Chapter 1: The Berkshire Family Became Her Lifeline Part 17

She was so cheerful and lovable that even the strict Madam Maya couldn’t fault her.

Sophia felt a sense of connection to Marien, knowing that her mother had suffered from the same illness.

Her son, who rarely opened up to anyone, had personally recommended this diligent and kind-hearted maid.

How had Tamilan come to know her?

Even when asked indirectly, her aloof son would never give a clear answer. Marien herself was evasive when asked, mentioning only that they’d met at the stables and the laundry area—hardly enough to warrant Tamilan’s trust.

Watching Marien carefully place the mullein leaves into a large glass jar, Sophia called her to come closer.

These days, drinking mullein tea regularly had helped calm Sophia’s cough, even after speaking at length, and she felt better for it. At last, peaceful days were continuing.

“Marien, shall I tell you a story about Tamilan when he was just a child?”

As Marien massaged Sophia’s arms and shoulders, Sophia asked with a gentle smile.

“Yes, madam. I’d love to hear it.”

Marien’s cheeks flushed like a drop of red paint in water, her eyes brimming with pure curiosity.

Sophia smiled softly at her, while Maya, knitting nearby, shook her head in amused resignation at Sophia’s endless stories about her son.

But for Marien, hearing about the young master’s childhood was a favorite pastime.

***

“Werner, I hope this time you’ve brought news I can be pleased with. Surely, you won’t disappoint me again, will you?”

As his loyal subordinate returned, Ruston leaned languidly back in his study chair and asked.

“Yes, Lord. I’ve brought the answer you were hoping for.”

Werner placed the documents neatly on the desk, and Ruston reached for them with a graceful gesture.

Werner Hoffman, standing silently in front of him with a stoic face, had been Ruston’s closest knight since before Ruston had become the Lord of Berkshire.

He knew better than anyone how deeply Ruston was obsessed with Janine Aster, ever since they’d been young and reckless together.

Ruston’s handsome face, which seemed frozen in time, now carried a mature charm and depth.

With his smooth eloquence and impeccable appearance, the Lord used both to great advantage in business.

“I hope you’ve proven yourself useful once again.”

Ruston’s face gradually hardened as he turned the pages of the report Werner had presented.

“Mary Nielsen, Jane Klein, Jane Reed. Hah, how did you manage to find a woman who had been missing for twenty years?”

Ruston pressed his index finger against his brow as if trying to stave off a headache and waited for an answer. Werner spoke.

“As you know, it was nearly impossible to track down Janine Aster, who vanished back then. The same goes for Erik Nielsen, who escaped with her. Paul also struggled to find any link to Marien Reed.”

When Erik Nielsen’s name was mentioned, Ruston’s hand crumpled the document he was holding.

“So?”

“This time, we retraced the steps focusing on Jane Reed. She used multiple aliases.”

“Continue.”

“When she was living under the alias Jane Klein, it was before Marien Reed was born. It appears she lived briefly with Erik Nielsen in Woodley.”

“And Mary Nielsen?”

“Mary Nielsen was the alias she used at the beginning of her escape. It’s presumed she dyed her hair black to avoid being recognized.”

“How did you confirm that?”

“I found the coachman who had helped her and Erik back then. He remembered Janine Aster’s striking appearance even after all this time.”

“Good. You did well. But why couldn’t you find her back then? Janine Aster isn’t here now, is she? Werner. Why….”

“…….”

Tapping his desk while listening to the report, Ruston’s emotions from twenty years ago surged back with a vengeance. Unable to contain his simmering rage, he clenched his fists tightly.

“Do you know what it’s like to have dead emotions resurrected?”

“…….”

His heart, once reduced to gray, dusty ash, began to beat anew, delivering an overwhelming thrill. Ruston’s hand clenched and then opened as he let out a chilling laugh. The blood surging through his body was a stark reminder that he was still very much alive.

With an aristocratic smile, Ruston Berkshire uttered a vulgar remark.

“Absolutely f*cking ecstatic.”

“…….”

Werner didn’t dare ask Ruston how he planned to deal with Marien Reed. But even without asking, it was easy to guess the answer just by looking at his expression.

“Well done. You may go now.”

Ruston dismissed him, and just as Werner was about to leave, someone politely knocked on the office door.

“Master, it’s Philip.”

“Come in.”

Following Werner’s departure, the family butler, Philip, entered. It was the tedious time of day when household affairs were reported, so Ruston leaned back languidly in his office chair.

At least Philip’s voice was pleasant to listen to.

“…Next is the report on the lady’s health. Apparently, the maid who recently became her dedicated attendant has considerable knowledge of medicinal herbs, and thanks to her, the lady’s condition has noticeably improved. The effects are quite remarkable….”

Ruston, who had been listening with his eyes closed, raised his hand to stop Philip’s report.

He had said he didn’t care who became his stepmother’s attendant since they changed so often, but Philip always managed to slip in such details.

Usually, he would just ignore them, but for some reason, this time, something caught his attention.

“Wait a moment. What’s the name of that maid?”

Philip flinched, involuntarily opening his mouth before quickly closing it.

