Her Gilded Revenge For Stolen Fate novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34

“Oh The king had never met Vivian, yet her name stirred some recollection.

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A month earlier, she had saved Gloria at the Hunting Palace. Because the matter could not be made public, the king had shown no outward response.

Later, she had rescued Nicholas and Edward from a bear, which was a real heroic feat. That was when the king had issued a reward.

And now, Daphne’s pregnancy had also turned out to be connected to her. The coincidence was almost too great.

Daphne had lived in the palace for nearly twenty years and knew well that one had to be cautious at all times in the king’s presence. Catching the faint crease between his brows, she immediately understood that he had begun to harbor doubts. about Vivian.

Vivian had helped her. If Daphne were to bring trouble upon her because of this, it would be nothing short of ingratitude.

“Your Majesty, I believe Vivian is favored by the gods.” Daphne said.

“And why do you say that?” The king raised a brow.

Daphne clasped his hand and spoke softly. “While we were dining, she mentioned that she had dreamed the night before of a stag crashing into a pregnant woman. That was why I did not drink the blood mead.

“If not for Vivian, I would have been delighted to see the blood mead you brought and would surely have drunk it without hesitation.

“Stag’s blood and antler are both known to affect an unborn child before the pregnancy has stabilized. The thought of it still frightens me…”

Daphne looked terrified, her shoulders trembling slightly.

The child in her womb meant everything to her. If she were to lose this pregnancy, she might never become a mother again.

The tension eased from the king’s brow, and he nodded. “It seems that she truly had a prophetic dream.

“But I have already rewarded her once. If she were to receive favor again so soon, it would surely draw attention, and that would not be to her benefit.

“How about this? Lady Vivian’s birth is not high, and I doubt the Snyder family is generous with her finances. You may send her something in your capacity as an aunt. It will be practical, and it will not attract notice.”

“On Vivian’s behalf, I thank Your Majesty,” Daphne said, lifting a hand to her lips as she smiled.

There were never any secrets within the palace walls.

The news of Daphne’s pregnancy, confirmed by the royal physicians who visited Greenwood Palace, spread through the entire palace that very evening.

Victoria was trimming pine branches when the maid delivered the tidings. Her face lit up with delight. “After all these years, Daphne has finally come to her sweetness after hardship.”

“I heard His Majesty didn’t drink the blood mead last night,” the maid said.

“Blood mead excites the body,” Victoria replied. “Since His Majesty stayed overnight at Greenwood Palace, it was indeed wise

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Chapter 31

not to drink it”

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She lowered her gaze and added, “If I remember correctly, Xavier has been spending a lot of time recently with Lady Celia of the Snyder family.”

The maid explained, “Lady Celia is Consort Daphne’s niece. She spent some time living at Greenwood Palace in her childhood. That was when she first met Prince Xavier.”

“Tomorrow, make sure Xavier comes to the palace,” Victoria instructed.

By Veronian tradition, royal sons shouldn’t be raised by women.

Thus, once a prince reached fourteen, even if he had not yet been granted a title, he could not live with his mother.

Victoria had not seen Xavier for over half a month. She missed him terribly.

The next day, the chief royal attendant from Greenwood Palace arrived at the gates of Aurea Manor, escorting a great number of chests filled with gold, silver, and jewels.

Seeing this, the gatekeeper dared not slack off and hurried inside to deliver the news.

At that moment, both

Quentin’s family and Henry’s family were having breakfast with Beatrice. Hearing the gatekeeper’s

hurried footsteps, Quentin was upset. “What’s all this fuss about?”

The gatekeeper quickly explained, “Your Grace, someone has come to visit from the palace.”

“What?” Quentin sprang to

his

this lips together as his gaze fixed sharply on Vivian. Matthew’s expression mirrored “s, equally displeased.

With a sarcastic tone, Quentin muttered, “Some people, though foolish, are at least law–abiding and cause no trouble. But others are not only foolish, they insist on making mischief, bringing calamity upon their own family. How detestable.”

The king’s previous reward to Vivian had stung not just Celia, but also Matthew.

As the eldest son of the Snyder family, he had lived eighteen long years without ever receiving such an honor, yet Vivian, of humble birth, had surpassed him and gained the king’s favor.

Matthew seethed with resentment, his jealousy barely contained. His dislike for Vivian deepened further.

Sylvia wept continuously. Fragile and trembling, she appeared pitiful and pitiable, yet Beatrice had grown weary of her display. She paused her fingers on her prayer beads, saying nothing.

“Let’s go. I want to see just how much havoc you can wreak on our family,” Quentin said, restraining his urge to strike Vivian as he strode forward.

He had made up his mind. Even if Beatrice intervened today, he would show no mercy. He was determined to teach Vivian a lesson, to make her feel pain so that she would obey in the future.

As the group reached the front courtyard and saw the chests at the chief royal attendant’s feet, everyone except Beatrice and Vivian froze in astonishment.

Beatrice thought to herself, ‘Daphne must have discovered she is with child; otherwise, why would she send so many gifts?‘

The chief royal attendant beamed as he approached, first greeting everyone before making his way to Flora.

In a tone full of admiration, he said, “Lady Flora, Lady Vivian is truly a girl favored by the gods. Yesterday, she spoke of her

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Chapter 34

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dream, and Consort Daphne called the physicians to examine her. It turned out that she is indeed with child.

Convert Daphne was overjoyed, and so she instructed me to deliver these gifts to Vivian, to be used when she marries in the future

According to Veronian tradition, it was generally unwise to announce a woman’s pregnancy before the third month.

Yet the palace, though outwardly serene, seethes with intrigue and danger.

The more Daphne hid the news of her pregnancy, the more perilous her position became. It was far safer to lay everything openly before the court. That way, any unexpected moves could be anticipated and guarded against.

Flora covered her face, sobbing with joy.

She knew that although Daphne appeared to live in splendor, these past years had been anything but easy, as precarious as walking on thin ice.

After all. Daphne’s standing depended solely on the king. Beyond that, she had no support.

Now, with a child, she would at least have a lasting bond and purpose, no longer destined to drift aimlessly in the palace, only to end in emptiness.

In contrast, Celia’s smile was strained. Her whole body stiffened, her fingernails digging sharply into her palms, sending a sting of pain.

She desperately wanted to know whether, now that Daphne had her own child, she would still treat her as a cherished treasure, showering her with care.

She even suspected that Daphne had already forgotten her, for the gifts were given solely to Vivian. She felt completely ignored

Recalling Vivian’s ramblings from yesterday, and the blood mead, a dark, poisonous thought began to form in Celia’s mind. She found herself wishing that Daphne had drunk the blood mead.

Pregnant women should not consume such blood mead. If she were to drink even a couple of cups, it would not be long before she miscarried.

Then, Celia would once again be Daphne’s most cherished child, unique and unrivaled.

Flora, too, thought of the blood mead. Her lips turned pale as she whirled toward Vivian, glancing again at the chests on the ground.

“Vivian, you…” she faltered, unsure how to speak.

Vivian gently held Flora’s hand, offering reassurance. “Mother, it is Consort Daphne herself who is blessed by the gods. That is why I had the prophetic dream.”

The chief royal attendant looked up, surprised. He had not expected Vivian of Aurea Manor to be so perceptive and shrewd. In saying this, she neither claimed credit for herself nor left any room for criticism, a rare and admirable cleverness.

Unfortunately, the scar on her left cheek was indeed conspicuous, marring her

future.