The Swordswomanโs Revenge Story after Rebirth
Chapter 447: A Proud Display
Isolde was baffled. Agnes, raised under Pabloโs strict tutelage, was supposed to be a well-mannered lady of the house. Though she had previously made some improper choices, publicly reprimanding her elders was a serious offenseโan act of great disrespect and filial disobedience. How could she dare act in such a way?
โAgnes is quite the show-off,โ Isolde remarked coldly.
Agnes, hearing her voice, turned around, her eyes still filled with fury. โWhatโs it to you? Get lost.โ
Isolde snorted, walking into the room. โIs this your place? Who are you to tell me to leave? You donโt have that kind of authority.โ
Agnes, pointing angrily at Heidi, asked, โDo you even know who she is? Youโre sticking your nose in where it doesnโt belong. Donโt be fooled by her innocent look; inside, sheโs filled with poison. She acts all sweet to me, but sheโs scheming behind my back. What kind of person does that make her?โ
Heidi looked up, speaking with a resigned tone. โI donโt understand why you keep accusing me of plotting against you. Iโve never spoken ill of you. Youโve misunderstood.โ
โI havenโt misunderstood. Itโs you. Donโt pretend. You disgust me,โ Agnes hissed, but her tone had a slight edge of caution when she glanced at Isolde. โYou married my grandfather when you were youngโwho knows what youโre after? Shameless.โ
With that, Agnes turned and stormed out of the room.
Isolde stood frozen, a bit stunned. Was she really bold enough to say that? Didnโt she fear these words would reach Allan? She was living in the household after the divorce and yet still dared to provoke her grandfather?
It seemed either Heidi had done something or said something to provoke her, or this was all one big misunderstanding.
Isolde turned to Heidi. โDonโt take it personally. Sheโs just crazy.โ
Heidi sighed, shaking her head. โI wonโt let it bother me. But honestly, itโs not helpful to keep insulting me like this.โ
Isolde sat down, then asked, โWhat exactly did she say? Those words were so harshโwhy didnโt you tell Allan about it?โ
Even though Heidi was the second wife, she was still Allanโs legitimate wife, and Agnesโs grandmother. Even Margaret wouldnโt dare openly disrespect her. Could it be that Agnes had truly gone mad?
Heidi explained, โShe must have heard some rumors. She believes Iโve secretly met with Arthur and spoken badly about her in front of him.โ
โHow can she blame you for that? Besides, wasnโt it her mother who pushed for the divorce with Arthur? Arthur actually tried to reconcile.โ
โHe tried, but she wouldnโt agree right away. She wanted to save face. Plus, Margaret probably told her that Arthur would never agree to the divorce, which made her more insistent. In the end, Arthur did write the divorce papers. Now she thinks Iโm the one who poisoned his mind against her.โ
Heidi stood, but then wobbled slightly. Isolde immediately moved to steady her, but Heidi quickly pulled away as if Isolde had touched a sore spot.
โWhatโs wrong?โ Isolde asked.
Heidi smiled faintly. โItโs nothing. She came by yesterday, tried to make trouble. I dodged, but she bumped into my shoulder. Itโs nothing serious.โ
Isoldeโs anger flared. โShe dared to lay hands on you? You have to tell Allan about this. Let him handle it!โ
Heidi waved it off. โNo need to bother Allan. Heโs busy. This is a small matter.โ She then gestured for a servant to bring something over.
The servant entered, holding a delicate box. Heidi took it and handed it to Isolde. โThis is for you. Do you like it?โ
โWhy the sudden gift?โ Isolde asked, quickly trying to refuse. โNo, no, keep it.โ
โPlease, just a small token of appreciation. You gave me so many beautiful pieces of jewelry, and I didnโt have anything special to give you. So, I had someone make this hairpin for you. Itโs not much, but itโs unique. Do you like it?โ
Isolde opened the box to find a jade hairpin at the top, exquisitely crafted. She lightly touched the gold-wrapped part, her eyes flashing briefly before she smiled and said, โItโs beautiful. I really like it. Thank you, Grandmother.โ
Heidi smiled warmly. โIโm glad you like it. Wear it.โ
Isolde placed the hairpin in her hair and asked, โHow does it look?โ
Heidi smiled charmingly. โIt looks lovely, truly lovely.โ
The servant standing nearby also praised, โIsolde, with your beauty, even a simple hairpin would look stunning.โ
Isolde bowed her head. โThank you, Grandmother. I wonโt disturb you any longer. Iโll take my leave.โ
โGo ahead, come visit when you have time,โ Heidi said with a smile.
Isolde smiled as she turned to leave, but once her back was turned, her smile quickly faded into a cold expression. She walked out of the courtyard without removing the hairpin, making sure no one was following her. When she reached Ningser Pavilion, she finally took off the hairpin.
Oliver, seeing her return, noticed her unusual expression. Thinking that Agnes had gone too far, he said, โIf you canโt stand it anymore, just tell Grandfather. No need to get upset with her.โ
Isolde shook her head, then called Hattie and Hazel inside, locking the door behind them. She then handed the hairpin to Oliver. โThis was just given to me by Heidi.โ
Oliver took a quick glance and said, โIt looks nice. Whatโs the problem? Youโre calling her Heidi now?โ
Hattie and Hazel crowded around to inspect the hairpin. โItโs definitely a fine piece. The jade is clear and gold wrapping, and to her surprise, it came off easily, revealing a carved jade underneath. The carving looked like flames.โ
Oliver studied it carefully, then froze. โIs that the flame pattern of Deandre?โ
โExactly,โ Isolde replied coldly.
