“It’s a mess. Even walking barefoot on a gravel road would be better than the state of the young lady’s feet right now. And although I’m not certain, there were also marks that seemed to be from being hit with a paddle.”
Mary was shocked to see the paddle marks on that delicate skin.
Though faint, it was clear how hard the blows must have been to leave such marks from a paddle.
They must have struck forcefully, as if whipping a horse.
Cain frowned.
He knew her feet were uncomfortable, but this was the first he’d heard of anything else.
“How old are the wounds?”
If they were wounds from before coming to the Hastings family, treatment would suffice. But if they occurred at the Hastings house…
Cain’s eyes flashed sharply.
“The wounds are very recent, sir.”
Cain’s eyes narrowed.
“Nathan, call Jane’s maid.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“I’ll look into this matter in detail. Mary, you should rest. You must still be tired from your journey.”
Cain looked at Mary, who remained standing in place.
Though he was clearly on edge, his tone towards Mary was gentle.
Mary, who had been Cain’s nanny before becoming head maid, thought of Cain as a son.
Cain also treated Mary as more than just the head maid.
So he forgave her for barging into his office, and called for Jane’s maid without a shred of doubt when she raised concerns about Jane’s condition.
But that was the extent of it.
“Mary.”
Cain lowered his voice.
“…Just one request, young master.”
Cain gave a bitter smile. Whenever Mary called him “young master,” Cain became infinitely softer.
“Please let me take care of Miss Jane.”
“Mary, you’re the head maid. There are plenty of other places that need your care.”
“Young master.”
The deep navy eyes fixed on Cain did not waver.
Cain sighed and waved his hand.
“Do as you see fit.”
“Thank you.”
Mary bowed deeply.
Norbert, Mary, and even Pudica whom she’d met at lunch were all eager to treat Jane well.
It was hard to tell if Jane had given them a charming smile unlike how she treated herself, or if she was simply born with the ability to enchant others.
“By the way, master.”
Mary changed the subject.
“Do you still have more to say, Mary? I’d like to rest today too.”
“About the young lady’s teacher. Who is it?”
“Mrs. Themis.”
A short groan escaped from Mary.
“Why? Is there a problem? My aunt specifically recommended her.”
“You mean Lady Burnett recommended her?”
Cain nodded.
Mary awkwardly pulled up the corners of her mouth.
“No, it’s nothing. I understand.”
Mary said only that much before withdrawing.
She seemed to want to say something more, but Cain didn’t press her.
Just then, Jane’s maid Michelle entered.
* * *
Michelle was fired. As she left the Hastings house, almost as if being chased out, her hands were empty.
Usually when a maid quits, it’s customary for the master to write a letter of recommendation to help them find employment elsewhere, but she did not receive one.
Being expelled without a recommendation implied that she had committed some wrongdoing as a maid. So now Michelle would likely be unable to find work in any noble household.
With no skills and no education, a life at rock bottom awaited Michelle.
Michelle begged Cain, saying she had done wrong, but he didn’t even spare her a glance.
Only after begging until her hands and feet were worn did Michelle learn of her sin.
Cain knew how Michelle looked at him, and he knew exactly how she was treating Jane because of those feelings.
Only when Michelle’s face was a mess of tears and snot did Cain finally lift his gaze.
Michelle kept wiping her tears with her sleeve to look at him directly.
For a moment when the tears stopped and her vision cleared, their eyes met. In that instant, Michelle tasted utter despair.
Cain would never forgive her. He might as well put a gun to her head right now. That’s how fierce his gaze was.
Those were the last words Michelle heard from the man she had dreamed of.
Michelle was dragged out like a dog. On her way out, she made eye contact with her colleagues, but not a single one looked at her with pity.
They all had looks that seemed to say they knew this would happen.
* * *
Cain downed the amber liquid. He immediately bit down on a cigar and checked the cards in his hand.
It was a straight.
He had already won four hands in a row, and this hand looked like another winner for him.
However, Cain put his cards down on the table and said,
“Fold.”
“Is your hand not good?”
Someone watching the game from the side asked. Cain got up from his seat without answering.
A little while later, when the others saw his hand, they let out loud shouts.
“I’m buying drinks for everyone today!”
The man who had won a large pot due to Cain’s whim shouted boastfully. Words of thanks were also heard directed at him.
Cain waved his hand without looking back and sat down in his designated seat.
“Shall I prepare some alcohol for you?”
Vincent approached. Despite being well-dressed in a suit, he still had a raw smell about him.
“No need.”
With nothing else to prepare, Vincent sat down across from Cain.
“You don’t look to be in a good mood.”
“Not really. The alcohol, the cigar, the card game – none of it.”
“Did something happen?”
Cain shook his head. Everything was going smoothly.
“If you’re not in a good mood, should I report to you later?”
“I’m not in such a bad mood that I can’t work. Report properly. Don’t leave anything out.”
“The academy matter has been settled.”
When Joseph returned home from the academy as if he’d been kicked out, Cain had ordered Vincent to find out the exact details.
And he learned of the bullying Joseph had endured from his classmates.
Though he didn’t have much affection for the child, it was hard to overlook the disrespect shown to the Hastings family.
Cain then entrusted Vincent with the follow-up measures as well.
“It took quite a while.”
“We couldn’t make it into a big issue. It wouldn’t have been good for rumors to spread outside.”
