Chapter 128 Miguel Needs to Take Care of Her
August 9th, Cressida went to Miguel's palace to teach Anthony martial arts.
Anthony was making rapid progress, shouting out commands while throwing punches with force.
They practiced for two hours straight. He was completely focused, and Cressida taught with great dedication.
By the end, Anthony was covered in sweat.
"Ms. Hamilton, that was so satisfying today! When can I start practicing on the wooden post?"
"You want to move on already before finishing the basics?" Cressida handed him a cup of tea.
Anthony drained it in one gulp and set it down on the table with a thud.
He said through gritted teeth, "I want to learn martial arts quickly so I can find a chance to beat Isaiah until he cries!"
Cressida raised her delicate eyebrows.
Isaiah was Zander's child, and Zander was a member of the royal family.
The Isaiah that Anthony mentioned wasn't very old either, only about eleven.
"What did he do to you?"
"At Royal Haven Academy, he always brings a bunch of followers and they guess about who my father is going to marry."
Royal Haven Academy was a school for all royal descendants to study and learn. Anyone who could attend was from the royal family.
Cressida paused. "They care about that?"
Anthony pouted. "Of course they do! They always gossip about it behind my back. It's ridiculous—my father won't marry anyone! They're always making wild guesses and laughing at me, saying I'm about to have a stepmother."
Seeing his little fists clenched so tight they cracked, Cressida thought to herself that Miguel probably hadn't told Anthony about wanting her to be his princess consort either.
Anthony clearly looked like he couldn't accept such a thing.
But those noble descendants gossiping about this wasn't without reason.
Word had already spread through the palace that Doyle intended to select consorts for Marshall, Miguel, Yosef, and even Joseph.
For those who already had a primary consort, like Marshall, they would only select a secondary consort. The other princes all needed to have their marriages settled this year.
Although Miguel already had a son in Anthony, Miguel's palace couldn't be without a female host.
Cressida lowered her eyes. "Anthony, those are adult matters. No matter who your father marries, it won't affect your position."
"I don't care about my position. If Father doesn't like me, I'll work hard on my own to become excellent. But I can't accept someone else becoming my mother!"
As Anthony spoke, he became upset too. His eyes reddened, though his small face remained stubborn.
He turned away, not letting Cressida see his vulnerable side.
"My nanny said my mother was a very gentle woman who loved my father deeply. If she hadn't died young, I... I would have had a mother who loved me too."
Cressida thought of that rumor within Emerald City.
Years ago, Miguel had a woman from common society whom he loved very much. They had agreed that after the great war was settled, he would marry her.
However, when Miguel returned victorious, the news he received was that she had died in childbirth.
She left only a child for him.
People felt great pity, saying that although she was of humble birth, she was so beloved by Miguel. It was unfortunate that she passed away before marrying Miguel.
For half a year after that, Miguel was depressed for six months. Finally, Doyle ordered him to a military fortress for battle, and gradually these rumors died down.
Cressida had never asked Miguel about Anthony's birth mother. After all, for Miguel, it was perhaps a painful memory he didn't want to recall.
Cressida had never seen Miguel show it normally either. He must have buried his love for that woman deep in his heart.
Cressida raised her hand and patted Anthony's head.
She didn't know how to tell him that she was about to become Miguel's wife.
However, she could promise that after three years, she would definitely leave and never hold onto this position.
Because this wasn't what she was after. What she wanted was power—the military authority to make decisions in court.
Just then, Quiana arrived.
She wore a dark blue dress, smiling warmly.
"Little Duke, Ms. Hamilton, have you finished practicing today? If so, His Highness Miguel requests Ms. Hamilton to come to the outer courtyard."
Anthony rubbed his eyes and looked up again with his cheerful, lively little face.
"Ms. Hamilton, you go ahead. I'll practice a bit more on my own!"
"Alright, but remember, before you're confident, don't fight with anyone."
"I know, Ms. Hamilton. You've taught me—either don't do it, or do it perfectly, leaving no future problems!"
Cressida followed Quiana away.
Miguel had specially reserved a courtyard in his palace for Cressida to rest, so she could stay longer each time she came to teach martial arts.
