Chapter 139 It Could Never Be Candy
Mrs. Merry didn't attend the ball, and the old lady hadn't invited her either. So when she heard about it from others, her expression couldn't have been uglier.
What on earth was wrong with the old lady's brain—had it been caught in a door or knocked silly from falling down the stairs? How could she do something so shameless?
The news didn't specifically mention Candy as the female knight commander. If it really was her, why not say her name directly?
Besides, even if Candy did achieve great merit, they only went as reinforcements to the eastern battlefield where commanding officers were already in charge—when would it be Holden's or Candy's turn to command?
Most likely, when the rewards were distributed, the greatest credit would go to the original commanders and veteran generals. The reinforcements would only be rewarded based on their actual contributions.
Mrs. Merry didn't believe someone like Candy could make much of a contribution. It was probably that woman deliberately getting people to spread the news, which got more and more exaggerated as it passed along. Since the old lady was so convinced that Candy was the person in the rumors, she would just refuse to believe it.
When Candy came back, if she couldn't even get a piece of land, that would really be hilarious!
She took a carriage to Titan Manor and sneered when she saw the old lady sitting arrogantly on the sofa. "I thought after hearing the news from outside, you'd be so angry you couldn't get out of bed. How come you're sitting here so straight today?"
The old lady thought she had come to curry favor, and couldn't hide the smugness on her face. But when she heard these words, she realized this woman had actually come to humiliate her. Her face darkened, and she glared at her as if she wanted to devour her.
"My son is capable and achieved merit on the battlefield. He married a remarkable wife who's being talked about like some kind of warrior goddess. Everyone outside knows they achieved great merit on the eastern battlefield. What do I have to be angry about?"
Mrs. Merry snorted coldly, "Great merit? Who said that? I haven't heard anyone mention by name that the female knight commander who achieved merit is called Candy. What if it's not her? Wouldn't you be so angry you'd drop dead? Would the Titan family have enough money to hold a more elaborate funeral for you then?"
The old lady's face turned ashen. These words were no different from cursing her to die. "Who doesn't know that Candy is the first female knight commander of the Soth Empire? Who else could it be?"
"Hard to say. After all, we can't get news from the battlefield right away."
"Hmph, as if you could gloat if the Titan family were disgraced. Let me tell you, you'd better pray that Holden and Candy's achievements are enough for the Titan family to produce an earl or marquis. Then I might reluctantly look after you for the sake of family."
The old lady stared coldly at her. "Of course, all this depends on you shutting your crow's mouth. If your tongue can't learn to say something nice, I don't mind letting Holden know that while he was away, you bullied the mother of a hero with military merit!"
Though unafraid of the old lady, Mrs. Merry snorted and changed the subject, knowing she couldn't resist Holden's power as knight commander. "Aren't you going to do anything about the rumors outside?"
The old lady frowned. There weren't many people in the manor now. Trion didn't want to get scolded, and Nina didn't dare speak up, so she didn't know that after she left the ballroom that day, the dessert incident had eventually been discovered.
Seeing the old lady's ignorant expression, Mrs. Merry briefly explained the outside situation, making the old lady immediately grind her teeth in anger.
"Those lowly things, broken families that can't even compare to the Titan family—setting foot in Titan Manor should be the greatest honor of their lives, yet they dare spread rumors!"
"It might not be rumors. I heard that Nina has a new dress, and it's extremely beautiful." Mrs. Merry said pointedly. "This kind of thing never happened before. Back when Anne was here, whether hosting guests or attending banquets, she would prepare the best things. Even I would receive dresses she prepared. Such a thoughtful good child, yet you and Holden drove her away."
The old lady immediately remembered when Anne left Titan Manor—her convoy was so long, she practically emptied the entire manor, and more than half the servants left too.
Recalling Holden's shabby wedding and his words about no dowries needed, the old lady felt a sharp pain in her chest.
How could the old lady not understand how beneficial it was to have Anne in the Titan family? Back then, she didn't need to split one gold coin into two, didn't need to worry about social relations or household management.
After all, Anne could do everything well and knew how to show respect. If Holden hadn't been seduced by Candy and insisted on using his military merit to get the king's permission to marry Candy, how would this family have ended up like this!
But what's done was done. The old lady didn't want to dwell on the past. She looked coldly at Mrs. Merry. "If you think she's so wonderful, why didn't you have your son marry her?"
Mrs. Merry glanced at her. "Anne is now a duchess—is she someone just anyone can marry? Even if you're going to dream, dream something realistic. The Anne of today—forget about my unmarried son, even if Holden and Candy divorced, he still wouldn't be good enough for her."
"Anyway, I don't want to stay here any longer. People might think I'm rushing to flatter you. As for you, instead of just sitting here getting angry, you'd better deal with the rumors first. If Holden hears about this when he comes back, he'll definitely think you're embarrassing him."
The old lady had been glaring furiously at Mrs. Merry, but hearing these words, she frowned. The words were harsh, but they made sense—Holden and Candy had already achieved merit, yet the Titan family was making such a fool of itself. What would it look like if word got out?
She immediately sent people to suppress the news, severely reprimanded those nobles who looked down on the Titan family, and threatened that when Holden returned and was promoted, he would never let them off.
The old lady never considered that Holden might return empty-handed. She had great confidence in her son. Besides, there was only one female knight commander in the Soth Empire—who else could the female knight commander who achieved merit be, if not Candy?