Chapter 15: The Grievance
Alice, a private talk? Was the Debbs family’s alleged smuggling related to Alice at all? Clearly, this Merritt had ulterior motives. Nimitz had weathered many storms, and he saw through it all as clearly as a mirror.
Nimitz’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Merritt.
Merritt, however, lounged comfortably in his chair, even closing his eyes to rest, not sparing Nimitz a single glance. Merritt’s attitude was clear—if you want your family cleared of this injustice, have Alice come talk to me.
Nimitz pondered for a moment, then smiled. “Lord Merritt admires Master Linley’s ‘Dream Awakening’ sculpture. It’s understandable that you’d want to discuss it with Alice. Very well, I’ll go back and speak with Alice about it.”
Merritt, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them upon hearing this and smiled at Nimitz. “Haha, then Nimitz, please return for now. As long as Alice has a proper private talk with me, I think I’ll come to understand the Debbs family much better.”
Nimitz immediately stood up, bowing humbly and politely. “Then, Lord Merritt, I’ll take my leave. Our Debbs family entrusts itself to your care.”
Merritt nodded lightly.
Nimitz withdrew.
Now, only Duke Merritt remained in the entire living room.
Merritt held a wine glass, muttering softly to himself, “The goddess, Alice…” A hint of smugness and longing appeared on his face.
Merritt, as the Right Prime Minister of the Fenlai Kingdom and a duke, held a status so exalted that those above him in the kingdom could be counted on one hand.
A man of his stature had seen all kinds of women.
Merritt indeed loved women. Though he was now in his seventies, as a formidable warrior, he had a lifespan of two to three hundred years. At just over seventy, he was in his prime. Merritt had twelve wives publicly known. Yet, a popular view among the nobility was—
Wives at home were not as good as lovers outside, and lovers outside were not as good as those one couldn’t obtain. The unattainable was always the best.
But at Merritt’s level, women he couldn’t obtain were few. Those who could truly stir his heart were rare indeed.
And Alice was one of them.
Ever since the sculpture ‘Dream Awakening’ became famous, the woman in it was seen by many as a ‘goddess’! A goddess was unattainable. Someone like Merritt, with his exalted status, naturally craved to have a goddess like Alice beneath him. But this was an extremely difficult task.
And now, this was an opportunity.
“Alice, the goddess?” A hard-to-conceal smile spread across Merritt’s face. Then, tilting his head back, he drained the bright red wine from his glass.
******
Nimitz sat in the carriage on his way back, his brow deeply furrowed.
Alice was Kalan’s fiancée!
If he sent Alice to meet Merritt alone, he would undoubtedly be throwing her into the fire. Facing Kalan’s accusations later would be manageable, but if word got out, the impact on the Debbs family’s reputation would be immense.
“Sigh, if the family is destroyed, what’s the point of talking about reputation?” Nimitz shook his head and sighed.
The Debbs family was now at a critical juncture. Once they were convicted of smuggling, the entire family would be wiped out, and all their property seized by King Clay. Though the family had left some roots outside to prevent total extinction, almost all of the Debbs family’s assets were within the Fenlai Kingdom.
If they failed, who knew how many years it would take for the Debbs family to regain its former glory?
Compared to the family’s future, a little gossip meant nothing. After all, when had the noble circles ever been free of filth and scandal?
“But this matter requires Alice’s consent,” Nimitz worried. “I can’t just force Alice into the Right Prime Minister’s mansion.”
Nimitz didn’t care about Alice’s purity. She was just a woman!
But Nimitz understood…
“Alice has a special relationship with Linley. If I force her, and Linley finds out…” The thought made Nimitz’s heart tremble.
Linley held a unique position in the Fenlai Kingdom.
Though he was a marquis, Linley was actually a member of the Radiant Church. In fact, King Clay had even invited Linley to become a noble of the Fenlai Kingdom, stating that they would not treat each other as lord and subject.
Clearly, Clay wanted to win Linley over.
Because every noble in the Fenlai Kingdom knew that if Linley wished, he could easily become a White Priest of the Radiant Church, and in a few decades, it would be normal for him to become a Red Cardinal.
A Red Cardinal’s status was even higher than a king’s!
“I can’t force her.” Nimitz had a headache, worrying that Alice might refuse. He put himself in Linley’s shoes.
Alice was, after all, Linley’s first love! If Nimitz forced Alice to go to Merritt and she lost her purity, Linley would surely be furious!
******
At the Debbs family estate.
The living room was crowded with many members of the Debbs family, including Alice and Rolin. They were all waiting for Nimitz’s return.
They were all worried about the family’s future!
“Second Uncle is back! Second Uncle is back!” A middle-aged man standing at the living room door, craning his neck, saw Nimitz’s figure and immediately shouted.
Instantly, the entire group of Debbs family members rushed toward Nimitz. Alice and Rolin exchanged a glance and also stood up to greet him.
“Second Uncle, how did it go?” the middle-aged man immediately asked.
Nimitz looked at the crowd before him, forcing a faint smile. “The situation is still manageable. Everyone, please go back for now. Alice, stay behind. I have something to discuss with you.”
Nimitz still held considerable influence in the family. Hearing his words, the group had no choice but to disperse.
