Chapter 132 Arrange the Marriage?
This statement was like water splashing into hot oil - the whole table erupted, everyone talking at once.
"Who does Prince Miguel like?"
"Must be some noble lady!"
"Can you believe it? After all these years, Prince Miguel has finally forgotten that commoner woman?"
Joseph was also surprised and asked Marshall, "Who does Miguel like? How come he never mentioned it?"
Marshall's expression remained gentle. "How would I know? He's always been the quiet type."
As he spoke, Marshall picked up his wine glass and turned to look at the table where Cressida sat.
Sensing his gaze, Cressida met Marshall's eyes. She saw Marshall raise his glass slightly, giving her a warm smile.
But Emily was also sitting at the same table as Cressida.
Cressida didn't try to guess who Marshall was smiling at. She calmly looked away and focused on listening to how Miguel would answer Sophie.
Could Miguel be announcing our engagement today?
But Miguel only said, "It's not time to say yet. Once she agrees, I'll ask Father to grant the marriage."
Doyle laughed. "What, my son, you're letting someone else do the choosing? This girl must be quite special."
Miguel just smiled without answering.
Cressida pressed her lips together.
If Miguel and I hadn't already discussed this, I'd never be able to tell he's putting on an act.
Miguel had said they needed to create public opinion, otherwise Doyle wouldn't easily grant her marriage to Miguel.
Regarding the balance of power among his sons, Doyle had his own considerations.
He seemed to care deeply about each son, but in reality, he didn't like power imbalances that would create one dominant force.
Even though Marshall was already the heir, he actually had the least military power.
Doyle gave Marshall governing authority but used Joseph to balance him out. That's why Miguel had told Cressida their marriage wouldn't go smoothly.
They had to create public opinion first, so when the time was right, Doyle could naturally grant Miguel and Cressida's marriage.
The banquet continued merrily. During this time, Sophie also asked Joseph if he had someone special.
Joseph scratched his head and just said he didn't know.
Sophie noticed a bracelet on his wrist made of colorful tassels woven with gemstones and asked curiously, "Who gave you that?"
Joseph pulled down his sleeve. "Bought it on the street. Saw the craftsmanship was nice, so I kept it."
The banquet continued for another hour before finally ending.
Many officials were completely drunk, Patrick among them.
Knowing he tended to say the wrong things when drunk, Cressida immediately helped him up and took her leave from the distinguished guests.
Meanwhile, as Miguel's group walked past a corner of the banquet hall, a delicate figure suddenly stumbled toward them.
In an instant, the guard James appeared, gripping the person's wrist like an iron clamp and shoving hard!
"How dare you!" James's voice was sharp as a blade.
Rose fell to her knees and quickly said, "Prince Miguel, please forgive me. I drank too much at the banquet and felt very dizzy. I absolutely didn't mean to bump into you."
Miguel didn't even glance at her and simply walked past.
James coldly dropped a line: "Watch yourself next time."
Then he followed and left.
Rose watched Miguel's retreating figure, biting her lip, her eyes full of resentment.
I must attach myself to someone powerful.
Deep into the night.
Cressida stood in her room with a single candle lit.
She stood before the armor on its stand, silent for a long time.
Two points of firelight reflected in her eyes, swaying with the moonlight.
She reached out and brushed the shoulder plate.
It was stained with dark brown that wouldn't wash out - soaked countless times with enemy blood, and some of her own.
Moonlight spilled over the silver armor plates, each worn edge gleaming with a cold blue light.
The moment she touched it, she could almost hear the thundering war drums and the clash of battle.
She thought that one day, when she reclaimed her military glory and honor, she would find a chance to return to the battlefield.
Two days later, Emma suddenly came to report: "Ms. Cressida Hamilton, something seems to have gone missing from the west wing where Mrs. Clio Hamilton lives. Nanny led people to the main courtyard using the excuse of looking for a hairpin and searched Echo's room thoroughly."
Cressida looked up. "Something's missing? Tell Echo to watch carefully and not let Nanny plant anything in the courtyard."
Emma nodded. "Echo was worried about that too, so she sent someone to tell you. When Nanny brought people to search, Echo had maids watching the whole time."
"From what I heard, Nanny looked genuinely anxious - it didn't seem fake. Something really must be missing, and Mrs. Hamilton seems very concerned. The medicine pot in the kitchen has been boiling frequently lately - probably her old illness acting up from the stress."
Cressida paused, a cold gleam rising in her eyes.
"This is getting interesting." She put down her pen and began to think.
Given how much Clio hates me, if something went missing, she should be making a big fuss about it, using it as an excuse to complain that I'm not managing the household properly.
But Clio didn't make it public. Instead, she had Nanny make a big show of searching, all for a gold hairpin?
"Mother wouldn't get anxious over a gold hairpin, unless—" Cressida's voice cut off abruptly.
Emma had become quite sharp and immediately said, "Unless what's missing is very important to Mrs. Hamilton? But she can't let everyone know about it."
Cressida looked at her approvingly.
"But I still don't understand - what could be missing that would make Mrs. Hamilton sick with worry?" Emma scratched her nose.
Cressida instructed, "Get more people to watch Mother's residence, and also Rose and Michael's places. This has to be connected to them."
Just then, Ingrid hurried in, looking rather serious.
"Ms. Hamilton, the chief officer from the Guard Office is here."
"The Guard Office?" Cressida hesitated. "What for?"
Ingrid said, "They suddenly want Mr. Michael Hamilton to return his patrol uniform, but Mr. Michael Hamilton can't produce it. Mr. Patrick Hamilton is asking you to come handle it before something goes wrong."