Chapter 145 Pablo Flares Up
But despite everyone eagerly awaiting Bradley’s appearance, he did not show up.
Instead, someone brought in a barrel of fine wine, presented as a gift from Bradley to Pablo.
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The wine was presented publicly, and it would be rude not to share it with the crowd. Pablo immediately poured the wine and passed it around, raising the mood of the gathering.
The atmosphere was electric as the wine flowed, but Pablo seemed somewhat displeased. Every now and then, he cast a cold glance at Geoffrey, his eyes reflecting hidden anger.
The wine, a gift from Bradley, was indeed of high quality. One sip, and a warmth surged within, loosening muscles and invigorating the body. Everyone marveled at its effects.
Rosemary, however, chuckled inwardly as the crowd continued to praise the wine. It was no rare vintage- this was the same as the wine served at the banquet. The excitement was merely due to the fact that it had come from Bradley himself.
Since it was a victory banquet, the conversation inevitably turned to how the battle was won.
Pablo, though, was not one for grand storytelling. He spoke of the war in a very plain manner, though it was clear to Isolde that the victory had been fraught with danger at every turn.
The banquet went on until late into the evening, past the hour of the pig, and Queen Dowager had stayed the entire time. When the officials began to leave, she stepped forward to bid them farewell.
Having drunk a little wine, Queen Dowager’s complexion was flushed, almost as if she had applied rouge. Her usual regal demeanor softened with a smile as she looked at Geoffrey, saying, “Next time you’re in the -palace, bring your daughter along for me to see.”
Geoffrey was taken aback, his heart skipping a beat. He quickly replied, “Of course.”
He had never expected the Queen Dowager to bring up Isolde during the banquet. Usually, when someone is named “County Princess,” the conversation would pass in a few days. But this time, it was different.
What is it about that girl that has everyone looking at her with such admiration?
On his way out of the palace, Geoffrey pondered this question, momentarily forgetting that he still needed to talk to Pablo about the broken engagement.
It wasn’t until he heard Pablo’s displeased voice behind him, “Geoffrey, wait a moment,” that he remembered.
Turning around, Geoffrey was ready to explain, but before he could speak, Pablo stormed up to him, his face flushed with anger. His eyes were fierce as he said, “Geoffrey, we are both men of war, we speak plainly with each other. Don’t hold back. Is there something you dislike about my son marrying Isolde? If so, tell me, and I will do whatever I can to fix it.”
Pablo’s presence, still in his battle armor, made him even more imposing. His words, harsh and direct, carried the weight of a general. Geoffrey, though feeling aggrieved, couldn’t help but respect his authority. He remained calm and explained, “You misunderstand. William is your legitimate son, and he’s learned much from you. He will be a great general one day. If he were to marry my daughter, I wou
“Really?” Pablo said, surprised by Geoffrey’s words.
e honored.”
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Chapter 145 Pablo Flares Up
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Geoffrey smiled gently. “Of course. That’s why, when Margaret came to cancel the engagement, I was quite regretful for some time…”
Pablo’s eyes widened, and veins appeared on his forehead as he snarled, “What did you say? My wife went to cancel the engagement? What nonsense!”
Geoffrey replied, “I assumed you already knew. I didn’t receive any word from you, so I thought it best not to ask.”
Pablo’s expression darkened. “Geoffrey, you can rest assured. This marriage will not be canceled.”
Geoffrey gave a bitter smile. “It already has. Even if you return to Argentum and bring it up, I’m afraid Isolde wouldn’t want to marry him now.”
Pablo let out a frustrated sigh. “This girl has a temper. She must be upset after the cancellation. I’ll visit her tomorrow and give her an assurance.”
Geoffrey shook his head. “That may not work. This girl isn’t just stubborn; she’s a mule, impossible to pull back.”
Geoffrey cursed under his breath and sighed. “What you don’t know is that before the engagement was called off, Isolde was wronged. She didn’t know that William and Eleanor were already secretly in love and even had a child on the way. “When Margaret and his wife insisted that Eleanor become the legitimate wife and Isolde be made a concubine, Isolde refused. This all led to the cancellation of the engagement. She’s
angry,
and now that Eleanor has entered the family, Isolde won’t want to marry him anymore.”
Pablo’s face turned pale with fury, his teeth grinding. “Is this true?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
“You might want to ask Margaret. She and William both said they wouldn’t marry anyone but Eleanor,” Geoffrey said.
Pablo bowed his head, muttering, “I’ll apologize to her tomorrow. For now, I’ll take my leave.”
He understood Geoffrey’s character well enough to know he wouldn’t lie or exaggerate, and that this situation was far more complicated than he’d realized.
Before heading home, Pablo made one more stop at Princess Aveline’s residence.
Pablo knew exactly what Margaret was capable of–charming, eloquent, and able to turn any situation to her advantage.
Princess Aveline, who had knowledge of all things concerning Argentum, especially the failed engagement, was the perfect person to seek clarity.
Lord Garraway, also present at the banquet, had left for home after it ended, and by the time Pablo arrived, he had already bathed and was ready to receive visitors.
Hearing that Pablo had come late at night, Lord Garraway and his wife quickly dressed and went to meet him.
As they entered the hall, they saw Pablo pacing angrily. Lord Garraway immediately stepped forward and asked, “Pablo, what’s going on?”
Though furious, Pablo remained polite, first greeting the princess and the lord before getting to the point. “How much do you know about the cancellation of the engagement between our families? Please tell me everything honestly.”
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09:47 Fri, 14 Mar
Chapter 145 Pablo Flares Up
སཾ ཊཱི,78%
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The princess’s face darkened. “Pablo, you should know better. This was handled very poorly. Both families agreed to the engagement and signed an agreement. “If William had another love, he should have said so carlier. But after the engagement, he suddenly claimed he already had another woman and a child on the way. Isn’t that just bullying Isolde, who’s come from a humble background? “When Isolde refused, your wife and her stepmother began to slander her, accusing her of running away and tarnishing her reputation. Eventually, they even tried to frame her for murder. Thankfully, their plans failed, but Eleanor, in her greed, fell into the river and lost the child. “That’s divine retribution. To this day, the Valen family has never apologized to Isolde. This is a blatant injustice.”
Pablo, consumed by fury, slammed his hand on the coffee table, smashing it into pieces. “So this is how you’ve treated my daughter? A noble family, renowned for its grace, and yet this is what they’ve done to her?”
He stood up abruptly, turning to the princess and Lord Garraway with a deep bow. “I’ll return in two days to apologize and replace the coffee table. For now, I must take my leave.”
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