side consort looked at the expression of Lord Regent, and knew that she had offended his Lordship. She could only try her best to salvage the situation.
“My Lord, I realize my mistakes. Please be merciful and give me another chance.”
Lord Regent felt his head throbbing in pain. He started to take pity on the crying side consort.
side consort also noticed that Lord Regent’s expression had eased and quickly knelt at his feet and held onto his legs, “My Lord, I’ve been with you for so many years and served you through good and bad times. Now Mary has recovered from her illness. I will be extra good to her to make up for all the years of neglect. I only beg you for another chance to redeem myself.”
Lord Regent was tired and since side consort was so repentant. He lowered his gaze, nodded and said, “Okay, forget about it, rise. I punish you a year’s worth of allowance. Reflect upon this. This is the end of this matter. If you ever mistreat Mary again, I won’t let you off this easily.”
side consort desperately pointed to the heavens and swore, “Rest assured My Lord, if I ever dare to mistreat Mary, the Gods be my witness, I’ll suffer boils all over my body and die in pain!!” She was tormented within. She just lost a years’ worth of pay all because of that slut Mary! Once this is over, she’s going to deal with her!
Lord Regent on seeing side consorts’ blood oath put an end to this issue.
But side consort wanted to plead for Amy, “My Lord, Amy has been betrothed. She can’t be kept at home all the time. We should let her learn protocol from some officials, and then when she joins the Minister’s household, she can become a good wife.”
“She needs to check her temper. Minister’s families are all scholars, unlike us warriors. If she goes over without knowing a thing or two about protocol and etiquette, she’ll become the joke of the family. Forget it, just let her go with Mary for lessons. Just read up on the book on what Ladies of the court need to know.”
At the Autumn Hall, Mr. Watson had already been teaching for a while. Mary is a quick learner and Mr. Watson particularly likes her. He instructed Grace and Luna what home work needs to be done and came over to instruct Mary. Mary remembers every detail to his delight.
Just as he was looking over Mary’s writing, Amy arrived.
Mr. Watson waved her in and instructed her to sit down. On seeing the attention given to Mary, Amy’s temper almost blew off the roof as she dashed out.
Luna unknowingly added fuel to the fire and said, “Third sister, that was fast. Did you finish the Ladies of the court so quickly? The last time Lady side consort asked me to read it, it took me a long time to complete it.”
Amy glared at Luna in anger, “You little bitch, where did you find this courage, you are nothing but a bastard who crawled out the stomach of a slut, are you worthy of talking to me?”
This took Luna by surprise and immediately her eyes tear up. Grabbing Amy’s sleeve, she dashed to Grace and asked “Second sister, will you say anything?”
Grace is a practical person. She realized that h er sister Amy will soon be married to the Minister’s household and won’t be around them. So it is better to keep Luna on her side. She acted very stern and lectured Amy, “How can you say this about Fourth sister. You were just released by father and already forgotten how you were locked up by dad yesterday. You better apologize to fourth sister!” As she finished, she gently tapped Amy on her cheek.
Amy paused, she pictured Lord Regent’s fierce expression and her heart sank and said grudgingly to Luna, “Forgive me, fourth sister, I was wrong to say that.” She immediately pushed the blame to Mary, “It’s all Mary’s fault, that slut caused me untold pain!”
Luna could see that Mary would soon be rich. It was time to get on her side. How could she let such a good chance go to waste? “Third sister, you should be more precise with your words. Fifth sister is our kin sister. What’s wrong with her? Third sister of course you can teach her. But at the moment, fifth sister is just fine and did not offend third sister. How can third sister say these about fifth sister, what’s the origin of these unhappiness?
Amy completely did not expect Luna to reason with her and was very surprised. She composed herself and coldly replied, “You are truly one who sways with the wind. Mother was right, you are not reliable. Why, once you see that slut being doted upon, you immediately side with her? You are like a stray dog!”
“What did you say?” Luna objected and yanked Grace to help, “Second sister, you say a word of justice today, otherwise I’ll definitely tell father. I won’t rest on this issue!”
Grace was caught in between but she is very intelligent, she knew not to let this issue blow out of proportion, “You two stop it. Amy, I can see that your temper is getting more and more out of hand. You had better apologize to fourth sister!”
Amy hesitated and Luna pressed on, “What’s wrong with fifth sister? Third sister, don’t you know? The Planifolia Garden that you like, Father has already given it to fifth sister. I also like Planifolia Garden’s scenery, after class I’ll convince fifth sister to hold a gathering and invite us sisters to have some fun together!”
Grace glared at Luna and said sternly, “Enough!”
