THIBV - Chapter 18

"Please let me call you by your name, Countess. And please call me by my name, too."

Bridget asked Millea to be her friend.

"What is that... That can't be considered a request."

Millea was very concerned that Bridget was not doing her part.

"Countess, innocence is not a virtue."

Because it makes you say things you don't need to say and keeps you on your toes.

"A person who knows how to take care of her own things will not make others around her worry. If she acts naive, she will most likely be taken advantage of."

She sighed. She wondered if this was why Bridget had given up her mansion to her husband's mistress.

'What should I do with this stuffy and kind person?'

Millea wouldn't care if she wasn't her son's benefactor.

Millea knew she was too weak for someone like Bridget.

"Let me tell you something real. I have more things and can give more than you think."

Look at this. She ends up confessing things she vehemently denies in front of others.

But then Bridget said something unexpected.

"I know. And I don't want to blow the chance to have someone like that as a friend. It would be worth more than any reward."

She even added a little brazenly and honestly.

"I'm more interested in the goose that lays the golden eggs than the golden eggs."

"...!"

When Millea looked again at Bridget, whose eyes she had thought were foolishly naive, she was sparkling with intelligence.

Although other people had approached Millea with similar intentions, it was the first time that they had openly spoken about their obvious intentions instead of trying to cover them up.

Millea laughed out loud, "Ha," and then burst out laughing.

She felt like the stuffiness was going away.

"I worried for nothing."

Bridget smiled quietly.

Millea nodded with satisfaction.

'You're smarter than I thought.'

At the last party, she thought Bridget was a weak person because she was so emotional, but when she heard her answer calmly, it seemed like there was nothing to worry about.

'Well, there aren't many people who can stay sane at all times after their spouse does something like that.'

Millea understood Bridget.

So she decided to revise her judgment after seeing Bridget that day.

Adjectives like emotional and foolishly naive.

'Looking at it today, it doesn't seem like that.'

After confirming something with Bridget, Millea saw her off and immediately prepared to go out and tell her story.

As requested, she planned to go find someone who needed Bridget's abilities.

'Maybe Bridget can handle him.'

The carriage carrying Milea headed to the palace.

***

By the time Bridget got home, Isaac was entertaining guests.

"Are you saying the Count of Kensington sent you?"

The man introduced himself as the secretary to the Count of Kensington.

Isaac knew the Count of Kensington.

'I've heard it often.'

Isaac had several businesses, the largest source of income being the rental of logistics warehouses at the port.

He inherited his father's business, and thanks to that, he knew the names of nobles who were running big trade businesses.

'Isn't the Count of Kensington a man who has made a fortune importing weapons over the past several decades?'

For such a person to find him.

Isaac asked, feeling a little smug.

"What's going on? It doesn't seem to be business-related."

Such matters should be discussed among subordinates and reported, and it is unlikely that he would come to Isaac out of the blue without any notice.

"The Count of Kensington was impressed by Viscount and Viscount Winston at the Marquis of Cavendish's party."

"Are you impressed?"

Isaac frowned, thinking the man was teasing him.

He doesn't have any good memories of that party.

Everyone was making fun of me, so what kind of impression is that?

"To the Viscountess, to be exact. Ahem."

The man lowered his voice and whispered something to Isaac.

Isaac's expression was strange when he heard some suggestions he made.

"... What will he give me if I grant that request? I don't need money."

The man smiled faintly.

"The Count of Kensington has invited the Viscount to a hunting party."

"...!"

"He would like to introduce you to some of his other friends there. They are all guests from great families."

Isaac's eyes lit up.

He was anxious because he hadn't received an Invitation to a social gathering from Bridget, but who would have thought that he would receive an Invitation from a nobleman myself.

It was the first time.

'Atlas.'

Isaac's heart raced. But something was bothering him.

"Still, isn't that kind of suggestion a bit strange?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. Have you ever received such an offer? It happens often." 

"Are there any other cases like this?"

"They... Just don't go around bragging about it, well, secretly... It's a common way for people without connections to get ahead."

"Who on earth is it..."

"Oh, I can't tell you that. Well, if it really bothers you, I'll tell the Count."

As the man tried to give up and get up from his seat as if he had no choice, Isaac urgently grabbed him.

"No. I'm not! I need some time to think!"

"The Count is not a very patient man. I will leave now."

As the man pushed Isaac away, Isaac, his eyes wide with desire, cried out.

"Is that so?"

The man smiled faintly and sat back down.

"I will do it! I will do whatever the Count wishes!"

"Then let me tell you what to do now."

Isaac wiped the sweat from his forehead.

'Bridget deserves her money. She must do so.'

***

The next evening, I was puzzled when the maids suddenly entered the room.

"What's going on?"

"That's because the master told me to take care of Madam's bath today..."

Anna, who was in the room with me, looked puzzled.

"Is it my job to bathe? Why is the master suddenly concerned about this?"

The maids spoke with the aforementioned faces.

"I don't know for sure, but they gave me herbs and essential oils to use. And this..."

I was thrilled when I saw the slip the maid handed me.

Designed with thin lace, the underwear left little to no room for clothing. 

"Oh my God."

The maids were excited, not knowing my speed.

This was because Isaac, who had been completely obsessed with the annoying Penelope and had left me in a state of solitude, thought that today, for some reason, he wanted to unite with me.

They were already annoyed by the fact that Penelope was acting like the mistress of this mansion these days.

The maids were excited, believing that if I won Isaac's love, I would be able to solidify my position as mistress.

So, without noticing my expression as if something was terribly wrong, they diligently washed me, sprayed perfume on my body, and dressed me in slips.

They even poured me a cup of tea, saying it would calm my mind.

Meanwhile, I made a plan.

'Let's somehow scratch Isaac's insides and change his mind.'

The excited maids went out. Contrary to expectations, Isaac did not come back right away.

I, who was sitting there wondering how to make Isaac angry, dozed off for a moment and woke up when I heard a noise.

'Is that Isaac?'

But it wasn't Isaac who entered my гооm.

"...Who are you!"

Two unidentified men entered the bedroom, gagged me, and covered me with a sheet.

I screamed and resisted, but my body felt powerless.

Even in this situation, I strangely fell asleep and had a hard time coming to my senses.

'Surely not, the tea the maid gave me earlier...'

There was definitely something burning in there.

I was dragged helplessly out and put into a carriage.

Then Isaac's voice came to my ears.

"Don't worry. There's no danger." 

"Ugh! Ugh!"

"Don't resist too much, Bridget."

It was an unusually affectionate voice.

"Just have a fun night."

The carriage set off.

Previous                Next

Support Novellate!