Chapter 76
“I, I was wrong, Madam. I have committed a mortal sin… So just once… Can you forgive me just once? I really won’t do something like this next time…!”
“Mani…”
“Madam, just one more time… Can’t you help me? If the Lord knows… I, I will lose my neck… Huuh, please…”
Mani wept and begged with her two hands. Tessa stared blankly at her.
Of course, there was a time when Tessa was also desperate for money, so she could understand Mani. Because when people get pushed to the edge, they make extreme choices without thinking. Or maybe they didn’t even have time to look around.
Above all, it must have been difficult to suddenly obtain large amounts of money while working just as an employee. Mani would have thought that even if a few were gone, Tessa wouldn’t know. Because Tessa wasn’t a fancy dresser, and she wasn’t a fan of jewelry or dresses.
But what Mani overlooked was that Hert, not her—he was the real owner of the jewelry. As the new feudal lord who now possesses this Jutert estate, he could not have known that the ornaments he had gifted to Tessa were found stolen.
It wasn’t something that was only worth a penny or two in the first place. If expensive luxury items suddenly appeared as stolen goods, everyone would be suspicious. Even more so if someone who seems to be using it sold it.
“I have a family I have to send money to… I-I was wrong… Madam, I will pay you back even if I work all my life. I’ll do whatever you ask. So, please…”
“…….”
“Please forgive me…”
Tessa, like Mani, knew the fate of those who would dare to touch their master’s belongings. She’s been in this castle for the past seven years and has seen such situations very occasionally.
They usually lost one hand or were beaten and kicked to the point where their whole body was practically shattered. In severe cases, they were accused of crimes and sent to prison.
She heard that it would be difficult to find a decent job even if she went outside. On rare occasions, she was lucky enough to end up with several months’ worth of pay cuts, but that was very rare.
Mani said that she would pay it back, but that was practically impossible. All of the things Hert paid for and picked were expensive, and the amount of money that could be earned as an employee was limited.
“…….”
Tessa didn’t know what to say to Mani in this situation, and she had no idea how she was going to get through this situation. Tessa had to wonder if she was even in the right situation to help others, but she also wanted to help Mani. Because Mani was also a precious person to her. But if she does that, Hert…
With her thoughts jumbled, she couldn’t think straight. Tessa buried her face in her palms.
Why do bad things always happen to her?
It makes her feel like she’s nothing.
“Mani… For now, I understand…”
“…Madam, I really…”
“However… I can’t guarantee… I’m also now…”
I’m also stuck here. Tessa was unable to utter the words and swallowed it through her throat. She was miserable. Her plight of not being able to easily help a precious person made her heart ache.
If, from the beginning, she was the true lady of the house, like Janet… She could have helped Mani before she even tried to steal jewelry. In that case, Tessa might not have been kidnapped, nor would Hert be suspicious of her. This won’t happen.
‘In addition… It’s because of me… I’m useless…’
No.
She can’t do this.
At that moment, Tessa lifted her head abruptly. Over the past years, she has come to realize that nothing can be solved right away no matter how much she blames herself like she had done in the past. If it’s her fault, shouldn’t she fix it herself? Doing whatever was possible was the solution to solve this situation.
Let’s not give up. In that hellish life, didn’t Hert also try to become a full-fledged knight?
She was different from the past when she was abused by the Young Marquis. Hert, who she thought was dead, was still alive, and there was Janet and Mani who thought of her. She should not waste time in vain as in the past.
‘There is still a chance… If I convince Hert well, he… He might forgive Mani.’
For today, Tessa decided not to denounce what Hert had shown her. When a person is angry, they can spit out words they didn’t mean. First of all, if she could clear up the part where Hert was misunderstood and tell her about her standing in this matter, his anger might be relieved a little.
Of course, she wasn’t very confident. Even thinking like this was a miracle. Tessa was still weighed down by the remnants of her past, and she had never expressed an opinion or stood up for anyone.
But today, if she doesn’t have the courage to do it, she thought that she might lose another precious person again.
Mani was Mani, but she didn’t want to lose Hert again, nor did she want to hurt him. It was already a long way to get everything right, but she wanted to settle today’s matter with her own strength.
Tessa grabbed her trembling hand as tightly as Mani had held her hand before.
“…I will try.”
