Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Even the marquis sneaked a glance at Lilian, though he was still chiding Rupert, “It’s fortunate that Consort Darling intervened, or even I wouldn’t have made it out of the palace alive, let alone you!”
Lilian simply kept her gaze on the floor, smirking slightly in contempt.”
Those words were clearly meant for her instead.
Still, even as the thought crossed her mind, Evelyn’s voice could be heard outside, “Father…”
That sweet voice was at once frail and anxious, and she sounded like she could croak in an
instant.
Lilian was frowning as she watched Evelyn wobble into the parlor with Jade’s help, her tears falling as soon as she saw the blood on Rupert’s face.
Kneeling beside Rupert, she pleaded, “Father, please calm down—”
She started hacking violently before she could finish, and the marquis’s heart could break
right then
Springing to his feet, he bellowed at Jade, “Help your lady to your feet already!”
Even the marquise, who had been clinging to Rupert anxiously, went over to Evelyn, “You’re still ill! Why would you come here?”
“I–I heard Father was punishing Rupert…
Evelyn’s tears fell even as she spoke, “I–I know Father was upset that Rupert caused trouble, but he’s not like that–he must have done it for a reason! Please, forgive him for my sake…”
Her words softened the hearts of the marquis and Rupert endlessly, but the latter wheeled on Lilian despite welling in emotions.
He felt as if he was stabbed in the chest when he saw that Lilian’s expression remained cool and unaffected.
For his sake, Evelyn had come begging for leniency. But what did Lilian do?!
She knew he had punished those maids for her sake, but she didn’t even look his way!
Even the marquis‘ rage had mostly subsided because of Evelyn.
Though he was still glowering, he barked, “Fine! Just don’t forget what you did today!”
And with that, he stormed off, while the marquise quickly gestured for the servants to help Rupert to his feet. “Go, get the doctor, get Rupert bandaged!”
As the servants left, Evelyn started coughing again, and the marquise hurried to her side.
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Lillan stood watching, outside with no stake in this at all.
She started to leave, but even before she reached the doorway, Rupert suddenly asked, “Don’t you have anything to say?”
Lilian stopped, turning and finally looking at him “What would you like to hear me say, Mr. Lestrade?”
Rupert’s chest aches again, but he huffed, “There’s nothing I want to hear, but everything I did was for your sake. Don’t you think you should say something?!”
He even lowered his hand, showing the blood over his head as if to hurt Lilian’s eyes.
He wouldn’t ask for Lilian to dote on him like Evelyn, but he wanted sympathy–even just a
little.
That would at least prove what he did today wasn’t pointless!
However, Lilian’s gaze was cool even as she looked at everyone else in the parlor.
They were all looking at her expectantly–wanting her to say something.
Wanting her to say something they wanted to hear.
Still, as Lilian turned back to Rupert, she merely smirked in disdain, “You’re really drunk, Mr. Lestrade. You don’t even know how to tell if your behavior was for my sake, or to placate your gnawing conscience.”
“Lilian!” Rupert bellowed, glaring at her in disappointment.
How could she do this?
How could she behave like this?!
Even Evelyn leapt in right then, “Please, Lilian. Rupert has never been this brash. It really was for your sake-”
“If it really was for my sake, the first person he should have punished wouldn’t be the washhouse maids,” Lilian cut her short icily.
She wasn’t looking at Jade, but everyone in the parlor knew she was talking about Jade.
In the end, Jade was the reason she was put through three years of torment–in fact, she had falsely accused her again just today.
But what had Rupert done? He had attacked those washhouse maids instead.
Who did he think he was kidding?
Rupert’s chest was heaving, but he felt like a hand had seized his throat, keeping him from venting his rage.
Nonetheless, Lorenzo–the butler of the marquis household, rushed into the parlor with a
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Chapter 13
large baggage.
“My lady, Consort Darling sent this.”
He informed the marquise, but instead of carrying the baggage to the marquise, carried it to Lilian. “She said that Ms. Kerr does laundry well, and she was concerned about letting someone she didn’t know clean these precious apparel.”
It was such a laughable demand that even Lorenzo was sneaking nervous looks at Lilian, intending to gauge a reaction.
Still, Lilian knew very well that this was what the marquis had mentioned–the solution that Consort Darling had come up with.
Would any daughter of any respectable family wash someone else’s clothes? Even if those clothes belonged to an imperial consort?
It was an insult to Lilian, and the marquis‘ household by extension.
Still, she nodded at Winter for her to take the baggage, when Lorenzo added, “Consort Darling also said that these must be returned by tomorrow morning. She’s waiting to wear them again!
”
If the next morning was the deadline, that meant the laundry had to be done tonight.
Lilian took a deep breath, nodding slightly before turning towards Rupert, me to speak, I guess I have to thank you for this.”
“Since
you asked
He was the one who had stormed the palace, only for her to get humiliated.
Still, she turned and left, never looking back, while Winter hurried after her with the baggage, never saying a word.
It was until they returned to Floret Garden and Lilian told Winter to fill a bucket, that she clutched the baggage tightly and said, “No, milady. You’ve caught a cold, so you should rest. Let me clean these!”
Lilian had ginger broth and a warm bath earlier, but she had still caught a cold.
And considering how badly Evelyn was doing, there was no way Lilian would be completely
fine.
Therefore, she shouldn’t be doing the laundry as she needed the rest!
Even so, Lilian pulled the baggage from Winter’s grasp
wow “Consort Darling said she’s worried unless I’m the one who cleaned it. And you’ve seen how things were there’s going be more trouble tomorrow if I didn’t do it myself. Go on now, fetch some cold water.”
Such expensive garments must never be soaked in hot water, as this would damage them, which in turn would mean trouble.
Winter never moved, and simply stood there watching Lilian, sniffling.
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Chapter 13
Lillan shot her a look of confusion. “What?”
“Milady…”
Winter’s tears fell even as she spoke. “They are really too much! How could they do this to you, and only you…”
Lilian sighed in exasperation–there was no stopping the waterworks with this maid, but she had no answer to that question, let alone words to comfort her.
She was curious, too. Why were they all so keen to bully her? Was it just because she didn’t share their blood?
Fortunately, there wasn’t that much laundry, and Lilian was done even before the skies turned
dark.
Early next morning, she went out to meet Lorenzo, intending to hand over the laundry to be delivered to the palace–only for Lorenzo to inform her that Consort Darling had asked her to deliver it personally.
Lilian was left standing there, stunned.
She was supposed to enter the palace… again?
