Walter disappeared shortly after, and Sophia’s servants handed her a pen and a marriage vow.
“His Lordship signed it in advance before going to attend to the Lady.”
“…….”
Edith wondered whether their words were true, or if someone had forged the Lord’s signature, but she eventually gave up thinking about it.
What they wanted now was the marriage vow itself to show to others.
Unable to withstand the threats, and without the surname Lowell, she signed with just the name ‘Edith’ and was moved to a bedroom in the eastern part of the mansion by the maids.
During the journey there, the maids checked the marks Walter had left on Edith’s body. The red handprints on her body, her disheveled hair, a face mixed with despair and gloom.
“You will stay here from now on. Rest comfortably.”
The maids pushed Edith into the room like caging an animal and left the room. She washed her body with the prepared cold water and collapsed weakly onto the bed.
Lying down with her eyes closed, she could hear the others conversing outside the door.
“That cursed wench playing around has even affected our Master.”
“She ended up quite funny. Must have been excited thinking her status would change soon, but His Lordship didn’t wake up from the coma…….”
“She’s just a woman who did dirty deeds anyway? Everyone in the territory knows His Lordship’s strange taste, it’s really venomous.”
A few hours later, how the rumor spread was unknown, but the servants knew her as a woman who solely enjoyed voyeurism and deliberately seduced the Lord for status elevation.
She recognized the Lord, who secretly visited the unsound tavern where she worked, and desperately approached him.
‘I can’t even remember the last time I had wine surrounded by the smell of disinfectant, and now a tavern.’
But what was more absurd to Edith were the other stories.
“The real pity is Lady Sophia. Must have been troubled in many ways since the Master decided to take that low woman as his wife.”
“If it were me, I would have driven that woman named Edith out while His Lordship was in a coma, but they said they would accept her as a member of Portrion because it was His Lordship’s will.”
“Lady Sophia also…… She seems like she can’t take care of her share. She is a wellraised noble young lady after all. If His Lordship passes away like this, she will have to share the inheritance with that woman.”
“Jane, shush! What if someone hears?”
From then on, the servants lowered their voices, so she couldn’t eavesdrop on the conversation.
Edith sighed and slumped into a chair. Ever since her parents passed away, she had made a living with pride on her own, but never thought she would be treated like this.
Should I shout out loud that there is another story about Sophia?
But soon, her mother’s advice came to mind.
“Edith. Don’t worry about how others see you or what they think of you. What matters is only what you want to achieve.”
‘Mother is right.’
Edith quietly quelled her anger. In the current situation, it might be better to be treated as a vulgar woman. If a newly arrived woman spoke about the Lady who had long managed the Lord’s house, they wouldn’t believe her anyway.
People don’t pay much attention to those they look down upon. Therefore, if she were to secretly plan her escape, it would be safer to be treated as someone who knows nothing.
What was important was to escape from the dreadful Portrion Lord’s house and safely enroll in the academy in the capital where she should originally be.
For that, she first needed to gather information and receive someone’s help.
‘Sometimes people who had worked in the Portrion mansion came as patients to the clinic, but those people said they fled in the night.’
According to what she heard, the Lord’s house, which had been more or less fine until the previous Lord, rapidly declined after the current Lord, and as the wages were delayed, those who took valuable items and fled in the night were not few.
So many had escaped that the Lord’s house didn’t even attempt to catch them.
‘What could be the intention behind tilting the battle in their favor and even going to the extent of buying me from my uncle?’
She suddenly recalled the man who had left a strong impression on her.
“Listen well. I am Sophia, and I have no interest in the orders that woman has given, or in your body for that matter.”
‘That man Walter, what could he be?’
If he was skilled in fighting, he would have escaped from his failing noble house and become a mercenary or a knight by now, but seeing that he has remained in the noble house, could it be all a bluff?
‘He seemed to hate Sophia, so he might be the servant of another noble lady. Or perhaps……’
Edith was considering various possibilities.
Knock, knock―
“Madam Edith, it is maid Jane. Lady Sophia has asked for you to attend to the fourth lady.”
“…….”
Edith instinctively felt a sense of rejection at the title of “fourth lady.” Moreover, wasn’t Jane the maid who had been tearing her apart just a moment ago?
‘I hate to comply if it’s someone sent by Sophia.’
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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