Chapter 4

Grandmother swept her gaze over the servants who were holding me, her tone icy and commanding. "Someone drag these disrespectful mutts out and give each of them fifty lashes.

"How dare they bully my granddaughter? Are they blind or stupid?

"This is the marquis' estate, and it's the Dennisons who run things here. Elaine has no right to take charge."

The servants, terrified, dropped to their knees and kowtowed repeatedly. "Please, your ladyship, have mercy! We're just servants. We only follow the marchioness's orders.

"The marchioness said that in the marquis' estate, apart from herself, only Miss Barrow deserves our respect. We don't have to obey anyone else."

Grandmother trembled with rage. "So, are you trying to turn the marquis' estate into the Barrow family's private playground?

"Elaine, you've got some nerve. When you brought in a distant relative from outside the family, I turned a blind eye. But I never thought you'd act so outrageously.

"Is your daughter really less important than an outsider with no blood ties? Who's truly family to you, and who's an outsider? Why don't you clarify it to me?"

My mother quickly dropped down to the ground. "Please forgive me. I only said those things to keep the servants in line. It was meant to frighten them a bit. Please don't take their words seriously.

"Nancy has always been such an obedient and sensible child, so I naturally dote on her a bit. Didn't you always praise her for being so well-behaved?

"Shannon has spent years away from home, and she's grown more unruly and rebellious. She even disrespected me. I punished her for her own sake."

Ralph let out a cold laugh. "I don't buy it. Lady Shannon just set foot in the house and already got punished. You say she doesn't know the rules, but she's spent years serving the Queen Dowager.

"Everyone praises her for being proper and well-mannered. How did she suddenly turn unruly and rebellious the moment she came back to the marquis' estate?

"Are the rules in the marquis' estate stricter than those in the palace?

"A lady the Queen Dowager herself admires is suddenly so beneath your standards, Lady Kinville? When I get back to the palace, you can bet I'll talk about this.

"The Queen Dowager issued a royal decree to reward Lady Shannon, and you dared to deceive her by letting an imposter receive the decree in her stead? That's a capital offense."

My mother's face drained of all color at those words, and she went limp.

Nancy hurried over to help her up. "Mother, what's wrong?"

"Mother?" Grandmother fixed her gaze on Nancy. "When did she become your mother? Or is there something you're keeping from me?"

Nancy's eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at Grandmother. "Grandmother, if you want to punish someone, punish me. Please don't blame Mother. She only cares for me, that's all."

The Marchioness of Kinville pulled Nancy into a tight embrace. "Nancy lost her parents when she was little, and I've raised her ever since. It's only right for her to call me Mother."

Grandmother let out a cold laugh. "Oh, sure, you raised her like she was the most precious thing in the world, doting on her more than anything else.

"When she was picked to serve at Fivefold Peak, you threw a fit, claiming she was too delicate to handle it. You pushed Shannon to go instead. But you conveniently forgot Shannon was born premature and her health is even worse than Nancy's.

"Just look at yourself. What kind of mother acts like this? It's not that you don't care. You're just being mean to your own flesh and blood on purpose."

Just then, the doctor stepped forward. "Mr. Goddard, Lady Shannon's injuries are too severe. She'll need medicine from the royal infirmary if she wants to recover quickly."

My mother shrieked, "How is that possible? I only punished her a little,ow could she be this badly hurt? Don't exaggerate!"

The doctor replied, "Lady Shannon was born frail and never received proper care. She's been eating only vegetables for years. After being whipped so many times, it's no wonder her injuries are much worse than most people's."

Grandmother looked worried. "I'm heading to the palace right away to request imperial medicine."

Noticing the people from the general's estate were still present, the doctor added, "The general's estate's healing poultice is also great for treating these kinds of lash wounds."

My mother crawled over to Grandmother on her knees. "Nancy and Vangard General are exchanging betrothal gifts today. Once the marriage is settled, we'll be in-laws, and getting healing poultice will be no trouble at all."

Grandmother slapped Mother hard across the face. "How dare you presume to decide the marriage between the marquis' estate and the general's estate.

"This marriage was arranged by Shannon's father and the groom's parents. What right do you have to take away Shannon's engagement and give it to Nancy?"