Entering the room in the courtyard, Cressida saw Miguel's tall figure. Beside him stood the court physician Louie Lawson.
"Greetings, Your Highness Miguel." Cressida nodded, then greeted Louie as well, her movements efficient.
Louie immediately bowed to her. "Ms. Hamilton, His Highness Miguel has asked me to check your pulse. Please have a seat."
Cressida looked at Miguel with puzzled eyes, but only saw his handsome features as he gave her a reassuring look.
She sat down and extended her hand.
Louie took her pulse, and after careful examination, said "Excuse me" before grasping Cressida's wrist and beginning to examine her bones.
From her palm to her elbow, he pressed on each acupuncture point.
Louie occasionally picked up his brush to record his findings.
When the examination was complete, Cressida withdrew her hand.
Louie bowed to Miguel and her. "Ms. Hamilton has no old injuries in her bones, and her heart meridian flows smoothly. However, from the pulse examination just now, I preliminarily conclude that she has two old injuries on her lower back spine that need proper treatment."
Cressida pressed her lips together.
Miguel told Louie to prepare medicine.
Miguel looked at her. "Were the old injuries from being stabbed with a knife?"
"Yes," Cressida nodded without evasion. "I was once slashed from behind on my lower back. The wound was too deep."
Miguel said nothing, only saying, "I'm having him treat your body. All the injuries you left from the battlefield need to be treated. From now on, come once every ten days."
Cressida looked at him, her eyes showing faint confusion.
"Your Highness Miguel, why are you doing this?"
"You're working with me on important matters and will be delayed for three years because of it, so I must take responsibility and care for you within my ability. Not just the injuries on your body, but any troubles you encounter—I'll handle them all."
Cressida's heroic, cool face tilted slightly upward, looking at him in the intersecting light.
She didn't speak for a moment.
Miguel raised an eyebrow. "What, are you surprised? Get used to it early—this is how I treat my people."
Cressida knew he had an excellent reputation in the military. The soldiers who followed Miguel were all willing to risk their lives for him.
In one way, they were very similar—both liked to win people's hearts this way.
She just wasn't used to being treated this way by others.
But thinking about how they would have to interact as husband and wife in front of others in the future.
She suppressed the resistance in her heart and bowed with clasped hands. "Thank you, Your Highness Miguel."
Louie left the prescription and took his leave. Miguel would arrange for someone to prepare these medicines, and Cressida could pick them up next time.
But Miguel wasn't in a hurry to let Cressida leave. Instead, he had Quiana bring several sets of clothing.
The fabric of the clothes was all the most fashionable material in Emerald City, very expensive.
Miguel had always sent Cressida clothes and jewelry before. Because Anthony had said that Cressida lived pitifully, the father and son's way of being good to her was to give her things.
Cressida went behind the curtain to try on the clothes, with Quiana serving her.
Light is a cunning gentleman—it made Cressida's silhouette appear perfectly on the curtain, yet looked hazy and graceful.
Miguel glanced up, but then felt it inappropriate, so he left.
Quiana brought out the most eye-catching outfit for Cressida to try.
The inner layer was moon-white, with purple-blue pearl gauze on the outside. The entire dress was heavily embroidered, with exquisite patterns on the hem.
Even the matching jewelry prepared for her was in corresponding colors.
Cressida paused when she saw the purple-blue hair ornament. Quiana explained with a smile, "This is what His Highness Miguel prepared for you to wear to the Festival of the Bright Moon."
Cressida set down the hair ornament, thinking to herself that it was too showy—this wasn't her style.
Returning home from Miguel's palace, Jessica was waiting for her in the courtyard.
"Cressida," seeing Cressida return, Jessica immediately came forward. "I want to tell you something. I'm not going to the Festival of the Bright Moon."
Cressida invited her inside and asked, "Why don't you want to go all of a sudden?"
Jessica lowered her eyes, her pretty face somewhat dim.
"My mother still hasn't woken up. I really have no heart for fun, and besides..." she lowered her voice, "Peter sent someone to tell me that His Majesty the King, Queen Odette, and Princess Sophie will be selecting consorts for the princes at the Festival of the Bright Moon. All unmarried women between seventeen and twenty without betrothal are included."