Her Majestic Battle Cry

Chapter 1161

Unexpectedly, Oliver learned that Barrett had arrived at the Southern Frontier and personally appointed him as a household soldier in Redstone Manor.

Redstone Manor’s household soldiers were mainly responsible for handling all of Oliver’s travel arrangements and ensuring his safety. This was especially important because enemy assassins often tried to infiltrate and target the marshal. While such threats had never materialized during Oliver’s tenure, there had been quite a few attempts during Hector and Rafael’s time.

Oliver had already learned from Evelyn that Barrett had divorced Viola. Regardless of how Oliver felt about his sister, Barrett’s actions were an affront to him. Given his current position, Barrett’s treatment of his sister was nothing less than a challenge to his authority.

Thus, he summoned Barrett and immediately set the latter to menial tasks–fetching water, chopping wood, sweeping the courtyard, and even serving food in the kitchen.

Barrett obeyed the orders wordlessly. He had been humbled to such an extent that his dignity no longer held any meaning.

In just a few days, Barrett had explored Redstone Manor from top to bottom. He realized that it was vastly different from the place he had known before. Apart from the outer shell of the residence, everything inside had changed. novelbin

The servants who had once been exclusively male were now joined by many maids and female attendants. There was also a lady of the house, whom Barrett had seen a few times: She was pregnant, perhaps five or six months along.

Given the comings and goings at the residence, the lady would always cover her face with a thin veil when she appeared. Her eyes, visible through the veil, were captivating, almost hypnotic. Barrett never sought to inquire about her identity, but others were always quick to gossip.

The people in the manor said she was Oliver’s wife. Since her arrival, all the previous concubines and mistresses had been dismissed. The concubines who had come with Oliver to the Southern Frontier had mysteriously died, though no one knew why.

Barrett sometimes overheard the servants whispering, claiming that Oliver doted on the lady to such an extent that he gave her anything she wanted–if she asked for the moon and stars, he would have them brought down for her.

Barrett also noticed that the lady’s belongings were beyond luxurious. Silks and satin, pearls and jewels–her every possession was extravagant. Now that the Southern Frontier was no longer at war, all manner of tonics were delivered to her. She consumed two bowls of royal jelly soup every day, one in the morning and one at night.

Her baths were prepared with goat’s milk and petals, an indulgence she partook in every day without fail. Goat’s milk and flowers were easy to find in the Southern Frontier, but to bathe

in them daily was an extravagance beyond measure.

Barrett couldn’t help but feel that Oliver’s annual salary, already stretched thin to support his household, couldn’t possibly cover such lavish expenses.

Oliver would never consider dipping into the military funds, right?

However, Barrett later heard rumors that the Earl of Silverstone’s family would send him money. The Earl of Silverstone’s family had been titled for generations and had amassed a considerable fortune, so it would be easy enough for them to support Oliver and his wife in their lavish lifestyle.

This made Barrett think of Zoey.

Having been related to the Prince family by marriage, Barrett held Zoey in the highest regard. Every time she stepped forward, it was to resolve a matter fairly, and she always acted with great impartiality. Though Viola was her sister–in–law, Zoey never showed bias toward Viola.

In terms of both appearance and possessions, Zoey was nowhere near this lady’s level–she didn’t even come close.

Putting everything else aside, just the flowing brocade and fragrant cloud silk the lady wore that day were worth a fortune. The Mystic Pearl on her hairpin was even more impressive.

People said that when Carissa married Rafael, she had received several jars of Mystic Pearls. Barrett had never seen one as large as the one in the lady’s hairpin, but it was so exquisite that it could easily be set into an emerald crown without losing any of its luster.

Days passed, and Barrett eventually learned that the lady’s surname was quite strange. She had once been known as Ms. Kingsley, then as Ms. Cece, but now she was called Madam Spencer.

He even heard rumors that her family was somehow connected to the prestigious Spencer family from Ebonflow.

Thus, everyone now referred to her as Madam Spencer.

Of course, such gossip was not to be spoken of in front of Oliver or the lady herself. But when the servants and maids had a moment to relax, they would whisper to one another.

One day, Barrett overheard that Oliver had received a letter from home and was in a rage. A couple of days later, he learned that it was because the Earl of Silverstone’s family had stopped sending money, which was the cause of his fury.

The servants began to speculate that it was because Oliver’s legitimate wife had found out about the lady’s pregnancy and had cut off the funds in a fit of jealousy. They all criticized the legitimate wife for being foolish. After all, men often had several wives and concubines. A woman so petty and jealous might find herself in trouble or even cast out.

Barrett almost spoke up to defend Zoey, but ultimately kept quiet.

If only they knew the true Earl of Silverstone’s wife, they would realize that she was the one

best suited to be the head of the household.

#28 BONUS

Chapter 1162