Nean separated with Mary in mid-way. He was afraid that if he was seen together with Mary by the side consort’s people, both he and his master would be regarded with wariness.
Mary was pointed the way by Nean and she reached her room in no time. She flipped over the back window and actually saw Azuki, Angelica, Jade and Jewel being tied up together and abandoned on the ground.
Their eyes lit up when they saw Mary, but the gleam in their eyes quickly dimmed down.
Angelica lowered her voice and said, “My lady, aren’t you gone already? Why did you come back?”
Mary answered while untying the maidens, “If I don’t come back, are you all still gonna stay like this?”
Jade who was faint-hearted had started to sob, “Your Highness, our lady has been dragged by Madam Barbosa to the side consort’s room.”
Mary’s hand froze for a moment in the air, she then said, “Alright, don’t cry, I’ll save your mistress now.” If Luna was given a single scratch, let’s see how she would punish that old servant!
Jewel pulled Jade and gave her a glare, “What nonsense are you talking about? Her highness has finally sent the fifth mistress off, how could you urge the fifth mistress to do something stupid?”
“Okay, say no more. I can’t abandon Luna sis here by herself, and I can’t see you maidens suffer too.” Luna was the mistress of Debeur family after all and was hard for the side consort to lay her hands on her, yet for the maidens it was a different story. They could have been killed if something went wrong.
The maidens’ look was full of gratitude. Mary stretched her hand out towards Azuki and said, “You’re the one taking care of my clothes and jewellery, hurry up and pick a clean dress for me, so we don’t miss the good timing for incense burning.”
Seeing Mary full of determination, Azuki and the maidens were instilled with courage. Azuki gave a few strong nods, replied and went picking the clothes, while the other maidens lent her a hand too. Not taking much time, Mary was all dressed up and she pushed the door open languidly.
The side consort only posted two servants to guard the door as the maidens were all strapped up and were insignificant who were prepared to face their death.
The two servants were chitchatting while eating melon seeds. Both of them were shocked when the door opened by itself and Mary who was well prepared stepped out of it with a murderous look. They startled and looked at Mary with the skin of the seeds still attached on their lips.
Mary sneered, “What are you two still doing? Hurry up and bring me to the side consort’s!”
A powerful aura that could not be resisted surrounded her and she looked like the exact copy of Ralph at this moment. Both servants leaped to their feet and rushed towards the side consort’s yard while leading her the way with obsequious nods and bows.
Mary snorted and signified Jade and Azuki to stay at the room while she led Angelica and Jewel to the side consort’s yard.
Upon entering the room, she spied Luna kneeling on the ground. Her face was pale and her face had started to swell up with five red conspicuous finger marks on one side of her face.
Mary was stirred up with rage, she started forward and held Luna up without even giving the side consort greetings. She gently wiped Luna’s tear-streaked face with her sleeve and whispered, “Luna sis, is it still painful?”
Luna was stupefied when she saw Mary opened the door and walked in all of a sudden until she forgot the pain on her face. She regained her sensation when her face was being touched by Mary and she gasped due to the pain.
Mary felt sorry and jerked back her hand.
Yet Luna whispered back, “Why did you come back when I finally managed to send you go? Now I was wasting my energy!” her voice was laden with self-reproach, yet there also contained loads of care towards Mary.
Afraid their conversations being overheard by the side consort and the two sisters, Luna deliberately raised her voice and snapped, “Look at you, how could you forget to bring the hanky again? What was your maiden who takes care of your clothes doing? Look how I’m gonna fix them when I go back!”
Mary was greatly touched, she held Luna’s hands and replied softly, “Don’t blame them, Luna sis. It’s because I don’t like to use the hanky they make. I like the hankies made by Luna sis, do make one for me during your free time when Luna sis returns.”
Luna’s eyes were also filled with tears, she replied, “Sure, I’ll make eight or ten hankies for you when I return. I’ll not forgive you if you don’t use them.”
A chuckle was heard. Amy who was lying lazily on her bed said contemptuously, “Mary sis, who knows how long you’re gonna wait for your fourth sister to finish the hanky. Who doesn’t know that your fourth sister is the worst in regards to sewing skills? She even needs several days to get a small flower sewed.”