Luna continued to protest, “Why, second sister, did I say anything wrong? Didn’t you say just now that after class you are going with me to convince fifth sister?”
On hearing this, Amy knew that she had been betrayed by her own sister. In anger, she stomped her feet and stood up. Grace rushed to stop her.
At this moment Mr. Watson straightened himself, told everyone to take a break and walked out of the room.
Amy couldn’t resist it any longer and rushed to Mary’s side. Eyes welled up with tears and with a trembling voice, “I heard that you are now living in Planifolia Garden, is it true?”
Mary had been concentrating and listening to Mr. Watson’s lessons and even though Amy dashed to her and vigorously questioned her, she suppressed her voice and replied, after all she doesn’t know what had just happened. Seeing the anxiety of Amy, she actually felt that it was rather amusing, calmly she nodded, “I moved in last night. Father Lord Regent gave Planifolia Garden to me. Is there anything wrong, Third sister?
Amy felt a knife plunging into her heart. Planifolia Garden was her absolute favorite. She begged Lord Regent for a long time and father didn’t even agreed for her to stay there. How can father give the place to a slut like her?!
Enjoying the scene, Luna laughed as she walked over, “Fifth sister, don’t you know? The place that our third sister love the most is Planifolia Garden. She particularly likes it during winter when the tulip blossoms. Fifth sister, hold a party in the next few days and let us sisters all go to Planifolia Garden for a gathering, how about it?”
Mary nodded her head in agreement and Luna excitedly ordered her servant Jewel to go and prepare a gift.
Mary also ordered Stacey to return to Planifolia Garden to inform Angelica that the sisters will be going to Planifolia Garden for a visit. Make sure that Angelica brings some money to the outside courtyard kitchen for them to prepare a good spread of food and wine.
Grace on seeing Luna leaving to get a gift, quickly ordered her servant Molly to do the same.
Amy on the other hand continued to stare at Mary with the blood shot eyes.
Mary calmly asked with a smile, “What’s up third sister, don’t you want to go to Planifolia Garden?”
Grace quickly jabbed Amy and Amy came to her senses. She continued to stare fiercely at Mary, grinding her teeth and said, “Go! I’m going!” She wanted to go and see how Mary is living at Planifolia Garden! She can move in and she can also be driven out!
Things calmed down and Amy also instructed her servant to get a gift. Once they finished the morning’s lessons, the few sisters went along to Planifolia Garden.
When Ralph Debeur from the front courtyard heard that the sisters are coming to Planifolia Garden to celebrate Mary’s moving in, he was ecstatic. He was very happy that the sisters can finally get along and quickly instructed the servants to inform the teachers to give them the afternoon off.
When side consort heard about the party, she naturally also instructed the inner courtyard kitchen to prepare some specialties for Planifolia Garden. She even ordered her personal kitchen to prepare a few snacks for them.
At Planifolia Garden, Angelica was the courtyard Manager whose status was higher than Daisy by several folds. Ensured that everything was ready, she even prepared a table for the personal servants of the sisters.
A few of them started to remove their outer gowns. The table was full of delicious dishes and because there weren’t any more classes in the afternoon, and it was with Lord Regent and side consort’s blessings, the table had a warm flask of the finest wine.
Mary sat towards the east across from Amy, Luna and Grace was on either side. Stood beside her was Angelica and Molly who were ever ready to serve the Ladies.
Daisy led Brit, Jewel and the other servants to outer room where they had their own table and spread of food.
Mary raised the wine glass and smiled, “Today my fellow sisters are so kind to honor me with your presence at Planifolia Garden. It was a short notice and the meal was haphazardly prepared. Please forgive me if there is any area that wasn’t done to your liking.”
Luna and Grace naturally behaved as guests but Amy was sulking and didn’t say a word. Mary is already considered the mistress of Planifolia Garden and that made her feel uncomfortable. Amy thought that one day Planifolia Garden would be hers and didn’t expect that Mary would beat her to it.
To think that she is now living at Spring Court, Amy became even angrier. Spring Court is second to Planifolia Garden but in Amy’s eyes, it cannot be compared to the beauty of Planifolia Garden.
Planifolia Garden was supposed to be hers! How did this fool Mary deserve to live in Planifolia Garden?!
Amy was very upset and still couldn’t accept the reality. She lifted her empty glass, didn’t wait to be served, refilled her glass to the brim, and coldly said, “Fifth sister, you have moved to Planifolia Garden and I don’t have anything nice for you, please accept this wine first.”
Mary accepted happily, “With pleasure, third sister, it’s the thought that matters.”