Chapter 14
Unease gnawed at Lilian’s heart even as she stood in the courtyard of Consort Darling’s pavilion.
She had never been here in the three years she worked in the washhouse, but it was just as suffocating as it was there.
And she was deeply terrified that she wouldn’t be able to leave, just as she couldn’t three years
ago…
She had no idea how long she stood there, only that she was starting to lose sensation in the tip of her toes when someone finally called for her.
Warmth seemed to hit her in the face as soon as the doors opened, leaving her nose runny.
Even as she sniffled, Consort Darling spoke even before she entered. “I’ve seen your laundry work. Well done.”
Finally seeing the imperial consort just then, Lilian promptly knelt, “Greetings, Your Grace.”
She was used to being a servant at the washhouse and kneeling, even after she had been taken back to the marquis‘ residence.
Consort Darling appeared surprised, but soon smiled, shaking her head. “You really are the way your mother describes you.
Lilian knew that the imperial consort meant the marquise, but stayed silent, keeping her eyes on her knees.
Somehow, she could sense everyone leaving as Consort Darling dismissed them, and the door was soon closed after her.
The warmth in the room quickly enveloped Lilian, but instead of finding it comfortable, she
felt even more nervous.
That was when she found herself staring at a pair of fair hands. “Come.”
The tenderness in Consort Darling’s voice felt unreal, and despite her insecurities, Lilian
reached out.
As Consort Darling helped her to her feet, she sighed as she stared at Lilian’s hands, whose skin was cracked from the cold. “Do you find it unfair that you had to do laundry yesterday?”
Though the concern in the consort’s voice was clear, Lilian frowned, and soon shook her head.
Such grief was insignificant compared to the last three years!
Consort Darling led her to a chair then, saying, “Please don’t be too hard on me over this. But I’m sure you know who ordered those maids to bully you, and your brother had acted too rashly. If I didn’t intervene, the empress would definitely punish the marquis‘ household even
more severely.”
Lilian certainly understood the marquis‘ influence had waned, and the fate of his household was at the mercy of those above.
Otherwise, their eldest daughter wouldn’t have been reduced to a servant at the washhouse, just because she broke a bowl.
If anything, it was the emperor’s will to put the marquis‘ household in their place.
And what could a maggot like Lillan stand against that?
“I know that you’re aggrieved,” Consort Darling then whispered, as if her tenderness could melt Lilian’s cold heart.
However, Lilian simply kept her eyes lowered in silence.
Though she appeared gentle and silent, she was actually impervious.
If she had been the one who broke that bowl three years ago, she certainly deserved a life of servitude.
But she wasn’t so what’s the point in knowing that she was aggrieved?
Eventually, Consort Darling sighed: “How about this? Since you’ve done my laundry, consider it a favor I owe you. You can come to me if there’s anything you need from now on.”
It was only then that Lilian appeared interested.
She could tell that the consort had no reason to offer favors, though it might simply be sympathy she felt for a child she had known since a toddler!
After some thought, she said, “There’s a maid named Willow working in the Would you mind taking her under your wing? Being a cleaner is fine too.”
e washhouse.
Consort Darling frowned, surprised that Lilian immediately called in the favor for another person and a lowly maid at that. “Are you friends with her?”
Lilian shook her head. “No one in the washhouse would ever want anything to do with me. But Willow’s meek, and she never mistreated me in my three years of servitude. I’m concerned that the other maids would mistreat her instead now that I’m gone.”
Whe
It was fine if she was the only one was put through those three years of torment.
Seeing Lilian’s quiet determination Ort Darling felt touched, and nodded. “Very well. I
will send for her soon.”
“Thank you,
you, Your Grace.”
Lilian stood, and bowed to the consort in gratitude.
That left the consort pained, and she got up too, asking softly, “What about you? Don’t you want anything else?”
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Chapter 14
Did she really not want anything else to make up for those three years of suffering?
Still, Lilian smiled faintly, grateful for the sympathy.
It was a rare smile for three years.
“I just want to stay with my grandmother and nothing else,” she said,
Consort Darling certainly had more to say, but Liljan’s humble words stopped her on the spot, her chest tightening even as she watched Lilian leave.
Her head maid soon came to drape a coat over her shoulders, sighing as they watched Lilian head to the distance, “She’s much quieter and composed than before.”
“Yeah…” Consort Darling sighed, her chest still aching.
What hell had she been through that such a bright, vibrant person would be reduced to that state?
Meanwhile, after leaving Consort Darling’s pavilion, Lilian left the place with a maid.
She was walking very quickly, almost as if she was chasing the maid.
It was not her fault either–she was terrified of the towering walls around the palace, and that if she was too slow, someone might come up with some excuse to make her stay for another three years.
Still, her panic left her flustered, and she suddenly stumbled, falling sideways.
However, the pain of the fall she expected never came–instead, she picked up a familiar scent.
“Greetings, General Stark!”
The maid who escorted her was already on her knees, and Lilian promptly came to her senses and leaped out of Henry’s arms, bowing in greeting, “Greetings, General Stark.”
Henry’s expression was cool, seemingly caught by surprise that his arms were suddenly empty.
Still, he soon clasped his hands behind his back, lowering his gaze to Lilian’s ankle as he asked, “Ms. Kerr, has your leg not healed?”
It had been three days, and medicine from the Valley of the Potion Lords was always twice more effective.
Henry frowned at the thought, realizing that Lilian never used it.
He couldn’t help peeking at Lilian’s hands too, but her sleeves covered the back of her palms, let alone her injuries.
On the other hand, Lilian didn’t expect to run into Henry here, let alone ask her about such things.
#25 BORRIS
After all, he never cared about her.
And that was why she didn’t respond now.
In fact, she believed that they must never speak to each other at all, considering the current
Still, Henry clearly had no idea what she was thinking, and shot a cool look at the maid on the floor as he growled, “Go about your business. I will escort Ms. Kerr to the marquis‘ residence myself.”
