Chapter 34 Working for Miguel
Miguel remained silent, and Cressida knew he was waiting for her to continue.
"Earlier when I told the Prince I wasn't skilled in martial arts, I was indeed lying."
"Actually, I'm proficient with hidden weapons. I learned everything from my brother, and that's exactly why I dared to go with him to the military fortress."
"My brother and I depended on each other. We weren't valued in this family. I had planned to stay with him at the military fortress forever and never come back, but who would have thought..."
Miguel said coldly, "Why do you think you weren't valued?"
Cressida replied, "My brother and I are twins. The nanny told me that when we were just born, my brother was very weak."
"My mother listened to the doctor and blamed me for taking my brother's nutrition in her womb, so she was especially cold to me."
She went on to describe what she'd been through at home these past days.
Actually, even without her saying it, Cressida believed Miguel had already looked into it.
He had many people under him. Her speaking up now was just to deepen his trust.
Cressida kept her head down. The cold wind blew, making the golden earring on her earlobe sway back and forth.
"After my brother died, I had no choice but to return home. The reason I fought for things was because I knew no one could protect me anymore."
"Without money, I could only find ways to earn some wages at the martial arts school, so I'd have something to use in this family."
"My mother hates me. To avoid being driven away by her, I worked hard to show my face in front of His Majesty. Having trained at the military fortress, I can endure any hardship."
At this point, Cressida's voice choked up a bit. Miguel remained silent for a long while.
Finally, he said, "Stand up. I never said I would punish you."
Cressida thanked him and stood up, holding her skirt.
When she looked up, her eyes were red, which actually startled Miguel.
She had been crying?
The Cressida he'd seen had always appeared gentle on the outside but strong inside. He'd never seen her shed tears.
Miguel looked at her again. She didn't have the delicate skin of those noble women in Emerald City, and her hands had scars too. Now everything made sense.
Because Cressida knew her family didn't like her, she'd rather suffer hardship.
Miguel looked at her reddened eyes and frowned. "Wipe away your tears. No need to cry anymore. You can still teach Anthony."
Cressida paused, then suddenly bowed. "What I want to do isn't just be the Little Duke's martial arts teacher. I want to be a pawn in the Prince's hand. I only ask that when necessary, the Prince give me a helping hand, just a chance to survive, and that would be enough."
Miguel's eyes grew deep and cold.
"Working under me isn't that easy. If I need you to die, would you agree to that too?"
"Please, Prince, for the sake of how my brother once saved you, agree to my request."
"Cressida," Miguel actually called her by name, his whole presence cold and pressing, "tell me your real purpose, or I can have someone tie you up right now."
Cressida knelt down again. "My purpose is only to settle down, and when the Prince holds great power in the future, to take the honors and titles that my brother General Hamilton earned away from my father and put them in my hands."
Miguel raised an eyebrow. "Those words of yours could be considered disloyal and unfilial."
"My father is mediocre, and my younger brother Michael has no talent as a general. The Hamilton family having such great honor and power would only be a disaster. Besides, not one of them truly honors my brother. They just occupy the achievements he traded his life for and squander them recklessly."
At this point, Cressida's eyes truly reddened.
Miguel watched her for a long time.
"Are you afraid of hardship?"
"No."
"Not afraid of losing your life either?"
"I'm willing to put the Prince first."
Miguel remained silent. After a moment, he pulled off the jade pendant he wore and handed it to her.
"I can give you this chance, but if Ms. Hamilton isn't smart, I can help you, and I can also kill you."
Cressida received it with both hands and respectfully tucked it into her sleeve. "Thank you, Prince."
Before leaving, Miguel told her, "Your family has hidden a man in the church. Do you need my help?"
Cressida shook her head. "I can handle this matter on my own."
She had just pledged her loyalty and needed to show some capability.
Her relationship with Miguel had to be mutually beneficial. Although compared to him, her abilities were limited, she couldn't let Miguel feel that she relied on him for everything.
A pawn without ability has no value and would be abandoned sooner or later.
Cressida heard Orla calling for her, quickly bowed, and left.
Her steps seemed light, but her heart carried a weight of a thousand pounds.
Analyzing the current political situation, the heir Doyle had already chosen, Marshall Russell, and Miguel were blood brothers. Both had high prestige in the palace.
Unfortunately, their birth mother—the first queen Autumn—was already dead.
Now the second queen Odette had a son and a daughter. Yosef was beginning to show his edge in the palace, and Bella was especially favored.
Miguel had military achievements backing him, with a status second only to Marshall, and his current popularity even exceeded Marshall's.
Cressida remembered her past life. The night she was hung on a pole outside the city and died, she saw the city guards fleeing everywhere, with Miguel leading troops and launching a coup.
She died, so she didn't know whether Miguel won or lost.
Choosing Miguel was to borrow his current power, but also to bear the danger of his fight for the throne.
With her mind in turmoil, Cressida returned to the prayer area.
Orla looked at her, examining her up and down, somewhat surprised.
"Ms. Hamilton, why is there snow and mud on your knees?"
Cressida said, "I just accidentally tripped. It's nothing."
Emma bent down to straighten her dress.
A monk came over. "Ladies, the priest asks you to quickly gather in the main hall."
Cressida went with a calm expression, but saw that all the noble women's faces showed varying degrees of panic.
"What happened?" Cressida asked Mabel.
Mabel grabbed her hand. "Good that you're back. I heard there's a thief hiding in the temple. Mrs. Woods' people brought guards and are searching with the monks."
Cressida's mother Clio's eyes swept over.
"Cressida, did you see anyone suspicious?"
Cressida shook her head. "No."
Clio didn't ask her anymore, but turned back to talk to Rose, giving her her hand warmer.
Soon, there was a commotion at the door.
The guards Ursa brought pushed in Zaid, who had a rough face and short build.
He was shoved and fell to the ground. The noble women stepped back half a step in fright, all covering their mouths in shock.
Zaid was already tied up and looked unfriendly.
Ursa spoke sternly, "Bold criminal, this is sacred ground, and you dare steal here? Someone, take him to the authorities!"
Zaid quickly shouted, "Spare me! I'm not a thief. I came to see my sweetheart. She wrote me a letter saying it wasn't convenient at home, so she invited me to meet here."
To prove himself, he said, "The letter is in my chest. The lady will know once she looks!"
After Zaid finished speaking, his shifty eyes secretly glanced at Cressida.