On the other side of the house, Roseria made her way toward her mother’s; wherever she was now, Roseria wanted to find her. Soon after, in case she would miss the scene, Layla followed closely behind her. Unlike in the palace, she had not brought her maidens with her to this estate, aning she had to gather information personally but needed to wait to see the fun.
While Edgar was with Lilian, it was him who inford Lilian that Lucien had regained consciousness. He had left Roseria in the room earlier, assuming she would remain by her brother’s side. Here he was instructing Beatrice and other maids.
He had not expected Roseria to be in the house too, but he left her to be with Lucien, but what he had not expected was the presence of Layla trailing behind. His brows furrowed slightly, though he said nothing.
Edgar had been aning to ask why Roseria had co to the estate alone in the first place. When he first saw her, the question had lingered in his mind, but upon witnessing the emotional reunion between the siblings, he had pushed it aside. He considered Roseria being mischievious and travelled here to see her brother, although he wondered that Ellora who was always on word about Lilian, would not sent Roseria when Lilian denied her to co along with them, but now he understand that it was Layla that brought Roseria here
In this room, Rowan and Samuel were, nowhere to be found. Even the corridor outside Lucien’s room that had been filled with them a while back was now deathly silent.
In the tea house, anwhile, Edgar had turned his focus onto Beatrice, issuing her accurate instructions on what the physician had recomnded for Lucien’s healing.
"The doctor has ordered morning and night dication," Edgar reminded her; his voice was firm but calm. "See that they are administered on schedule."
Beatrice nodded obediently, but Edgar wasn’t done. "Also, Lucien will require a warm and light al." His eyes grew a little darker. "The doctor said that if we don’t take care of his al, the wound can lead to permanent damages."
Beatrice pursed her lips but remained silent. She had tended to Lucien since his youth and knew well enough that he despised being fussed over. This was going to be difficult. Still, she inclined her head. "Understood, sir."
Lilian remained seated in the armchair. Although her body language is composed, she seems to have a quiet impatience. The tea in front of her had long gone cold, untouched after a few sips. She had no interest in it anymore, as she had tasted it before and disliked it.
She had already made it clear to Edgar that she did not intend to linger in this place any longer than necessary. "We leave before sunset," she had instructed him the sa earlier; she left no room for him to argue or insist she wait for so ti.
"The forest roads are unsafe at night. Wild animals have been spotted hunting closer to the estates."
Edgar had assured her, "Yes, madam. We will depart as soon as I finish instructing Beatrice."
Now, as she listened to Edgar listing out the responsibilities Beatrice was to fulfill, she exhaled, and was unimpressed.
Beatrice, on the other hand, kept her expression neutral, hands clasped in front of her as she listened to Edgar’s directions. Though she despised taking orders from him, she knew better than to show her displeasure in front of Lilian. If she wanted to keep her position, she had to respect not only the queen dowager but her favored servant as well.
"Make sure the dicines are given on ti," Edgar was saying. "The bath should be prepared in the evening, and his fingers need to be massaged as per the physician’s instructions."
Beatrice nodded stiffly. "Of course, sir."
The mont Roseria stepped into the room. Every eye turned to her, but she only had one person in sight and she walked upto her
"Mother!" she cried, rushing forward.
Lilian, who had been sitting with a look of sheer boredom, straightened slightly at the sound of her daughter’s distressed voice. Her face softened as she heard and saw her daughter approaching; even though she had been angry with her just an hour ago, she always doted on her daughter.
She opened her arms, allowing Roseria to hurl herself into her embrace. Lilian’s hands ca up to gently cradle her daughter’s face, her fingers cool against Roseria’s flushed cheeks.
"What happened, child?" Lilian’s harsh, instructive voice cald down to gentle as she asked Roseria.
Roseria sniffled, gripping the fabric of Lilian’s sleeve. "It’s brother, mother," she whispered. "He...he was hurt. I saw him. He was unconscious, and now he’s so pale. He..." Her voice caught, her emotions too tangled to form proper words.
Lilian’s fingers stilled, then gently wiped a stray tear from Roseria’s cheek. Her brows knitted slightly, but she did not panic. "I was told he had been treated," she said, her voice smooth, though there was a concern behind her words. "Is he not recovering?"
"He woke up," Roseria confird with a nod, pulling back just enough to et her mother’s gaze. "But he looked so weak. He barely spoke before falling asleep again."
