Chapter 5: Exposing the Truth

Miranda smiled firmly and said, “Madam, don’t be childish. Let me apply the medicine. After all, it was my fault you got hurt.” Her insistence made it clear that the Countess couldn’t escape.

The Countess, uneasy, discreetly pinched Selena, urging her to intervene. Selena quickly said, “Sister, please sit down. Madam should go back and apply the medicine in her room; it’s bad luck to see blood.”

Selena’s concern won Count Croyso’s approval, but Miranda countered, “Madam saved me, and I owe her. I will serve her as my own mother, and no mother would refuse her child’s care.” Her words left no room for rejection. Count Croyso agreed, urging the Countess to accept treatment.

The Countess, panicking, cursed Selena’s failure but smiled reluctantly, agreeing to let Miranda help. At that moment, a maid brought the medicine, and the Countess, unable to stall further, prepared to remove her bandages.

Suddenly, Mrs. Wilson intervened, suggesting that applying medicine in front of everyone was inappropriate. She offered to take the Countess behind a screen, giving her a chance to breathe. 

The Countess felt a wave of relief, seizing the opportunity to follow Mrs. Wilson behind the screen.

Miranda seethed with anger, seeing her plan about to succeed but thwarted by Mrs. Wilson's intervention. Yet, Mrs. Wilson's words were reasonable and difficult to refute.

Behind the intricately decorated screen, the Countess finally breathed a sigh of relief and gave Mrs. Wilson a grateful look. With a flash of determination in her eyes, the Countess suddenly pulled out a gold brooch her weared and stabbed it deeply into her left arm, then dragged it across, creating a wound.

Blood flowed down.

Mrs. Wilson, not expecting such an action, was startled and cried out, “Countess!” She quickly realized her mistake and corrected herself, “Madam, this is a serious injury!” Her voice trembled as she hurriedly applied the medicine and bandaged the wound, then helped the Countess fix her sleeve and brooch before leading her out from behind the screen.

Miranda, noticing the Countess's pale face and recalling Mrs. Wilson's exclamation, sensed something was amiss.

She must expose the truth about the Countess's supposed self-sacrifice in front of her father now. Otherwise, the cunning Countess would find a way to manipulate the situation, making it harder to catch her later. With a sudden flash of resolve, Miranda spoke up, “Madam looks worse than before. Is the injury worsening? How terrible, where is the doctor?”

Seeing the Countess's condition, lord Croyso couldn't help but worry, “Are you alright, my Lady?”

Before the Countess could respond, Miranda quickly added, “Father, look at Madam's face. How could she be alright?"Then she said, “Father, you are a general and have dealt with wounds for years. Why don't you check Madam's injury first, and we can wait for the doctor for a detailed diagnosis?”

The Countess, alarmed, tightly squeezed Mrs. Wilson's hand.

The Countess began to nervous. The doctors they would call had all been bribed by the Countess, and whatever she said would be accepted without question. But if Count Croyso himself examines it, who knows if there might be any changes.

Unable to refuse his beloved daughter and genuinely concerned about the Countess, Count Croyso nodded, saying, “Sophie, come here. Let me see your injury!”

The Countess, grateful for her decisive action behind the screen, still felt uneasy. But she had no choice but to sit beside Count Croyso and extend her left arm. With the real wound on her arm, the Count would only praise her for her kindness and devotion to Miranda, unaware of the ruse.

Count Croyso carefully unwrapped the bandage, revealing the fresh, bloody wound.

Seeing the injury, Miranda understood why Mrs. Wilson had cried out. The Countess was ruthless enough to hurt herself so severely! However, her efforts were in vain. The Countess, adept at scheming in the household, might have thought any injury would suffice. But her father, experienced in battle, could distinguish different types of wounds.

As expected, Count Croyso's expression darkened upon seeing the wound.

“What’s this?” Miranda feigned surprise, clearly suspicious. Count Croyso gave her a subtle, warning look, and she quickly adjusted, “The wound looks serious!”

“It’s nothing, just looks worse than it is.” Count Croyso gently patted her head, speaking softly, “Rest well, child. I’ll visit you tomorrow.” Then he turned to the Countess, his tone suddenly stern, “You shouldn’t disturb Miranda's rest. Come with me. We need to discuss your injury!”

The Countess, knowing something was wrong but unsure what, could only follow him with a heavy heart.

Realizing something was amiss, even the dullest person could sense the underlying tension in the Count's cold demeanor and Miranda's awkward shift.

Mrs. Wilson, who knew the inside story, felt a chill as she recalled the sequence of events. Today’s events were not coincidental. Miranda had planned to expose the Countess! Moreover, Miranda suddenly became close to the Count and even mentioned Nora's punishment. Under her “guidance,” Miranda had always been an obedient puppet. How had she suddenly changed?

Reflecting on Miranda's actions today, Mrs. Wilson felt a shock of realization and looked at Miranda with both fear and awe.

Sensing someone watching her, Miranda turned and met Mrs. Wilson's suspicious and fearful gaze with a cold, icy smile. Mrs. Wilson, cunning and influential among the servants, had been manipulating Miranda like a puppet, nearly ruining her plan today.

She needed to find a way to remove this thorn from her side.

Looking at the silent, composed Miranda, Mrs. Wilson was suddenly overcome with a sense of foreboding…