The Decision To Stay

Edna could only repeat what her father had told her. She couldn't remember whether she really fell or not. Her first memory was her crying her heart out on the ship and Marquess Westfall, her father, hugging her tightly while laughing so hard.

Since then Edna continued to follow her father, listened to all the stories told by the Marquess, and answered people's questions who asked about her origin with the answer her father had told her.

"What about your mother? Do you know who your mother is?"

Edna shook her head weakly. "My mother was just a prostitute on a ship, a woman accompanying men on expeditions for years. She fell ill and when she died her body was thrown into the sea because her disease was contagious. There was no time to bring her back to the mainland for burial."

"You must have gotten bad treatment from your stepmother and siblings, right?"

"How did you know?"

"Oh, for the sake of the Sun God. It's a common thing. Who wants to accept an illegitimate child? I have a friend who has almost the same story as you. But she is living happily now. Her new family loves her dearly. Don't be too sad either. One day you will also find a new family who loves you unconditionally. I'm sure you will find your happiness there."

Edna was very moved upon hearing Luca's words. Never once had her father said something this comforting. Her father often comforted Edna, but the words that came out of his mouth sounded monotonous as though it was just an obligation because Edna had helped him a lot with her blood.

As for Luca, that man had nothing to do with Edna. He also had no obligation to cheer her on. Yet his words sounded so sincere.

"Mr. Luca, thank you very much."

"You're welcome, Eden. I'm glad you're still staying here because it's rare to find a servant as capable as you. Where we come from, Lord Maximillian also has a very capable servant. However, the man is already old. If he was still strong enough, maybe he would accompany Lord Maximilian. But the man is sick, so I am the one who accompanies Lord Maximillian right now."

The sound of pot clinking made Edna stop their conversation. She wanted to ask about the servant, but she had to quickly prepare breakfast for her master.

"Ah, this time, let me bring breakfast for Lord Maximilian. You can go back to your room to get ready."

"Getting ready?" asked Edna confusedly.

"I forgot to mention. You will be accompanying us into the city today as food supplies are running low. You know we're going to extend our stay here."

Edna looked doubtful. She thought she would forever hide in this mansion. What if she came out and someone recognized her?

"You don't need to worry. I will take care of you. I promised to take you out of this kingdom, didn't I? Leave it to me."

Edna said thank you, but there was one other thing bothering her. Luca could read what Edna was afraid of.

"You don't have to worry about Lord Maximilian. He has calmed down and returned to his usual self," Luca explained.

Edna nodded again. She saw Luca leaving and bringing with him the breakfast for Lord Maximilian. She then rushed back to her room. However, on the way to her room, she heard a faint moaning. Edna approached one of the rooms that had been cleaned.

In that room, there was a woman whose stomach was bandaged with blood still seeping out. Cold sweat had soaked the woman's thin clothes. Edna remembered her as one of the women brought by Luca to accompany Lord Maximilian.

Seeing someone who was injured, Edna quickly closed the door behind her. She came closer and made sure that the woman was unconscious. It looked like Luca already treated the woman. He probably felt guilty for making an innocent woman injured like this.

Edna could not remain silent. Her instincts always told her she had to help the ones in need. And the woman before her needed her blood. However, if she injured her hand again, then it was likely that what happened yesterday would happen again.

Edna shook her head. It couldn't be like this. If she kept delaying, then the woman's wound would get worse. Edna then took out the needle stuck in her clothes. She stuck the needle on the tip of her index finger and drew out a few drops of her blood.

Afterward, she rubbed it on the wound on the woman's stomach and a faint light covered the wound, until slowly the wound healed by itself. The woman's panting breath slowly stabilized, and Edna covered the woman's body with her clothes. She immediately sucked her wound to stop the bleeding.

Edna returned to continue her morning tasks.

Until the time to leave for the city arrived. Edna, Luca, and Maximillian were both waiting at the door of the mansion. It was clear that Maximillian did not like Edna's presence. However, Luca had made a negotiation and Maximillian tolerated Edna's existence.

"Eden, you will accompany the coachman at the front," said Luca.

Edna nodded and climbed into the front seat near the coachman. Meanwhile, Maximilian and Luca got into the carriage. The coachman pulled the horse's reins to let the horses gallop out of the front yard of the mansion.

Edna wore a robe with a hood. She found it in one of the cupboards in the storage room where all the servants' uniforms were. She covered her face, hiding it from the people who might recognize her. Even though the possibility was very small, Edna still felt anxious.

The carriage went quite far. Edna didn't expect that the city she lived in would be this large. She became curious about how enormous the kingdom was if the city was already this big.

They passed the same bridge where Edna first met Mr. Maximillian, also the same place where she cut her hair and threw away the scissors that became a silent witness when she killed Uncle Jo.