Looking in the direction the girl was pointing, I saw a carriage passing the main street of the central palace and heading towards the bedroom.
The carriage windows were covered.
I tilted my head.
"Where did you see that and think that?"
"Isn't that just obvious?"
The girl looked at me, who was asking a question that I could easily think of as if I was puzzled.
But she spoke with a cold face, perhaps because she felt she had no choice but to explain in response to the question.
"There aren't many people who cover their carriage windows when entering the palace. Most people look out the window to see if they know anyone or if someone is visiting the palace. But covering the window tightly like that means that they don't want to spread rumors about their visit and don't need to worry about other people's visits."
I was taken aback.
This was because I did not know the subtleties of the nobles' behavior. This was my weak point.
"Furthermore, seeing as they are heading towards the den, they must be visitors of Mrs. Spencer or Mrs. Winston. If they were visitors of His Majesty, they would have gone to the Central Palace at this hour."
It was quite logical. She gave a long explanation without any hesitation.
It wasn't that she was proud, but she looked annoyed that she had to say such things in detail.
I had always thought this girl was unusual.
Unlike the other girls, she didn't try to look good to me and seemed indifferent to everything. She didn't seem to be very interested in becoming a maid. That's why she was brought in as a candidate to be weeded out.
My thoughts have changed a little.
Just as the girl said, the carriage stopped and Isaac got out into the yard.
'What are you here to say again?'
I asked the girl again, looking annoyed.
"Why did you specifically think it was Viscount Winston and not Mrs. Spencer's visitor?"
"When we came yesterday, and when Sir Eric came, Mrs. Spencer knew in advance when she had a visitor to attend to and was there at the front dооr."
So, it was decided that Millea was not the one to get involved.
Finally, she lowered her gaze slightly, unable to look at me.
"It seems that the only person who can visit at the moment is Viscount Winston."
She said that there was no such thing as a noble friend who could be brought into the settlement. It was a remark that was as blunt as it was cutting.
'What a smart kid. She has good observation skills.'
I tried to ask the girl's name.
But before that, I saw other people getting off behind Isaac.
My expression hardened as I saw their laces.
***
I dismissed my maids and headed to the common drawing room.
As I opened the door wide and went in, everyone who was loitering inside looked back at me.
Millea, who had deliberately guided them to the common room at the end of the long hallway where there was no fear of conversation being leaked out, silently gave way when I arrived.
"Why did you come, Mother?"
I looked at Lauren.
"Take Chloe with you."
Isaac brought my family.
The two were wearing expensive dresses and flashy jewelry, perhaps because they were nervous about coming to the palace.
These were also things that Josh could not afford with his financial resources.
"Bridget."
Lauren approached me with an awkward face.
She had a look on her face that made it seem like she didn't know whether to be angry or happy.
"How have you been? You said you would stop by the house but never came, so I couldn't wait and came myself."
I glared at Isaac.
Isaac shrugged and laughed wickedly.
Lauren intervened.
"Why are you looking at Isaac like that? Isaac took the time out of his busy schedule to bring us to see you. I couldn't be more grateful. Why are you looking at your husband like that?"
She muttered as if embarrassed to see Isaac.
"I feel sorry for my daughter. I will apologize on her behalf."
I bit my lip as I looked at my mother.
"Isaac, would you mind stepping aside for a moment? I think mother and daughter have something to talk about."
This time Lauren agreed.
"Please."
"Yeah."
Isaac smirked, looking at me with a meaningful look in his eyes.
"Don't forget that after this conversation is over, you and I have something to talk about too."
As soon as Isaac left, Lauren plopped down on the sofa and started nagging at me, even before I had even sat down.
"What the hell are you doing, Bridget? Look at this situation. How could you do this to me? Huh?"
Chloe looked at me with her arms crossed next to Lauren.
"His Majesty's mistress. I can't stand the embarrassment. I raised you so well, don't you know that the world is pointing fingers at you?"
They point fingers, flatter, and even force their daughters to become maids in an attempt to build a relationship with them.
To the nobles, honor, shame, and morality are like earrings when worn on the ear, and nose rings when worn on the nose.
Something like cursing when I don't need it, and being impatient when I do.
I tried to ask Lauren to decide which was more shameful: marrying off her daughter to a rich man or having her daughter become the King's mistress, but I kept quiet. Since I couldn't do that, Lauren said such things.
'Calm down, Bridget.'
I took a deep breath, calming my burning chest.
The anger that had been building up inside me for a long time would just well up whenever I saw my family.
'That's just a small complaint.'
In front of Lauren, I was more accustomed to being patient and obedient. I tolerated Lauren's words out of habit.
"Besides, why did you fight with Josh? I don't understand why you're upset with him. Josh has been responsible for the family since he was young, so he's already a pitiful child. You need to understand that. You need to understand how hard it is for him and know how to cherish him as a family member."
I swallowed the anger that was swelling up inside me.
"What was so hard for my brother? Did you think it was hard to sell me out with the power of the household on his back? Or..."
I glared at Lauren menacingly.
"Was it difficult for you to use me to sell information and make a profit?"
Lauren looked around in surprise.
Even though there was no one there, she acted as if she had committed a sin.
She lowered her voice.
"You promised never to mention 'that thing' until the day you die."
"Did I make a promise? It wasn't something that my mother and Josh unilaterally decided to do?"
"Bridget! Chloe is listening to, what's really going on with her. Did you want to see her fall behind your mother? Oh, my heart."
Lauren put her hands on her chest and leaned back against the sofa as if she was going to collapse.
Chloe was startled and fanned Lauren with her hand.
"Mom, are you okay? What on earth is 'that thing' that's causing this?"
Lauren glanced at Chloe.
"You don't know. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Go out and take a look around here.'
"Tch. You always leave me out and only talk to each other!"
Chloe stomped out, slamming the parlor door shut.
Lauren said, looking at Chloe's back with concern.
"Chloe was so young. She's still a baby who needs her mother's touch. I don't know how you met His Majesty again, or what you talked about when you met, but keep that in mind."
She urged me with a very hardened face.
"The moment you open your mouth, you will kill not only this mother but also your brother and that child with your own hands."
Lauren was the type of person who thought that even threats could be accepted as requests if the tone was soft.
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