Year 1863
The commotion around her suddenly disappeared when Kay left her.
Oh come on!
Thea didn't want to be left alone with this strange looking man.
"So you are Kyle's cousin?"
Thea furrowed her brows. Didn't Kay tell you that earlier?
"Yes," Thea still replied politely. After all, she was here on behalf of Thea Wilkess, the distant relative of the Earl. At least, Thea had to behave without embarrassing Blake or Kyle.
Rupert led her aside. Thea followed him reluctantly. Her body straightened. Thea's neck even stiffened. The summer afternoon wind could not ease her restlessness. Several people began to look curiously as soon as they arrived at a table full of pastries.
With her keen hearing, Thea could hear the people whispered about her.
"For you, my lady," Rupert raised a glass of white wine and handed it to Thea.
"Thank you."
Thea immediately took a sip of her drink.
Some of them are still staring at her. Thea was sure, they thought she looked strange.
Who wants to wear a high-necked dress on a hot summer afternoon?
"You look beautiful, Lady Wilkess."
"Thank you." Thea tried not to think about the meaning of their stare. She focused on the white man in front of her.
"So, do you want to tell me who Kay's ex-lover - I mean Kyle?"
They were strangers who didn't know each other. The only common thing they could talk about was Kay.
"Ex-lover? Did Kyle really never tell you about it?"
"As far as I can remember, he never mentioned a single woman."
As she predicted, they could talk smoothly with Kay as a subject.
Rupert chuckled softly. "I don't know why he kept it a secret. As far as I know, Kyle is quite popular among the women."
"Oh, yes?"
"Of course not as popular as I am," he whispered, then laughed. "I last saw him on a date with a female doctor in my ward."
Thea looked at Kay, who was busy chatting with the noble ladies. Suddenly, as if feeling her gaze, Kay turned around. He showed off his healthy teeth to Thea when their eyes met. Kay raised his glass and seemed to be saying 'cheers' silently. Thea was eager to run across the garden, grab Kay, and force him to talk about his former girlfriends.
But she couldn't do that.
The talks drifted from Kay to another subject. Rupert continued to chat without caring if Thea wasn't the least bit interested. She was getting restless. Standing among the crowd while the sun was still high give her a headache.
"Sorry, do you know where the bathroom is?" Thea put down the glass. She couldn't stand there any longer.
Rupert realized. "Oh! I don't know exactly. Maybe it's inside. I think you can– "
"Thank you."
Thea walked quickly across the garden. She had to get out of there immediately before vomiting. A servant led her down the hall when Thea asked him. She breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she entered the bathroom.
There was no better choice than to get out of the crowd.
It seemed that she had been there quite a while. Sitting on the edge of the tub waiting for the sun to dim. Thea looked around. The furniture was plentiful and almost as luxurious as the Wilkess mansion.
Thea was surprised. What's the use of this much furniture in the bathroom?
Thea stood up and drew closer to the mirror. She checked the neck of her dress before going out. Maybe Kay has start panicked looking her everywhere.
"… The police just found Mr. Mild's body."
Thea froze. Her hand stopped pulling on the doorknob.
Mild? I think the name is familiar.
"We're late. Shit! "
Thea squinted and peeked at the crack in the door. There were two people standing not far from where she was now. One turned away, the other stood in front of him cursing.
"And only that old geezer knows what McColleen's daughter looks like!"
Thea felt blood rustling down from her head. Her hand gripped the hilt tightly.
Impossible!
McCollen?
As far as she knew, there is only one family McCollen in this land. Nobody wanted to use that name anymore after the terrible massacre of ten years ago. Her brain suddenly stopped thinking.
No.
Wrong!
There is still one person remaining, as a descendant of McCollen.
"Damn it! As long as the child is alive. I don't think we will live in peace." The person who turned his back on Thea rubbed his head.
"Shhh! Are you sure the kid saw our looks? "
"We? Wasn't it you who used to say that kid saw you?" The person behind him has his hands on his hips.
"He only saw you! Not 'us'!"
"Good! Good! We better forget it first. I guess I've been worrying too much about that kid since that old Mild became a corpse." The man turned around.
"It's been fucking ten years and it still haunts him? Should we leave him?"
