Once they were outside, Ivy stopped hiding the truth from Carmen.


    “I have to be honest with you now. If your mom had received treatment just a month earlier, her condition wouldn’t have deteriorated this far. You should spend some time with her. Her days are numbered.”


    Carmen felt her mind go nk. If she had any doubts about Violet’s words earlier, they vanishedpletely now,


    Mnie had been in the dungeon and had received medicine, but it clearly wasn’t meant to treat her illness. The household physicians in Harmony Pce were skilled. If they had truly intended to help her, she would have shown signs of improvement.


    But why? Why did Celeste do this?


    Carmen stared nkly at the prescription and the banknote as tears streamed down her face uncontrobly.


    Ivy was ustomed to the sorrows of the world, and she could only offer a gentle reminder. “Life is full of helplessness. You must learn to be strong<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    Violet was about to leave after Ivy left on her donkey, but seeing Carmen in such distress made her hesitate. She pulled Carmen back into the cabin. “No matter what, your mom still needs you to take care of her.”


    Carmen tossed the banknote and prescription to the ground, then turned and rushed into the room. She knelt beside Mnie’s bed, and desperationced her voice as she cried out, “Mom, please tell me why <b>did </b>she have to do this?”


    Mnie paused, momentarily taken aback before she understood Carmen’s question. After a long silence, she sighed heavily.


    “Carmen, everyone has their breaking point. She might truly be worn out. I wanted you to stay away from her so you could understand. Before that happened, <b>she </b>was punished by Grand Princess Eleanor. Your sister carries her own burdens.”


    “That’s not the real reason! I told her I’d gained Prince Rafael and Lady Carissa’s trust! Celeste also believed we could rescue you. But why? Why resort to such measures… How old is that household physician? Why would she do that?<b>” </b>


    Carmen sank to the floor and sobbed hysterically.


    She didn’t understand at all.


    Violet sensed that Mnie knew why Celeste had acted this way–the pain in her eyes was all too evident.


    Mnie stayed silent for a long time, and her tears flowed uncontrobly.


    Finally, her voice trembled as she said, “It’s my fault for involving you both, Carmen. She had her reasons. If you two had always been in the same situation, she.


    Violet watched Mnie closely, piecing together Carmen’s earlier words, and a thought struck her.


    She couldn’t help but ask, “Carmen, when you mentioned gaining Prince Rafael and Carl’s trust, could


    Celeste have thought you really might many the prince as a concubine? Since she couldn’t stop that from happening the resorted to harming your mom. That way, you wouldn’t have to follow Eleanor’s orders, wouldn’t have an excuse to get close to us, and wouldn’t be the prince’s concubine is that it?”


    as


    Mnie shivered, disbelied flickering across her face she looked at Violet. She quickly shook her head


    “N–No, it’s not like that.


    Carmen’s heart sank at the observed her mom’s reaction. A cold dread washed over her,


    She knew. Violet was right


    Tears fell as Carmenughed softly


    fes N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    reason? No wonder when I told her I had Prince Rafael and Lady Carissa’s trust, she didn’t seem happy at all. She stared at me for a long time before finally smiling. It was because of this? I’ve never cared for being a prince’s concubine! All I’ve ever wanted is to rescue my mom and reunite our family”


    Mnie trembled as she reached out to wipe Carmen’s tears away, sorrow etched in her features. Forget about it. It was her choice how to act After I’m gone, you and her shouldn’t have much to do with each


    other


    “How did you know she wanted to hurt you?” Carmen grasped her mom’s hand, her gaze falling on the streak of gray in her mom’s hair. “Did you know she was colluding with the household physician? How did you find out?”


    Mnie smilled bitterly.


    “She’s my daughter. I know her thoughts well. She visited me and said a lot of things. She was filled with resentment and bitterness because you’ve be familiar with Prince Rafael and Lady Carissa. The household physician used to send me a bowl of medicine every day. But after her visit, the medicine started to taste different Every night, I coughed terribly and vomited blood.”


    “Im going to find her Carmen’s face was filled with rage as she sprang to her feet.


    Violet stopped her “You won’t find her. She’s probably already left the capital.”