Chapter 6

That night, Lilian could not sleep, and even she had no idea why.

Perhaps the hearth in her room was too hot, a far cry from the cold, damp hut she used to sleep in, exposed to the weather of the night.

Or perhaps her mattress and blanket were dry, soft, and warm at once as she covered herself.

Though everything was good again, Lilian somehow felt detached from it all—it simply felt unreal.

After all, she was convinced that she was going to spend the rest of her life at the washhouse.

It was only when the morning sun shone into her room that she woke up from that dream, and understood that she had really returned.

The marquise had prepared a new dress for her.

However, it must have been bought from some boutique as it still did not suit her.

Still, it at least covered the wounds over her arms, so she visited Madam Lestrade's early in the morning.

As Madam Lestrade was praying at the chapel as she always did, Lilian stood quietly outside, having no intention of disturbing her.

Nonetheless, Madam Lestrade suddenly turned, seemingly able to sense her anyway.

Tears welled up in her eyes right then. "Finally…"

It was a quiet murmur that projected endless pain.

Lilian almost burst into tears too, and she entered to kneel before Madam Lestrade. "I'm so sorry it took me so long to return."

"No… Come here, let me take a good look at you!"

Madam Lestrade's knees were still on the tuffet as she beckoned, and Lilian remained on her knees as well, crawling over to Madam Lestrade's side.

Her withered hand was shuddering even as she gently caressed Lilian's cheek. "You've lost weight…"

It was a simple line, but Lilian burst into tears as she threw herself into Madam Lestrade's arms, crying, "Grandmother! Grandmother…"

Even the maids around them were subtly wiping their tears.

After Evelyn had returned three years ago, the marquis' family had jumped ship to Evelyn's side overnight. They felt sympathy for Evelyn's troubles, doting on her and assuring her that everyone would love her from now on.

Only Madam Lestrade noticed Lilian standing in a corner, unsure what she should be doing.

She then told Lilian that she was her most endearing granddaughter in her heart, no matter what happened.

After Lilian was sent to the washhouse, she heard that Madam Lestrade visited the palace, seeking an audience with the empress to appeal for leniency. However, the princess intercepted Madam Lestrade even before she reached the empress, humiliating her before chasing her out of the palace.

The other servants had mocked Madam Lestrade then for trying to play the seniority card without understanding her place.

And that was when Lilian went on a rampage, clobbering those servants for running their mouths.

It was also on that occasion when the madame almost beat Lilian to death, but she did not regret that as none of the servants had ever badmouthed Madam Lestrade again.

Nonetheless, it was after a long, tearful embrace that Lilian and Madam Lestrade managed to calm down, and Madam Lestrade smiled lovingly. "Everything's fine now that you're back. No one will bully you from now on!"

The marquise had said the same thing, but Lilian did not really take it to heart.

But now that Madam Lestrade said it, Lilian finally felt a trace of warmth in her cold heart.

Nodding repeatedly, she felt her nose getting runny even as she watched Madam Lestrade's wrinkled face. "Then you must live long, so that you can always stay with me."

"Yes!" Madam Lestrade shed a tear even as she beamed.

By the time the marquise brought Evelyn over to greet Madam Lestrade, they had already finished breakfast.

The marquise felt emotional even as she watched Madam Lestrade and Lilian sit, huddled together intimately, though her first question was, "Now that Lily is back, I believe the matter of engagement is settled?"

Half of Lilian was facing Madam Lestrade, and she never turned to look at the marquise or react to what she said at all.

Still, it puzzled her—what did her presence have to do with Evelyn's engagement?

As such, she was surprised when Madam Lestrade patted her hand and asked tenderly, "Lily, tell me—are you still in love with Henry?"

Lilian did a double take and turned in reflex toward Evelyn, seeing the nervous look on her face.

Noticing Lilian's stare, however, she promptly hung her head, looking just like a newlywed wife who was given grief.

That only stung Lilian, as Evelyn was the one whom the marquise doted on!

She shrugged and turned away, though she would be lying if she said she did not feel bitter.

But that did not matter now, as Lilian had now gotten a bead on the situation now.

Evelyn might still be engaged with Henry, but Madam Lestrade had taken sympathy on Lilian as she knew how ardently Lilian loved Henry.

If Lilian so much as asked, Madam Lestrade would fight to reclaim her engagement.

And now, the marquise and Evelyn were very obviously nervous that she would say yes.

However, they were clearly being paranoid as Lilian flashed a tender smile at Madam Lestrade. "No. I've fallen out of love for a while now, Grandmother."

Someone outside the room paused just then and listened as Madam Lestrade pressed, "Are you serious? You were head over heels for Henry back then—"

"I was young and stupid," Lilian said, cutting her short. "Moreover, the engagement only applies to legitimate heirs from both families, and that has nothing to do with me. My last name is Kerr, after all."

She had already told Madam Lestrade earlier about changing last names, but this time, it really stung.

Holding Lilian, she nodded repeatedly even as she sighed. "Yes, Kerr is a good name."

In the end, it did not matter what last name Lilian used—she was Madam Lestrade's dearest granddaughter!

As they spoke, two figures entered—they were Rupert and Henry.

Rupert had never smiled ever since he met Lilian again yesterday, and his face was ashen after having overheard her conversation with Madam Lestrade.

"Good morning, Grandmother."

He bowed his head in greeting, but even before Madam Lestrade could respond, he had already turned to Lilian and snapped, "The family annals haven't been changed! You don't get to change your last name as you like!"

Rupert knew that Lilian's biological father's last name was Kerr, but she had no reason to use that name when she had been raised as the marquis' daughter!

That was who she was, and who she would always be!

Seeing that Rupert was going to throw a fit for no reason again, the marquise frowned as she snapped, "Watch your words, Rupert!"

It was only then that Rupert glanced at Madam Lestrade and finally calmed down a little when she saw her glare of disapproval.

That was when Lilian spoke quietly again, her words a short, sturdy blade that sliced through the hypocrisy of the marquis' family. "Actually, the day after I was sent to the washhouse, the marquis himself told the emperor that my last name is Kerr. If he hasn't altered the family annals, he would be committing treason for deceiving the emperor."