Chapter 129 Cressida is Favored?
Jessica's age happened to fall right in the middle, and besides, she had quite a status - she was a young lady of the Hamilton family, and her brother Ethan was one of the King's Guards.
Peter must have sent someone to deliver the message because he was worried she might catch someone's eye.
Cressida didn't pressure Jessica: "If you don't want to go, then don't. Just stay home and keep Mabel company."
Jessica nodded.
After she left, Cressida thought that according to Doyle and the others' requirements, she really didn't meet the qualifications to be a princess consort.
She really wondered how Miguel would bring it up.
Cressida wasn't anxious - in fact, she felt even calmer.
At this moment, in the main hall of Doyle's palace.
Odette and Sophie sat on either side of him.
Doyle held a list that had been prepared long ago.
The list recorded which noble young ladies had been invited to the Festival of the Bright Moon.
A copy of the list was sent to both Odette and Sophie, asking them to circle the most suitable candidates as principal or secondary consorts for the princes. Doyle was currently looking at the names of the girls recorded in the register.
Odette and Sophie had different perspectives.
The ones they picked included the Gomez family, the Howard family, the Woods family, and the Lopez family represented by Gregory Lopez.
Most of their choices belonged to their respective factions.
However, as Doyle flipped through the pages, he noticed one name that both Odette and Sophie had circled.
Doyle chuckled: "It seems Odette and Sophie really are on the same wavelength."
Odette and Sophie looked over - the name they had both circled was Cressida's.
Doyle said: "If I remember correctly, isn't this Cressida already twenty-four years old?"
Odette immediately replied: "That's because Cressida spent several years at the military fortress, which delayed her. In reality, she would be the most reliable choice as a princess consort."
Sophie looked at her: "Odette, are you interested in Cressida to be Joseph's consort?"
On Odette's dignified face, her smile remained unchanged.
"Sophie, you forgot - Yosef hasn't married yet either."
"How could that be? I heard before that Yosef was discussing marriage with Gregory's daughter."
"They haven't finalized the engagement. Yosef's position is that he doesn't like her and wants to wait."
Sophie sneered inwardly.
Before, Yosef's marriage was almost settled, but now that she's seen Cressida, Odette wants to arrange an engagement between Cressida and Yosef?
Most likely Odette has her eye on the Blade of Victory's influence!
Doyle said nothing, just listened to his sister and wife argue.
In the end, Sophie even forcefully made her decision: "Cressida has proper etiquette and exceptional courage. I think she would be most suitable as Marshall's secondary consort."
Odette smiled: "If the Hamilton family is so powerful, what would the Gomez family think?"
Just as the two were about to continue arguing, Doyle finally raised his hand.
"Alright, Sophie has a point, and Odette isn't wrong either. However, let me think about this matter some more."
Sophie and Odette parted on bad terms.
After returning to the palace, Odette instructed Bella Russell, who had just returned from horseback riding.
"Your brother Yosef isn't in Emerald City, which is really a disadvantage. On the day of the Festival of the Bright Moon celebration, you must remember to socialize more with Cressida."
Bella was dismissive: "She's become famous in Emerald City by relying on Cameron's reputation - what kind of good person could she be? If she's going to marry Yosef, I wouldn't approve anyway."
Odette gently scolded: "Nonsense! If Cressida weren't good, would Sophie be watching so closely?"
Bella secretly scoffed, her eyes showing contempt.
Michael secretly went out, taking the money from selling the jewelry in Clio's box, and went to a remote bank, giving the money to the bank employee Rolf.
Michael said: "Give me my IOU. I've paid back the money, so don't come bothering my family anymore!"
Rolf glanced at him: "Mr. Hamilton, don't be in such a hurry. You needed money urgently back then - how did you pay it back so quickly?"
Michael said angrily: "Why? I was ruined by the gambling house! I'll never gamble again. Hurry up and clear my account, I'm not coming back."
Rolf came out from behind the counter, smiling as he gave Michael the IOU. Michael immediately tore the IOU to shreds on the spot.
Michael was about to leave when Rolf grabbed him: "Mr. Hamilton, don't rush. I think you look like someone who's going to get rich and have good luck."
