Melody of Strength novel

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After Harvey and Heather left, the servants in Gracehold Estate were busy cleaning up. Apart from Samuel and Ruby, who remained in the sitting room, everyone else dispersed. Even Abigail did not stay as she escorted Dorothy back to her quarters.

Before leaving, Dorothy gave strict orders that Noah was not to make things difficult for Samuel.

“Which of the young men in this family is as outstanding as he is? The king personally selected Samuel as one of the top scholars. Him losing his position is only a temporary setback. Which family doesn’t have multiple wives and concubines? It’s just that some petty people are stirring up trouble.”

“Mom, go rest,” Noah responded, but he didn’t agree. He simply gestured for his wife to escort Dorothy

away,

Noah then turned his gaze to Ruby, who was sobbing uncontrollably in Samuel’s arms. He felt a surge of frustration.

“Why are yo

you crying? If you hadn’t provoked Leona, would tonight’s events have happened?”

Still shielding Ruby, Samuel spoke up, “Dad, how can you blame Ruby? You’ve seen how vicious the people in Leona’s quarters are. They even dared to strike me, your son!”

“You insolent brat, shut your mouth!” Noah snapped before turning his fury back on Ruby. “You will go outside and stand in a corner, out in the cold. Don’t you dare move until I tell you to.”

Samuel immediately stepped forward to protect her. “She can’t! She’s already been dragged and injured. by that vicious woman. Just look at her face…”

Noah could no longer hold back his rage. He slapped his son across the face and bellowed, “Insolent child! Don’t you realize the disaster that’s upon you?!”

Having been struck multiple times today, Samuel was filled with fury. “Fine! If you can’t stand me and Ruby, then we’ll leave the estate. I’ll give up my title as heir. Whoever wants it can have it. It’s just a small, insignificant title–I don’t care.”

True to his word, Samuel stormed off to pack his things and leave.

Noah sat in his chair, listening to a servant report that Samuel had packed up his belongings, including his ink, brushes, and many of the books he’d been reading, and had loaded everything onto a cart.

“Did Ruby try to stop him?” Noah asked icily.

“N–no, she didn’t. She helped him pack,” the servant stammered.

Noah closed his eyes, recalling what Carissa had said. Eleanor’s illegitimate daughter, who had become a courtesan at a brothel, entering the Earl of Gracehold’s family–what were her intentions? He needed to think carefully.

Combining this with what Violet had mentioned, Noah was now almost certain that Ruby was here to sow discord, sent by Eleanor to disrupt the peace of his family.

He had initially considered two possibilities. The first was that Ruby had been sold off to a brothel after falling out of Eleanor’s favor. The second was that Eleanor had deliberately arranged for Ruby to enter his family to ruin their reputation.

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Now, he was almost certain it was the latter.

Samuel had once been a promising top scholar and a distinguished nobleman with a future full of potential. However, after he became involved with Ruby, he first tarnished the century–old reputation of the Earl of Gracehold’s family by bringing a woman from a brothel into their home. His relationship with Leona then deteriorated, leading to charges brought against him by the Oversight Department, which ultimately resulted in the loss of his position,

If Ruby remained in Gracehold Estate, who knew what other disasters would follow?

Especially considering that Leona had already been harmed to the point that it had even led to complications with her pregnancy. If Ruby didn’t leave, Leona’s chances of a smooth delivery remained

uncertain.

Though Harvey and Heather hadn’t explicitly condemned Ruby tonight, their anger was evident. However, they weren’t a big problem. After all, the couple likely wished for Samuel and Leona to get along. So, they would likely counsel their daughter to be patient and focus on safely giving birth.

What truly worried Noah was the Hell Monarch’s princess consort. Tonight, Rafael had practically torn apart Gracehold Estate.

Would Noah mention this in court? No, he wouldn’t dare say a word. The fact that a member of the Earl of Gracehold’s family had laid hands on Helen, an honored concubine, was enough to bring his family under serious accusations of insubordination.

What’s more, Rafael’s household soldiers had entered Gracehold Estate unarmed. They hadn’t used weapons, using only their fists to break things. Their hands were even injured from smashing items, showing how meticulously the Hell Monarch had calculated his actions.

Samuel left the estate that night. When Dorothy heard of it, she couldn’t bear the thought of her grandson suffering and arranged for them to live in a manor on Hibiscus Lane, sending no small amount of silver coins along with them.

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