Chapter 6

Jane said, "Since that dancer is carrying the General's child, she should be well cared for.

"But without a proper title, she'll never be someone we can acknowledge in public.

"You spoiled her rotten, and now look at the mess you've made.

"Starting today, Lucy will move back to her own courtyard to rest. There's no need to keep her confined anymore.

"But..." Jane paused, her tone shifting as her gaze fell on me again.

She said, "You're spared from death, but punishment is inevitable.

"Lucy, as the lady of the house, you let your jealousy get the better of you and acted out.

"You have to copy The Admonitions for Women a hundred times, and you're grounded in your courtyard to think about what you've done."

I bowed and said, "I'll do as you say."

There was a flash of unwillingness in Russ's eyes, like he wanted to protest but held it back.

But ultimately, he kept silent and didn't argue.

With Juliet helping me, I made my way back to my old quarters, Moon Hall.

Even though I was still under house arrest, it was a world apart from the woodshed.

Half of my plan had worked out.

Next, I had to figure out how to get my position as head cook back.

I kept playing sick, acting like I was on my last legs.

I downed bowl after bowl of medicine, but my complexion just got worse every day.

I was so drained, like all the life had been sucked out of me.

One day, Russ came by.

It was the first time he'd set foot in my courtyard since I'd left the woodshed.

He stood at the edge of my bed, towering over me, his gaze cold and distant.

"Lucy, what trick are you playing now?" he asked.

I slowly opened my eyes, looked up at his cold face, and managed a weak, bitter smile.

I asked, "What tricks do you think I have left, Russ?

"As a woman who's lost her child and been abandoned by her husband, what else can I do but wait for death?"

My tone was calm, but filled with hopelessness.

He furrowed his brows, searching my face for any sign of weakness.

I reached out, grabbed his sleeve, and tilted my head up to meet his gaze.

I said, "Russ, please let me keep cooking for you.

"It's the only thing left I can do for you now.

"My child is gone, and my heart feels hollow. Only when I'm in the kitchen, surrounded by the scent and warmth of cooking, do I feel like I'm still alive.

"Just... take pity on me, will you?"

Tears welled up in my eyes as I pleaded with him, desperate and low.

Russ swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing.

He stared at me, his gaze a storm of emotions.

Finally, he jerked his hand away from me, like he couldn't stand to touch me for another second.

"Suit yourself," he said.

He spat out the words coldly, then strode off without a backward glance, like even a moment longer with me would stain him.

I watched his back as he left, and the corners of my mouth curled up even more, I couldn't hide my satisfaction.

I'd won this round.

I stepped back into the kitchen, my battlefield.

The servants acted like I was the plague itself, dodging me at every turn.

That suited me perfectly.

I was more careful than ever before.

I cooked every dish with my own hands.

Once again, the Snowbreaker powder quietly slipped into Russ's breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Abigail caught wind of the news pretty quickly.

With her face ruined and her pregnancy unstable, she was nothing like the arrogant woman she used to be.

When she heard I was back running the kitchen, she was losing sleep over it, terrified I'd come for her again.

She was sure I'd make another move against her sooner or later.

So, she decided to make the first move.

One evening, I had just finished making dinner for Russ.

Suddenly, one of Abigail's maids burst in, yelling that Abigail was doubled over in pain after eating some pastries.

Right after that, the butler stormed into the kitchen with a bunch of servants, looking like they were out for blood.

They dug through my kitchen scraps and fished out a packet of arsenic I hadn't gotten rid of yet.

The proof and the witnesses were all there.

Once again, I was dragged before Russ.

Abigail was lying in bed, her face as pale as a ghost, looking heartbreakingly fragile.

Russ was gripping the packet of arsenic, shaking with rage.

"Lucy, what do you have to say for yourself?" he snapped.

I raised my head and locked eyes with Russ, meeting his furious glare head-on, my face calm and unflinching.

I said, "I have nothing to say.

"That packet of arsenic doesn't belong to me."

I turned to Abigail, giving her a faint, almost mocking smile.

I continued, "Nice performance, Abigail. You really know how to put on a show."

"Too bad you miscalculated one thing."

I called out loudly, "Juliet!"

Juliet stepped out from the crowd, carrying a food box in her hands.

She said, "Lady Lucy, the soup you wanted me to bring to Lady Jane hasn't been delivered yet."

I stepped forward, opened the box, and brought out the bowl of soup.

I said, "Russ, you know your mother values her privacy. She doesn't like outsiders around, especially when she's eating.

"So, when I was making your dinner tonight, I made sure Laura was there the whole time to avoid any suspicion."

"Laura, did you see me add anything unusual to any of the food?"