"You want to trick me into borrowing money again? Your interest rates here are even higher than the loan sharks at the gambling house. I wouldn't dare come back."
"Mr. Hamilton, nowadays gambling houses all set up traps. You must have been set up by someone."
Hearing this, Michael suddenly froze.
He slowly narrowed his eyes. Really? That seemed possible.
Otherwise, why did I keep winning at first, then couldn't stop losing later?
Rolf lowered his voice: "If you trust me, I'll take you to a reliable underground gambling house. I guarantee they don't do loan sharking. If you borrow, you can pay it back whenever you want."
Michael was surprised: "There's such a good deal? No, no, I can't gamble anymore. My hands are ruined!"
Rolf pulled him: "Mr. Hamilton, don't you understand? You just had bad luck. How about this - you go once, and if it doesn't feel right, just turn around and leave. I'm only telling you this because I feel bad for you. You don't have to listen."
Michael's desire was stirred again.
That feeling when gambling - turning small into big, little into much - was really thrilling.
Maybe he really did have bad luck and was set up by the gambling house, which is why he fell for it.
He looked at his limp fingers: "But my hands are already ruined."
Rolf smiled, his eyes curving like a fox's.
"What's there to worry about? You still have me."
"But I have no money left."
"You can still use collateral to get money from the bank first."
"I have nothing to use as collateral. Look for yourself - is this badge on me worth anything?" Michael pulled off his badge.
Rolf looked at it twice and shook his head: "Weren't you from the Guard Office before? Use that official uniform as collateral."
The Guard Office had taken back the sword and token, but left the uniform, since Michael hadn't been dismissed from office but was removed from the official roster because he had become mentally impaired.
Michael was startled: "That won't do - if discovered, the whole family would be held accountable."
"It's not that serious. This law has been in place for so many years, and nothing like this has ever happened. Besides, the Guard Office voluntarily left it for you. Moreover, you're just using it as collateral, not selling it cheap. Just redeem it later, won't that work?"
"No..." Michael said this, but his feet wouldn't move.
Rolf showed a number with his fingers: "One set of official uniform can be used as collateral for this amount. You make a huge profit and quit immediately - how could you not turn things around?"
Gamblers can't stand hearing such words. Instantly, Michael gritted his teeth and said: "Alright! I'll give it to you as collateral."
If he had known the official uniform could be used as collateral for so much money, why would he have let the gambling house people come to his door? He really regretted it!
On the day of the Festival of the Bright Moon celebration, Cressida entered the palace with her family.
This time they had pitifully few people - only Patrick and Cressida, bringing Rose and Rita.
Originally Patrick didn't want Rose to come, but unexpectedly, at dusk, the Howard family sent a carriage to pick up Rose, and she left with them immediately.
Rita obediently stayed by Cressida's side, though her eyes couldn't help darting around, looking everywhere.
The palace where the banquet was held had flat terrain, and even the pillars inside the hall were inlaid with gold. Golden palace lanterns hung from the corners of the eaves, shining together with the moonlight.
On the guest seating side, maids were laying out gorgeous brocade mats on the platform.
When Cressida arrived, many guests had already come. The seats were filled with splendor - royal nobles in fine clothes and luxurious garments, noble ladies with golden hairpins at their temples swaying gently with their laughter, gleaming brilliantly.
Today the most noble young ladies had come. At a glance, it was a sea of fragrant clothes and beautiful faces.
Rita also saw acquaintances and hurriedly said to Cressida: "Cressida, I'm going to find my friends."
After Rita left, Patrick also went early to the men's seating area next door.
At occasions like this, it was the best opportunity for him to receive flattery. With the title of Cameron's father, people praised him highly.
Cressida sat alone among the seats, tasting wine, with a plate of exquisite pastries in front of her.
Earlier, Elysia from the Woods family had come to greet Cressida, but Cressida preferred solitude and didn't actively join them.
Just then, Cressida heard the faint sound of a horse neighing in the distance.
Cressida couldn't help but wonder.
This was a banquet venue - how could they keep horses here?
Several young ladies nearby walked back together, discussing.
"That horse is so fierce, I'm really afraid it might hurt someone."
"I heard it used to be a war horse, but I don't know whose. One of its ears is even missing a piece - how pitiful."
Cressida suddenly stood up.