Chapter 261: Chapter 261: Disqualification

Visiting the sick was a great opportunity to curry favor, and the fact that Hughes had volunteered her for this task definitely meant he had ulterior motives. Did he know of her discord with Celia and wanted to put her in a difficult position on purpose?

That didn’t seem right, either. Although Celia was the Duke’s daughter, her status was incomparable to hers.

Such a task was not even worth mentioning to her.

“Everyone is busy, and I have to attend the opening ceremony of the freshmen competition. You’re free lately, so it’s a good time for you to go over.”

“Are you saying that I can’t attend the opening ceremony of the freshmen competition?”

“Yes, you don’t need to show up. It’s better to keep a low profile lately.” Hughes’s face broke into a chilling cold smile, “I’ve heard that Mervin and Celia are close to Lin Fu. You can use this opportunity to improve your relationship with Miss Lin Fu, and if there are any misunderstandings, it would be good to clear them up.”

Theresa couldn’t help but take a step back before steadying herself.

She felt as though she had been struck by lightning out of a clear sky.

Not attending the opening ceremony of the freshmen competition meant to the outside world that she had fallen out of favor.

****

Duke Glirward Mansion—

Because of the assassination attempt on the second daughter, Celia, the Duke Mansion had been bustling with visitors recently. Almost half of the Capital Star’s top nobility had come, adequately honoring Celia.

But Celia herself was unaware of it.

Her injuries were so severe that after surgery she had been placed in a hibernation pod, requiring deep sleep to better recover her body.

It was only now that she had awakened.

“Is that all?” Celia leaned back in bed, covered with an expensive silk blanket, her face pale, and asked her trusted servant in a languid voice.

“Yes.” The servant replied with utmost respect, “The hearing was not made public, and since you were not awake, I wasn’t able to find out more. But from what I’ve gathered from the students at Elbert Military Academy, Miss Lin Fu not only safely got through the hearing, but she was said to have been very impressive. Now all the students at Elbert are looking up to her.”

“Of course.”

Celia said proudly, “As long as it’s her, she can certainly do it. She has always had such charm about her.”

The servant glanced at the second daughter with surprise. He had never expected the second daughter, with her melancholic and paranoid personality, who was also difficult to get along with, to pay such attention to someone. But recalling how Lin Fu had saved Celia and not abandoned her during the crisis, he felt it was only right.

The second daughter never liked to owe favors to anyone.

“There’s one more thing,” the servant said cautiously.

“What is it?”

“On the night you were attacked, Elbert sent a very large wooden box to the mansion. Afterward, the butler personally made a trip to the Elbert Military Academy.”

Celia’s expression changed, “What else? If you can only tell me this much, then you’re no use to me.”

“Of course not.”

A confident smile crept onto the servant’s handsome face, “The wooden box was actually a coffin, and inside it was the body of the eldest son.”

“The eldest brother?” Celia’s expression changed dramatically, “Are you sure?”

“Very sure, although the Duke has not announced it publicly and there has been no funeral, I am certain it was the eldest son.”

The servant’s expression showed a hint of hesitance as he finished. He had only been with the Grilward family for five years and had never seen the eldest son.

But he had heard that the family had a truly gifted eldest son who disappeared ten years ago and had never been seen since.