Alice was puzzled, wondering why Nimitz wanted to speak with her alone.
“Sister Alice, I’ll head back to my room then,” Rolin said softly, squeezing Alice’s hand. In moments, only Alice remained in the living room.
Nimitz stepped into the room.
“Second Grandfather, is there something you need?” Alice asked nervously.
Nimitz looked at Alice, offering a kind smile. “Alice, don’t be nervous. Sit down first, and let’s talk properly.” With that, he sat down first.
Nimitz, who had always been stern and disapproving of her, was suddenly so kind today?
Alice felt a flicker of doubt.
“Sit down,” he said, his smile warm and amiable.
Alice sat down hesitantly beside him.
Nimitz let out a low sigh, his brow heavy with worry. “Alice, you and Kalan just got engaged, and now this happens to our Debbs family. I don’t know who is secretly framing us, but if I find out, I’ll kill them.” A flash of murderous intent crossed his face, then he slumped in defeat. “But right now, the most important thing is to clear our family’s name and rescue Bernard and Kalan.”
Alice nodded.
But inwardly, she was confused. “Why is Second Grandfather telling me all this?”
Nimitz looked at Alice earnestly. “Alice, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“A favor?” Alice was so startled she stood up.
Nimitz was so respected in the Debbs family that even the patriarch treated him with deference. Now he was saying he wanted to ‘ask a favor’ of her? How could Alice not be shocked?
“Alice. The case of our family’s alleged smuggling is being investigated and tried by the Right Prime Minister, Lord Merritt. And Lord Merritt is curious about you. He wants to have a private chat with you.”
Nimitz quickly urged, “Alice, this is a rare opportunity to build a good relationship with Lord Merritt. If we get on his good side, he’ll help our Debbs family. Alice, you grew up with Kalan. You wouldn’t want to see him rot in prison, would you?”
Alice was stunned.
A private chat?
Having grown up in a noble family, Alice was well aware of the filth and corruption within noble circles. She could guess that meeting Lord Merritt would not be that simple.
“I… I…” Alice stammered.
Nimitz pleaded, “Alice, our Debbs family is counting on you. I can even promise that if you build a good relationship with Lord Merritt, you can be Kalan’s primary wife.”
At that moment, Alice felt her mind go blank.
Alice had always valued her purity.
Whether with Linley or Kalan, she had held the line. Even after her engagement to Kalan, she insisted on waiting until after the wedding to consummate their relationship.
Now she was being asked to deal with Merritt…
“Alice, I’m begging you.” Nimitz gritted his teeth and suddenly dropped to his knees, pleading, “Alice, Kalan’s life depends on you.”
“Kalan’s life?” Alice shuddered.
Kalan had grown up with her, and especially in recent days, when she faced gossip in the Debbs family, Kalan had always protected her.
“Alright, I agree.” Alice gritted her teeth and said.
A flash of joy appeared on Nimitz’s face, and he quickly said, “Good. Then tomorrow evening, I’ll arrange for you to go to Lord Merritt’s mansion.”
But Alice’s face was pale, and she didn’t respond.
******
The next evening.
A carriage, escorted by twelve knights, left the Debbs family estate, slowly making its way toward Lord Merritt’s mansion. Inside the carriage, only Alice sat alone.
Alice sat quietly, biting her lip, her hands nervously gripping her long dress.
The carriage moved on, soon arriving at the gates of Duke Merritt’s mansion.
“Miss Alice, we’ve arrived,” came the coachman’s voice from outside.
Alice’s heart jolted at the sound. Her right hand instinctively touched her waist. The hardness of the dagger hidden there gave her a little reassurance.
Taking a deep breath, Alice pushed open the carriage door and stepped down.
……
Inside the living room of Duke Merritt’s mansion.
Alice, wearing a long skirt and a jacket over her shoulders, was dressed modestly. Stepping forward, she entered the living room calmly, looking around. But the room was empty.
“Hmm?” Alice frowned.
Just then, a female servant ran over and said respectfully, “Miss Alice, the Duke is in his study. Please follow me to the study.”
“The study?” Alice hesitated.
But under the servant’s urging gaze, Alice finally moved.
The study was secluded and quiet. There were very few servants around. Reaching the study door, Alice saw a man who looked like a blond middle-aged man sitting at a desk, looking at some papers.
“So this is Merritt?” Alice’s first impression of Merritt was that he seemed very sharp. Even while sitting at the desk, his back was straight, and his gaze was piercing.
“Duke, Miss Alice is here,” the servant said respectfully.
Merritt looked up, and upon seeing Alice, he stood up excitedly. “Haha, Miss Alice is here? I’ve been waiting a long time. Come, Miss Alice, please have a seat.” He walked toward Alice.
Alice stepped into the study.
Looking around, she saw bookshelves on the right side of the study, filled with countless books. On the left side of the study was a bed.
“When I’m tired from reading or handling official business, I rest here,” Duke Merritt said with a smile, walking to the door and closing it.
Seeing the study door close, leaving only her and Merritt inside, Alice was startled.
“Lord Merritt, it would be better to leave the door open. I’m not used to such dim surroundings,” Alice quickly said.