Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband

Chapter 1361: I’ve Been Waiting for Her for a Long Time

Earl Roy froze for a moment, then quickly said, "No, there’s no one in my study..."

Before he could finish speaking, Willow Crawford already reached out and directly pushed the study door open.

"Princess, you!" Earl Roy immediately rushed over.

Willow Crawford stood at the doorway, looking into the study, which was empty, with no one inside.

Not a soul was there.

Cold sweat dripped from Earl Roy’s forehead as he looked at Willow Crawford displeased, "Princess, you certainly have quite the authority. Not only do you storm around my earldom, but you also dare to open my study without permission. Is there anything that the First Princess of yours doesn’t dare to do?"

Willow Crawford turned to look at Earl Roy, "Before this, there were indeed things I didn’t dare to do."

"Oh? And what might those be?" Earl Roy was very interested.

Willow Crawford raised her hand and gave Earl Roy a hard slap.

Smack.

Earl Roy was left stunned from the slap, "Princess, you actually dared to hit me!"

Willow Crawford curled her red lips, half-smiling, "Originally, I wanted to enter the study and have a chat with you, but since you, Earl, are so shameless, don’t blame me for hitting your face. Tighten your belt; if you dare to force yourself on a woman again, I won’t mind helping you become a eunuch. Una, let’s go."

Willow Crawford left with Una in grand style, as swift as the wind.

Earl Roy was furious, that brat dares to be so arrogant now.

But then he thought of something, and quickly entered the study, closing the door behind him.

...

Willow Crawford returned with Una, "Una, did Earl Roy harm you?"

Una shook her head, "No, thank you, Princess."

"Una, you knew that Earl Roy is a lecherous man, full of ill intentions towards you, yet when Madame asked you to come to his mansion, you came?"

"Princess, I didn’t want to come, but Madame said Earl Roy is very powerful now, and if I upset him, he would cause trouble for you..."

Una had accompanied Willow Crawford as part of her dowry, and over the past five years, she had witnessed how much Willow Crawford struggled. Prince Rosen had died early, leaving Willow Crawford to restrain the scheming earls within, establish her reputation among the people outside, deal with the crafty Lady Pearl, and raise the young prince. She was treading on thin ice, unable to make a single mistake, without even a moment to catch her breath.

Una felt immense sorrow for her princess, which is why she went to Earl Roy’s mansion.

Willow Crawford held Una’s hand, "In the future, there’s no need for this. I don’t need these sacrifices."

The warmth in Una’s heart was overwhelming, and this was why she was so devoted to Willow Crawford.

"Una, did you see anyone suspicious at Earl Roy’s mansion?" Willow Crawford suddenly asked.

"Princess, do you mean?" Una thought for a moment, "I didn’t see anyone suspicious. Earl Roy kept bothering me. Didn’t you push open the study door? There was no one inside."

Willow Crawford was thoughtful, "There was no one inside, but the ashtray on the desk had a freshly stubbed out cigarette."

Una was startled, not expecting Willow Crawford’s observation to be so keen.

The cigarette stubbed out in the ashtray was still smoking, clearly indicating someone was there.

But when Willow Crawford pushed open the door, the person vanished.

Who was that person?

"Princess, who do you think it was?" Una asked.

Willow Crawford furrowed her delicate brows; she didn’t know who it was yet, but she had a gut feeling the person was dangerous.

"In recent years, Earl Roy’s rise has been extraordinarily swift, very abnormal. Actually, the Earl Roy I know doesn’t have that kind of ability, unless... he has a powerful backer."

A powerful backer?

Una’s expression was a bit grave. The person capable of pulling the strings of the royal earls, treating them like puppets, and establishing a financial empire in just a few years had to be both mysterious and dangerous.

"Princess, I think Earl Roy recently shows signs of provoking the royal family and you, so this powerful backer behind him definitely isn’t benevolent. Were there any specific features of the cigarette stub you saw? I can have someone investigate."

Willow Crawford recalled, "The cigarette stub was quite unique, with an ’S’ mark on it, resembling the custom tobacco used by high society individuals."

"Alright, I’ll have it investigated. There should be news soon."

...

Earl Roy’s mansion.

Earl Roy entered the study. The once empty chair now had someone seated in it, the figure facing away from him. Long fingers held a lit cigarette, bearing an ’S’ mark.

"Boss," Earl Roy said with reverence.

The person took a drag from the cigarette, then slowly exhaled, "Has she left?"

"Yes, boss, the princess has left." Earl Roy said, touching his swollen right cheek, "I didn’t think the princess, so young, would hit so hard."

The person seemed to think of something, and through the swirling smoke, their phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, with a hint of a smile, "She’s always been like that, fond of slapping people."

Earl Roy found it odd, as if this mysterious boss of his had also been slapped by Willow Crawford.

"Boss, don’t underestimate the First Princess. Though she’s young, she’s shrewd and perceptive, handling matters with calm and poise, and she’s quite adept. With support from her family, she’s been dazzling these past five years, adored by the people. When she pushed open the study door earlier, I felt like she had already sensed something. Could she come looking for us soon?"

The person listened quietly, the cigarette at their fingertips still burning, giving an impression of depth and secrecy. Five years had elapsed, yet their memories had not faded at all. Ah yes, five years ago, he underestimated the First Princess, nearly losing his life to her.

These five years had treated her well; she married Rosen and bore the young prince.

This Rosen, he wondered if it was because of the wound inflicted by him five years ago that he never fully recovered.

"Let her come, I’m only afraid she won’t. I’ve been...waiting for her a long time."

...

The Royal Palace.

Una reported the findings to Willow Crawford, "Princess, we’ve tracked down the cigarette. It indeed is custom-made, belonging to a Mr. Linden."

"Mr. Linden?" Willow Crawford put down the files in her hands, "Have you found his address?"

"Yes, we have."

Willow Crawford stood up, "Then let’s go meet this Mr. Linden."

Unclear of this person’s identity, Willow Crawford went out incognito. Upon reaching the villa’s door, she rang the bell.

Soon, a maid opened the door, glanced up and down at Willow Crawford, "Are you the woman the gentleman ordered?"

The woman the gentleman ordered?

"What do you mean?" Willow Crawford didn’t immediately grasp the implication.

The maid looked down at Willow Crawford, smirking with contempt, "The kind that... accompanies him overnight."

Willow Crawford, "...I’m not..."

"Oh, stop babbling and come in quickly!" The maid yanked Willow Crawford inside.