Lydia hesitated for a moment before saying, "But if we spread word of this, Lady Xavier's reputation will be ruined, and the other young ladies of the Earl of Southstead's family will suffer as well."

Kylie's eyes gleamed coldly. "She's just the daughter of a concubine with an inflated sense of her own worth. She looks down on everyone, likely dreaming of a marriage that's beyond her reach. A girl so lofty in her ambitions deserves what she gets.

"Besides, I've heard she has a fiery temper and is unafraid of anyone. It would be best if she went and caused a scene with Carissa. Let people see the spectacle, and soon, no one will be talking about His Majesty anymore."

Lydia fell silent, unsure of how to respond.noveldrama

"Now, when I say something, you resist at every turn. You constantly find fault. Tell me, how do you suggest we put an end to this uproar? Should we allow His Majesty to remain in the public eye, constantly criticized and ridiculed?" Kylie snapped, her patience running out.

Lydia wanted to argue that even if Janelle went to cause a scene, her antics wouldn't help silence the rumors surrounding Salvador. It would simply be treated as a trivial matter-a young woman causing a fuss would hardly be capable of quelling a political storm.

But seeing Kylie's anger flare, Lydia held her tongue and obediently left to carry out her orders. With the year drawing to a close, the social season was in full swing, and people were exchanging news at a rapid pace.

Soon, it became common knowledge that Kylie had intended to have Janelle become the Hell Monarch's secondary wife, only for his princess consort to reject the proposal.

Janelle was the daughter of the Earl of Southstead. Though she was born to a concubine, she was the favored child of the matriarch of the family. From a young age, she excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and even horsemanship and archery.

However, her temperament was as fiery as they came.

When Janelle came of age at 15, matchmakers began visiting. However, she refused every proposal, no matter how suitable the family or the match. Over time, the matchmakers began to speak of her with thinly veiled sarcasm. However, Janelle was not one to uphold the delicate demeanor expected of a noble lady. She would berate the matchmakers without hesitation.

It wasn't just the matchmakers she offended. She had a habit of criticizing older relatives who spoke ill of her, and didn't hesitate to scold them as well.

Her blunt, outspoken nature had earned her a reputation. As a result, she was seldom invited to noble gatherings in the capital, for fear of her sharp tongue causing embarrassment.

Her temperament had earned her many enemies, and there was no shortage of gossip about her. Most often, people said she aimed too high, looking down on families of lesser status. Some even claimed she aspired to enter the palace as a concubine. They mocked her behind her back, saying the palace had no place for someone so unruly.

Such a temperament would normally earn her the disdain of most in her household, yet both the matriarch and the Earl of Southstead were particularly fond of her.

The reason was simple enough-Janelle was sharp and capable.

She handled the family's business affairs and managed the household with ease. Her stepmother, the lady of the household, was often ill. Thus, Janelle took charge of both the external business dealings and the inner workings of the estate. Though many of her relatives disapproved of her fiery nature, they had no choice but to rely on her.

Despite holding a noble title, the Earl of Southstead's family maintained a low profile among the capital's aristocratic circles. Not a single member of the family held an official position in court. Instead, they quietly amassed wealth.

Even with their lack of political influence, their noble status ensured that no one dared to slight them. However, they were rarely the talk of the town, only receiving invitations during weddings or funerals.

Now, there was news that Kylie had intended to arrange Janelle's marriage to the Hell Monarch as a secondary wife, only to be refused by Carissa. In an instant, rumors about the Earl of Southstead's family spread like wildfire across the capital.

Everyone eagerly awaited to see whether Janelle, with her brash and bold nature, would dare to confront Carissa and demand an explanation. After all, the position of secondary wife to the Hell Monarch was one that many noble ladies yearned for.

Janelle was already 20 years old and had a bad reputation. With Kylie's help, she could have married the Hell Monarch, someone many people admired. But Carissa's jealousy had ruined her chances. Even the most patient person would be outraged, wouldn't they?

While the common folk speculated,

the court officials saw this as a clue to the king's late-night visit to the estate. After all, there had been

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similar situation in the past. When Carissa was still Barrett's wife, she had caused a scene over him taking another wife, leading to their divorce.

Now, Carissa's refusal to allow the Hell Monarch to take a secondary wife raised questions: Would she demand a divorce again? More importantly, since this matter was initiated by Kylie, did it reflect Salvador's intentions?

If that were the case, then the initial assumptions might have been wrong. Perhaps it wasn't Carissa who had ulterior motives, but the king who had been coveting something else...

Those with sharp minds began piecing together the truth. Considering Salvador's private meetings with Carissa in the royal study, her injury, and his late-night visit to the estate, the narrative became clear. He was the one who had developed feelings.

Seeking to avoid him, Carissa had deliberately injured herself. When the king couldn't see her, he had gone to the estate in the dead of night to check on her.

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