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nChapter 69

nProofreader: somnium

nArtizea asked.

n“How is your wound?”

n“Yes. It’s just a slight tear on the skin. It’s not bleeding anymore.”

n“Will it leave a scar?”

n“It’s not going to be any. It’s nothing. If I just scratched my arm or something, it would have bled too. I have worried you for no reason.”

n“I’m glad to hear.”

nArtizea finally smiled.

n“Would you please help me with changing my clothes? Normally, you always do it all by yourself, so it’s actually more comfortable.”

n“Yes, Madam.”

nWhen Aubrey was first hitting her with the jewelry box, Sophie was sad and angry with tears.

nBut she quickly brushed it off. It was better to forget.

nAubrey herself was just Count’s Young Lady, but Count Jordyn was different.

nIt is the second family of Evron Grand Duchy. And Aaron and Margaret are the pillars that the Grand Duke’s people rely heavily on.

nIt is natural that the hearts of the people of the stronghold are tilted to their daughter.

nIt was not uncommon for the master’s wife or her lady-in-waiting to beat a maid. Like Miraila. There was never a day for the bruises to fade on the maid’s body.

nSophie wasn’t foolish enough to forget her position because Artizea said she would treat her kindly.

nArtizea never beat her either. She was rather angry and she was worried. That was enough for Sophie.

nShe wished that she wouldn’t be the cause of her precious Madam not getting along with Count Jordyn.

nSophie sighed to hide it from Artizea. She brightened her mood and brought a dress.

nWhat she prepared was a velvet dress lined with a soft, fine fur leather.

n“Madam Emily is definitely great. She doesn’t know how cold it will be in the north, so she went and got the help of a local person who told her to make enough cold weather suits inside.”

n“I see.”

n“I actually thought it might be a little big, but it fit perfectly because I sewed thin fur leather inside.”

nThe outer material was pale orange with low saturation, and the fur visible on the sleeves and collar was bright barley.

n“It’s a New Year’s banquet, so I chose a light color. Your hair is pretty and your skin is white, so you’ll look good in all colors. I feel relieved when a maid like me has to dress you up.”

n“You’re doing well, Sophie.”

n“Someone like me was originally just a maid in the laundry room.”

n“What’s wrong, Sophie? If you weren’t good, wouldn’t Madame Emily have been angry already? Our Madam likes you, so she brought you here.”

nAlice said, helping trim Artizea’s hem. Sophie blushed her face.

nArtizea looked at the mirror and nodded her head. It was a pretty dress that looked bright and warm.

nShe lifted the shawl on the dressing table. Because it was for winter, there was fur on the part that touched her neck. The ribbon was silk.

nSophie wrapped it on Artizea’s neck once around her throat, and she took it off as it didn’t fit.

n“Sophie.”

n“Yes?”

nArtizea put it around Sophie’s neck. Then she took out one of her gold rings and she fixed the shawl with it.

n“I like the clothes today. I’ll give you a prize.”

nThat was an excuse. Sophie knows that it’s not because of the clothes, but because of her injury.

nArtizea did not justify herself.

nIt was strictly because Artizea herself that Sophie got hurt. She knew it for sure.

nIn the end, this is just an act to compensate Sophie’s wounds. It is to replenish wasted loyalty with money.

nShe will not retaliate for Sophie.

nShe will throw Aubrey out. But that’s because that was the goal from the start. Not for Sophie.

nRegardless of how they felt, Count Jordyn took precedence over Sophie.

nHad it been necessary to have Aubrey by her side, she would not have shown any anger at all.

nAll people are just numbers. Therefore, this person was just a resource.

nThat was right.

nSo Artisea didn’t say anything else.

nBut Sophie already understood everything.

nHer eyes turned red.

n“Well, I’m really okay.”

n“Didn’t I say I like the clothes?”

n“Oh, yes, you did.”

nInstead of wiping away her tears, Artizea gently moved the shawl to fix it properly.

nAnd she turned away as if nothing had happened.

nIt was then that Margaret arrived.

n“Grand Duchess, this is Margaret.”

nAt the sound of the polite call, Alice opened the door.

nMargaret came in and knelt on one of her knees instead of saying her usual greetings.

nArtizea glanced down at her with only her eyes moving.

nMargaret was nervous as she saw Sophie wiping her tears through her sleeve.

nThinking that she is a maid that is not to be ignored. She is one of the most beloved maids brought from Artizea’s family.

nAubrey didn’t just hurt her, she threw a jewelry box.

nEven the jewelry box was left to Aubrey’s care by Artizea. In other words, she threw the mission entrusted by her mistress.

nIn Evron, this was really unforgivable.

n“I heard that Aubrey has committed a sin. The sin of raising a daughter incorrectly; I know that nothing can absolve that.”

nMargaret deeply bowed her head and said.

n“I’m sorry.”

nShe only hoped that by her own apology, Artizea would relieve Aubrey’s sin by releasing her mind a little.

nArtizea spoke coldly to her without even giving her a gaze.