Now both of them walked their backs to Thea.
Thea rushed out of the bathroom. She could not see their faces clearly.
"No. We can't do that. We better have fun as long as we can with his money. Maybe the child is death rotten like the parents."
Thea clearly understood who they were referring to. She tried to chase them, but her body didn't move. Thea felt her knees tremble. Her head throbbed. Her heart was beating wildly. Thea leaned against the wall.
She remembered the night before, Thea had visited Mild.
...
"Uncle asked me to take it to you, Mr. Mild." Thea handed Mr. Mild a bottle of red wine as soon as she was invited in. Mr. Mild greeted her happily. His oily face became even more shiny with laughter.
"Thank you!" he exclaimed. Mr. Mild immediately brought the bottle to the fireplace, wanting to see more clearly the year of manufacture. "Kekeke ... the wine sent by nobles is different!" The old man shook his bottle in front of Thea.
"Noilly Prat France! Even until I die, I can't imagine drinking it. " He stared in amazement at the bottle from fifty years ago in his hand.
"Thank goodness you like it." Thea smiled. "I'll leave after seeing you drink it, Sir."
"Too bad it feels like it has to be opened." His forehead creased, wondering whether it would be better if it was saved for a few more years. The longer it takes, the smell and taste will be more delicious.
"Well ... it's up to you sir. But I think uncle would be happier if I said I've seen you drink it."
"Ah, that's right." The old man crossed the room and took a glass. It felt like Thea almost laughed seeing him open the bottle carefully and treat it with affection. Mr. Mild raised a glass filled with some wine. A little, but enough for Thea.
"Cheers, young lady!"
Thea nodded. The old man drank his wine until there was no left. "It tastes really good." He tasted his tongue many times.
"Tell Earl Wilkess, I won't bother him anymore if he keeps on wheezing… right…" Mr. Mild dropped his glass on the floor, making a muffled cracking sound. Suddenly, he was short of breath. His eyes were bulging. His hand tugged at his collar of the neck which felt choking.
"Y ... you ..."
"Very well, Mr. Mild. I'll pass on your message. Good night." Thea turned around before the old geezer slammed into the floor.
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Year 1853Thea's thin body jerked.In the quiet night, something happened.Suddenly, something or someone pulled the blanket violently. She couldn't see well as she turned off the light before going to sleep. Her body was dragged off the bed. Thea tried to rebel. But she couldn't fight many people. She was dragged and paraded out of the room."What is this? Let me go!" Thea struggled."SHUT UP!" They didn't expect Thea to fight.She managed to escape from their grip.Thea turned her head in a panic and crawled to save herself. She had no idea what happened. Her instincts told her to run, so she did. But there were five or six people blocking the way and grabbed her back. They kept dragging her like a trash to the backyard."Let me go! What do you want? "They threw Thea on the ground. She tried to stand up. The bigger boy pushed her shoulders down."You witch! Killer!""Shut up!""Don't pret
Year 1863 "Are you all right, Miss?" A man looked at her worriedly. Thea shook her head. "No. I am fine. Thank you." Thea welcomed the man's helping hand politely. "Do you want me to take you somewhere? Somehow you look lost." Thea was silent. Her brain still trying to digest what she heard earlier. Is it possible the talk earlier...all about her? "You are very beautiful, Miss." Thea was stunned. "Erm, I'm sorry if I'm being rude. You seem unwell, but I really want to say it, " the man bowed slightly, feeling guilty. Thea smiled awkwardly. "Thank you." Aware of the discomfort of the woman in front of him, he let go of her grip, bowed and bid farewell. Thea tried to shake her thought. She walked without paying attention to her front when a man appeared around the corner, making herself startled. "Oh! I'm sorry, young lady..." Thea suddenly got her
Year 1853Thea's breathing echoed in the silent room.The two of them fell silent when Xander, who returned from taking the first aid kit, stared at the bloodstained stone that Thea had thrown."I didn't do it! I swear!" she said with wide eyes. She really didn't do that. Who would have thought that her foot touched something liked evidence of Jane's attack.Xander looked at the stone on the floor. He sighed and then told Thea to come closer."Sit here. I will treat your wound first."Thea obediently sat beside Xander, who immediately did his job."Is the wound really worse? I mean, Jane?" she asked, hesitantly.Xander muttered. He was sure Thea didn't do the evil deed even though he didn't know how to explain it. It happened so fast. Someone sneaked into the orphanage and Jane happens to run into the culprit. Thea, who was in her room couldn't possibly know what had happened.The other kids only took their ange
