Chapter 5

Henry kept his eyes on the box containing the potion but said nothing.

That only left Rupert fidgeting nervously. "Don't tell me that you were never summoned but went to the washhouse for her anyway?"

Henry remained silent, but Rupert had known him long enough to tell that it was a yes.

His voice dropped to a growl right then. "Are you crazy? You didn't give a damn about Lily when she was obsessed with you, but you do now that you're going to marry Eve? I'm warning you—they're both my sisters. Push me too far, and you're no longer my friend!"

Henry suddenly snorted and looked up at Rupert, smirking. "The way you put it, it's as if you actually care."

His every word earlier was meant to break Lilian's heart.

Rupert's rage was snuffed out right then, but even as he glared at Henry, he could only come up with, "You're no better. Don't forget—you were there three years ago. If she holds a grudge against me, she'd hold a grudge against you too!"

"I know," Henry replied in his cold voice, lowering his eyes from sight. "She never touched the food in the carriage."

No, forget the food—she did not even care to use the foot warmer.

In fact, if Henry had not mentioned Madam Lestrade, she probably would not have gotten on his carriage either.

And what was it that she said when they met again?

"Greetings, General Stark."

It was a far cry from how she used to keep professing her love for him, no?

The air around Henry turned gloomy even as he remembered it.

Obviously, Rupert's hunch was right—Lilian would carry a grudge against himself and Henry.

However, no matter how upset Lilian had been back in the day, all would be forgiven if Henry were just a little nice to her.

Now, she deliberately ignored all his obvious gestures.

Still, Rupert's eyes flared with rage, his chest aching as she remembered all the wounds covering Lilian's hands.

Those wenches of the washhouse! How could they do that to his sister?!

Even if it was the princess' will, Lily was the marquis' daughter! Were they not worried at all?!

Shooting Henry a glare of annoyance, Rupert then demanded, "Did you bring the potion from the barracks?"

After all, the source of potion for the military was the Valley of the Potion Lords, so it was twice more effective.

"No," Henry calmly replied, taking a bottle from his pocket. "This would work for her sprain, though."

"Thanks." Rupert snorted as he snatched it away and turned to leave.

Still, he barely took a couple of steps before he turned around, grabbing Henry by the collar as he growled, "Don't even think about it!"

Henry narrowed his eyes in disdain with a slight sneer that said, "You're not the boss of me."

That left Rupert livid—but even if he could not keep Henry in line, that was not the case for Lilian!

Snorting, he stormed off.

Henry remained, straightening his collar before beckoning for a maid from the distance and passing her the box he was holding, then saying, "Please deliver this to Madam Lestrade."

With that, he turned to leave as well.

He headed outside, where Adam Joyce, his right-hand man, was waiting.

Seeing Henry step out, Adam exclaimed in surprise, "That was quick, general!"

Henry did not respond to that, instead plucking a bottle of potion from his pocket and handing it to Adam. "Deliver this to Ms. Lestrade."

Adam nodded, asking without thinking, "Is Ms. Evelyn hurt? Why don't you deliver it yourself, general?"

Henry shot him a sharp, icy glare in response, while Adam quickly realized that it was for the other Ms. Lestrade.

Keeping his mouth shut right then, he headed into the marquis' residence…

-

Meanwhile, Winter was carefully applying the potion given by the family doctor on Lilian's hands.

She must be the sentimental type, as her tears were flowing freely ever since she saw the state of Lilian's hands.

Seeing how she was wiping her tears even as she worked, Lilian could not help sighing. "Keep crying, and people will think that I'm bullying you."

Winter wiped her face again, her voice cracking with tears. "You've really been through a lot, milady."

Lilian only found it strange that Winter cared so much despite being Rupert's servant, but she only sighed to herself and did not say anything out loud.

Still, as if unable to stop once she spoke, Winter kept sobbing. "Mr. Lestrade was being so nasty too! You're the one who suffered, but he kept siding with Ms. Evelyn anyway! That's so unfair…"

As she burst into tears, Lilian was left exasperated and forced a smile as she asked, "Aren't you afraid that he'd catch you badmouthing him and punish you for it?"

"No, I work here in Floret Garden now, under your service!"

Winter sniffled even as she wiped her face forcefully. "He doesn't get to boss me around! And to think that I thought he was a good man… Hah!"

Despite seeing the anger on Winter's face, Lilian was unsure if Winter really cared or was just feigning it to earn her trust.

Having been abandoned by everyone dearest to her, she really could not be sure that someone who had no previous relations to her would earnestly care when they had not even exchanged ten sentences.

For her, sincerity was really a faraway thing.

Did someone sincerely care for her, aside from Madam Lestrade?

Lilian could not tell even as she stared at Winter's face, so she averted her eyes.

However, as she turned toward the window hanging ajar, she could not help frowning.

She watched as two men crossed the small bridge over the small pond outside—one was Rupert's footman, while the other moved swiftly despite his burly form.

While Lilian found the latter a little familiar, she could not quite place the face…

Noticing where Lilian was looking, Winter turned outside as well, gasping in surprise, "Isn't that the lieutenant general?"

Lieutenant general?

"Adam Joyce?" Lilian murmured as she remembered.

They had met before—in fact, Adam was already Henry's most trusted subordinate for five years.

But what was he doing here?

Still, as Lilian could not help remembering that haughty visage, her heart skipped a beat. "Go ask them why they're here."

"Yes, milady."

Winter quickly left, while Lilian watched through the window as both men conversed with Winter and each passed her a bottle.

Then, as Adam and Lilian's eyes met through the window, Adam calmly bowed his head at her before turning to leave.

Soon, Winter returned with both bottles. "General Stark and Mr. Lestrade sent these—the general's looks like military-issue potion, but Mr. Lestrade's seems to be the same."

It certainly was—but Rupert had always been close friends with Henry, and it was no surprise that he got his hands on military stuff.

However, she had no idea why they had sent these to her.

Was it really to treat her wounds or to placate their cheap conscience?

That was especially the case for Rupert—was the carrot and stick approach that fun for him?

"You can have it," she quietly told Winter, having no intention to accept either.

Winter wanted to reason with her, but seeing the cold look on Lilian's face, she ultimately said nothing.