Chapter 257 Chapter 257


    It started with one shout, and within moments, the rest followed.


    A wave of people dropped to their knees, heads bowed in unison.


    The streets echoed with the same cry, "Greetings, Your Grace!"


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    Eliza paused. “This woman is badly injured," she said, her voice calm but resolute. "I cannot stand by and do nothing. I''ll be taking her back to the inn to treat her wounds. If your young master wants her, he''s wee toe find meter."


    "Strip her. Let Mr. Bradford have a good look."


    "Yes, ma''am!" Not a single guard dared question her. Instead, they scrambled aside to clear the way, eyes shining with awe.


    Seeing their obedience, Eliza motioned for Tina to help lift Isabelle. She turned, just about to leave-when a wheezing, panting voice called from behind.


    "Stop right there!"


    Hudson Bradford came waddling after them, red-faced and gasping, jabbing a fat finger toward the scene. "You useless pigs! Why the hell are you all kneeling?! Get up and grab her!"


    But the guards remained on their knees, silent.


    By the time Hudson and his steward caught up, he squinted toward Eliza. When her face came into focus, his eyes lit up with unrestrained lust.


    "Well, well, didn''t expect this little whore to have such a pretty savior," he said, leering. "Now that''s what I call a woman. Don''t just stand there-grab her too!"


    The kneeling guards all looked up at once, their res sharp enough to cut ss. The steward, drenched in cold sweat, leaned in and whispered frantically, "Sir, I-I think that''s the Holy Lady..."


    Apparently, he had seen Eliza before. One glimpse, and his eyes had gone wide with horror.


    "Holy Lady? What Holy Lady?" Hudson snorted. "All I see is a beautiful woman.”


    "Mr. Bradford, please-you mustn''t speak to her like that," the steward nearly begged.


    Hudson had been living in a haze offort and debauchery during the drought in Plutonville. While others suffered, hey on a mountain of silken pillows in his ice room, surrounded by women, refusing to step foot outside. He hadn''t even heard of the Holy Lady''s arrival, let alone what she''d done.


    But the steward knew. And now that he realized who this woman was, he was desperate to avoid disaster. He subtly signaled to the other servants to go fetch Mr. Bradford Sr. at once.


    "No!" Hudson''s jowls quivered with rage. "A beauty like this falls into myp, and you want me to walk away? Get them! Grab both of them! Or I swear I''ll have your heads chopped off!"


    "Sir, please! That''s Her Grace, the Holy Lady of Walden, personally appointed by His Majesty himself!"


    Hudson rolled his eyes. "Don''t give me that crap. I''ve never even heard of a Holy Lady of Bortend."


    The Bradfords ran Plutonville like their private fiefdom. Hudson in particr had always gotten whatever-and whoever- he wanted. When he asked for a nobledy from Hasen City as a concubine, his father bought him one. Isabelle had turned out to be a disappointment-bastard-born and average-looking-and had the nerve to resist him.


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    But now, this woman... Hudson''s gaze devoured Eliza.


    "This is the kind of woman worthy of me," he purred.


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    He slicked back his greasy hair, puffed out his chest, and smirked at her. "Saving Isabelle in the dead of night... what are you, her friend?" He licked his lips. "I''ll make you a deal. Serve me in her ce, and I''ll let her go. How about that?"


    Eliza didn''t even nce at him.


    She reached out to steady Isabelle, leaving Tina''s hands free.


    Hudson''s face twisted with rage. "You dare ignore me? Fine, let''s see how long that smug facests. Useless pigs, why are you still kneeling?! Want me to start chopping off heads?!"


    He kicked one of the guards square in the chest, then shouted, "If you don''t bring me that woman, I''ll have every one of you executed!"


    "I don''t want others. I want her. Hudson stomped his foot, his b jiggling violently.


    Atst, under Hudson''s relentless threats, the guards began to rise to their feet. Eliza simply smiled. "Do what you must," she said lightly. "It''s your job, after all." Whether they could live with the consequences-well, that was another matter. Tina stepped forward, unsheathing her sword in one smooth motion. Her masked gaze swept over the guards and finally locked onto the bloated man behind them.


    "Cut the snake by striking the head," she said coldly.


    As she readied to strike... "Get them! I said grab them!"


    Hudson''s shrillmand rang out just as a sh of silver tore through the air.


    A de came flying and with a sickening chop, severed the hand he''d been pointing with.


    "Sir!"


    "Ah! My hand!"


    His wails split the night as the sound of hooves thundered down the street.


    A wave of ck g cavalry surged in, sealing off every exit.


    Eliza turned to find Nn already standing behind her.


    "You''re bleeding. Are you hurt?" he asked.


    She shook her head. "Not my blood. Hers." She tilted her head to the unconscious Isabelle in her arms.


    Then he looked back at Eliza, his voice low and tinged with something faintly sulky. "You slipped out without a word. Having fun sneaking off in the middle of the night?"


    Eliza, caught red-handed, muttered, "I didn''t want to disturb you. I only brought Tina..."


    "Next time, bring more people. Or you''ll run into more scum like this," Nn said, his tone exasperated but patient.


    He didn''t spare Hudson even a nce-like that flying sword hadn''te from him at all.


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    Eliza asked, "Won''t there be trouble for injuring him? I heard he''s the heir to Plutonville''s wealthiest house."


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    A dangerous glint flickered in Nn''s eyes. His smile was gentle. "Trouble? Not at


    all. In fact, I hear the ck g''s military budget has been running a little short. We''ll be collecting contributions shortly."


    Eliza blinked. Are we... talking about the same thing?