After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World novel Chapter 1562

Chapter 1562: Octavia’s Visit

The very next day, Lady Zinnia’s relatively isolated palace received a guest.

"My, what an unexpected guest," Zinnia said with a gentle smile, looking at Octavia and a few servants who graced her small palace with their presence.

Octavia didn’t say anything and just let herself in. A few guards and servants closely followed behind her, though a certain maid could only look down in shame.

Esstia could not look at Silva, feeling heavy and ashamed. If she had lifted her head, anyone would have seen the large eye bags and red eyes, signs of her crying the entire night.

Silva sighed. He did not blame her; she must possess been compelled.

His jaw clenched as he shifted his gaze to the pregnant woman.

It was known that she was one of the people who pushed the Golds out. They had to be extremely careful with her.

A possible worst-case scenario was getting not only Bleulle, but also Hassen, on their tail.

At the same time, this could also be their chance to get what they need.

Although Zinnia’s eyes did land on Silva, she didn’t show outright shock at the appearance of the woman so early in the morning. Silva naturally reported his relationship to her, so that she might watch out as needed.

"This is the first time you’ve visited me after that customary greeting you did months back," Zinnia said, asking the maid to bring them some tea.

It was customary for the younger generation to greet the older generation women of their father-in-law, to show a domestic hierarchy of sorts.

However, technically speaking, Octavia only had to go to her legitimate parents-in-law (her husband’s biological parents) and perhaps some high-ranking woman that the King favoured.

On the contrary, Zinnia was proclaimed dead for a long time, and she practically had no status in the house for decades.

When she was revealed, her family fell, making it even lower, so there was no need for Octavia to go to her at all. It would still be looked upon as per tradition, but no one would openly shame her for it.

’I came to look at the last member of Golds there is,’ she wanted to say.

However, although Zinnia no longer had backing, Octavia couldn’t be outwardly disrespectful to her either.

A City’s etiquette rules for women were quite strict, and Zinnia was technically her mother-in-law, so her arrogance had to be combed down as she was taught from a young age.

She had to do the traditional greeting with those other women who had empty heads, much more so than Lady Zinnia, so—at least on the surface—Octavia just included Zinnia in her itinerary back then to get things over with.

It was one of the reasons why she was so attached to Orion, whom she truly loved. She did not only have deep feelings for him, but the life he represented was like a dream to her—and to many other women.

Assuming all of them were dead, this meant Zinnia and her children would be the last of the Golds there were.

Zinnia looked at the woman who was standing still with a frown on her face. Every one of the servants looked guarded at the pregnant woman, though Zinnia only sighed.

Zinnia, after everything she had gone through, didn’t have particularly high self-confidence. However, the fact that she raised two good children was indicative of her motherly strength.

Her presence might not turn heads or make people feel intimidated, but she could still have an effect on the younger generation if she wanted to.

"Have a seat," she said. "While my tea here is not as great as what you’re used to, my maids have mastered the art of making the most of what we have."

One of Octavia’s maids stepped forward and subtly expressed her concerns, all while looking at Zinnia with eyes full of suspicion.

This was natural. Octavia had one of the next heir candidates in her stomach. This was assuming it was a boy, of course, which would mean that Lady Zinnia’s son would be pushed even further down the line of succession.

She had all the motives to cause their own master trouble!