Year 1863Thea peeked out from under her blanket."Kay?""What?"Thea turned around, her head slightly raised. She observed the man who so-called cousin who sit beside her."Let's talk until I fall asleep," she pleaded. She choose to keep talking to distract herself from unnecessary things."Do you want me to sing a lullabies?" Kay asked.They used to tell stories before bed or chat about everything. He also sang her lullabies. Sadly, that had not happened since he was busy at the hospital. They didn't know how much they have lost their life stories about each other.Thea muttered. "No. How about you tell me about your long list date?"Kay stared at her in surprise."Why do you suddenly ask me that?""I'm just curious. Your friend –that white shirt man– said you are quite popular among women."Thea had never been to a party and heard about it in person, but as soon as the party w
Year 1853Some kid tried to cheat her when doing their chores. They always make Thea finished anything for them.Now when she sleeps, Thea locked her bedroom door tightly. Either she had privileges or the other children kept her away, she occupied the room alone.Jane asked the Sister to move her to another room. Even though her condition improved, Thea couldn't get any worse. The kids who bullied her always came back when Xander wasn't around.But Xander couldn't stop them all the time, like now."Oh, Witch! Do you have anything to burn today?" Ben came in while Thea was on duty in the kitchen.The other children stood guard at the door, monitoring the situation if Sisters or Miss Yerez came."Just go!" Thea returned to mopping without giving him any attention.Ben kicked the bucket and spilled its contents, startled her."Get lost, Ben!""Ha! How dare you say my name. So what? Are you going to curse me
Year 1863Thea pretended to sleep. She was still awake when Kay left her room. She couldn't sleep at all. The conversation between the two man before was still looming in her head.Something had happened, and she didn't know what it was. Without thinking, she took her coat and sneak out. London in the middle of the night is a good time to make a move. Thea rushed towards Mister Mild's residence. Maybe she could find something there.Mr. Mild's house was getting dusty after being left by its owner. Thea picked up the candle on the table. She had to light a candle because she didn't know what to look for. She returned to the study room, where Thea had last seen the old man.Thea started checking all over the place.On the desk, in the jar, behind the painting, in the drawer, one by one. Thea did it slowly and to no avail. Nothing important. Thea shifted to the desk drawer. Her hands fumbled in every part of the drawer. Just found a pile of u
Year 1853In this small world. Thea felt alone.She woke up, ate the hard bread, worked like a slave and went back to sleep. There's nothing better than this lousy routine.Maybe she should be grateful to be able to live with all this suck. But this suck-thing seemed to be a shackle that would not be broken in a long time.Perhaps, no one knew what it was like to be a noble who fell from her position.No one serves her anymore.Instead, it was her who served and carried out the others works as a form of isolation from the people around her.Her brain was trying to accept all of this. But her little heart rebelled.She wanted to burn them all, as they had accused her of. Thea wasn't a little angel who didn't hold a grudge for their treatment.They avoided her openly like the plague.Only Xander didn't care about it all.Thea thought of him as an angel that God sent to comfort her. The boy did nothin
Year 1863Xander's smile continued to widen. "Have you ever met any other kids besides me?" he asked, purely without any ill intention.But Thea's expression seemed to be misinterpreted by Xander. He then shut his mouth. Xander knew he had brought up the wrong topic. He cleared his throat."Uhm-""Would you like to take a walk outside?"Thea cut him off and offered walking at the backyard. After a while, Thea finally answered Xander's question."No, I never met the other kids," Thea hoped never to see them again. They walked side by side without a word.Meanwhile, Xander's eyes slowly stared at Thea's nape. She, who was sensitive, immediately realized that."Would you like to see it?" Thea asked.Xander shook his head, “Oh no. I'm sorry. It became habit, you knew it.”The two of them then fell silent, both busy with their own thoughts. “Did the Wilkess family treat you well?” Xande