n“Did you find Aubrey?”

n“I’m sorry, I’m looking for her right now.”

n“I’m sure you know that Aubrey has been disrespectful to me.”

n“I have no excuse. Even though Your Grace gave me several opportunities, my child was stupid and immature, so she committed a crime.”

n“It’s not up to me to raise a child. I’m not going to scold you. I’m not even questioning the faithfulness of Count Jordyn.”

nMargaret only bowed her head.

nAlthough Artizea said so, she did not allow her to stand up. It meant that Aubrey’s sins were not forgiven.

n“Alice, take the box and give it to Margaret.”

nAlice took the ruined jewelry box on the dressing table and gave it to Margaret.

n“Please make sure you get it fixed. As if there was no crack in the first place. If you do that, I will forget it all.”

n“Yes.”

nMargaret’s hand trembled a little.

nWhat Artizea was talking about was a box, but it was obvious that it wasn’t just a box.

nIt meant to punish Aubrey on her own so that there was no crack between the Grand Duke and Count Jordyn.

nAnd she will forget about it.

n“Thank you for your generosity.”

nMargaret bowed her head deeply again before stepping back.

nAnd she hurriedly called a maid.

n“I’m ordering everyone to find Aubrey. Tell them that I ordered it, and held her even if she must be tied up by a rope.”

n“Yes.”

n“If she ever enters the banquet hall, make sure that there is nothing noticeable to the Grand Duchess, you must stop her. Let the guards know.”

n“Hah, but, Lady Margaret, then rumors might come out….”

n“She has sinned against Her Grace, the Grand Duchess. Is a rumor a problem now? I’ll have to go for a while. If something happens while I’m preparing for the banquet, I’ll send someone.”

n“Yes. “

nMargaret curled up her hem and headed out in a hurry.

n‘Stupid think.’

nBecoming the lady-in-waiting of the Grand Duchess was Artizea giving Aubrey a chance.

nShe kicked the opportunity and she proved herself disrespectful. Now Aubrey would never again be able to rise to a high position within Evron Grand Duchy.

n***

nEmotionally, Aubrey’s work itself was a trivial matter for Artizea. The long dragging of Count Jordyn was over.

nWhat was left was the New Year’s banquet.

nArtizea was escorted by Cedric and headed to the Grand Hall.

nEven though it was a large banquet hall with high ceilings, it was warmly heated.

nExpensive white charcoal furnaces were placed everywhere. There were so many candlesticks placed everywhere that they would brighten up even the darkest of night if lit.

nTo reflect the light, about a hundred glasses were placed close to each other.

nTo hide the dark tapestry and create a bright atmosphere, the long hanging purple and white silk fabrics were lined here and there.

nIt is incomparable to the splendid banquet in the capital, but it was magnificent and luxurious enough.

nAs the two entered, the attendees stood up and bowed.

nCedric led Artizea to the top of the table and made a light greeting with his servants.

nThe servants diligently carried the glasses. Bubble wine produced in the East was served in long-necked glasses and distributed to everyone.

nArtizea also received a glass. Cedric whispered in a small voice.

n“If you can’t drink it, you don’t have to.”

n“It’s okay. “

nArtizea didn’t enjoy alcohol and was weak, but she could drink at least a glass of wine.

nCedric said while standing.

n“I’m glad to see this new year with everyone for the first time in 3 years. Thank you for protecting Evron in the meantime. I don’t know how many times I’ve been saying the same greeting, but I’m saying it again.”

nA little laughter spread like a wave.

n“A lot of things will change in the future. But I hope that next year, we can all celebrate the new year together, staying the same as we do now.”

n“No! I’m going to marry too!”

nOne of the knights shouted. But he was beaten and sunk down, as the people asked him what the hell he was talking about.

nSo this time Cedric laughed.

n“Don’t worry, because it’s always welcome to expand your family. Now, then.”

nCedric raised the glass.

n“For a life of honor!”

n“For the glory of Evron!”

nFollowing Cedric’s call, the attendees shouted in unison.

n“For the Grand Duchess!”

nThe guy who wanted to stand out, once again shouted a different cheer by himself, and was beaten and sank again.

nCedric just laughed because it was a yearly event.

nThen he turned to Artizea, struck his cup lightly against hers, and he emptied it.

nArtizea emptied her glass and sat down.

nThe hearth under her chair was warm and made her feel comfortable.

nAaron came up first and offered a tribute.

n“Congratulations on the new year. I wish there will be better news this year.”

n“Thank you. It’s all thanks to you. But what about Margaret?”

nAaron being alone, made Cedric puzzledly asked. Aaron sneaked a glance at Artizea.

nArtizea said calmly, as she had no intention of blaming Aaron and Margaret.

n“Something happened a while ago, so she said she’d be leaving. She can greet us later.”

nCedric nodded his head. Then he realized that Aubrey wasn’t there either.

nHe passed it by, thinking that Artizea had entrusted her to do something and let it go.

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