Chapter 145:Bestowal of Marriage?
The autumn sun shone warmly, and the sky was clear and spotless—not a single cloud marred the brilliant blue expanse.
Cressida entered a residence, and after just a few steps, an old woman approached her.
Kaida's eyes were cloudy. She waved her hands about and grabbed Cressida's sleeve.
"Excuse me, have you seen my son? My son's name is Mark Tovar, he's about this tall." She gestured against her own body.
Cressida pressed her lips together. "He joined the army."
Kaida seemed dazed. "Joined the army? Oh yes... he's been in the army for two years now. Maybe the war will end next year and he can come home."
Cressida said nothing.
A figure rushed over from the side—Lily immediately went to support Kaida.
Lily said with a charming smile, "Kaida, Mark is doing well at the military fortress. He sent a letter home the other day saying he got promoted. You need to take your medicine and stay healthy so you can wait for him to come back, right?"
Kaida immediately nodded with a smile. "Yes! I'll take my medicine. I'll take it right now."
Lily helped her back into the house before coming back out.
"Ms. Hamilton, please forgive her. Kaida has been quite confused lately."
Cressida smiled faintly. "It's fine. Thank you for taking care of her."
After the incident with Wilder last time, Cressida had promised Lily she would buy her freedom.
Lily desperately wanted to escape that hellish place like the pleasure boat, so she was completely devoted to Cressida.
Lily was very loyal and performed extremely well.
Cressida had paid money to buy this small, elegant residence for Lily and Kaida to live in.
Although Mark had betrayed Cressida, Kaida was innocent. Besides, before Cressida punished Mark, she had said that after his death, she would help him take care of his blind mother, Kaida.
Cressida had some grudges she had to settle, but also some promises she had to keep.
"What hardship do I have? It's Ms. Hamilton who's paying to take care of us."
With that, Lily swayed her waist and led Cressida to the corridor for tea.
Cressida took out Lily's contract.
"I asked someone to buy you back from the pleasure boat owner. Lily, from now on you're free. You don't need to stay with me anymore. I'll also buy two servants to take care of Kaida, so you can go do whatever you want."
Lily suddenly looked up, staring at Cressida in shock.
Soon, Lily reached out with trembling fingers and took the contract, looking at it again and again.
Tears came flooding back with memories.
When I was fourteen, my father died, creditors came to the door, and I cried in despair as several strong men dragged me onto the pleasure boat. The boat owner soon forced me to sell my body to customers. When I refused, the owner burned my hand with a hot iron.
Five years—living that lowly, degrading life. I thought I'd have to endure it for a lifetime, but now, I'm finally free.
"Thank you, Ms. Hamilton!" Lily suddenly knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.
She looked up, choking back tears. "But I don't want to leave Ms. Hamilton. I still want to work for you."
Seeing Cressida's deep eyes looking at her without speaking, Lily thought Cressida didn't trust her.
Lily quickly wiped away her tears. "I worked on the pleasure boat, so I know quite a few officials' secrets."
She used these things as proof of loyalty, telling Cressida everything in one breath.
Lily said, "Ms. Emily Gomez's father, Mr. Maddox Gomez, actually keeps a mistress on the side. She has quite a temper. Once, when Mr. Maddox Gomez came to the pleasure boat for prostitutes, that mistress found out and flew into a rage right there, smashing everything."
"My best friend was on that pleasure boat. After Mr. Maddox Gomez left, all the girls and servants on that boat were drowned. The owner of our boat ordered us to keep quiet and not ask questions."
Cressida asked back, "A mistress dares to be that arrogant?"
Lily also found it strange and said, "I heard she gave birth to two sons. I don't know the details, but this definitely happened!"
The secrets Lily spoke of were all from inner chambers—those well-dressed officials would show the most absurd and vile side of human nature once they boarded the pleasure boats.
Because of this, the girls working as prostitutes on the pleasure boats actually became the people most easily able to access their secrets.
After hearing all this, Cressida looked at Lily. "It's not that I don't agree to let you stay, but freedom is precious. Are you sure you want to stay and work for me?"
Lily nodded firmly. "I want to repay Ms. Hamilton!"
With that, she handed the contract back herself.
Cressida looked down at it and thought for a moment. She felt she needed someone like Lily who could move smoothly among wealthy merchants.
So Cressida let Lily stay.
It just so happened that Cressida's gambling house had been completely shut down due to official anger, so it was perfect timing to sell these shops and open restaurants instead.
Cressida had Lily work as a behind-the-scenes manager at the restaurant, making it convenient to gather intelligence and report it to Cressida.
After Cressida returned home, shortly after, Verity hurried over with a note for Cressida.
"Prince Miguel just sent someone to deliver this."
Cressida unfolded it and was slightly stunned.
The note was nothing else but what looked like handwriting copied from a register.
Her name had been written by Doyle next to Joseph's!
What did Doyle mean by this? Did he want her to marry Joseph?
Just then, Noah's voice rang out in the courtyard.
"Ms. Hamilton, are you inside? His Majesty the King has sent the head guard to announce an order. The head guard is waiting for you in the front courtyard."