Chapter 32 Full of Doubts
Since the official investiture ceremony hadn't been held yet, Anne declined Elisa's suggestion to prepare a ball.
Besides, the reconstruction of Virlet Manor wasn't finished. Only half of the castle had been repainted and renovated, while the other half still bore the scorch marks from the flames. If you looked closely, you could even see faint bloodstains on the walls.
Fortunately, the renovated parts included the study, meeting room, and Anne's bedroom, so there were no problems with living arrangements.
The only issue was the shortage of servants.
When Anne married into the Titan family, she brought Elisa, twenty maids, twenty male servants, and a hundred guards. Although these people had returned to Virlet Manor, they still weren't enough to run the household and handle future social obligations.
Servants could be recruited by posting notices in the territory for interested commoners to apply. As for guards and craftsmen for production and gathering...
Anne picked up her quill and wrote down the requirements on paper, handing it to Elisa. "Make several copies of this and have them posted on the task boards at the major guilds. If anyone comes, screen them first before bringing them to me."
Elisa took the paper and left. Anne jotted down a few more things that needed to be done before leaving the study.
Her room was on the second floor. The maids were cleaning and preparing it. Anne only glanced at the doorway before following the stairs down, finally stopping in the basement.
The basement clearly hadn't seen many visitors. It was empty, showing no trace of the sword-fighting arena it once was.
Anne opened a hidden compartment in the basement from memory. Beneath the pitch-black floor tiles lay a beautiful sword.
In the past, Anne had learned swordsmanship from her father. She was his most accomplished student and was called the second blade master of the Virlet family.
Later, her father brought Master Anson to teach her military strategy and command. Anne had always thought she would become a hero like her father and brothers, giving everything for the Soth Empire.
Her father had told her, "Anne, you are your father's pride. I'll wait for you on the battlefield."
However, on the battlefield, swords have no eyes. A poisoned arrow pierced Skoda's heart, and this legendary man and his sons died one after another, leaving only his wife and daughter.
At that time, Anne desperately wanted to go to the battlefield. She grabbed her sword and was about to ride off alone, but her mother stopped her. For the first time, her gentle mother made a request—to put down her sword and give up the war.
Anne didn't want to give up, but her mother held a dagger to her own throat, begging her to be a proper lady and marry a man who would love her.
Her mother was all she had left.
Later, her mother arranged blind dates for her, introducing many excellent men. The night before her wedding, her mother still clutched Anne's hand and begged her, "Anne, forget all that. Be a proper wife, an elegant noblewoman. Don't pick up the sword again."
"Your husband promised me he would always be faithful to you, always love you. You will be happy."
Anne believed her.
So she wasted three years at Titan Manor, waiting until her family was destroyed and her husband betrayed her. Her mother's blessings and hopes for her had all become a dream.
Sometimes Anne wondered—if she had stayed at Virlet Manor, with her there, things wouldn't have turned out this way. Or perhaps even she couldn't have fought them off, and then the entire Virlet family would have been wiped out, and she wouldn't be alone now.
But what kind of hatred would drive someone to attack the renowned Virlet family?
Anne could never figure this out.
After it happened, the King sent people to investigate. The report said that years ago, when Skoda was fighting on the battlefield, he killed a duke from Zotfort. The duke's family and followers couldn't accept his death, so they conspired with other nobles. Years later, they attacked the empire and infiltrated the country to kill everyone in the Virlet family as revenge against Duke Skoda.
Neither His Majesty the King nor Anne could fully believe this conclusion.
Zotfort wasn't as powerful as the empire, and its territory was less than half the empire's size. Although they had certain advantages in size and physical strength, this was also the easiest way to distinguish between the two countries' people.
Logically, if they really infiltrated the empire and wanted to destroy a major family like Virlet, they would need a lot of people, and there should have been some news about it.
Moreover, every country's military had rules that hatred shouldn't involve the weak. So why would they target those in the Virlet family who had never been to the battlefield?
And a year ago...
Anne recalled that there was indeed a battle a year ago. Coincidentally, it was that battle that made Candy famous, making her the first female knight captain in Soth Empire history.
But... could it really be such a coincidence?
Anne didn't want to suspect any conspiracy behind Candy's success. She had always respected warriors, and wouldn't have confronted Holden and Candy if they hadn't deliberately humiliated her first. But this involved revenge for the Virlet family—she couldn't let it go.
"I will come back."
Anne looked at the sword. After all these years in the darkness underground, its blade was still sharp.
She couldn't take the sword out yet, at least not now.
But Anne had a vague guess in her heart. Soon, very soon.
She had to write to Anson now and ask him to help investigate her father's arrow wound and the Virlet family massacre.
If this really was all planned by the same group, Anne would pick up her sword and seek revenge.
But if there were other people involved...
Anne thought of Candy's arrogant face and unconsciously clenched her fists.
If others were responsible, she would never let them off easily either!