The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

Listening to Horatio's earnest words, Elara zoned out for a moment!

Was she being comforted by Horatio? Or did he think she was so fragile that she would do something rash?

"Thanks, master, but I don't think I'm unfortunate, actually. I consider myself pretty fortunate. That psychic said I was like a rainbow piercing through the sun. How's that for a bad sign? Who but a creature of the dark would fear the sun? I plan to be the brightest Elara there can be!"

Horatio gently shook his head. "Your pastry box is still on the floor."

As Elara picked up the box from the floor, she retorted, "So I dropped it, what's the big deal?"

"Nothing." Horatio carried a scent of sandalwood, a fragrance steeped from years of serving in front of the monastery altar, his presence radiating an almost untouchable aura.

Elara stared at Horatio for a moment, speaking from a place of simple wisdom, "Master, I've got some half-baked ideas, but unfortunately, our country has a pretty solid legal system."

"Huh?"

Elara slapped Horatio on the shoulder in a chummy fashion. "Horatio, thanks, but I just helped you out too, so you owe me a thanks!"

Horatio, a naturally intelligent man, was momentarily taken aback by Elara's nonsensical statement!

"What are you on about?"

What had she helped him with that he owed her thanks now?

Elara beamed, utterly convinced of her righteousness. "I saved you from a fair bit of harassment, thanks to my incredibly strong moral compass."

Horatio's fair and somewhat ethereal face briefly stiffened! She said she prevented harassment by controlling herself from harassing him?

Horatio was at a loss for words, the phrase "God bless" almost escaping him but not quite.

Was Elara, Noella’s sister, a bit too out there?

Facing Elara's clear and piercing eyes, Horatio's heart calmed down in an instant. There was no hidden agenda in Elara's gaze; she was speaking to him purely because... she was just work-crazy!

Horatio let out a sigh of relief, silently shaking his head.

It had been many years since he'd come across someone like this, and he felt utterly defenseless!

Marcel looked down at Ashlyn, who was unconscious on the floor. His sharp features still held a bit of a rugged charm, filled with a terrifying dignity.

Just one look from him, and the deceitful Cassius felt his legs give out, falling to his knees begging for mercy!

"I was hired by the Richardson family. They wanted the young lady to acknowledge her lineage, and I thought it was a good thing..."

Noella scoffed, "A good thing? Wasn’t it because they offered you a hefty sum?"

Cassius dared not speak, trembling on the floor. He truly regretted his agreement to cause trouble in families like the Schnabel family for some money!

Helen snorted. "Marcel, what do you plan to do with this old witch? Still got feelings?"

"I never had feelings for her!"

If it hadn't been for his poor judgment back then, truly believing Garrick was a friend, and Harriet too, there wouldn't have been so many regrets and misunderstandings between them!

Helen spoke bluntly, "Nonsense. If you had no feelings, how could you marry her? She claims you two had a son, and you believed it just like that? It's not like belts just fall off on their own."

Known for speaking her mind, Helen cared little for how her words landed.

In front of the younger generation, Marcel's face turned red with embarrassment. It took him a while to tap the floor with his cane.

"That's all in the past. There was a day I had a bit to drink at a social, and Garrick kept insinuating, said he saw me entering another room. I always thought I entered the wrong room. All these years, I never touched her!"

Helen raised an eyebrow. "Why are you telling me all this, you old playboy?"

Marcel was at a loss for words.

Wasn't it Helen herself who brought it up? If she hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have been keen on dredging up those embarrassingly misguided actions of his past! And now he's the old playboy?

Truly, engaging in a three-sentence conversation with Helen meant preparing to be infuriated thrice over.

Helen kicked Ashlyn, who was still on the floor. "If you have no feelings for her, and you've asked all you wanted, then she's mine to deal with."

"What do you want her for?"

Helen waved for the Pollack family bodyguards to come in, taking Cassius along with Ashlyn away.

"The Pollack family's nursery home has been my residence. A few years back, Palmer made it mine to keep me happy. Officially speaking, your ex-wife needs some 'recovery time'. I'm bored; what's more fun than spending time with an old friend from the past?"

Although Marcel did not intervene, he doubted Helen was capable of such noble generosity.

"And unofficially speaking?"

Helen rolled her eyes, her lips drooping. "Dumbass. Since it’s unofficial, why would I tell you?"

Horatio chimed in, "Helen, isn't your nursery home right across from the Schnabel family cemetery?"

"Yep, a couple years back I was bored, and the doctor said I needed more exercise, so I took some digging tools and made a few holes in the mountainside. This old hag fits perfectly!"

Helen had no intentions of letting Ashlyn off easy. This damned old woman, aside from everything else, how dare she claim her granddaughter was unfortunate!

Initially, Helen thought to let bygones be bygones, considering Ashlyn's past mistreatment of Elara was history. After all, Ashlyn wasn't particularly kind to the other Schnabel children either.

But this time, Helen was truly furious!

Fortune? She was determined to dig up the most cursed grave just to bury that old witch straight into it!

"I must be the kindest soul alive, arranging a burial site and providing full service in this day and age."

Horatio nodded in agreement. "Indeed, your mercy knows no bounds." NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.

Seeing that the matter was nearly settled, the merciful Helen didn't want to waste any more words on the Schnabel family and Marcel.

Before leaving the Schnabel Manor, she turned to glance at Elara."Elara, remember this, if anyone like that ever tries to mess with you, you slap them right back! If you break anything, I will cover it! At my age, stabbing a few people in broad daylight won't make a difference. If anyone's tired of living and bothers you, I will make sure they don't live to regret it!"

Elara felt a warmth in her heart, and she smiled helplessly. Her grandma was truly a uniquely independent old lady.

Elara could only imagine how stunning her grandmother must have been in her youth!

With a smile, Elara stepped forward, bent slightly, and hugged the stern-faced Helen, planting a kiss on her cheek.

"Thank you, Grandma. You're my favorite."

At that, Helen's body stiffened!