The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

The Schnabel family gathered around the osmanthus sculpture that Stirling had brought back home.

If Noella wasn't so sure there was something hidden inside, they'd all be doubting whether they had the right object at all! How could a U-disk be stashed in this thing?

The sculpture looked seamless, carved from a single piece of fine white jade without a single trace of joint or graft, as though it was a masterpiece hewn from the heart of the earth itself!

Tristan whistled in awe, "Last year, a white jade sculpture by Master Sylvie went for a cool fifty million at the auction. This one could fetch a pretty penny if we ever decided to sell."

Beckett asked, "Noella, did Grandma buy this sculpture?"

Noella shook her head, "No, it was a gift from me to grandma. Picked it up at a flea market for ten buck."

In truth, this was her very first carving after she learned the craft. Grandma had always cherished osmanthus fragrans, so Noella carved one for her.

As for the stone, it indeed cost only ten dollar, but the white jade that was later uncovered turned out to be worth a fortune.

The Schnabel family members were stunned to hear such an exquisite sculpture came with such a meager price tag!

Jasper asked his father, "Dad, are you sure this isn't a piece by Master Sylvie?"

Tristan slapped his forehead in frustration.

"It has Master Sylvie's signature mark. Most wouldn't recognize it, but I've bought so many of Sylvie's pieces over the years; I can tell this is the real deal!"

Marcel motioned for silence, "Enough chatter, Noella, where did Grandma stash the thing? Surely we're not going to smash this sculpture?"

Tristan clutched the piece protectively, "No way, Dad! This is a top-tier sculpture!"

"Out of my way, you fool. Are you really going to value this over what your mother left behind?"

"But...the sculpture was also left by mom!"

Marcel paused, contemplating the truth in those words. The sculpture was clearly one of Harriet's beloved possessions. If they destroyed it, she would have been furious.

Noella stepped forward, delicately lifting the osmanthus branch from atop the sculpture, revealing a USB drive hidden within.

“This is the U-disk.”

Originally, during her stay with the Lambert family, she came up with the USB to store things discreetly, not wanting Vincent and the others to come across it.

Removing the osmanthus branch did not detract from the sculpture's overall beauty; if anything, it added an air of boundless charm that left Marcel marveling.

"Marvelous, Master Sylvie's craft is indeed exquisite."

"You can say that again, Master Sylvie is truly a jewel in the world of sculpture!"

Noella touched her nose, silently taking in the Schnabel family’s colorful praises for Master Sylvie.

She plugged the USB into the large screen in the living room of the Schnabel Manor.

The family sat together, eyes wide with anticipation. The first thing to appear was the soft cough of the elderly matriarch in a sapphire blue dress.

Her hair, silver as the moon, was neatly arranged behind her ears, adorned with an osmanthus hairpin that highlighted her picturesque features.

Even with the passage of years, Harriet remained elegant and gentle, her gaze as tender as a babbling brook.

The moment Marcel saw her, his eyes brimmed with tears.

"Harriet."

He had often thought about growing old, wondering if Harriet would scorn his aged appearance, remembering her as the young beauty she once was.

Seeing Harriet aged, Marcel realized how much he regretted not spending those decades with her, not witnessing her grow old!

The gentle voice of the matriarch filled the room, "Noella, my precious girl, if you're watching this video, I must have already left this world.

I've fallen ill, and my health is failing day by day. When you weren't at home, I started to forget many things, and I feared I'd forget you, so I recorded these messages in advance. Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

If I left nothing behind, you'd surely cry in secret, just like when you were a little girl, thinking I wouldn't notice."

Tears welled up in Noella's eyes, but she blinked them back. Every day since her grandmother's departure, she had missed her dearly.

"My time may not be long, Noella, and you mustn't be sad. I know you're not Vincent's kid, but he’s not my kid, either. So that doesn't matter to me.

Study hard, grow up well, and if you ever find your family, I’d be so happy. You must be happy. If you can't find them, take my belongings and go to the Schnabel family in Imperial City. Tristan will treat you right, and so will your grandfather, both good men."

As she spoke, she smiled towards the camera, "As for the things I've kept from you, I hope you can understand.

I was ill when I was younger and lost many memories. Now that I'm nearing the end, they've all come flooding back. Just show the Schnabels my bracelet, and they will accept you. You don't need to live the hard life I did. I know you used to sneak out to pick wild vegetables to ease my burden when you were five - I knew.

At three, you'd wash dishes and cook, standing on a chair to make porridge for me. You never cried out even when you fell; it broke my heart.

My dear girl, if the Schnabel family ever treat you poorly, I'll haunt Marcel even from beyond the grave."

Harriet chuckled softly, followed by a fit of coughing. It took her a while to straighten up again.

"Noella, I am so sorry it's taken me this long to remember the past, to have made you endure so much hardship alongside me. I will watch over you forever from the heavens above.

Tristan, I regret that our first meeting is under these circumstances. I'm sorry I wasn't there as you grew up, that you had to face life's injustices.

And for the Lamberts, I know they're no good. Noella, you need to leave them and live your own life."

The video ended, and a heavy silence fell over the Schnabels. Tristan had never expected his mother to have known about his existence!

In the video, she had made a point to speak to him, to acknowledge that his life may not have been easy. It was a mother's concern for her child.

Sienna, heart heavy with sorrow, pulled her daughter close, weeping so hard she could hardly catch her breath.

"Oh, sweetheart, you and your grandmother went through so much. My sweetheart, to have suffered like that!"

The few words from Harriet were enough to offer a glimpse into their past life - one filled with hardship, poverty, and times when there wasn't enough food or clothing to go around. Sienna's heart ached unbearably.

The thought of her precious child having to mature too soon, to care for her grandmother, and worrying about whether they would have enough to eat the next day - it was too much, and she cried uncontrollably!

Noella managed a strained smile, gently patting Sienna's back.

"I'm okay, Mom. It was tough back then, but Grandma and I, we were happy. She said that also, you all treat me well. Now that we're all together and doing fine, that's all that matters."

For her, the wish from childhood had been simple: to be reunited with her family, to live together in peace and joy. Everything else was secondary.

Marcel remained silent, his hand gripping his cane trembling continuously, a storm of emotions raging within him, leaving him speechless.

"Harriet, you still haven't forgiven me."

He exhaled slowly, a moment of profound sorrow washing over him, tears streaming down his face, as his once sturdy back bent down in an instant.

"Rest assured, we will never treat Noella poorly!"