"What's this."
Penelope looked back at the second-floor VIP room in vain.
As soon as Brigitte returned, Penelope was helplessly kicked out as she took her original room.
When he saw the servants moving the luggage, she went to find Isaac, but Isaac was out, saying he was busy with work.
No matter how much she cursed at the butler, it was no use.
The divorce proceedings hadn't even begun yet, and there was nothing that could be done about it since Viscountess Winston was still Bridget.
"What is this, what is this!"
Penelope vented her anger by kicking the boxes of things that were scattered around in a mess.
She was so sad that she cried when she first thought Bridget had died, but when she came back, Penelope was so angry that she couldn't stand it.
"The room, the things, and even Viscountess Winston's seat were all mine!"
She thought she was holding onto it, but it all slipped through her fingers.
Looking back, it was Bridget who was holding onto the things that had slipped away.
The pain of having something and then having it taken away from her was indescribable, more so than not having it at all.
The empty hands that had already found satisfaction were unbearably empty.
It was taken away. To Bridget.
Blinded by longing, it never occurred to her that it had originally been hers.
Penelope bit her fingernails nervously.
'What about the remarriage issue? Surely he won't change his mind? No, that can't be happening.'
She had to talk to Isaac.
Penelope hated the sight of Bridget acting like the hostess, so she locked herself in her room until nightfall and waited for Isaac.
Isaac had spent every night in Penelope's bedroom without fail since they became lovers.
But Isaac, who came home today, did not look for Penelope.
Penelope sent her maid to Isaac.
The maid returned a while later and relayed Isaac's words.
"He told you to go to sleep first."
He said he would not come to Penelope's bedroom.
"Did Isaac go to Bridget?"
"No, it seems like he's sleeping in the master's bedroom."
Penelope was relieved to hear that he hadn't gone to Bridget.
'He even had a marriage proposal with my parents, so there's no way he'll go back on it. '
No, he won't do that... But why am I so anxious?
Penelope sat sullenly, stroking her slightly protruding lower belly.
***
At that moment, I was looking in the mirror in my room.
'My eyes will be swollen tomorrow.'
Other people were surprised by my appearance and didn't notice, but in fact, my eyes were red and wrinkled.
It was because I was shedding tears like crazy in the carriage.
After arguing with Josh and crying for a while, and then confronting Isaac, I was completely exhausted.
As soon as I laid my tired body on the bed, I heard a small knock on the door. It was Anna.
"Madam, I'm sorry to interrupt your rest."
"What's wrong, Anna?"
"I brought some ice. I thought a cold compress might help your face feel better."
I accepted the ice pack Anna offered me in bewilderment.
"I thought you were crying."
"Did you know?"
"Don't worry. I think I'm the only one who noticed. Everyone Is just saying they're glad that Madam is back safe and sound."
Anna had a keen eye for my condition and brought me some ice to reassure me.
Anna was the type who couldn't hide her dislike for people she disliked and would act boldly, which sometimes caused friction, but she was fundamentally a loyal and affectionate person.
I was comforted by Anna's warmth.
"Thank you so much, Anna."
"Hey, what is it? I'm more grateful that you came back safely, Madam. Are you not hurt? Have you been eating well? Are you hungry?"
"Don't worry. I've been fine. Nothing happened at the mansion, right?"
I smiled faintly.
"Nothing much. Mrs. Bellingham has been acting as if you were dead! She wears a black ribbon every day. She thinks no one will know, but it's so outrageous. She thinks the employees are fools."
Anna clenched her fists and let out her anger.
"I can't tell you how worried I was that Master and that woman might have conspired to do something to you."
Anna, who had been angry and then sad, clasped her hands together in joy this time.
"When Madam suddenly appeared earlier, it was as if there was a halo around you, I was so thankful to God!"
I was moved to tears by the sincere concern I received from an employee who was neither my brother nor my husband.
Today was a day when I really needed this little warmth...
"Madam, are you crying? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, Anna. I'm just having a hard day today."
Anna fidgeted for a moment, then carefully took my hand.
"Lady."
'My eyes are really going to be swollen tomorrow.'
***
The next day, Isaac noticed that I was out at the restaurant for breakfast and rushed to find me.
"You really got an invitation to Countess Spencer's house? When are you going?"
It was so important to him that I had been invited to the Countess Spencer that he didn't even notice my puffy eyes.
I finished my meal in silence and turned away from Isaac.
"You're going to change your decision to divorce. I won't say a word to you until then."
"Are you really going to keep talking informally to me?"
"..."
"Okay, okay. Give me some time to sort things out, Bridget. Are you sure you've been invited by Count Spencer?"
"..."
I didn't even glance at Isaac.
Isaac shouted at me from behind.
"If I know that, I will be able to change my mind or correct it!"
Isaac continued to appear in front of me from time to time and annoy me.
I eventually avoided Isaac and quietly went into hiding.
Suddenly, in my eyes, I saw a flow of magical energy similar to smoke rising from a bonfire.
The smoke rose into the air and disappeared, but the magi, on the other hand, were gathering in the air towards the source that called it.
'What is that?'
When I went to where the magi were gathering, I saw a stone statue lying on the ground in a corner of the flower bed.
It was a stone statue with the words.
'I will be with you forever.'
Magi was gathering inside the soil.
I, feeling suspicious, picked up a nearby branch and dug into the dirt, only to find a box that was crushed and soaked with the moisture and weight of the dirt.
There were also shoes and bracelets of a familiar design inside.
There's no way the employees would have stolen my belongings, buried them, and then blatantly erected a stone statue to mark the spot.
I remembered what Anna had said.
"She wore a black ribbon every day."
Penelope's actions were clear.
'Did you make this as my grave?
Magi is the energy that is born from emotions that are harmful to life. It is evil and ominous..
Penelope buried those feelings in this tomb, whether she realized it or not.
I was about to just throw it away, but I covered it with dirt again to restore it to its original state.
I even stood up the fallen stone statue so that it was clearly visible, and then I shook off the dirt on my hands.
Then I calmly returned to the mansion and called the butler and the gardener.
"There's a place that I want to decorate. Can you help me decorate it?"
The gardener immediately knew what I was talking about.
"Oh, yes, of course, Ma'am. I've been thinking about doing something about that place for a long time, so this is an excellent decision!"
"I think we should expand the flower bed. Cedric, you won't be short on money for the construction, right?"
It was my custom to plan out my garden before spring came.
Cedric assumed that I would go about my usual duties of managing the mansion.
"It's not a big project to expand the flower bed, so I think the budget will be sufficient."
"Yes. Give me a quote and let me know how long it will take."
The gardener headed to the garden, saying he had to check the scene right away.
The grave will be discovered by a gardener who has disturbed the flowerbeds by the day after tomorrow at the latest.
I watched the gardener's back and then called out to Cedric, who was about to leave with him.
I had to have a conversation with Cedric, which I had put off because of my fight with Isaac yesterday.
"Cedric."
"Yes, Ma'am. Is there anything else you need?"
"I wanted to tell you that you had a hard time while I was away. Thank you for holding on and not leaving until I got back."
"... You're welcome."
Cedric hesitated, then gathered his courage and whispered.
"I'm glad you came back safely. I was worried because I thought you hadn't run away."
"That's right. As you might expect, it was Isaac's doing. The fact that I could escape unscathed... was just luck."
Speaking of fate, I thought of Julian.
Cedric looked at me with pity.
"I don't know what happened, but is it okay for you to stay here?"
"I have something to say to Cedric about that matter."
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