THIBV - Chapter 48

"Where is it written? Where?"

"I don't know. I don't know! Just pretend you didn't hear me! Then I will!"

Before Isaac could finish looking at the letter, Anna snatched it away and ran away.

"I, I...!"

Isaac snarled behind her.

But he didn't chase after her.

'I don't want to nag that naughty girl for no reason, and Bridget might get hurt.'

The conspiracy theory Anna was talking about was something Isaac also knew about.

Since ancient times, there have been many rumors circulating about the shadow curse.

That's because it's a fearsome power and at the same time an unknown ability.

There were famous stories that people with the Shadow Curse were actually pretending to be dead and living somewhere for some reason, or turning into monsters and entering the mountains, or changing their appearance and pretending to be reborn.

What Anna said was also a famous kind of rumor.

'Is it true? Is the King actually immortal? Then wouldn't it be incredible if Bridget gave him a chance? Bridget's words, which she had seen up close, are more believable than the rumors floating around.'

In terms of psychological and physical distance, Isaac cheered silently.

People tend to believe what they want to believe.

"..."

Penelope was secretly watching him from the end of the hallway.

Penelope's expression became very distorted as she overheard the conversation between Isaac and Anna.

"That's ridiculous..."

She grabbed the hem of her skirt.

Why does Bridget always have such luck? Why?

Always been with you.

Why does it keep going up, up, up, up, by itself, when I can barely get to a similar position?

'Why do you keep doing this?'

She thought Isaac was the best man Bridget could have.

How did someone like Bridget capture the King's heart?

'You and I were both nothing special. We both lived on the outskirts. That's why we were friends, so why are you the only one getting ahead...!'

Penelope felt so angry and jealous when she imagined Bridget smiling next to that beautiful and handsome King, surrounded by nobles.

Penelope had no idea that it was Bridget's generosity that saved her from being dragged off to prison.

Because if it weren't for Bridget, it wouldn't have happened in the first place.

It was Bridget who made herself a sinner.

It was also Bridget who made herself into a mistress who was pointed at by the world.

Bridget made herself so miserable.

'Bridget, if it weren't for you. I would have been happy enough with the Bellinghams. But because of you...'

Her body trembled.

Bridget was flying so high that she felt like she was falling into the abyss by comparison.

***

All of Bridget's luggage was loaded onto the carriage.

Anna, who had gathered her outerwear and hat, climbed onto the coachman's bench and took her seat next to the coachman.

Cedric asked Anna from afar.

Did you do it?

Nod.

Cedric saw Count Nicholas and Anna off with a satisfied look on his face.

The two received secret instructions from Bridget.

The mission she had secretly delivered to her luggage list was to spread rumors in the mansion that Julian was in good health as if it were a mistake.

So that Isaac and Penelope can hear and believe.

No matter what Bridget was trying to do, the two of them played their roles faithfully.

Now that Anna had planted the seeds, it was Cedric's turn to grow them.

It was a no-brainer to spread a rumor among the employees.

***

In the following days, numerous letters were exchanged between the Winston mansion and the Hudson household.

It was a letter filled mostly with Penelope's lamentations and complaints.

"I hear Bridget is doing very well in the palace, loved by the King! What should I do now? Isaac will never divorce! He has been estranged from me since that day. To make matters worse, the Bellinghams read the gossip and say that I have tarnished the family's honor, and they will start a trial to revoke my title! What did I do so wrong? It's all Bridget's fault! Help me, Father!"

Penelope was terribly afraid of her father, but now she had no one to hold on to but him.

But still, she was afraid to face him in person, so she couldn't go to see her father who lived nearby, so she expressed her complaint in writing.

Count Hudson was angry with his daughter for her reckless actions.

He scolded Isaac, saying that he knew things would turn out like this, and even cursed him.

And then eventually, he comforted his daughter.

"Now that it's come to this, stay put and stay at Winston's mansion. It's a good thing that Bridget decided to cover up what you did. And Bridget isn't at the mansion anymore. You should concentrate on somehow winning over the Viscount and restoring your relationship."

"What if we restore our relationship? Then what? Isaac is trying to please his family to keep Bridget, who is the King's favorite! How pathetic! Bridget is the King's mistress, and she has completely captured Isaac. I will continue to be a concubine until I am abandoned. And my child too! I will live in a cesspool!"

"Don't whine, Penelope. The throne won't last long anyway. Bridget's good days will be buried with the King. She made a foolish choice."

"Do you believe the rumors that the King is going to die? They are all lies! The King is actually in good health!"

"What?"

Count Hudson frowned as he read Penelope's letter.

"The King is healthy? How can that be? Everyone in the world is talking about him as someone who will die soon."

At first, he didn't believe it.

He just thought Penelope was saying this out of anxiety and let it go.

Penelope sent several letters a day to her father, who did not believe her, complaining that it was true that Julian was healthy.

"There's a rumor going around among the employees that the rumors about the King were false, Father! Everyone who knows knows it! Isn't it because you don't have connections in high society that you don't know? Find out for sure!"

"..."

Count Hudson was speechless after reading the letter.

Because it was true that he was isolated from the outside world.

He had no choice but to be ostracized by the snobbish nobles who did not recognize his title.

He stared at Penelope's letter, pricked at a sore spot, then took out the poison from the shelf in his study and took a sip.

"Ugh!"

The inside was more bitter than the mouth.

It was a life where even his daughter ignored him.

Count Hudson, lost in his self-pity, forgot that Penelope was in the same situation as him and that she was saying such things after hearing gossip among her employees.

It was while he was drinking one after another like that.

A servant came into the study carrying a letter.

He was a servant who worked as a butler for low wages because he could not afford to hire a proper butler.

"Count, another letter has arrived."

"If it's Penelope's letter. I don't even want to look at it, so just use it as kindling!"

"No! This isn't from Miss."

"It's been a while since she got married. What are you doing, Miss? If not that girl, then who else would send me a letter?"

The only person who could send him a letter was his old father-in-law.

The craftsman would occasionally send letters lamenting his condition, saying that he was in pain here and there.

The one who served the craftsman was his wife's older brother.

Why do you keep complaining to me, your son-in-law who lives far away, when you should tell your own son?

Count Hudson waved his hand absentmindedly.

"I don't even want to look at it, so get out of here!"

"The sender is the Marchioness Cavendish. Are you sure about that?"

"...What?"

Count Hudson ran over and snatched the envelope from the servant.

It really did have the name Cavendish written on it.

Count Hudson opened it and was astonished.

"You are invited to a dinner with the Marchioness of Cavendish."

It was an invitation to a social gathering of the Marchioness of Cavendish, who was famous for her extravagance.

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