Chapter 20 Setting a Trap, Cressida Lures the Enemy In
When Clio looked at Cressida, a flash of vicious hatred occasionally flickered in her eyes.
Just like now.
Cressida had expected Clio to dislike her, but she hadn't realized that Clio's aversion toward her had actually been deeply rooted for a long time.
This wasn't a prejudice that could be eliminated by her making contributions.
A faint ripple swept through her heart, but Cressida's cool and heroic face remained calm and composed.
"Mother, don't be angry yet. I didn't deliberately provoke Michael—he misunderstood what I meant."
She pulled out a letter from her sleeve and handed it over.
"Last time Mr. Diaz mentioned that he still had some of my brother's belongings in his care. I went out to ask him to return them. Since you won't allow me to leave, then please send someone to make a trip to The Diaz Mansion."
After Cressida finished speaking, she excused herself.
Her decisiveness caught Clio off guard.
Clio unfolded the letter. The wording was fine—it truly was a request for Chris to return the belongings, and it mentioned a zither that Cameron had once used.
In the letter, Cressida mentioned that at the palace banquet Odette would be hosting in a few days, Doyle would probably be pleased to see this zither.
Emma walked along the corridor, following behind Cressida.
"Ms. Cressida Hamilton, what if when General Diaz sends the items over, Mrs. Clio Hamilton and the others keep them and don't give them to you?"
"They'll definitely keep them," Cressida said. "That would be best."
Emma immediately understood.
Cressida led her around the main roads of the estate, taking a small path behind the rock garden to the back gate.
Jade had been waiting there for a while.
Cressida had already guessed that given Clio's current attitude toward her, she absolutely wouldn't allow her to leave.
So Cressida had asked Jade for help.
Last time, Jade had driven away the red-tailed hawk, causing it to ruin the ceremony. Tatum blamed her for incompetence and sent her from the main courtyard to the back courtyard to work as a sweeper.
"Ms. Hamilton, you should go quickly. I'm on duty for four hours, then someone else will take over," Jade urged.
Cressida thanked her, and Jade blushed with embarrassment instead.
Just as Cressida was about to leave, she caught sight of something moving in a pile of fallen leaves and snow nearby.
She glanced over—it was that red-tailed hawk.
One of its wings was half broken, it was missing a claw, many feathers had fallen out, and it had been beaten nearly to death.
Only its copper-colored eyes were still moving. A hawk from the grasslands, even near death, still carried that unyielding spirit.
It wanted to move, but couldn't fly, and even crawling was difficult.
Jade said from the side, "The maid who was feeding it was beaten to death, and this hawk didn't fare any better. Mrs. Clio Hamilton ordered it disposed of. It's been here a day and a night and still won't die."
Emma was surprised. "It's really tough."
Cressida looked down at the red-tailed hawk.
"Looks like you're also a creature that's been abandoned for having no value. From now on, follow me."
She had Emma find a piece of cloth to wrap it up.
"Ms. Hamilton wants to keep it?"
"It survived the night on its own. It's not meant to die."
"If Mrs. Hamilton finds out, she won't let it go."
"I won't keep it at The Hamilton Mansion."
Cressida put on an inconspicuous cloak and left through the back gate with Emma.
At the martial arts hall, Clarence was still chanting scriptures. Ivan had apparently gone to see an old friend.
Cressida entrusted the dying red-tailed hawk to Clarence's student, temporarily keeping it at the martial arts hall.
In the back courtyard, under the pine tree, Anthony's small figure was listlessly kicking snowballs.
Out of the corner of his eye, Anthony saw Cressida arrive. Joy flashed across his little face, then turned to anger.
He ran over. "You're late!"
Cressida took off her cloak and shook off the frost. "I didn't have a carriage today, so I walked here myself. I'll practice with you for an extra thirty minutes."
Anthony's eyes widened slightly in surprise. He looked down and saw that the embroidered shoes under Cressida's skirt were soaked with snow.
"Why aren't you wearing deerskin boots? Don't all the girls in Emerald City like them?"
"I don't have any."
Anthony's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Why not? Can't the Hamilton family afford to support you?"
"They didn't give me any, and I can't afford to buy them myself."
Cressida clearly wasn't trying to gain sympathy. She spoke very calmly, but Anthony thought she was too pitiful!
Anthony immediately pulled out a stack of bills from his sleeve—five thousand dollars each—and threw them at her one by one.
"This one, use it to buy deerskin boots. This one, go buy a decent cloak. The rest, do what you want with it—spend it all!"
He shoved about thirty thousand dollars at her all at once.
Cressida frowned. "That's too much."
"But you look like you really need money, and I happen to have plenty," Anthony said, hands on his hips, already showing signs of being a spoiled rich kid at such a young age.
Cressida did need money and didn't plan to be polite with Anthony.
She intended to teach Anthony some of her real skills, so she accepted the money without hesitation and thanked him.
Although Anthony looked like a playful little boy, he was very serious and hardworking when practicing martial arts.
During the two hours, servants asked him to rest, but he insisted on continuing.
Over these five days, Anthony definitely hadn't wasted time, because his horse stance was now proper.
During a break, Cressida looked at his little face, flushed red from practice.
"You were born into privilege, yet you still want to work so hard at martial arts. Do you want to become a great general in the future?"
"Yes!" Anthony patted his chest. "I want to be as amazing as my father."
He must really admire his father—when he talked about him, his big eyes were full of respect.
After teaching Anthony wrist strength exercises for a while longer, time was almost up, and the servants reminded Anthony it was time to go back.
Cressida reached out and tightened Anthony's cloak for him.
"Go back now. That's all for today. I'll come again in five days."
Anthony stared blankly as she helped him with his clothes.
Suddenly his little face turned red and he jumped back.
"Why are you helping me get dressed? I'm not a three-year-old!" He pretended to be angry and ran off.
But when he reached the back courtyard gate, he looked back and waved at Cressida. "See you in five days. If you're a bit late, that's okay too!"
He left happily.
Cressida had no idea what was going on in his little head—why did he look a bit awkward and shy?
On the way back to the estate, the sky gradually darkened. White mourning banners still hung throughout the streets.
Because of Doyle's order to mourn for Cameron, even though the festival was approaching, people didn't dare celebrate.
Suddenly, Cressida inexplicably thought of what Miguel had said.
Doyle's birthday was coming up.
That's right—Doyle's birthday seemed to be on January 12th.
In the bitter cold wind, Cressida suddenly stopped in her tracks.
She thought she had figured out what Miguel was trying to remind her of.