Madam and the Stable Keeper (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14
“So please be careful not to show any unnecessary behavior, like fighting in front of guests during Thanksgiving.”
As she finished her meal, Sophia stood up, speaking gently as if to admonish, then naturally gave Edith a meaningful glance.
‘Follow me.’
However, Isabel quickly spoke up upon seeing Sophia’s gesture.
“Oh dear, Sophia. You’re looking at Edith as if she were a maid.”
“…When exactly did I do that?”
“You were glaring at her as if ordering her to follow. If you don’t have some other agenda to control Edith, why not just leave her alone?”
“…….”
Sophia left the room without another word. She simply didn’t have the energy to argue with Isabel, who had the powerful backing of Guild Master Karckus.
After Elizabeth also excused herself, Edith promptly asked Isabel, as if she’d been waiting for this moment.
“Isabel, do you happen to know where the entrance to the central garden is? I heard Viscount Portrion was especially fond of that garden.”
In truth, Edith mentioned the central garden because Vivian had once told her:
“Whenever Lady Isabel has business in the central part of the mansion, she always stops to admire the central garden. She adores it so much.”
Just as expected, Isabel seemed delighted at the rare chance to explore the garden with someone.
“This way. I don’t have anything pressing right now, so I’ll show you around myself.”
Isabel led the way, proudly showing Edith the beautiful central garden.
‘Sophia said Edith was someone the Viscount cherished enough to seek out himself.’
She planned to ask Edith about the story between her and the Viscount once they grew a bit closer.
Though she’d been downcast since hearing of the Viscount’s accident, Isabel’s naturally cheerful disposition made her eager for conversation.
“You can’t imagine how splendid this garden was last spring, Edith. With the Viscount’s permission, I planted so many rare-colored flowers.”
Isabel’s voice carried a hint of sadness.
“Although I’m not sure if I’ll be allowed to plant the same flowers again next year… Sophia is terribly strict with money, after all…”
Edith realized something surprising.
Isabel quietly trusted Sophia.
‘If Sophia always talks about taking care of Portrion, one might easily assume she’s just being meticulously frugal.’
Edith, who’d already glimpsed the ledgers and noticed suspicious signs, now wondered if Sophia’s extreme attention to detail was a clever ploy to avoid suspicion of embezzlement.
“How about resting here for a bit? This spot perfectly frames the fountain and the garden in one view.”
“Sounds good. I was just starting to feel a bit chilly from the breeze.”
Edith replied. Isabel instructed her attendant to wait outside, then led Edith into a greenhouse at the garden’s heart.
“For some reason, I felt like having tea here today. I’d already asked for hot water to be prepared, though I didn’t expect to share it with you.”
Thanks to a magic tool designed for heat retention, the teapot remained hot. Isabel skillfully poured two steaming cups of black tea.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you, Isabel.”
Edith accepted the cup, charmed by Isabel’s ever-bright smile and warm demeanor.
“You seem very fond of this greenhouse.”
“Yes. Actually, the Viscount gave it to me as a wedding gift. Well, technically, he told Sophia to let me choose whatever I wanted as my wedding present.”
Unlike Sophia, whose voice carried no trace of affection when speaking of the Viscount, Isabel was different.
“Isabel, you must have loved the Viscount very much.”
At those words, Isabel fiddled with her teacup’s handle and gave a slightly youthful smile.
“Love… Hmm. It’s well known that the Viscount bought his wives with money. I’m simply grateful to him for greatly expanding my father’s trading company.”
Seeing Edith’s stiff expression, Isabel chuckled softly and continued.
“But if you ask whether I feel nothing for him at all—that’s not true either. He was the first person who ever told me my singing sounded beautiful.”
“Singing…?”
“I love singing, Edith. My father wanted me to quietly dedicate myself to the household, but the Viscount promised to make me a singer. That’s why I accepted his proposal.”
“…….”
Edith couldn’t find words to respond.
Isabel’s eyes sparkled with a clarity that couldn’t be dismissed as childish naivety—it was the light of someone who knew exactly who she was and what she wanted.
‘So what if she was naive enough to believe obvious promises? On the other side of this estate, there’s someone using a kidnapped woman to deceive others into thinking he has an heir.’
Edith really didn’t dislike Isabel.
Though Isabel herself sighed deeply, seemingly frustrated with her past foolish decision.
