The next morning, Azuki who helped Mary to dress and wash discovered dark circle under her eyes. Feeling sympathy, she asked, “My lady, have you not slept well last night? Should we take turn to carry out night duties starting from tonight?”
Mary waved her hands and refused instantly, she could not possibly say that she had burnt the midnight oil just to finish her homework. Mary gnashed her teeth towards Norman. Ever since she met that jinx, nothing had come smoothly as she planned. What on earth was Norman’s real identity anyway? Mary shook her head, looked like she had to cultivate her power as soon as possible.
Not realizing Sidney was combing her hair, Mary accidentally dragged her hair when she shook her head, blurting out an ‘Ouch!’, Sidney immediately apologized, “I’m sorry, my lady.”
Mary waved her hand and replied, “It’s not your fault, please continue.”
Angelica had already arranged everything in perfect order way sooner before Mary finished her breakfast. Remembering the four jades, Mary asked, “How’s Bella’s string bags?”
Angelica smiled and replied, “Don’t worry, my lady. I have arranged everything nicely, and my lady needs only to go to class.”
Trusting Angelica’s working ability, she brought Stacey and Jennifer and headed to Autumn Hall.
The sisters had arrived class quite early today, Grace and Luna had arrived, except Amy who was bedridden. Upon seeing Mary, Luna grinned, “You’re a lazy bone, Mary sis. The Planifolia Garden that you live in is the closest to Autumn Hall, yet you’re still the latest here. Come and sit here.”
Luna naturally occupied Amy’s original seat since she would not be able to attend classes for a long time and Grace pretended that she did not notice that. Now Luna could sit together with Mary.
Mary sat on her seat and let Jennifer gave Grace and Luna their jades back. She then held Amy’s jade and said to Grace, “This is Amy sis’ jade. After we finish class, I’ll give it back to Amy sis when we visit her.”
Grace, with a false smile, replied, “How great. Amy sis would be bored to death lying on bed alone and we’ll go relieve her boredom.”
Luna, as if not paying attention to Grace’s words, ignored her and turned to Mary with a smile on her face, “Mary sis, you were so brave last night, debunking Granny Gordy like that! Granny Gordy was stern all the time, now that she was humiliated, I’m feeling so happy!”
She then whispered, “Not to mention you making string bags for them two, yet you still want to visit Amy? She must be gnashing her teeth with hatred now and aren’t you making yourself unwelcome by visiting her?”
Mary smiled, “She’s still our sister anyway.”
Noticing a slight unhappiness in Luna’s face, she then whispered, “By the way, don’t you wanna see how Amy has become now?”
Her single statement made smile appeared on Luna’s face once more.
Grace was ignored by Mary and Luna as if she was transparent, her anger burnt fiercely. These two sluts, they had no idea what they would encounter soon!
Once Mary left, the whole Planifolia Garden was filled with an idle atmosphere. The yard had been swept and the food from the kitchen had been ordered by Odessa. The maidens had nothing to do and could only do some needlework.
After a while some people from the sewing room arrived, saying that they wanted to send some costumes to Mary. Angelica received those costumes carefully and gave those people some gratuities. She replied that she would let Mary try them on once she returned and see if them fit. If not, she would send the costumes back to the sewing room for adjustment.
Mary was now Ralph’s sweetheart; therefore the people from the sewing room would definitely not dare to displease her and could only obey Angelica’s order.
As they were about to leave, a person from the sewing room secretly pulled Bethany Lewis’ sleeve when she was closing the door and said, “Bethany Lewis, you better go home and check out on your son, there’s something wrong with him!”
Bethany’s heart dropped, and she could feel the pulse on her forehead.
She was a widow; she did not have any family and was chased out of her husband’s house by her brother-in-law and his wife. She raised her son and daughter hard until now and she only hoped her children would get on so she could have someone to rely on in her later years.
Her daughter, Chelsea had a good look, and there was no problem for her to be married to a rich family. If she managed to give birth to one or two children, their life afterwards would be steady and peaceful. After considerations, she thought that Ralph Debeur was a good choice. First of all, Ralph had grown in age and he knew how to care for people. Secondly, the second concubine and Concubine Talbert had aged after all, how could they be as loving as a young lady? And most importantly, Ralph still did not have a son until now.
What Bethany had in mind was, as long as Chelsea married Ralph and gave birth to a son; her position in the palace would only be lower than of the second concubine. The mistresses are waited to be married after all, until then, there would only be Chelsea’s son left in the palace, and the palace would soon be of Chelsea’s.
Bethany had sought for Chelsea’s opinion. Chelsea had met Ralph, though Ralph had already aged, he was still a handsome man. Having reached puberty, she could not help but have a crush on him.