Mary released Luna’s hands, gazed at Amy and let out a grim smile, “My fourth sister is the daughter of Lord Regent, and she only learns sewing for leisure so who would expect her to expertise in sewing? There are servants who would make clothes for her anyway. The reason I want Luna sis to make a hanky for me is just for our sisterhood. Who would be like Amy sis who doesn’t care of the relationship with sisters?”
Amy burst into rage and sat up immediately from her bed. She gasped in pain when her wounds were stretched.
Mary then sneered, “Amy sis, I suppose the part of your body being whipped by father is still in pain? If so, you should lie on the bed for a rest and not releasing your anger all the time. Have you forgotten why father whipped you? Wasn’t it because that Amy sis did not care for her sisters?”
Amy’s anger burnt more fiercely when her intention to speak being rebuffed. Seeing Brit massaging her foot at her side, she took the golden hairpin on her hair and jabbed it into Brit’s arm.
Brit felt a sharp pang of pain and let out a shriek, she dodged behind in reflex.
Amy’s inner aggression was more and more triggered, she jabbed the hairpin ceaselessly into Brit’s body until Brit pleaded for mercy due to the pain. Yet Amy ignored her plead and even ordered Madam Barbosa to suppress her as she was determined to release her anger today.
Mary felt sympathy for Brit, she raised her voice and spoke blandly, “Looks like Amy sis has a bad memory. If father knows Amy sis not only does not love her siblings but also being brutal towards the servants, would he give Amy sis another whip?”
Mary’s words triggered Amy even more, making her jabbing more violent. Grace pretended that she did not notice it and lowered her head, focusing on her book beside the window, while the side consort who used to pamper Amy did not utter a word and let Amy be.
Only the maidens in the house were witnessing it with fear. They had known that the third mistress had a brutal personality, yet what was heard differed with what was seen after all. Brit had served the third mistress since child and had grown up with her, they could know how cruel the third mistress was when she dared to hurt her.
During the hubbub, a voice drawled outside, “All hail the gods!”
Mary’s lip curved up. It’s time.
Madam Barbosa released Brit and welcomed the person with a false smile, “It’s priest Nean. Is there any order from Gautama Damma?”
Without the suppression of Madam Barbosa, Brit certainly wanted to dodge from the attack. Amy simply yanked her hair and jabbed her face with the hairpin until her face was full of bloody wounds appalling on sight.
Nean felt a chill down his spine, luckily they had decided not to assist the side consort anymore. If not, according to the side consort and her two daughters’ temper, Munashii Temple would be a wasteland when the temple did something against their will.
Noticing Nean’s glance towards Amy, the side consort coughed and stopped Amy, “Alright, Amy, stop it now! Let Madam Barbosa discipline the maiden if she has any fault. You’re a mistress from a noble family, so watch your manner!”
Amy felt that her body ached too and then ceased reluctantly. Brit had fainted away due to the pain, she fell to the ground upon released by Amy. Gwen at the side quickly held her yet she was lack of strength so other maidens lent her a hand too.
Gwen asked softly, “Should we lock Brit up?”
Amy replied furiously, “What for? She’s still my maiden! I didn’t say I want to punish her, I only disliked her that’s all. If she did not dodge and was obedient enough to let me give a few jabs I would have let her go easily! Never mind, I’ll give her a day off, ask her to serve me again tomorrow morning!”
What an arrogant and domineering mistress. Mary frowned deeply. Although Brit was just an abject maiden, but she’s still a living person, how could Amy abuse her like that?
As if being used to Amy’s behavior and actions, the side consort’s attention was completely focused on Nean. Her eyes were gleaming and were fixed on him, her voice was cheerful as if longing for something to happen, “Little priest, what are you doing here?”
Nean despised the side consort secretly in his heart. She clearly knew what was he doing here yet she still pretended that she did not know. Nean did not show his thought and he grinned holding a horsetail whip, “My master let me come and ask whether your Ladyship and the mistresses are ready for the incense burning? It’s about time.”
The side consort heaved a sigh of relief and beamed, “Please tell Gautama Damma that we’re heading there now.”
Nean could not be more anxious to leave; the bloody smell in the room rushed into his nose was unpleasant. He turned and winked at Mary when no one noticed, yet he left disappointedly when Mary still kept a straight face and did not even give him a look.
After Nean left, the side consort turned facing Mary and gave her a furious smile, “Tell me, Mary. Where did you go just now?”