THIBV - Chapter 36

"It was because of me that Eric went to war."

Back in the tea room. Millea sighed as she asked how my conversation with Eric had gone.

Through the window, I glimpsed Eric throwing a ball to a dog in the garden as he stepped aside.

"His Majesty suddenly decided to go to war, and I couldn't follow him. I was worried about sending him off alone.'

So Millea grimaced in guilt as she said that she had pushed Eric to go fight with Julian.

"I just wanted Eric to take better care of His Majesty instead of me. I didn't know he would get so sick. It's my fault."

Since Millea had hardly ever talked about her son while she was in the convent, this was the first time I had heard about it.

"But Eric doesn't blame me or His Majesty. Rather, he says he's sorry for making me worry all this time."

Millea had the wrong idea about what was causing Eric's illness.

But I couldn't tell the truth because of a promise I made to Eric.

"You must feel secure having a son as deep as Sir Eric."

"I'm lucky. A precious luck that I will never have again."

She smiled as she watched Eric playing with the dog, looking healthy.

"Thank you. Bridget, I won't forget about my son."

Millea said, straightening her posture. As if she was going to take that to heart.

I responded with a smile and brought up the question I had been wanting to ask for a while.

"But Millea, you've been looking unwell for a while now. Is something wrong?"

"Was it so?"

Millea lightly stroked her cheek.

"I was wondering if I should tell you this story. Well... I guess you'll find out soon anyway."

Millea placed a piece of paper in front of me.

My mouth opened slightly when I saw that.

"Someone has glorified the Count of Kensington."

"It is a distortion intended to attack His Majesty."

The Count of Kensington was never as good a man as the gossip makes him out to be.

"I started investigating the Count of Kensington as Bridget suggested. I knew there was corruption, but I wasn't sure where his money was going, and then this came up."

Millea looked down at the gossip paper with contempt.

"There can only be one person who would do something like this. The thief who made my feet numb has revealed his shadow. That means Bridget was right."

As Millea expressed her anger, the magi floating around her began to cling to her.

"Such a blatant and vile tactic. You know that even His Majesty can do nothing if he uses the angry people as a shield. People have already gathered in the square in front of the palace."

I stood up calmly and walked over to Millea's side.

"The magi have gathered, Millea."

"I'm okay."

"Sir Eric is still vulnerable to magi, so it would be better to purify you before transferring it to him."

In those words. Millea obediently gave herself over to me.

I spoke calmly as I purified the magi that was entangled with Millea.

"Don't worry too much about this. If the Duke of Linchester has made his people take up stones, he can just change the target."

"Change the target?"

"Gossip papers aren't just for the Duke of Linchester. Anyone can print and distribute stories quickly and easily, without revealing their identity, as long as they pay a printer."

It was to be expected that the Duke of Linchester might use gossip to avoid trouble when he came across one.

Because in my past life, he used my story to cover up his own corruption.

So I had been preparing for this situation all along.

"I have a story in mind. Tomorrow, everything will be different."

***

As she saw Brigitte off as she boarded the carriage to go home, Millea asked Bridget quietly so that Eric couldn't hear.

"At home... everything is fine, right?" 

Isaac was asking if he had done any hacking.

Bridget spoke frankly.

"I used Millea as a shield. When I told her I was coming here today, my husband was anxious to come with me. He thinks Millea doesn't know who he really is."

Millea frowned.

How dare you join a ladies' gathering without being invited. What a reckless author.

"Anyway. I'm glad I could help."

"Look at that. I told you that my friendship with Millea would be more valuable to me than anything else."

"Should I laugh at this or not?"

Millea shook her head as if she found Bridget's cheerful jokes in this situation ridiculous.

Then she casually brought up Julian's story.

"His Majesty has been wondering about Bridget's well-being."

Bridget, who was about to get into the carriage, stopped and looked back at Millea.

Millea observed Bridget's slightly hardened face, flushed cheeks, and awkward gestures.