“In the end, not only did the Viscount fail to keep his promise—he returned as a vegetable. I suppose it’s only natural; he clearly married me for my father’s support, not for me…”
Isabel let out a self-deprecating chuckle. After a brief pause, Edith spoke up.
“Still, keep singing, Isabel. I once happened to hear you singing when I was touring the western garden.”
“Really?”
Isabel’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Yes. Your voice was so beautiful—I’d never heard anything like it. I asked the servant guiding me through the garden, and they said it was you. The staff always stops to listen, as if waiting for your song, before heading off to dinner.”
Hearing the praise, Isabel’s cheeks flushed pink.
“You’re not the only one who appreciates your singing. I’m certain of that.”
Edith added firmly, and Isabel’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
“Thank you for saying that, Edith.”
“I only spoke the truth.”
Isabel beamed. It had been so long since anyone praised her singing—her heart swelled with emotion. She couldn’t help but feel fond of the woman before her.
“Edith, let’s meet often. I’ll send you notes sometimes. I have a small pet dove Father gifted me.”
“Really?”
“Yes. If you ever need anything from me, just leave a note hanging by your window.”
Instead of refusing Isabel’s kindness, Edith gave a small nod. Her first note to Isabel would likely be about Sophia’s embezzlement.
“I’m sorry for interrupting your conversation, Madam. Lady Sophia made such a fuss…”
“It’s fine. I’ve already heard everything important from Isabel.”
The maid sent by Sophia to fetch Edith from the greenhouse turned out to be none other than Vivian. She led Edith to a secluded spot and continued.
“Still, it’s puzzling. From assigning me to watch over you and Jane—it seems Lady Sophia truly considers me her most trusted aide.”
Perhaps Sophia had been pleased by Vivian retrieving Edith’s torn undergarment as ‘evidence’ on the day Edith was brought to the estate.
But even without that, Edith thought it natural for someone as capable as Vivian to earn trust.
“You’ve always handled tasks neatly—she must have been watching you closely. That’s why she entrusted you with important duties.”
“It makes me happy that you acknowledge me, Madam.”
Vivian smiled proudly and slowly scanned her surroundings.
The warehouse beyond the eastern garden—this must be the place Sophia had mentioned.
“Please go inside, Madam. I’ll take a short walk around.”
Seeing Vivian’s expression was calm, Edith felt reassured and opened the warehouse door.
Leaning crookedly against the wall, standing in place of the man Sophia had supposedly sent, was Walter.
“Seeing you so glad to see me makes all the trouble of silencing those others worthwhile.”
Arms crossed, he grinned as he met Edith’s eyes. Perhaps it was relief that it was him and not someone else—Edith felt time slow as she watched his pupils shift.
“Thank you for going through the trouble, Walter. I actually wanted to show you something.”
“Something to show me?”
Walter looked at her face with keen interest. Edith, thinking he resembled a mischievous boy tugging her hair in play, waved him off lightly.
“Turn around for a second.”
As Edith touched her skirt, Walter teased in a sly tone.
“As a loyal servant of this estate, I’m starting to feel rather… hopeful about what you might show me.”
“…….”
At Edith’s pout, Walter reluctantly turned around.
“Come to think of it, the head butler taught us—if the master so much as looks uncomfortable in their clothes, helping them change is part of loyalty…”
His playful act was cut short as he forgot what he was about to say.
Through the dusty window pane, now acting like a mirror, he caught sight of Edith.
She’d placed her right foot on a low stool. Bending slightly, her golden hair cascaded down, revealing a slender neck and pale shoulders.
With gentle hands, Edith lifted the skirt covering her right leg. In an instant, her thigh was exposed.
Her movements were utterly uninhibited, as if she had no idea he could see her.
‘What in the…’
Walter swallowed hard.
From inside her garter belt, Edith pulled out several sheets of white paper. Her skin, rubbed raw from hiding the papers so long, was flushed red.
“…….”
Walter’s playful smirk hardened. Suddenly, it felt as though every vein in his body had expanded to its limit.
Oblivious to his inner turmoil, Edith quickly smoothed her skirt and handed him the papers.
“Thanks for waiting. Could you check these for me? I copied them from the Viscount’s account ledgers…”
Walter?
Edith, unsure whether to call his expression blank or strangely tense, pressed the papers into his hand and briskly patted her skirt to straighten her clothes.
Walter brought the papers close to his face and unfolded them. The scent rising from her skin overwhelmed his senses and reason entirely.
It was unbearably sweet—enough to make him devour her on the spot, had she not been the one woman who knew his secrets.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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