He had always wondered if Ruston was truly listening or just letting the reports go in one ear and out the other. Today, that question was answered. And it was even more surprising because it was about the lady.

“Her name is Marien Reed. In fact, you’re already acquainted with her. On her first day of employment….”

With a smile curling his lips, Ruston waved a hand to cut Philip off.

“I know. Well, if my mother’s health has improved, I can’t just stand idly by. Philip, bring that maid here. I’ll commend her personally.”

“Ah… yes, Master. I’ll inform her right away.”

Philip left the office without showing any of his surprise, though he couldn’t help but wonder what had prompted Ruston, who had never before shown any interest in the lady’s health, to suddenly become so involved.

After the butler left, Ruston tapped his desk with his index finger, lost in thoughts of Janine Aster.

The maid he had searched for all this time. The news that she had contracted an illness and died, without his knowledge of how she had lived after her escape, kept igniting a fire in his chest, filling him with anguish.

And now, Janine Aster’s daughter had come straight to him. With an even more beautiful appearance, seemingly trying to captivate him once again—it was clear she was her mother’s daughter.

From the moment Ruston first laid eyes on Marien Reed, he felt a mixture of love and hate, just from her resemblance to Janine Aster.

After being manipulated for over twenty years, wasn’t it time for him to be the one in control?

Finally, he could possess what he had so desperately longed for—what he had desired most passionately.

***

While Marien was having lunch in the dining hall, the butler, Philip, called her.

He said that the lord was pleased with the improvement in the lady’s condition and had summoned her, so Marien had to leave her barely touched lunch.

As she left the dining hall, the maids whispered among themselves with envy.

“Oh my, Marien is really doing well these days, isn’t she? The lady, the young master, and now even the lord… she’s making connections with all the masters of Berkshire.”

“Margaret, just admit you’re jealous.”

“Of course I’m jealous! I’ve been working here for years, but the lord probably doesn’t even know my name, let alone my face. But Marien, she’s made a lasting impression on all the masters of Berkshire right from the start. Sigh…”

“Is Marien that pretty? Once you see her, you can’t forget her. Unlike you, Margaret. Get real.”

“Mia, are you picking a fight?”

“I’m just stating the facts. How could we catch their attention? Even Sarah didn’t catch the masters’ eyes.”

“Well, that’s true.”

The maids no longer held back and freely spoke their minds, disregarding Sarah’s presence.

Screech—

At that, Sarah, who had been quietly eating, pushed back her chair with a noise, then slowly approached Mia.

As she fixed a sharp gaze on Mia, the maids’ attention turned entirely to Sarah and Mia.

“No matter if I’m under discipline, Mia, you’re not at the level to talk down to me. Are you saying I’m below Marien just because I didn’t catch the masters’ eyes? Is that what you’re saying?”

Under Sarah’s cold stare, Mia muttered in a small voice.

“I didn’t mean it like that… I just said the truth, like I told Margaret…”

“Then you should’ve stuck to the truth. I don’t understand why my name had to come up. Mia.”

Sensing Sarah’s intense gaze, Mia shrank back and avoided her eyes.

“It was a slip of the tongue. Sorry…”

“Enough, all of you. What, you think Marien caught the masters’ attention just because she’s pretty? Tell me, is there anyone here who could have improved the lady’s health in her place? Is there anyone as diligent as Marien?”

“……”

Emma asked as she looked around indifferently, prompting the maids to feign ignorance. She then turned to Mia and spoke again.

“Sarah isn’t wrong. Mia, you also belittled Marien’s abilities. Talking nonsense without a valid reason.”

“That’s right. Marien is good at embroidery too. And her personality is so nice. She’s so kind.”

Isabelle chimed in while munching on a piece of bread, and a few maids left the scene, bringing the atmosphere to a lull.

Sarah shot a glance at Emma before returning to her seat.

Her expressionless face twisted with frustration as she looked at Carol, who was sitting in front of her.

“Carol. This is the first time I’ve felt such humiliation and disgrace since I came to Berkshire.”

“Sarah, you should endure it. For now…”

Carol tried to comfort her, but Sarah shook her head.

“Why should I endure it?”

“Uh…?”

“Don’t you know me by now? I’m not the kind of person who just takes things lying down. I’ll repay this tenfold.”

Sarah twisted her lips into a smile, and Carol, noticing the surroundings, swallowed nervously.

“How are you going to repay it…?”

“I’ll explain later. Just do as I say.”

***

“Master, Marien Reed is here.”

“Come in.”

Marien took a deep breath in front of the office door and carefully opened it.

She always felt nervous when meeting the master.

As she entered the office, the air was filled with a mixture of musk and cigar scents.

It was as if the space was engulfed in Ruston Berkshire’s domain.

Walking through the dense atmosphere, Marien’s shoulders and neck stiffened involuntarily.

Ruston curved his lips into a gentle arc as he observed Marien. Unlike Janine, her daughter always seemed like a frightened rabbit in front of him.

Though Ruston had no real concern for his stepmother’s illness, he found it convenient that he could summon Marien under that pretext. For once, Sophia had proven useful.

Ruston swiveled his chair slightly and beckoned Marien closer with a gesture.

“Come here.”

“Yes, Master.”