."
"What's so hard about learning horse stance?" Anthony protested.
Cressida told him to show her a horse stance. He immediately assumed the position with great posture—quite standard, actually.
But before long, his legs started trembling and shaking.
Cressida smiled. She had a cool, heroic look, and her smile was even colder.
Anthony thought he was being mocked and clenched his fists. "Don't laugh! I just wasn't steady."
Cressida said, "Horse stance is for stabilizing your lower body. To be accurate with hidden weapons, your body naturally can't shake. Practice first."
She'd been out for a while now and needed to go back.
Before leaving, they exchanged names. He told her his name was Anthony.
Cressida reviewed all the nobles in Emerald City—none had that name.
She felt somewhat relieved. Ivan probably wouldn't set her up too badly.
Clarence specially saw her to the door.
After brief pleasantries, Cressida said goodbye to Clarence and got on the carriage back home.
She gave the money to Emma and told her to buy more ingredients for the beauty cream.
When she returned home, Cressida noticed everyone's faces were beaming with smiles.
She had Emma go find out why.
Soon Emma returned. "Ms. Cressida Hamilton, not long after we left, a royal decree came from the palace. The Queen of the Kingdom has invited Mrs. Clio Hamilton to bring the family's girls to a palace banquet in ten days."
"Mrs. Hamilton was so happy that she rewarded all the servants with double their monthly wages."
Cressida sneered.
They were taking the money earned through her achievements and generously rewarding the servants, yet they even skimped on the coal for her courtyard.
They also wanted to use this opportunity to add Rose to the family register so she could enter the palace as a daughter of the Hamilton family to receive rewards.
Did they really think they could get what they wanted?
"Emma, quietly do something for me." Cressida lowered her voice and gave her instructions.