“Sofia Madame is looking for you.”
Vivian conveyed the message apologetically.
Edith, who was reading a book she had brought from the library, followed Vivian out of the room and noticed something strange.
“It seems like there are many servants I haven’t seen before?”
“You have keen eyes indeed. They are temporarily hired for convenience, as guests will be staying in the mansion for a few days.”
The temporarily hired people were busily looking around to familiarize themselves with the structure of the mansion.
Edith watched them and thought,
‘Sofia’s attention to the event might be a smokescreen to conceal embezzlement.’
It was common sense to carefully read recommendations and check experiences when hiring servants.
It would be a big problem if someone was haphazardly hired and then assassinated, for their status was uncertain.
But the head of the Carcus family visiting today would have received the mansion maintenance bill sent by Sofia, so temporary additional staff might have been hired to hide the manipulated number of employees.
“Come here, Edith.”
Sofia welcomed her, unaware of the assumptions Edith was making.
Today’s Edith was more splendidly dressed than usual. Sofia was relieved that Vivian was following her orders well.
“Today, the guests are coming, so you must be especially careful. When there are many people, close your mouth and leave the place.”
“…….”
It wouldn’t have been pleasant for Edith, who usually spends most of her time confined to her room. Especially not on a day like today.
“But if the woman introduced as the fourth wife of the Lord does not appear at the banquet, the merchants might find it strange.”
“I’m not saying you should completely refuse to attend. Show your face and then leave as if you’re not feeling well.”
Sofia’s eyes brightened as if she had just thought of something.
“Ah, I have a great idea. How about you become pale and nauseous as if you already have a child?”
“…….”
Sofia glared at Edith’s flat belly. The Lord’s life wasn’t long, and that damned stomach was still flat, so anxiety and irritation came flooding in.
“If everything went according to plan, I should have a child by now… Is it infertility?”
Edith wanted to medically refute Sofia’s random accusation of infertility, but gave up.
“I haven’t even been in the mansion for two weeks. You know I’m trying.”
“I didn’t mean I didn’t know you were trying, Edith.”
Sofia spat out a formal word, recalling Vivian’s report.
“You seemed like you would die of injustice, tearing my hair out in your sleep. It was scary enough that I feared you might even harbor a grudge.”
Sofia didn’t know that Vivian was saying what Edith had asked her to.
‘If the woman I’ve captured turns out to be infertile and doesn’t get pregnant, I’ll have to take measures…’
Sofia tapped the table with her fingertips and opened her mouth.
“Anyway, act like you know you’re pregnant. Obviously, no riding, no running around, don’t even touch alcohol, and act nauseous during every meal.”
“…….”
Edith was truly disgusted by Sofia’s treatment of her as a beast rather than an equal human being. She despised her as a human being.
But it was also an unchanging fact that she held her leash.
Right now, when she didn’t know how much longer this barbaric confinement would last, it was better to pretend to cooperate with Sofia.
“I understand. I’ll do as you say, Sofia.”
Sofia sighed in relief at Edith’s obedient response.
“That’s right. Instead of quarreling, remembering that it’s much better to be faithful to each other’s tasks and take what we can is the better way.”
(This is a time separator.)
While Sofia was planning to deceive everyone using Edith, Isabelle was bustling around the hall.
“It’s been a long time, Father.”
She greeted Victor with her usual cheerful voice and laughter, but Victor was quick to recognize the inner feelings of his daughter.
“Isabel… You look a bit pale. Are you okay?”
“……”
“Come here.”
Victor took Isabel to his assigned lodging. He then had his secretary guard the door and opened his mouth with a heavy heart.
“It seems the Count’s condition is very bad. Sophia only told others that the Count had fainted in a carriage accident.”
“That is… actually, it seems much worse than what is known.”
“What?”
“If it wasn’t so bad, the treatment wouldn’t take so long. Besides, whenever I ask about the Count’s condition, Sophia and a friendly doctor always answer. I think they might be stopping other doctors from leaking information to me.”
“……”
Victor consoled his frightened daughter, who feared the death of someone she knew, and thought to himself.
Sophia’s decision not to reveal the exact condition of the Count was understandable.
‘Portrion must show that it’s in good shape even without the Count.’
In reality, if people knew the Count was dying without an heir, there would be many who would rush in, mouths watering.
Nicolas Portrion was a man who made ridiculous promises when drunk and borrowed a considerable amount of money from acquaintances because of alcohol and gambling.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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