Chapter 361: Unexpected People Doing Unexpected Things (Bonus Chapter 2)

Before Wilson could finish speaking, Charles abruptly cut him off, staring at him sternly. "Who did you hear this from?"

"I didn't really hear it from anyone specific. It's just something some noble kids I hang out with have been saying," Wilson broke out in a cold sweat, frightened by the unusually fierce look in his father's eyes. It was the first time he had ever seen his father look so intimidating.

"Listen, Wilson, I don't care where you heard it, but you must never mention it to anyone. And especially don't let William know it was you who spread this rumor. Someone is trying to stir up trouble. Do you understand?"

"Don't worry, Father. I'm not that stupid. I only mentioned it to you, and I swear I won't bring it up outside," Wilson promised earnestly, looking directly at his father.

Charles scrutinized Wilson for a long moment before nodding. After some hesitation, he decided to reveal part of the truth to prevent his son from speculating and causing trouble. "You know about William's grandfather, Henry, right?"

"Yes, Henry Devonshire. The 45th head of the Devonshire family, and the 16th Earl of Oxford, who died in the line of duty ten years ago."

"It's good you know. What I want to tell you is that Henry had a secret team under his command. I don't even know who they are, and maybe even your grandfather doesn't know," Charles said, pausing as if recalling something unsettling. He shivered slightly and then continued in a low voice, "Back in the early 1980s, Lena Devonshire had an accident while traveling in Switzerland. She was nearly buried in an avalanche. Not long after, the current Earl's child drowned during a school swimming competition. The coroner's report concluded that excessive physical exertion led to a heart attack, which caused the drowning."

"A heart attack? A child who had been swimming since the age of six, training for five years, and competing in city swimming events, suddenly drowns? And with so many people watching, not one person noticed anything wrong with the child or called out a warning? Even the Earl himself was surrounded by people, chatting about something fascinating. It wasn't until the competition had ended that someone screamed."

"After that, the Earl was often seen with beautiful young women by his side. But over the next eight or nine years, despite being over fifty, he had no more children. His indulgent lifestyle ruined his health."

"What's strange is that after Henry's sudden death, those beautiful women disappeared from the Earl's life. And now, ten years later, with William catching the world's attention, the 65-year-old Earl has recently been linked with finding true love. But unfortunately for him, his true love came too late. His body is in such bad shape now that he might receive God's call to heaven any day."

Charles glanced at the terrified expression on Wilson's face and then added gravely, "It's late. Go get some rest, son. Sleep on it, and everything will be clearer tomorrow. Remember one thing: You're the future king. You don't need to personally handle every unpleasant matter, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be aware of them. Understand?"

"I understand, Father. I'm sorry. I suddenly feel a bit cold," Wilson said, rubbing his arms. "I'll go take a bath and head to bed. Good night, Father."

"Good night, son."

As Wilson walked a few steps away, he stopped and asked suddenly, "Father, was Henry Devonshire's death really in the line of duty?"

"That's beyond question. Henry didn't die instantly. He lingered for over a month. And in that time, he uncovered some important things."

"So, do you think the woman now appearing by the current Earl's side was arranged by William, or by one of Henry Devonshire's former subordinates?"

Charles chuckled, amused. "I was wondering if you'd ask that. What do you think?"

Wilson thought for a moment and then shook his head. "I don't know. I can sense that William's disdain for nobility isn't an act. He doesn't view us the way most English people do, who both envy and resent us while secretly longing to join our ranks. A title to him is probably worth less than an estate or a few thousand acres of land.

But if it's truly one of Henry's old subordinates," Wilson hesitated before continuing, "Father, is it really possible that, in this day and age, someone could remain quietly loyal for ten years, protecting their former master's descendants?"

"Of course it's possible. There are people guarding you, your brother, and your mother in places you don't even know about. But reality often surprises us," Charles said cryptically. "William may not care about titles, but someone else does—someone who cares a great deal, so much so that she can't wait any longer."

"And there's one more thing: after the last 007 resigned, he vanished. The woman currently with the Earl seems to have some connection to the former Bond, Pierce. Well, that's enough. Go to bed, Wilson."

Charles patted Wilson's shoulder and walked off towards the mansion, leaving Wilson standing alone in the garden, deep in thought.

After contemplating for a long time, Wilson was suddenly struck by a chilling thought. "No way. That can't be."

But recalling what his father had just said, Wilson couldn't shake the feeling that only one person fit the description. Only she would care so much about the Earl's title, because that title had once belonged to her father, and she had lived as a noble lady for nearly twenty years.

Lena Devonshire, having been a noblewoman, might not have lived lavishly, but she had always felt inherently superior due to her status. Having experienced the advantages of a title, it was no wonder she couldn't let go of it.

Unlike William, who, though he enjoyed the privileges of nobility during his early childhood, would have blurred memories of it by now. After his family's downfall, life became hard, and he suffered discrimination for being of mixed race. This was why Lena and William had such fundamentally different attitudes toward the nobility.

Standing in the garden, Wilson looked up at the moon and couldn't help but feel a profound sadness. The idea of family members scheming against each other, even to the point of murder, was unbearably cruel. But then he recalled his father's mention of Lena's accident in Switzerland, and Wilson began rationalizing things to himself.

Perhaps everything had been instigated by the current Earl. After all, Wilson didn't know the man and didn't like him. William, on the other hand, was not only his friend but might also become his future benefactor. When compared, the choice was obvious.

Still, it was hard for Wilson to accept that kind and gentle Lena could be behind such ruthless actions. Then, thinking back to the information he had recently reviewed about William, he couldn't help but shudder.

He silently cursed to himself, "The Devonshire family is full of lunatics. Crazy people, the lot of them. I'd better be careful in the future when talking to anyone from that family. Otherwise, I might end up getting stabbed in the back without even knowing who did it."

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