Lilian sighed; her facial expressions were unreadable. Then, her gaze flickered past Roseria, landing on Edgar, who stood silently, watching the exchange.
Edgar, sensing her unspoken command, bowed his head slightly. "The physicians have assured us he will recover, madam. However, the nature of his injuries..."
"Spare the explanations, Edgar," Lilian cut him off, her tone regaining its usual authority. She turned back to Roseria, her thumb tracing soothing circles against the back of her hand.
"He will be fine, child," she assured her. "Lucien is strong. He has been through worse."
Roseria, still shaken, bit her lip. "But...."
"No buts," Lilian’s voice was firm, but her hands remained gentle. "Trust your mother."
Roseria lowered her head, nodding slowly. "Yes, Mother."
Layla had followed closely behind Roseria, stepping into the room with the grace expected of a princess. Without waiting for an invitation, she lowered herself onto the armchair opposite Lilian.
With a flick of her wrist, she gestured toward one of the maids standing by. "Bring sothing to eat," she said casually, her voice was subduied because of travel. It had been a long ride, and even longer since she had last eaten.
The maid took the hint imdiately, bowing before hurrying off to fetch refreshnts.
anwhile, Roseria, still seated beside her mother, hesitated before speaking again. "Mother," she began carefully, "why is it that the concubine is not here?"
At those words, Lilian’s fingers, which had been idly smoothing the fabric of Roseria’s dress, paused.
’Oh yes, that concubine.’ She had nearly forgotten about that girl.
For a brief mont, Lilian’s brows furrowed, displeased with herself for overlooking such a matter. Had she not arranged for that girl to be here precisely for tis like these? And yet, she had neither seen nor heard of her since her arrival.
Her gaze snapped toward Beatrice, who was done with Edgar, receiving final instructions regarding Lucien’s care. Without wasting another second, Lilian’s voice cut through the air.
"Beatrice."
The older woman stiffened slightly before turning to face her. "Yes, madam?"
"Where is the girl?" Lilian’s tone was sharp, her patience already wearing thin. "Lucien’s concubine. Has she forgotten her place, or have you failed to summon her?"
Beatrice’s lips pressed together. She had been expecting this question, but she had hoped it would co later. Still, she kept her composure, bowing slightly before responding. "Madam, I..."
Before she could explain, Layla let out a soft chuckle, reclining slightly in her chair. "Oh, she’s here," she murmured, a knowing gleam in her eyes. "I saw her earlier... wandering about."
Lilian’s eyes narrowed. "Wandering?"
Layla humd. "By the library. Seed rather... uninterested in her duties, if I may say so." She turned to Roseria, who had been the one to raise the matter in the first place. "You didn’t see her there, did you?"
Roseria shook her head. "No, I did not."
Lilian’s fingers tapped against the armrest, irritation flickering across her face. "Beatrice," she said again, this ti with a quiet warning in her tone, "bring her here. Now."
Beatrice bowed. "Yes, madam."
Beatrice swallowed, quickly shifting her gaze toward Edgar. The old steward was watching her, his lips curled into sothing that wasn’t quite a smirk, but close enough to make her bristle. She knew that look. Edgar had long made it his mission to catch her slipping, and now she had given him the perfect opportunity.
Lilian didn’t wait for an answer. Her fingers drumd against the armrest of her chair, the soft tap-tap-tap a quiet warning. "Stop wasting ti. Call the girl. Where has she been hiding all this ti?"
Beatrice straightened, masking her frustration with a bow. "Yes, madam."
Without another word, she turned on her heels and hurried toward the door.
Five minutes passed...
And still, Liora did not appear.
Beatrice returned to the room and her face a shade paler. "She must be sowhere near the garden," she offered quickly, her tone bordering on desperate.
Lilian’s eyes darkened. "Must be?" she echoed. "Are you telling you don’t know where she is?"
Before Beatrice could stamr out an excuse, Roseria, who had been sitting quietly beside her mother, suddenly spoke up. "Mother," she chid in. "When Lady Layla saw her earlier. She said the girl looked like she was up to sothing,."
Lilian’s expression sharpened. Her gaze flicked to Layla, who had been watching the exchange with mild amusent. "Is this true?"
Layla nodded, twirling a loose strand of hair between her fingers. "Indeed."
Beatrice felt a bead of sweat form at her temple. ’If Liora had been near the library, then why hadn’t she co to greet the queen dowager?’
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