"Please tell him that I am doing well, thanks for his concern. I look forward to seeing him again when the time comes."

It was a good opportunity. It was a meaningful statement for some reason.

Will Bridget ever come to the palace again?

Is it polite to say that you'll be waiting to see me again, or is there another meaning behind It?

Although curious, Millea nodded without asking any questions.

"Yes, I will tell you so."

Bridget got into the carriage and the door closed.

Eric, who had been watching the two from the front door, waved at the departing carriage and asked.

"What did you say?"

"Just... Nothing much. Let's go in."

"Yes, Mother."

Millea entered the mansion first.

Even after that, Eric stayed in the hallway for a long time, unable to take his eyes off Bridget until the carriage she was riding in disappeared.

***

When Bridget returned to Winston Manor, the atmosphere was unusually chaotic.

She knew why.

She heard you started gardening today.

This was what Bridget had reported to Cedric before she left.

The gardener must have discovered the grave.

Bridget entered the lobby with a blank expression on her face.

Anna greeted her with a cheerful smile.

"Madam! We're in trouble!"

Her face looked very excited.

"What's wrong, Anna?"

Then Isaac, who was running after Anna, urged her on.

"What's the big deal? Go and get to work! Don't you have anything to do? Can't you just disappear?"

Anna pouts and hides behind her.

As Isaac reached out to Anna to pull her away, Bridget blocked his way and looked at him coldly.

"Don't touch her. She's doing his job."

Isaac flinched.

And he was embarrassed by himself for flinching.

'What.'

Bridget has been really strange lately.

He felt like he was being completely daunted when he met that determined eye.

The easiest one was Bridget.

Why do I keep getting so nervous?

Isaac's spirits were dampened by Bridget's pressure.

"No, it's nothing. Don't make a fuss over useless things."

"What's going on?"

"I told you there's nothing to worry about?"

"Anna, you tell me."

Anna opened her eyes wide and looked between Bridget and Isaac.

At a glance, Isaac was clearly being pushed by Bridget.

'Was the madam such a bold person?'

After Bridget returned from her disappearance, Anna could clearly see that their relationship had completely reversed.

When Isaac yelled, Bridget would lower her eyes and silently endure the insult.

But now, she was looking straight at Isaac with his eyes wide open.

This wasn't about talking back or confronting.

With a firm and powerful voice, she immediately caught the wild Isaac. Isaac was swayed by Bridget's charisma.

Anna confessed proudly.

"Madam! Someone made a grave in the garden with your belongings! The gardener just found them and they're all over there!"

"This..!"

Isaac opened his eyes wide.

But that was it.

He was cut off by Bridget and couldn't even scream, so he tucked his tail between his legs.

"No, what the hell is this? It looks like someone just messed with your stuff."

"I'll have to see for myself whether it's a joke or not."

Bridget walked past Isaac and headed towards the garden.

Isaac followed along, fidgeting.

"Why would you check something like that yourself? It's not worth it. It's really nothing. The employees are just making a fuss for nothing."

It sounded like a dog whining because it needed to poop.

There was something that stung him.

'Only Penelope would do something like that.'

Only Isaac and Penelope thought Bridget was dead.

Since it wasn't his doing, it must have been Penelope's doing.

'Oh, Penelope. What a waste of time!'

Isaac groaned inwardly.

He had just heard from the servant he had sent to follow Bridget that she had indeed gone to Count Spencer's house.

Bridget has a connection.

Isaac was wondering how to appease Bridget, who was upset about the Count of Kensington's affair.

But he was annoyed when Penelope also made things happen.

He suppressed his emotions and forced a smile.

"Bridget, let's leave such trivial matters to the butler and go out together. Didn't you wear this necklace last time? It looks old. Why don't you buy all your jewelry new?"

Bridget didn't answer.

'Penelope would have been jumping for joy. Tsk.'

Difficult.

Bridget is too difficult...

Isaac was so sweaty that he was drenched in cold sweat.

Why?

Isaac struggled with the feeling that he was serving a superior who was far above him.

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