"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's nothing." Henry Faulkner lowered her eyes, continued what she was doing, and replied softly, "My concubine mother didn't die of illness, she was beaten to death."

After she said this, Brian Parker's expression remained calm, as if he wasn't surprised at all.

But since Henry Faulkner was standing behind him, she couldn't see his expression; she could only sense a hint of surprise in Brian Parker's tone that followed.

"Why did such a thing happen?"

"Madam Zhao, the legitimate wife, accused my concubine mother of having an affair with a servant in the household. My father flew into a rage, didn't investigate or ask questions, and ordered my mother to be beaten to death. To outsiders, he claimed she died suddenly of illness."

Henry Faulkner recounted every word, reopening the scar that had been buried in her heart for years, feeling a raw, throbbing pain.

But now, revealing this scar in front of Brian Parker was beneficial to her, so no matter how much it hurt, she was willing.

"My concubine mother was honest and dutiful, never quarreled with anyone, and while she was alive, she was somewhat favored by my father. After she passed, her personal maid told me that the reason the legitimate wife wanted to get rid of her was because she was pregnant again at the time. The legitimate wife couldn't tolerate her having another child. From then on, I became a rat that everyone in the Fang family wanted to beat."

This account matched exactly what Brian Parker had heard, which made him trust Henry Faulkner a bit more.

At this moment, he concealed the darkness in his eyes, sighed softly, put on a look of sympathy, took Henry Faulkner's hand, and pulled her in front of him.

"I truly didn't know you had such a hard time before. Don't worry, from now on, I'll protect you."

Hearing this, Henry Faulkner's eyes immediately reddened, tears welling up in her beautiful eyes as she nodded slightly.

"I trust Your Highness."

Her delicate demeanor was enough to make anyone feel pity.

Brian Parker stood up, took her hand, and led her into the inner chamber.

On the warm bed with red curtains, Henry Faulkner gently massaged Brian Parker's temples, and the two chatted idly.

It sounded like caring small talk, but Henry Faulkner could tell that every sentence from Brian Parker was probing about the Fang family.

Now that she and Brian Parker were on the same side, she naturally told him everything she could.

Brian Parker was very satisfied with her tact and obedience.

So the rest of the night went smoothly and harmoniously.

Afterwards, Brian Parker still didn't let Henry Faulkner leave, and had her sleep beside him.

The weather was still a bit stuffy at night, but in the middle of the night, it suddenly rained, and it became cool.

The blanket was thin, and Henry Faulkner felt a bit cold as she slept. Half-awake, she tried to snuggle closer to Brian Parker.

Brian Parker was a light sleeper, and woke up as soon as she moved.

Usually, when sharing a bed with someone—even the crown princess—they would each have their own quilt. But now, with only a thin blanket and Henry Faulkner deliberately moving closer, half of her body was already in his bed.

Brian Parker wasn't used to this.

Just as he was about to put some distance between them, he felt a tug at his waist—it was Henry Faulkner's hand, gently grabbing his nightclothes.

At this moment, Henry Faulkner was like a young animal seeking protection, curled up at his side, soft and delicate, making it impossible not to feel tender toward her.

Brian Parker frowned slightly, but in the end, didn't move.

So when they woke up the next morning, the two of them were already sleeping under the same blanket.

Henry Faulkner's cheeks were red and hot. She hurriedly got up and knelt on the bed to apologize, her blushing little face irresistibly cute.

"Alright, get up. It's not a big deal."

Brian Parker smiled.

Later, when Henry Faulkner was helping him get dressed, he deliberately pinched her waist.

Henry Faulkner looked up at him with watery eyes, both shy and timid, with a hint of embarrassed annoyance from being teased, which put Brian Parker in a very good mood.

Before leaving, he rewarded Henry Faulkner with a set of hair ornaments and two decorative pieces.

Everyone serving in the front courtyard was shrewd.

Seeing the crown prince's attitude, they knew Henry Faulkner had served him well and won his favor. For a while, they all became much more attentive in serving Henry Faulkner.

Even so, Henry Faulkner didn't dare put on airs in the front courtyard. She packed up her things and left gently and politely.

After leaving the front courtyard, she went straight to the Wutong Courtyard to pay respects to the crown princess.

As luck would have it, when she passed by Grace Harris's door, she happened to run into Grace Harris and Helen Bennett coming out together, and the three of them bumped into each other.

Bennett greeted Henry Faulkner properly, but when Henry Faulkner gave a polite greeting to Harris, as usual, she got no response.

"I thought you were so well-behaved, but now it seems you're just another foxy little thing scrambling for favor." Harris snorted coldly.

She had been favored lately, but suddenly her favor was cut off by both Baker and Henry Faulkner, so naturally she was unhappy.

Baker was one thing—she was a consort with higher family status and rank, not someone to offend. But who was Henry Faulkner?

She had just been pushed down and now popped up again. To Grace Harris, this wasn't just stealing favor, but also an offense, a direct challenge.

Chapter Twelve: Just as Hard

"Serving His Highness is our duty, of course we should be attentive. Doesn't Sister Harris serve His Highness with the same devotion?"

Facing Harris's provocation, Henry Faulkner put on an innocent look, but her words were barbed, stabbing Grace Harris right in the heart.