The Swordswoman’s Revenge Story after Rebirth

Chapter 418: Apathy from the Start

Riley, looking awkward, shot Isolde a glare as she invited him to sit. “We can sit ourselves, Marquise,” he said dismissively, “As long as you manage your own affairs.”

Isolde didn’t bother responding to his rudeness. She simply stood aside, allowing Clark to speak.

Clark stepped forward, clasping his hands together in a formal greeting. “I asked you all here today to discuss the matter at hand, which has to do with family matters—matters that, as they say, a wise man may find hard to resolve. We don’t wish to escalate this to the courts, but my parents’ coffins have been sitting outside for days, and yet they remain unburied. Last night, Isolde and I decided that we would move the coffins back to Argentum for burial. However, we still need to understand why my father is being denied the right to be buried in the ancestral grave. What crime did he commit that prevents him from entering the church and resting with his ancestors?”

Skylar spoke up, “I heard that the mountain where the family grave lies was originally bought by Prunella. How is it that a place she bought can’t be used for burial? Is this some kind of insult to the dead?”

Gage replied, “Skylar, I think you’re mistaken. We never said Geoffrey couldn’t be buried in the family grave. We already chose a burial site for him, but somehow, after the arrangements were made, they started saying it wasn’t suitable, asking for a new site. But once a place is chosen, how can we go back and choose another?”

Hassan remained silent, watching the exchange. He knew Riley stood with the Langley family, and as a local official, he wasn’t well-versed in matters concerning Argentum. But he knew that not offending Catherine’s people was key. However, with Oliver and Isolde standing here—one a general, the other a County Princess—it wasn’t wise to upset either of them. So, Hassan kept quiet, waiting to see how things unfolded.

Clark continued, “The plot that was chosen for my father’s burial was found to be unsuitable—it’s too loose and unstable for a proper grave. As a First-Rank Duke, my father deserves a tomb with the appropriate standards. That plot wouldn’t suffice, so we are choosing a better one. What is the issue with that?”

Gage responded, “Clark, you’re a dutiful son, and we all know that. But you have both a foster father and a biological father. You’ve been loyal to your foster father, but the one who caused the death of his legitimate mother—how can you justify that?”

Isolde, who had been listening with growing impatience, couldn’t tolerate this any longer. She stepped forward, her voice icy. “Causing the death of his legitimate mother? Who are you talking about? Explain yourself clearly.”

Gage snapped back, “Isn’t it obvious? Vance himself said it—your father caused Prudence’s death and prevented her from being buried in the ancestral grave. Such disrespect, such cruelty—what right does he have to choose a burial site?”

Isolde’s eyes flashed with fury. She strode toward Vance, grabbed him by the collar, and dragged him forward. “You say my ‘father caused Prudence’s death? Then you better explain how.”

Vance had always feared Isolde, but with so many people around, he hadn’t expected her to act so boldly. He tried to pull away, glaring at her. “Let go of me! You and your father know full well what you’ve done. Do you need me to remind you?”

Isolde’s grip tightened. “I really don’t know. But you’d better explain yourself now.”

Makhi Mueller, a teacher in attendance, frowned as he watched Isolde grab Vance. “As a woman, how can…

Isolde bowed slightly, her tone calm yet firm. “Makhi, no one is perfect. My father had his faults, but right now, I’m asking what exactly he did wrong that prevents him from being buried in the family grave.”

Makhi turned to Vance. “You say Geoffrey caused Prudence’s death. Do you have proof of this? If you do, why not take it to court?”

Oliver, who had been standing quietly, spoke sharply. “Yes, think carefully. What exactly did Geoffrey do wrong? He was an imperial official in life, and even after his death, the King gave him a posthumous title. If you accuse him without evidence, you’re accusing a state official, an imperial servant. How many heads do you think you’ll lose for that?”

Vance stammered, “I don’t have evidence, but everyone knows what he did. The common people and even the palace are talking about it. Why would they speak of him like this if there were no truth to it? And why couldn’t my mother be buried in the family grave?”

He glanced at Riley, hoping for confirmation. Riley said nothing, neither nodding nor denying the claim.

Oliver stepped forward, his expression cold. “She couldn’t be buried in the family grave because the King himself gave her a posthumous title. Do you know what that title was? Lady Serpent. If she hadn’t died, she might very well have been executed by the King’s order.”

The shock was palpable in the room. Everyone fell silent.

Lawson, visibly uneasy, turned to Vance. “Is this true?”

Vance immediately denied it. “No, there’s no truth to this.”

Oliver scoffed. “It’s the King’s decree. Feel your head and see if it still feels secure, Vance.”

Vance, fuming, retorted, “It’s all lies—this is just a smear campaign against my mother.”

Oliver’s voice was icy. “Smear campaign? Are you saying Geoffrey, who raised you, lied about his own mother’s death?”

He turned to Riley. “Riley, you’re close to Catherine. You must know about matters in Argentum. Tell us… what really happened.”

Riley, with his usual indifference, replied, “Yes, the King did issue the posthumous title, but who it was for, we’re not sure. If it was for Prudence, we don’t know anything about it.”

Lawson, panicked, asked, “Why? What does this mean?”

Anthony, unable to stay silent, erupted. “Why? She poisoned Prunella, plotted against Isolde—there’s clear evidence! The King was enraged, and even after she died, he gave her a posthumous title so she’d be punished as a ghost!”

“No, no,” Lawson stammered, looking between Vance and Isolde. His confidence was slipping. “Why would she do that?”

Anthony snapped, “Who knows why? But this is the truth—Geoffrey killed himself and blamed his mother. The King was shocked, and he ordered an investigation. The evidence is irrefutable.”

“Self-inflicted death?” Lawson turned sharply to Vance. “You said Geoffrey died from illness?”

In truth, the family didn’t care what Geoffrey had done in his lifetime. What bothered them was that he had passed on the title of Marquise to his daughter. How could they face the Langley family’s sons, knowing that the title had gone to a woman? That, they couldn’t accept.