“You did well on that part. Continue.”
“We’ve stopped doing business with the companies working with Hays Trading among the families of the children who bullied young master Joseph. For those in poor financial condition, we’ve put pressure on the banks. It seems they’ll soon have to quit the academy as they won’t be able to afford the tuition.”
“What about the academy professors?”
“We’ve discontinued research funding support for the professors who kept silent about the incidents related to young master Joseph.”
“You erased the traces well?”
“Yes, of course.”
Cain’s mood improved somewhat. When Cain rang the bell on the table, a waiter brought alcohol.
“Have a drink.”
Cain filled Vincent’s glass. Vincent hesitated without picking up the glass.
“There’s one more thing I need to report.”
Vincent’s face was dark. Cain, who had picked up his glass, put it back down. He gestured with his chin as if telling him to speak.
“The Rose Faction visited Miss Jane’s house. And they left a trace.”
Cain’s eyes instantly sharpened. He held out his hand. Vincent looked around and fumbled in his pocket.
What he pulled out was a propaganda poster from the Rose Faction. An address was written below it. Cain carefully examined the front and back of the poster.
“No other words are written.”
“Yes. Only the address was written.”
It’s certainly an invitation sent to Jane.
Have they been in contact for a long time, making other words unnecessary?
The color of Cain’s eyes deepened.
“Send a hawk to this address. If possible, find out if it’s related to Jane.”
Only after Cain’s order fell did Vincent empty his glass.
* * *
Jane opened her eyes at the sound of movement.
Her eyes, clear and bright in a way that seemed unbelievable for someone who had been unconscious for three full days, rolled around the room.
Then she spotted the person in the room. Jane’s eyes widened.
“Mary?”
Jane sat up abruptly.
“Miss! You must be careful.”
Mary rushed over and placed a cushion behind Jane’s back.
“Are you dizzy? Can you see me clearly? You must be thirsty. Have some water first.”
Jane blankly stared at Mary bustling about. It wasn’t a dream.
Mary Marlin, who had been Cain’s nanny – it really was her.
“Mary, I thought you had quit.”
“Me? Why would I quit such a good job, miss?”
“Because I couldn’t see you…”
“I just took a short vacation. My daughter had a baby.”
“Your daughter… you mean Lilien?”
“That’s right, miss. You remember?”
“Of course, Mary. Lilien is my friend.”
Lilien, Mary’s daughter, was the same age as Jane.
Mary became Cain’s nanny not long after giving birth to Lilien. When Mary found herself in a situation where she had to leave Lilien alone, the Whitney family reached out.
They took Lilien in as Jane’s friend.
I’m not sure how Count Whitney came to know of Mary’s circumstances, but Mary was glad she didn’t have to leave her young daughter alone, and Jane, who had been an only child, was happy to have someone like a sister.
Thanks to this, Mary was able to work comfortably until Lilien grew up to a certain age.
And when Cain and Jane’s engagement was decided and the two families began to interact frequently, Lilien, Jane, and Cain naturally came to spend time together.
When Lilien left at the age of fifteen to become a maid for a prominent family in another region on the recommendation of the Hastings family, contact was cut off, but until then, they had been quite close.
‘She remembered all of that.’
Mary grasped Jane’s hand tightly. The corners of her eyes curved like a bow.
“Lilien would be so happy to hear this. Look at me losing my mind. I said I’d bring you water.”
Mary let go of Jane’s delicate hand and went to fetch water.
‘Where did she go?’
As she received the glass of water, Jane rolled her eyes as if looking for someone.
My Ex-Girlfriend Is The Regent In The Female-dominant World (Male lead transmigrates to the matriarchal world)
Two years ago, Gu Sui picked up a homeless woman in ancient costume from the street.
Apart from occasionally claiming to be a princess from a female-dominant country due to illness, her figure, appearance, intelligence, and martial arts skills were impeccable.
Naturally evolving from roommates to girlfriends, as time went on, Gu Sui found it increasingly difficult to tolerate her queen syndrome.
“Mu Jiulu, can you stop controlling me inside and out? Let’s break up.”
Gu Sui made a breakup call, and since then, he couldn’t find any trace of her.
A year later, Gu Sui, who was planning to move, woke up the next day and found himself in a different place.
“Young Master, today is the day you choose your Wife-master through martial arts competition at Jade Dew Pavilion. Please get up quickly.”
Gu Sui: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
As the only son of a general’s mansion in a female-dominant dynasty, the young empress personally issued a decree allowing Gu Sui to select his Wife-master through martial arts competition. Whoever could defeat him could marry him.
Gu Sui: “……”
He didn’t inherit the original owner’s martial prowess, so anyone could defeat him! And what the hell is a Wife-master?
Forced to come to Jade Dew Pavilion, the densely packed women below made Gu Sui’s agoraphobia act up, and his face was full of resistance.
Until he saw the Regent sitting on the second floor, with a smile on the corner of her lips, her eyes wicked and nonchalant.
Hmm… she looked a little familiar.
It turned out that the Regent also found him a little familiar.
Mu Jiulu fiddled with her bone clasp, her deep gaze locked on the man who was out of place in this world.
“Finally, I found you.”
Male transmigrates into female-dominant world
One-sentence summary: What goes around comes around, taking turns in the crematorium
