Melody of Strength novel

Some of the servants rushed outside, only to find the courtyard in total disarray, no different from the chaos in the main hall.

His face ashen and lifeless, Noah stepped forward and bowed. “Has your anger been fully vented, Your Highness?”

Rafael remained silent, his expression cold.

It was Carissa who spoke up instead, “Earl of Gracehold, do you harbor any resentment in your heart?”

Noah gritted his teeth. “I wouldn’t dare.”

“You wouldn’t dare?” Carissa’s face was devoid of any warmth. “It’s best if you don’t. Because next time, I promise you, the estate will be leveled to the ground.”

Noah had witnessed the grandeur of her wedding and knew that behind Carissa stood not only the Hell Monarch’s household, but also a number of martial artists. In fact, there were even two martial artists affiliated with her currently stationed here in his own household.

Forget leveling the estate–if Carissa wanted, she could kill everyone in Gracehold Estate without leaving

a trace.

Tonight, Noah had brought utter shame upon his ancestors. If word of tonight’s events spread, he wouldn’t be able to show his face to anyone.

He didn’t know how to respond to Carissa, but Samuel shouted angrily, “Those who oppress others will inevitably face retribution!”

Carissa turned her gaze toward him, and only then did her lips curl into a cold smile. “Oh, you’re one of the top scholars of the national examination, right? Are you planning to gather the scholars in the capital tomorrow to write articles condemning the Hell Monarch and his household? And then use your title as the king’s student to blow up tonight’s events?”

Samuel froze. How had she guessed?

He lifted his chin and wiped the blood from his mouth. Are you afraid now? It’s too late. Unless you off my hands, I will write and denounce you.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

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Carissa replied, “Why would I cut off your hands? Someone like you, who’s good at writing articles, shouldn’t go to waste. Just make sure you write well. Make sure to reference all the classics, and talk about loyalty, respect, righteousness, and integrity–if any of your actions can still be considered those things.

“Oh, and that woman in your arms, that’s your concubine, Madam Ruby, right? Make sure to write about her role today. Let the world know how she caused the duchess to suffer complications and forced her to be bedridden for a month.”

Samuel’s face turned beet red. “Are you meddling in my household affairs now, Your Grace? What does the duchess needing bed rest have to do with Ruby? I’m the one who pushed her.”

Carissa turned to Harvey and Heather. “Did you hear that? He admitted to pushing Leona, causing her to be bedridden for a month. The reason? Ruby came to provoke her. She fell down the steps on her own,

yet Samuel, unable to distinguish right from wrong, blamed everything on Leona. So, who will you protect -your son–in–law or your daughter?”

Harvey and Heather’s faces shifted with a mix of emotions, their gazes filled with disappointment as they looked at Samuel.

“How could you do that? How could you treat her like that? She’s your rightful wife!” Heather demanded angrily.

Samuel responded, “Mother, I acted out of anger. Ruby didn’t fall down the stairs on her own–Leona ordered someone to push her. She’s so jealous that she can’t stand any other women with me-”

“She fell on her own. I saw it with my own eyes,” interrupted Alana.

Samuel’s expression darkened. “Who do you think you are? How dare you interrupt when your betters are speaking?”

He despised Alana, especially after she had struck him earlier that day.

Alana coldly retorted, “Don’t you dare pull rank with me. Neither I nor Leah are your servants. We are here to protect Lady Leona. You harmed her, and I let you off easy by only punching you twice.

“You men who claim to read the classics, preaching righteousness and virtue, are nothing but scoundrels and hypocrites. You don’t even measure up to us warriors. One of the top scholars of the national examination? More like garbage!”

Dorothy finally regained her breath. Sitting in her chair, she pointed at Alana and shouted, “Outrageous! Since you’re not part of our household, leave at once!”

Violet could no longer hold back. She snapped, “Old hag, either go ahead and run into that pillar or shut up! I’ve never seen a grandmother as muddle–headed as you–favoring a concubine over your grandson’s rightful wife. Tomorrow, I’ll go out with drums and announce to the entire city just how you mistreated the duchess and elevated a whore from a brothel!”

Dorothy had never endured such insults. She was so furious that she pointed a finger at Violet but couldn’t utter a word.

In Samuel’s arms, Ruby whimpered and began to cry. “I was a pure courtesan before I married into this household. No man had ever even touched me before.”