Chapter 10
Having just taken off her coat, Lillan did not even pause to put it back on as she rushed out. What’s going on? Who’s calling for help?”
Winter hurried after her anxiously as well, shaking her head. “I don’t know–I just heard it too. You should put a coat on–it’s cold outside!
Lilian did not bother, however–where else could Evelyn be, aside from the lotus pond? Seeing that
that she had to suffer for three years just because Evelyn broke a bowl, Rupert would beat her to death before all else if anything bad happened to Evelyn now!
By the time Lilian reached the pond, Evelyn was flailing around in the water, having crashed a hole into the thin ice.
Many servants and footmen stood on the bridge above, doing nothing but watch.
As Lilian rushed toward them, she snapped, “Do none of you know how to swim? Why aren’t you helping her?”
A footman pursed his lips at her. “We can, but what if we defile her?”
“Is that a reason to let her die?!” Lilian glared viciously at him and leaped into the pond without another word.
The pond was not deep, but the cold cut to the bone.
And the bottom was silt–there was no standing on it, and one might even be sucked in.
Nonetheless, Lilian managed to pull Evelyn out of the water after considerable effort.
Winter was waiting by the bank with thick coats, wrapping both of them tightly once they were out of the water.
She then wheeled on the other servants who were still watching. “What are you still spacing out for?! Someone get the doctor, and the rest of you help them to the room, heat the hearth, and brew ginger juice!”
That sent all the servants scattering.
Soon, Evelyn’s maid Jade charged into Floret Garden with Rupert in tow.
Seeing that Evelyn was pale and miserably wet, Jade panicked as she rushed over, hugging Evelyn as she cried, “Are you alright, milady?! How did you fall into the water?!”
Then, turning toward Lilian as if in realization, she exclaimed, “You! You pushed milady into the pond!”
She was at once confident and righteous, just like how she had blamed Lilian three years ago.
Lilian’s rage flared right then, but before she could even move, Winter was already on to her.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 10
Smackd
The audible slap rang throughout the air of Floret Garden, and Lilian thought that her breath left her lungs for an instant.
Even Rupert was stunned, clearly not expecting Winter to do that.
Still, Winter remained huffing, one hand on her hip and the other pointing at Jade as she snapped, “You wretch! I could tear your mouth right off! If Milady hadn’t jumped into the pond so selflessly to save Ms. Lestrade, she would be dead by now!
“Hell, instead of tending to your lady when she’s in trouble, you’re accusing Milady with your lies! There were many people there watching when she saved Ms. Lestrade, so you either present evidence, or I’ll rip your mouth off just like I said!”
Lilian was left staring at Winter in shock. That was certainly savage, especially given how young and small she was!
Everyone around them came to their senses too, especially Evelyn, who was kept on her feet by other maids.
She must have been flailing in the water for a while, gulping mouthfuls of water, and therefore weakened.
Still, she bit her lip, her eyes blood red as she huffed, “H–How could you slap Jade?”
She looked so wounded even as she defended her maid, and Rupert frowned right then.
“How dare you!” he bellowed at Winter. “Laying a finger on another servant?! Whoever gave you the authority?”
“I did,” Lilian answered very quietly. “My maid is merely disciplining another maid who has made it a habit of blaming me for everything. I really don’t think there’s an issue with that.”
Though she was tightly wrapped under a thick cotton cloak, her face was pale from the cold as pond water trickled off her hair, some even turning into frost.
She was calm and composed compared to Evelyn
Even if she was just a few paces away, Rupert felt as if there were miles between them.
And there was what she said–a habit of blaming her for everything.
That undoubtedly reminded Evelyn and Rupert of what had happened three years ago…
Even so, Evelyn cringed into her maid’s arms, coughing miserably before complaining meekly, “B–But that doesn’t give her the right to hurt my maid…”
Seeing Evelyn’s tears falling endlessly, Rupert was reminded again of the family’s annals and once again convinced himself that Lilian had deliberately mentioned it to make him feel guilty.
Frowning, he snapped viciously, “Evelyn is right! That doesn’t give Winter the right to hurt
another servant, and you don’t know how to swith either!”
That last part was clearly meant for Lillan, and seeing the way Rupert glared at her, Lilian knew that he was convinced she was lying!
After all, he still believed he knew his sister, especiall boating with Henry.
during that one time they had gone
When she inadvertently dropped the earring that Henry had given her into the lake, she promptly jumped in and would have drowned If both Henry and Rupert were not such goo
swimmers.
That was why Rupert would never believe that Lilan was the one who saved Evelyn.
At that moment, Lilian’s body began to shudder, and even she had no idea if it was from the cold or from her rage toward Rupert.
“So, you believe that I pushed Ms. Lestrade too?” she asked coolly, her voice quivering.
Her rage within could erupt as she spoke, but she firmly forced it back.
Rupert was silent in turn.
It was not like he did not want to retort, but he found himself unable to sling more insults when Lilian looked like that.
Hence, he turned quietly toward Evelyn.
But as soon as she met his gaze, she hung her head in silence–just like she did three years ago.
“Hah!”
Lilian laughed, just loud enough for her contempt to be heard.
But it was certainly laughable to think that the same girl was sobbing and apologizing not ten minutes ago!
Evelyn started to tremble in turn, and her tears started to roll endlessly.
It hurt Rupert to see her like that, but unable to vent his frustration on Lilian, he instead snapped at Winter, “That’s fifty lashes for you!”
There was defiance in Winter’s glare, but she bowed her head, giving in since she did not want to make things difficult for Lilian.
Still, a cool hand caught her arm, stopping her.
Though she appeared calm, there was clearly hatred in Lilian’s eyes as she glared at Rupert.” Sorry, but Winter is busy–she has to help prepare my bath and change my clothes. As for how Ms. Lestrade fell into the pond, and who actually saved her, you’ll find out once you actually
ask.”
With those words, she pulled Winter along back into her room.
Chapter 10
Suddenly, she stopped just a couple of paces away, looking over her shoulder as she spoke quietly, “I didn’t know how to swim, until that time when several maids worked together to push me into a laundry pond. They stood by the pondside with sticks, smacking me whenever I reached out, and only allowed me to get out after one full hour.
“By then, I definitely lanew how to swim.”
