Chapter 3

By the time I woke, it was almost noon.

The doctor Mother sent for said I had caught a chill and developed a fever. My knee injuries would heal after a few days of rest.

Father wouldn't let me stay in my room.

"You haven't moved out all of your belongings from Page Manor, and there are still the household accounts to hand over," he said. "Finish it all today. Don't let Lord Page think our family can't get things done."

Those things belonged to me in the first place. I had every right to take them back. After this, there would be no reason to return.

When the carriage reached Page Manor, Hilda helped me out.

I used to walk the entire corridor without stopping, taking care of household matters along the way. Now, after only a few steps, my knees were trembling with pain.

I gripped Hilda's hand and said, "We mustn't let anyone notice."

As soon as I entered the main courtyard, I ran into Mother, who had brought Juliet with her.

I had come to collect my belongings. Juliet was there to discuss her wedding dress and the wedding feast.

My trunks were carried out one by one, while bolts of fabric for Juliet's wedding dress and catalogs of jewelry were being carried in.

Sebastian's mother, Martha Newman, asked Juliet to serve the tea. Juliet knew Martha's preference for strong tea, so she had the maid add extra tea leaves.

I reached out to stop them. "Martha has been taking medicine lately. The doctor said she mustn't drink strong tea."

Martha's expression darkened at once. "It's Juliet's first visit as Sebastian's future wife, and you're already finding fault? You've signed the divorce agreement. Stop acting like you're still the lady of this house!"

"Mother." Sebastian's voice came from outside the door.

He took a look at the preion, then set the teacup back on the table.

"Isolde managed this household for six years," he said. "She never took your health lightly. If she had meant to embarrass Juliet, she could have simply kept quiet."

Juliet set down the teacup, her eyes red-rimmed with tears. "Please don't blame Isolde, Lady Martha. She managed the household for six years, after all. It's only natural that she hasn't learned to let go yet."

Juliet turned to Sebastian, her voice growing softer. "But if I have to call Isolde back to handle every matter after marrying into this family, people will make fun of you, Sebastian."

"No one is asking Isolde to keep managing the household," Sebastian said.

Then he turned to me. "Write down Mother's medication, the household's affairs, and anything else that is important. Juliet can learn from your notes. You won't have to trouble yourself with any of this again."

"Juliet is taking my place, and now I'm supposed to teach her how to be your wife?" I asked.

"I just don't want the household to fall into disorder."

"I've already handed over the accounts and keys." I placed the household seal on the table, setting the jade pendant beside it. "As for your dietary restrictions and old injuries, Juliet can remember those herself from now on."

As I stood, my knees suddenly gave way.

Sebastian caught me by the arm.

I sucked in a sharp breath from the pain and instinctively shifted my weight off my injured knees.

He looked down, noticed the dust on my skirt, and his expression darkened. "Were you made to kneel as punishment?"

Hilda could no longer hold back. "It was Mr. Jameston Sr. Ms. Isolde refused to marry General Hewitt, so she was made to repent in the chapel all night. They wouldn't even let me bring her a cloak."

Sebastian turned to look at Juliet.

Juliet burst into tears at once. "Father was furious. I didn't dare go against him. I never thought Isolde would actually fall ill."

Sebastian closed his eyes for a moment. "I'll send someone to Jameston Manor with a message. No one is to subject her to such punishments again."

I looked at him. "If you truly think they were wrong, then call off the engagement for me now. All you have to do is say the match is off, and they won't dare force me again."

Sebastian remained silent for a long while.

"I'll make sure they don't punish you again," he said finally. "We'll discuss the marriage when the seven days are up."

"You feel sorry for me when I'm punished. But as long as calling off the engagement would put Juliet in a difficult position, you think I can bear a little more."

I left Page Manor with my belongings.

Sebastian hurried after me to the carriage and pressed the pendant back into my hand. "Remember to take your medicine on time. I'll visit you at Jameston Manor in a couple of days."

I didn't lower the carriage's curtain right away. "Sebastian, you know they'll force me into this marriage just to curry favor with you. Yet you still expect me to go home and wait a few more days?"

Sebastian's lips moved as if he wanted to say something. In the end, he said only, "We'll speak again when the seven days are up, as agreed."

I lowered the carriage curtain.

The coachman was about to crack his whip when Juliet's voice rang out from the steps.

"Sebastian, are you finding it hard to let Isolde go?"

Through the curtain, I heard nothing from Sebastian for a long time. Then he said, "She was my wife for six years."

The carriage rolled out of Page Manor.

I could no longer sit upright, so I slowly leaned against Hilda's shoulder.