Unfortunately there were no ways for the marriage, and Bethany did not want to let Chelsea sign the slave contract to get in, therefore this matter had been put off ever since.
Nevertheless, Chelsea’s matter was not a big deal, what made Bethany worried until her hair went all gray was her son, Bryson.
Bryson had gone to school for several years and also learnt wood crafting, therefore he could be counted as a craftsman. If he had stayed hardworking, he might be able to raise a family. Who would have known that he would take up the bad practice of gambling and lost all of Bethany’s money which she had earned for several years. To make matter worse, he had owed others a huge debt and was since chased back and forth, making Bethany anxious as ever.
Having heard that Bryson had caused trouble, Bethany rushed to ask for permission to leave from Angelica. Angelica approved her request and let her hurry back to her home, knowing her situation.
Bethany headed to the rows of houses located behind the palace which were built for servants once she stepped out of the palace gate. From afar, her anxiety grew seeing a crowd of people gathering in front of her doorstep.
Noticing her, a neighbor who liked to nose in other people’s business said, “Bethany Lewis, please hurry inside! Your son, Bryson was broken a leg by the people asking for debt!”
Bethany’s head exploded. What would happen to Bryson if he broke a leg? The third son of the Minister family was paralyzed and disliked, not to mention them as servants. If he had broken a leg, which kind lady would be willing to marry him?
Bethany stepped past the door and felt dizzy. She instantly felt clear-headed the moment she heard Chelsea weeping inside. She hurried into the room and saw Bryson fainting on the bed, one of his legs was bloody.
“Why didn’t you ask for doctors to come look at your brother?” Bethany panicked and gave Chelsea a hit.
Chelsea was a naïve girl and did not know how to dodge. She wept, “I’ve done so, but the doctor chased me out seeing me did not have any money.”
Bethany was feeling anxious; she dragged down the silver bracelet from her wrist and took out the money bag from her pocket. Inside the bag, there were the gratuities given by Mary through Daisy to her yesterday. “Take them! Quickly! And get your brother a doctor!”
Receiving the money, Chelsea hesitated, “Mother, the people asking for debt had said, if brother does not settle his debt within three days, they’ll come and break his other leg! Also, they said……”
“What did they say? Hurry up and speak up!” Bethany was anxious, her daughter was good in everything, but the only drawbacks were she was too naïve and too timid.
Chelsea’s tears dropped even more, “Mother, they also said that if the debt could not be settled, they’ll sell me to pay for it!”
Bethany was completely startled; she hugged Chelsea and let out a thunderous cry, “My poor child!”
Bryson was awakened from his sleep, he yelled in pain, “Mother, I’m dying of pain!”
“You deserved it!” Bethany was feeling pity and angry for him at the same time, she then asked, “How much did you owe them? Say it quickly!”
Bryson muttered, “Two thousand and two silvers if not wrong……”
“What!” Bethany could not believe her ears, upon gaining back her response, she started hitting Bryson, “You unfilial child! Do you want to take my life away having owed so much money?”
Bryson, feeling painful, yelled, “Mother! Mother! Take it easy! I’m still in pain!”
Bethany stopped, afraid to break him apart, she held Chelsea and could not stop her tears.
Seeing his sister’s weeping beauty, a thought came to Bryson’s mind, “Mother, with sister’s beauty, why not sell her to the brothel to get the money? Plus, sister’s later life could be guaranteed.”
“Pah!” Bethany spit a thick phlegm on Bryson’s face, “How dare you say these kinds of words? Selling your own sister to pay for your debt? Oh what had I done wrong in my last life to have raised such an unfilial child?”
“Yo, what’s wrong?” Suddenly, a woman voice appeared outside the door.
Bethany stopped her tears, turned around and noticed it was Madam Barbosa who served the second concubine. She forced a smile and replied, “Madam Barbosa, please enter and have a seat. Chelsea, hurry up and get a doctor for your brother, now!”
Chelsea replied and headed outside. Madam Barbosa stared at Chelsea until she was out of sight and sighed, “Bethany Lewis, it’s a pity to bury your daughter’s nice figure and good looks.”
Bethany wiped her tears and said, “She had a poor fate being born in this kind of family.”
Peeking at Bryson who was moaning in pain, Madam Barbosa suddenly lowered down her voice and went closely towards Bethany’s ears, “Bethany Lewis, regarding the matter I’ve told you few days ago, what do you think?”
Looking concerned, Bethany replied, “I’m afraid it was not a suitable and easy task.”
Madam Barbosa pointed at Bryson and said, “You’ve reached until this point, if you do not think for yourself, shouldn’t you at least think for your son?”