Chapter 182
Jessica said, “This courtyard may be small, but it’s peaceful and quiet. Quite a good place for reflection and cultivating the mind
Jessica walked ahead, but it wasn’t long before she was stopped by Joanna, the female guard who served Alivia.
Joanna said, “Ms. Yates, our lady has always kept to herself and dislikes socializing. I must ask you
not to disturb her.”
Not a single word wasted. She meant exactly what she said. Alivia would not see her, and there wasn’t even the courtesy of polite refusal.
There weren’t many servants in the courtyard. Aside from Joanna, there was just a maid to do the cleaning and a cook. Not even a gardener.
Joanna’s expression was stern. Though not outright rude, there was no warmth in her manner either.
Jessica wasn’t offended. She smiled and said, “The Yates House to participate in tomorrow’s Autumn Hunt under our own name. The formal request has already been submitted to Mr. Cuevas and approved by His Majesty.”
This made Joanna’s gaze shift slightly. She couldn’t help but blur out, “Didn’t you always join as part of Prince Waldo’s entourage in past years?”
The moment she said it, she realized she’d overstepped, and quickly shut her mouth.
Jessica still smiled softly. “Yes, in the past we always followed Prince Waldo’s banner, forgetting that the Yates family has its own distinguished military heritage. We brought disgrace to my grandfather, my parents… I imagine Aunt Alivia must have felt the same disappointment.”
“This is Yates House’s business. My lady has no say in it,” Joanna replied, though the fleeting trace of resentment in her eyes didn’t escape Jessica’s
notice.
“I’m sorry,” Jessica said softly.
Joanna looked up in surprise. “Ms. Yates, you…”
Jessica continued, “I’m sorry. Not only to Aunt Alivia, but to you as well. You and Aunt Alivia both served in my mother’s women’s corps. And yet, after my parents passed, I handed the Yates Army over entirely to Prince Waldo.”
Jessica bowed respectfully to Joanna and said solemnly, “It was my ignorance before. But I’ve truly grown now. I ask for your and Aunt Alivia’s forgiveness.”
Joanna was so stunned she couldn’t speak.
She was just a guard. Jessica was the Yates family’s legitimate daughter.
From the back courtyard, a calm, low voice rang out. “If you have something to say to me, then come say it in the back.”
Jessica’s eyes lit up. “Yes!” she answered quickly.
She left Monica behind and hurried toward the back courtyard.
Alivia was practicing with a spear. Sweat glistened on her forehead and face.
When Jessica arrived, she stopped, but didn’t hand the spear to anyone. Instead, she held it out toward Jessica.
“Mrs. Alivia!” Joanna was startled and quickly stepped in to retrieve the spear that nearly hit Jessica. “Ms. Yates doesn’t know martial arts. This is…”
“If she doesn’t know martial arts, she has no right to lead the Yates Army. In that case, what is she doing here?” Alivia turned to leave.
Behind her came a sudden clang. When she turned around, she saw the spear already in Jessica’s hands.
Joanna stood there, jaw dropped. She didn’t know when Jessica took the weapon from her.
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12:25 Fri 6 Jun
Chapter 182
Jessica bowed to Alivia. “Aunt Alivia, please grant me a lesson!”
Back at the Yates family’s place, Waldo had waited for half the day.
When Hughie returned, he hadn’t seen Jessica either.
Apparently, Jessica had left with Alivia. No one knew where they had gone, not even Monica, who had been left behind.
Unable to wait any longer, Waldo finally returned to Waldo House.
But what he didn’t know was that while he waited for Jessica all day, someone else had been waiting for him at his manor for a long time.
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