โDeandreโs flame pattern? What is it?โ Hattie asked.
โThis flame pattern is known by few, but Harrison should have seen it,โ Oliver said, his expression grave. โThis was given to you by her? Why does she have it? Whatโs her intent?โ
Isolde shook her head. โI donโt know her intent, but since she has this flame-patterned hairpin, I can almost conclude that sheโs not simple.โ
Hattie frowned. โHow did you know there was a flame pattern in the hairpin?โ
Isolde almost blurted out that she had seen it in her past life, but took a deep breath and replied, โOliver told me. He said the flame pattern is Deandreโs signature. Francisco, Deandreโs strategist, sends spies with these hairpins as a token of recognition. When they meet their own people, they use the hairpin to prove their identity. But this one is fake.โ
โFake?โ Oliver asked, surprised. โHow can you tell itโs fake?โ
โAll flame-patterned hairpins have unique codes. This one has none. Itโs clearly a counterfeit. The real one should still be with Heidi.โ
Hazel looked confused. โWhy would she give you a fake hairpin? She could have just not given you anything, but by giving it to you, isnโt she revealing her identity?โ
Isolde smiled faintly. โWho in the court, except for my grandfather, would know that this hairpin is a spyโs token?โ
The existence of this flame-patterned hairpin wouldnโt be revealed until four years later, when Southern Watch captured a spy and, through interrogation, uncovered its significance. As of now, only she knew, and of course, the spy knew. Heidi likely assumed she didnโt know. But what was Heidiโs real intent in giving her this hairpin?
Oliver asked, โWhat are you going to do about it?โ
Isolde looked at him. โSince she wants me to wear it, Iโll wear it. But not this one. Oliver, come with me.โ
Oliver asked, โWhere are we going?โ
โTo see Collin,โ Isolde smiled. โItโs been a while since I visited Everfort Granary. Letโs go check it out.โ
โAlright,โ Oliver said, knowing there must be a reason. Theyโd find out when they got there.
โHattie, Hazel, go investigate Heidi. She has a son and a daughter in Argentum. Besides checking on Heidi, look into her children as well. Donโt miss a thing.โ
โUnderstood,โ they replied.
The next morning, Oliver headed back to Southern Watch, while Isolde didnโt sleep. Instead, she went with Esme to find Agnes.
Agnes had just gotten up. The cold weather kept her indoors, where she had breakfast.
Upon hearing that Isolde had arrived, Agnes slammed her fork down and coldly looked up, saying, โWhat do you want?โ
Isolde gave her a cold glance and said, โYou used to criticize me for not respecting my elders, but what about you? Even though Grandmother wasnโt your grandfatherโs first wife, how can you disrespect her?โ
Agnes snapped, โAre you defending her?โ
โIโm not defending anyone. Iโm just here to speak the truth,โ Isolde replied, sitting down and folding her hands on the table. โNot only did you disrespect her, but you even laid hands on her. Iโm going to tell Allan about this.โ
Agnesโs eyes widened in fury, her voice shaking with anger. โI hit her? Why donโt you say I killed her? I never even touched a hair on her! That woman is full of lies, and she dares to say I hit her. Fine, Iโll confront her myself. When did I hit her?โ
She stood up, ready to leave.
Isolde grabbed her arm, staring at her. โReally? Not even a shove?โ
Agnes jerked her arm away and said, โI didnโt touch her. If it werenโt for my grandfather, I would have hit her myself! Who told her to act so innocent?โ
Isolde studied her face and could tell Agnes wasnโt lying this time. Agnes was untrustworthy, but Isolde had a good sense for people. Agnes truly hadnโt hit Heidi.
But Heidi had been hurt, and it was said Agnes was responsible. How had they ended up at odds? It seemed Isolde needed to ask more questions.
She frowned. โWhy is Grandmother speaking in circles? Making something out of nothing, this could cause trouble for her if I tell Grandfather.โ
โStop pretending! You and she are in cahoots to plot against me! Havenโt you already made my life miserable enough?โ Agnes snapped.
Isolde looked at her and said, โI may not like you, but I wouldnโt go out of my way to harm you. I donโt think Grandmother has any ill intentions either. Could it be youโve misunderstood something? She met with Arthur, perhaps to speak in your favor.โ
Agnes sneered, โSpeak in my favor? Iโm not deaf. I heard what they said. She painted the Valen family in such a bad light, how could that be in my favor? She listened to that old hag and turned Arthur against me. If she hadnโt done that, why would he have divorced me?โ
Isoldeโs eyes flickered. โWhat exactly did they say?โ
Agnes snorted. โWhatโs it to you? Why should I tell you? Weโre the sameโboth of us are guilty.โ
Suddenly, Agnes noticed the hairpin on Isoldeโs head. She pointed at it, furious. โNo wonder youโreโฆ