The Lady Nun Vows Revenge by Caroline Rowland

The Silent 187 Chapter 187 Malaki stumbled out of the house, nearly tripping in his haste. The moment he opened the door and saw Eliza, his weathered face crumpled, and tears welled up in his eyes. He looked at her as if she were a ghost from his past, overwhelmed with grief and longing.

But after a few heartbeats, the dream faded. He shook his head slowly, the flicker of hope extinguished. "You're not Caroline... You're not her," he murmured, almost apologetically.

Caroline was dead. She could never return.

"You must be her daughter-Eliza, isn't it?" Malaki said, his voice trembling.

Eliza nodded gently. "That's me. And... you are?" She had no idea who he was or how to address him.

+83 Malaki wiped his eyes, and then-without warning-dropped to his knees in front of her. "My nis Malaki Padilla. Years ago, I was fortunate enough to be chosen by Mr. Padilla to serve as the family butler. I was born into the household, the sday, smonth, syear as the head of the family. He grantedthe Padilla surname- a gift I've carried ever since, even after leaving. I never wanted to forget the family I once served." "Please don't," Eliza said quickly, reaching down to help him up.

But at the mention of "Mr. Padilla," Malaki shook his head If you don't mind, just callMalaki." Eliza smiled faintly. "Alright, Malaki it is." sly. "No, no. I'm not worthy of such a title-not from you.

"Ah, thank you, thank you." Malaki beamed. "Cin, please. My place is small, but I hope you won't mind. Let's sit down and talk inside." Even though she wasn't Caroline, seeing her-so much like her mother-filled his heart with emotion. In his aged eyes, there was no one else in the world but Eliza.

Nolan, who had been entirely ignored throughout this tearful reunion, didn't seem to mind. Without waiting for an invitation, he followed Eliza inside. With his tall frame, the space suddenly felt far more cramped than it had moments before.

It was only then that Malaki finally noticed the noble-looking young man trailing Eliza.

"And..... this gentleman is?" he asked politely.

Eliza replied, "Malaki, this is His Highness, the Prince Regent. It was his people who discovered you were living here in this village, and he broughthere." "The Prince Regent?" Malaki's eyes widened, and he immediately bowed. "Your Highness, please accept my respect." But Nolan caught him before his knees could hit the ground. "There's no need for formality. I'm sorry for arriving so suddenly and disturbing your peace." "No, no disturbance at all," Malaki said with a smile. "Now that I've seen Eliza again, I could die happy." "Don't talk like that," Eliza said, half-chiding, half-concerned. "We've just reunited. You're not allowed to say such things." Malaki shook his head, his voice soft. "Don't worry about me. I know my body. It won't be long now." He didn't say it out loud, but the heaviness in his tone spoke volumes.

1/3 Chapter 187 3.85% 83 Then, as if trying to distract himself from the topic, he asked, "Eliza, what about the others-Benedict, Dylan, Matthew, and Anthony? Are they well?' Tve been too afraid to leave this village all these years, Malaki confessed with a sigh. "Even though Hasen City is so close, I've heard nothing of your lives." Eliza answered, "They're still with the Stonor family... though I'm not. Dylan might not be either-I'm not sure." Malaki's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean? Did Mr. Stonor cast you out of the family?" His tone sharpened suddenly, his old voice rising in anger.

"No," Eliza shook her head. "He didn't driveout. I left on my own." "Why? What happened? You were a family. Why would you leave?" Malaki's eyes were filled with concern, his worry completely genuine.

His sincerity warmed her heart.

She hesitated, then decided not to share everything. Instead, she gave him a simplified version. "Something happened, but it's not a big deal anymore. I've left the Stonor family. I've beca nun now, but the King was kind enough to bestowthe title of Holy Lady. So things turned out well." Tears sprang to Malaki's eyes again. 'A noble daughter, now a nun' She must have suffered something terrible in the Stonor household to choose such a path-abandoning wealth, status, and a family name.

"I knew it," Malaki muttered. "Gabriel was never a good man. The moment Caroline died, he broke his promise to the Padilla family.

Eliza, startled by the name, hesitated. “Malaki... are you saying you know something about my father? What did he do?" Now that he knew Eliza had left the Stonor family, there was no reason to keep the truth from her.

Malaki's voice turned solemn. "Years ago, the Padilla family supported the former emperor's rise to the throne. But one night, we were betrayed. Assassins broke into the manor and slaughtered everyone in sight. Mr. Padilla sentto deliver a message to the Stonor family-asking for aid."

He paused, fists trembling. "But when I arrived, I overheard Mr. Stonorm speaking with Dale. X-still remember his exact words: The Padilla family cannot be saved."" Malaki's voice broke, shaking with rage. He clenched his teeth, fury radiating from every pore.

Eliza went pale. A cold chill swept over her. She had always known her father was distant, cold, calculating... but this? This was something else entirely.

"A man without love or loyalty," Malaki spat. "It was the Stonor family who cto Mr. Padilla, asking for an alliance-to rise together Andm when the Padillas were in danger, they turned their backs and walked away. The Nevill family was no better. They too were once close to the Padillas. But when the tcame... not a single one of them cto our aid." They all stood by, watching the Padilla family be wiped from existence. When Malaki returned to the manor, it was already too late.

Not a single soul had survived. After that, he didn't dare face Caroline, He hid himself away in the nearest m village-this village-hoping to stay close to her in sway, even from afar. For years, he wrestled with the thought of going to her, of passing on what little remained of the Padilla legacy. TIIU, 17 API Chapter 187 But he was afraid. Afraid that his appearance would bring her more pain. Then, before he could decide, the news came: Caroline was gone.

From that day on, there were no more heirs to the Padilla line. Malaki wept again.

Eliza's hands tightened into fists. She turned to Nolan and said quietly, "So tell me, isn't my father the coldest mam almay A marriage built on ambition.

A child born into duty, not love.

And what about the years before? The kindness, the affection-had any of it been real? Or was it all just an act from the ward AD