649.Chapter 649


    Some of the ministers were just about to plead on Gabriel''s behalf when Magnus spoke again, his tone nostalgic, "I still remember how well Lady Mowbay cared for me when I was a young, ignorant prince.


    "Who would have thought that before I could repay her kindness, such a virtuous and gentle soul would leave us so soon? Now, the only way to honor her is through her daughter. What do you all think?"


    Only then did the ministers recall that King had indeed been taken care of by the Duke''s wife in his youth. She was Caroline of the Padi family. It was precisely from that point on that the Stonor family began its rise to prominence.


    Had it not been for Caroline and the Padi family, would the Duke of Mowbay havee this far? He had totally forgotten his roots. While the Stonor family thrived, the Padi family had fallen. Their only daughter had married Gabriel, only to be betrayed.


    And now, as a descendant of the Padi family, the Holy Lady wished to honor her mother by taking her name. Yet, Gabriel tried to stand in her way.


    He already had four sons, a daughter, and even a pair of illegitimate children. What harm would it do to let one child bear her mother''s name?


    After all, the Holy Lady had severed ties with the Stonor family. She had every right to take on the Padi name.


    "Lord Mowbay, how could you forget your roots? Do you really think your family''s power came out of thin air?" someone said pointedly.


    At that moment, Magnus looked down in surprise. The first to step forward and berate Gabriel was none other than Theodore.


    Then, it urred to him, as it did to many others present, that Theodore had actually gone to school with the patriarch of the Padi family. The two had passed the civil service exam in the same year and entered court together.


    While the Fairfax and Padi families weren''t close, the two elders shared mutual respect andpeted with each other in their younger days. So it was no surprise that Theodore, who had helped Grabriel in return for a favor, would now openly condemn him for what he had done to Caroline.


    And he wasn''t alone.


    "Theodore is right. Lord Mowbay has indeed forgotten his roots," said Percival, who had remained silent all this while. He cast a cold nce at Gabriel and continued, " Fortunately, his daughter-the Ho sessfully unlocked the blood of both Stonor and Padi-is far more loyal and grateful.


    "Your Majesty, letting the Holy Lady take the Padi name would honor Caroline''s memory and preserve her bloodline. It would also show the people your generosity


    649 Chapter 649


    and sense of gratitude."


    This gesture would surely leave a deep impression, especially on schrs. Even after the fall of the Padi family, countless students still revered its legacy.


    For instance, among the civil officials who had once aligned themselves with the Duke of Mowbay, at least half of them, whether they spoke up or not, were now ring at him with burning rage.


    After all, it was because of the Padi family that they had chosen to stand with the Duke of Mowbay in the first ce. Who would have thought he would turn out to be nothing but a heartless, ungrateful man?


    As fury mounted among the officials, especially with Theodore and Percival leading the charge, they could no longer hold back.


    "I second the motion," someone dered.


    "As do I," another said. "The Holy Lady''s virtue is in for all to see!"


    An official chimed in, "Indeed! Her kindness and virtue are unparalleled. With her capability and the Padi blood running through her veins, she is more than worthy of carrying on the Padi family name and bringing honor to their legacy."


    "Your Majesty, please grant the Holy Lady her wish," the officials implored in unison.