“…Madam.”
“…I trust you, Mani.”
“…Hicc, t-thank you… Thank you so much…”
Mani couldn’t stand it, and continued to shed tears. Hot tears flowed down the hands that were holding each other. Tessa gently caressed Marnie’s wrinkled hand, wiping away her tears as well.
Yes, she made a good choice. She can’t live forever with other’s help.
“Madam, you are my lifesaver… How should I repay this favor…? I’m really sorry and thank you…”
“Mani too… You helped me… That alone is enough.”
“Huk, so, th, thank you…”
As they bowed their heads for a long time and wept. There was a clamor from the doorway. Tessa turned her head to look at the doorway leading to the bedroom.
“Sir, no matter how many times I say it, my answer will be the same.”
Janet chewed the inside of her tongue, trying to keep her mind straight. Because she felt an indescribable coldness of the man’s aura that was in front of me. Her hands and feet trembled slightly behind her body. Just looking into his gaze, her whole body stiffened with tension.
“It really has nothing to do with Tessa.”
“Are you going to play pretend? How can I believe what you say?”
“…….”
Not even a ray of warmth can be seen in those blue eyes that stood still. Even the corners of his eyes, which had curved infinitely in front of Tessa, were stiff now. Janet’s breath was choked in front of Hert’s unobtrusive attitude. Now he was closer to the knight she knew, Hert Shine.
Crazy for murder, a man with no blood or tears…
Hert Shine.
Those were the words that followed him from the moment he appeared on the battlefield, carried the banner of Marquis Borwen, and led the battlefield. There was no end to the blood trailing down the man’s path. Those who become his enemies will surely die…
People talked about it when they got together, and this continued even after the war was over. His actions close to ruthless slaughter continued even after the war.
It wasn’t for nothing that he was called a crazy dog.
Janet struggled hard, trying to catch her trembling voice.
“You shouldn’t do this to me.”
“Just answer my question. Don’t talk nonsense.”
“If Her Excellency knows this…!”
“She knows? I think you’re mistaken, it doesn’t matter to me whether you’re that damn woman’s person or not. What’s important is that you’re trying to trick me and run away with Tessa.”
Hert’s low voice echoed through the dark prison. As soon as Janet saw the deeply sunken blue eyes, she trembled without realizing it. If it weren’t for the iron bar between him and her, he would have been able to strangle her at any moment.
“Just because I was helped by the Marquis doesn’t mean I’m completely under her thumb. We just made a deal. Don’t think you’re on an equal footing with her because you work for her.”
“But the foundation of respect comes from Her Excellency, right? Knowing who made it possible for us to come this far, we have to protect each other’s positions, even if we are not equal.”
“…….”
Hert narrowed his eyes. He wanted to refute it, but it was fundamentally correct. He was able to get to this point because, as Janet said, it was all thanks to Marquis Borwen’s strength.
“Again, I never tried to run away from Tessa. I was surprised to see her all of a sudden too!”
“But after lying about how you’re pregnant and trying to sneak out earlier than planned… There’s nothing I can trust about you.”
Then why didn’t you ask! Janet glared at Hert with wretched eyes, but he didn’t care. Rather, it became a red herring.
“Who else is there in this castle besides you?”
“It’s only me.”
“What is your relationship with Lange Geoffrey?”
“Fine enough.”
“It doesn’t make sense.”
That’s for her to say. This time, Janet didn’t say anything and looked at Hert. Just by looking at it, the iron bars seemed sturdy, so even Hert Shine did not seem to be able to bend that iron cage and come inside and strangle her.
“Then why don’t you stay there forever?”
“I beg your pardon? No, how can you…!”
“If there is anything you want to tell me, please tell me. Then I’ll move you to a room.”
“This… Shi…!”
Hert stopped talking to Janet as the conversation seemed to bear nothing. He wanted her to be tortured, but she could not be easily touched because he had confirmed through her maid that she was Marquis Borwen’s person. Moreover, if Tessa found out later, she might hate him.
He left the rest to his men and left the prison and returned to the castle.
Hert went straight to the room where Tessa was locked up. Soon, he saw the knights standing in front of the room. He beckoned them to open the door.
Hert strode into the room and frowned when she saw Mani with Tessa.
“Who let that woman in?”
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