Aurora''s mocking voice drifted in.


    "You''ve turned yourself into a joke!"


    Vi clutched her chest. "How dare you! You''re just a concubine! How dare youe here to ridicule me?"


    "Hah! As a concubine, I''ve actually received quite a generous sum from this household," Aurora said with augh. "Since I entered the family, I''ve had the best of everything-no one dares to treat me poorly. And not a single penny of my own money has ever gone out."


    With that, she left gracefully, leaving Vi gasping in frustration.


    In the entire household, Aurora was the only one who could stand apart and enjoy the spectacle. If Serena dared to ask for anything, Aurora would p Serena without hesitation. Only someone like Vi...


    So despicable!


    After Aurora finished mocking Vi, she returned to her room. She checked the defensive mechanisms, and then ordered her maid not to enter before changing and going to bed.


    She had heard about the new Westhaven crown prince and confirmed the true identity of the man she had captured in Fawnrun City. Back then, Westhaven''s spies had killed the Duke of Northwatch''s entire family. Now, she had to be more cautious in case there were still Westhaven spies hiding in the capital.


    Anyway, Barrett wouldn''te to her room, which was irrelevant. Staying alive was the most important thing.


    While the Warren family''s residence was in chaos, the situation at the Earl of Gracehold''s residence was no better.


    Dorothy was enraged to learn that her precious grandson had been stripped of his title as heir and could no longer inherit the Earl of Gracehold''s name. She had been causing amotion for days, demanding an audience with the queen dowager to refute the charges brought by the Oversight Department.


    Her actions had caused widespread discontent among the other family members. The position of heir wasn''t something only Samuel could inherit-weren''t there other descendants? Dorothy''s favoritism was so extreme that it chilled everyone''s heart.


    Unable to bear the disturbance any longer, Noah knelt down and pleaded with her, "Mom, he''s given up everything for that lowly woman. Why are you still favoring him? You don''t have only one grandson. If you continue this way, our family will be torn apart and truly be ruined."


    Dorothy was furious, and struck him with her cane.


    "How outrageous! You''re such a useless father! He''s your son! You should be hoping for him to seed, not fail! The king had acknowledged him as a top schr and personally appointed him as an official! How can you allow others to nder him so freely? You didn''t protect him in court, and now he''s been stripped of his title. His official position and heir status are gone! What do you expect him to do in the future?"


    Dorothy hit Noah several times with her cane. Though she wasn''t very strong, the blows humiliated him as he was the head of the household.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    He grasped the cane with one hand and said mournfully, "Mom, His Majesty already spoke to me. If this chaos continues, our title will be at an end."


    Dorothy staggered. "What did you say? The king said this personally?"


    Noah let go of the cane, his voice filled with helplessness.


    "His Majesty said it himself. He said if the Earl of Gracehold''s household doesn''t treat the duchess well, we''ll lose our title. Regardless, His Majesty has already considered revoking the title. We can''t make any more trouble. We can''t let Samuel make any more mistakes. He always listens to you. Please get him to stop insulting the civil and military officials and criticizing the royal authority."


    Dorothy copsed into her chair, her face ashen. "No, our family''s title is hereditary and was granted by King Augustus himself. How can the current king revoke it? What does a man taking a concubine have to do with his title?


    "Haven''t we treated the duchess well


    enough? You all are eager to stand up for her, but I''m the only one protecting Samuel. Look at him now-our esteemed schr has had his teeth knocked out by a maid!


    Anyone can strike him, and now, with his official rank and title stripped away, even the few words of criticism he receives are being regted and controlled. It''s as if you''re trying to drive him to his doom!"


    "Mom, think about your other grandchildren," Noah said mournfully.


    "But none of them are as outstanding as Samuel is! None of them canpare to him!"


    Dorothy''s eyes hardened. Samuel was her cherished grandson, and those little people wanted to ruin him!


    She slowlymanded, "Hold off on the ceremony to appoint a new heir for now. After I see the queen dowager in a few days, I will find a way."