“What’s going on?” Odelliana asked, her voice filled with confusion.
There was a loud commotion outside. The sound of heavy footsteps grew closer, and soon the door burst open without so much as a knock.
“You insolent wench!” a furious voice boomed.
A sharp sting flashed before her eyes, followed by a searing pain across her cheek. Odelliana blinked blankly, her vision blurred. She fixed her gaze on the panting intruder, her face contorted in pain.
“Of all the things to do, you had to go and make a knight out of some lowly trash you picked up off the street? And you dragged Blair into it? Do you think Blair is your servant?”
Odelliana, now making eye contact with Malena, who had rushed in behind her, finally grasped the situation. She spat blood onto the floor, her face a mask of defiance.
For someone so terrified of losing the heir position to Blair, the second son who was talented and well-liked, it was laughable how he pretended to care for him by storming in like this. What a touching display of brotherly love.
“I didn’t force Blair to do anything,” Odelliana replied, her voice steady. “I simply asked him for a favor, and he agreed. As far as I’m concerned, this is none of your business.”
Referring to him as “you” rather than “brother” felt more appropriate since he didn’t even acknowledge her as a sister. His face twisted into a scowl, seemingly offended by the impersonal term.
“Is it really so hard to keep your mouth shut and live quietly?” Hermann demanded, his voice a low growl.
“I’ve been locked away quietly enough, haven’t I? Except for the times I take a walk, I haven’t left this place since I got here. I’m perfectly obedient,” Odelliana replied, her voice calm but defiant.
“Don’t drag Blair into your vulgar schemes,” Hermann hissed.
“Vulgar? How is making my servant a knight a vulgar act?” Odelliana retorted, her eyes narrowing.
“It’s your intentions that are vulgar,” Hermann replied, his voice dripping with contempt.
He glared down at her, his hand hovering dangerously close to her face.
“Know your place,” he growled. “Scandalous acts are best enjoyed by scandalous people. A knight? Are you hoping that once your lowly servant becomes a knight, he’ll pledge his sword to you? Not that I believe that filthy commoner would even pass the exam, but even if he does, he’ll abandon you and run. That’s how success works—when circumstances improve, people seek better company.”
“Do I look like someone who’s afraid Matthias will run off with me once he becomes a knight?” Odelliana asked.
“The only place for someone like you is here,” Hermann replied, his voice cold and unforgiving. “If your existence were exposed, our family would face a great scandal.”
“So you do know it was wrong to hide the birth of your own child,” Odelliana said, her voice rising.
At her audacious remark, Hermann raised his hand again, but this time, he couldn’t strike her. He was stopped by a larger body that had suddenly shielded her.
“Please, speak with words, Master,” a voice said.
Malena had wrapped herself protectively around Odelliana. Startled, Odelliana looked up at her, while Hermann roared furiously.
“And what right do you have to interfere? Step aside!” he bellowed.
“It is my duty to protect the young lady. She is a fragile patient. So… please, refrain from using violence and settle this matter peacefully,” Malena responded calmly.
Furious, Hermann kicked at Malena, who remained steadfast in her protection of Odelliana. He ranted like a madman, issuing threats about punishing all the servants in the annex for daring to serve such a fool and their master’s transgressions.
“Stop it, you filthy bastard,” Odelliana shouted.
It was Odelliana who finally brought the chaos to an end. She hurled an ink bottle at Hermann, drenching him in ink.
“You crazy wench…” he sputtered.
“Get out. Leave. Now,” Odelliana demanded.
At Odelliana’s command, Hermann smirked and flicked his fingers at the knights. They forcibly pulled Malena away from Odelliana. Hermann crouched down to meet Odelliana’s gaze and grabbed a fistful of her hair.
