The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

A monk in a burgundy robe slowly stepped into the hall from the outside.

Horatio kept his hands pressed together in prayer, his demeanor solemn, a natural red mark on his forehead giving him an almost divine aura, too intense for one to stare directly at. It seemed as if he was surrounded by a light, making even the prayer beads on his wrist emit an intense fragrance reminiscent of sandalwood!

Horatio whispered a prayer.

"Though I'm not one to judge by appearances, I can't say I believe the words of this gentleman here. We're all seekers on a spiritual path, but I wonder, would he dare repeat his claims in front of the spirits of his ancestors?"

Cassius, upon seeing Horatio's almost glowing presence, shivered!

Even as a layabout, Cassius could tell at a glance that Horatio was a monk of profound spiritual depth!

"Who are you? Everything I've said is the truth!"

Horatio spread his hands. "You're a fraud."

Cassius was taken aback.

Horatio, confident and direct, turned to Noella. "Noella, he doesn't even recognize me, there's no way he's a genuine seeker. My face was once voted 'Most Inspiring Religious Figure of the Year.' It's still featured on the Religious Affairs Bureau's official website!"

In Harmonia Country, there was a thorough system for regulating religious figures. Legitimate monks and priests were certified, and anyone with certification should be familiar with the Religious

Affairs Bureau's website. Horatio's face was a permanent fixture on the homepage of the Religious Affairs Bureau.

Horatio's immediate branding of the man as a fraud was based on Cassius's lack of recognition.

Cassius, indeed, had no certification. His half-baked spiritual practices were nothing more than schemes for deception. How could he possibly have gone through the proper channels to get certified?

He stuttered in response. "Of course I'm a legitimate practitioner! Can’t there be independent seekers?"

"Of course, but the law states that uncertified practitioners cannot perform religious services."

Cassius was nearly apoplectic!

Why did this monk keep bringing up the law? Weren't monks and priests supposed to be relics of superstitious times? Horatio was not playing by the expected rules!

"I... I do have certification, just rushed out and didn't bring it with me."

Horatio looked at Cassius. "It's not that complicated. I'll just call the abbot of Eternal Monastery and ask if you're one of his disciples."

He immediately took out his phone, found a contact, and made a video call.

As soon as the call connected, they were greeted with a deep, resonant voice. "You're desecrating the divine! I have to buy a ticket to enter my own home now?"

The person on the other end, sounding impatient, responded, "We purchased this land with the intention of turning it into a tourist attraction. Is there a problem with that?"

The abbot cursed vociferously. "This has been my home for fifty years! You turn it into a tourist spot?"

The employee remained unmoved. "It's a tourist attraction. If you want to enter, you’ll need to buy a ticket."

Furious, the abbot bought a ticket and entered, only to launch into another tirade, leaving the Schnabel family in stunned silence.

This abbot certainly had character!

After his rant, he finally turned to the phone to see what Horatio wanted.

As the phone's camera pointed at Cassius, the abbot inspected him and shook his head. "No, no, my disciples are of a different generation. I don't recognize this one. He's a fraud, just beat him to death."

Cassius panicked!

"You... resorting to violence and insults, are you even a man of faith? You even curse!"

The abbot stroked his beard. "A friend of mine once said, 'If you seek a path to your demise, I shall assist you on your journey.' This is a great kindness, indeed. Another day of doing good deeds! As for cursing, venting all one's frustrations is the true way to purify one's soul. After a good rant, I feel spiritually refreshed, and my practice advances!"

Cassius was dumbfounded! What exactly was the Eternal Monastery practicing?

Putting away his phone, Horatio looked at Cassius with sincere eyes, as if genuinely offering him a choice.

"I would gladly guide you to the afterlife for free. Would you like to go?" NôvelDrama.Org (C) content.

Go... Where?

Cassius shook his head. "No, no, I was hired by them. They just wanted me to make the two young ladies change their surnames…"

Seeing the risk of exposure, Ashlyn quickly interjected. "It's all true! These girls are nothing but trouble!"

Horatio blinked. "Madam, I see the Schnabel ladies as bearers of great fortune, capable of ensuring the family's prosperity for generations. How did you discern their misfortune?"

Ashlyn, who had once wielded her status with impunity, had met Horatio on several occasions. She knew well the weight Horatio carried in the religious community. If he declared the Schnabel ladies to be of good fortune, no one would believe Ashlyn's claims to the contrary.

Horatio continued, "Actually, I find you to be the unlucky one, Madam. Mr. Schnabel's decision to divorce you was indeed wise. Though you came here by deceit, your poor character makes everything about you seem false, like a castle in the air."

At Horatio's blunt words, Ashlyn nearly fainted from anger!

Noella stepped forward, tapped a few points on Ashlyn's back to revive her breath, and said, "Grandpa invited you here for questioning; playing dead won't help."

What Marcel wanted to ask was also what Noella sought to understand.

Faced with Noella's gaze, Ashlyn felt as if she was looking straight through her, seeing the ghost of Harriet Lambert, the woman she detested! She let out a shrill scream!

"Oh my gosh! It wasn't me! I didn't take your child! It was Garrick who told me that if I took Tristan away, I could become Marcel's wife. I swear I didn't mean to hurt you! Even though Tristan isn’t my biological son, I've always treated him as my own. If it weren’t for my failed attempt to arrange a marriage for him with my niece, and Sienna, that wretch, hadn't interfered, Tristan would be closer to me by now! I left my own children behind because I still have a conscience. Believe me, I've never mistreated your son..."

Noella retorted with disdain, "Conscience? You're not guided by conscience, you're just afraid!"

Marcel married Ashlyn because Tristan was indeed his biological son.

Had Ashlyn never thought of pulling a switcheroo, swapping her own son with Tristan? Of course, she had! But she was just too scared to actually do it!

"It's all Garrick's fault! Not mine! He's the one who told me how to deceive Marcel, to make him believe me!"

Elara stared unwaveringly at Ashlyn, who seemed somewhat deranged.

Suddenly, Horatio's voice emerged beside her. "Don't worry about it, she's not telling the truth. You're very fortunate! I never lie!"