Chapter 29

Today, I have also updated two chapters.

Thank you for reporting the typos; they have been corrected.

When a grand carriage stopped in front of the Oakridge Manor, the Earl of Oakridge rushed out as if rolling from the door.

"Edith, come quickly! ... Oh, you are...?"

When the Earl opened the carriage door and saw Lionel sitting next to Edith, his face showed unmistakable confusion. Lionel, looking calm, gazed at the Earl, who was Edith's stepfather.

"Can't you remember the face of your stepdaughter's fiancé?"

"!! I apologize, Lord Lionel."

The Earl, surprised, quickly forced a smile.

"Please, come this way. ... Is Edith doing well at the Granville Manor?"

"Edith has become an indispensable presence at the Granville Manor. ... My recovery to this extent is all thanks to Edith."

Lionel's words made the Earl's eyes widen even more.

"Surely, such a thing... No, that can't be..."

The Earl, muttering to himself, led Lionel and Edith to the drawing room. Lionel, with a little help from Edith, was able to walk on his own, and his remarkable recovery left the Earl speechless.

As Lionel and Edith sat on the sofa in the drawing room, the Earl, who had left the room to fetch his wife, the Countess of Oakridge, returned with her. The Countess, looking at Lionel and Edith with a probing gaze, exchanged a few words with her husband in a low voice before pasting a smile on her face and asking Lionel.

"Oh, it seems you are feeling much better. I am relieved to hear that."

"Yes. It is all thanks to Edith being by my side."

The Earl and Countess exchanged glances, and the Earl slowly spoke to Lionel.

"... Since Lord Lionel is here today, I would like to make a request. ... Could you consider increasing the support to the Oakridge Manor?"

"Stepfather!"

Edith, unable to hold back, spoke to her stepfather.

"What do you mean? The Granville Manor has already forgiven our debts and provided more than enough support. To ask for an increase in support..."

"Edith, be quiet."

The Earl glared at Edith and continued.

"Also, I have a favor to ask of you later. Since you left, several problems have arisen."

Edith, thinking that this was expected, frowned at her stepfather.

"Problems? ... Did you read the handover documents I gave you?"

"Well, that is... I thought it would be faster to hear it directly from the person who did it... or rather, to have the person do it..."

The Earl stammered and fell silent. The Countess, with a cold tone, scolded Edith.

"Edith, is that how you speak to the man who raised you? You should know shame. It's your fault for leaving the house in the middle of your work, causing problems."

Just as Edith was about to speak to her stepmother, the drawing room door opened, and her stepsister, Daria, entered, looking well-groomed. Daria, seeing Lionel, who had recovered beautifully, opened her eyes wide and smiled greedily.

"Oh, Lord Lionel. I heard from Father that you are here, so I came to greet you again. Also, I just overheard a conversation from the room, and I have a good idea."

Edith, sensing something unpleasant from Daria's smile, listened to her words.

"Originally, the one who was supposed to be engaged to Lord Lionel was me, wasn't it? ... Lord Lionel may not know, but Edith has half the blood of a lowly commoner. If she were to marry into a house like the Granville Manor, I would be more suitable. Besides..."

Daria looked down at Edith.

"If such a plain and unrefined step-sister were to stand beside Lord Lionel as his wife, it would be embarrassing for you. Wouldn't it be best for me to re-engage with Lord Lionel and for Edith to return to this house and continue her work as before? I will support Lord Lionel from now on."

"..."

Next to Edith, Lionel, who had been clenching his fist, slowly spoke.

"Listening to your selfish claims..."

Edith looked at Lionel, who was glaring at Daria and her step-parents with a look of intense anger, a look she had never seen before.

"I have no intention of marrying anyone other than Edith. ... Also, regarding the work in the Oakridge Manor's pharmaceutical business, it was you, the Countess, who said that anyone could do Edith's job when she left, wasn't it?"

"Did I say such a thing...?"

Lionel then turned his gaze to the Earl, who was standing next to the flustered Countess.

"Edith has never complained to me about how she spent her time in this Oakridge Manor. However, from what I can see, it seems that Edith has been treated unfairly here. ... Isn't that right, Edith?"

Edith, looking confused, met Lionel's eyes, and he gently stroked her hair before speaking.

"You are too kind. ... Considering the small amount of luggage and simple clothes you brought to the Granville Manor, and the ill-fitting dress you wore when we first met, I secretly had someone investigate your life here recently."

"! Lord Lionel, when did you...?"

Edith looked at Lionel, who had been focused on his recovery, in surprise. Lionel smiled at her gently.

"Thanks to you, I have gradually had the leisure to think about things other than myself. ... According to the report, despite being adopted into the Oakridge Manor by the previous Earl, Edith was confined to a small room in the annex after his death, given food and clothing like a servant, and did not live a life befitting a noble lady. Especially, your treatment by your step-family was very cold."

The Earl and Countess, along with Daria, turned pale and fell silent under Lionel's angry gaze.

"Moreover, you were unaware of Edith's contributions to the Oakridge Manor's business. It is clear how much you have neglected her. ... Besides, in every aspect, Edith is far more attractive than your daughter."

"!"

Daria, looking regretful, twisted her face and bit her lip. Lionel continued calmly.

"... However, there is one thing I am grateful for. When I visited the Oakridge Manor, you recommended Edith as my fiancée. ... Considering that, I will speak to my father about increasing support to the Oakridge Manor one last time. In return, please do not involve Edith in the Oakridge Manor's disputes and do not cause her any trouble. Is that clear?"

The Earl, looking flustered, stared at Edith.

"Edith, you are still my stepdaughter, right? ... Despite being half-commoner, we took you in. Is it really okay for you to leave the house and cut ties with us like this?"

( ... It was originally you, my stepfather, stepmother, and stepsister, who tried to drive me out of this house.)

Edith, who had worked hard to support the Oakridge Manor until she left, had already made up her mind. She spoke to her stepfather calmly.

"Yes. The place I want to be is by Lord Lionel's side. ... Since it was a foster adoption by the previous Earl's will, you can dissolve the adoption if you wish. Thank you for taking care of me until now."

Edith bowed politely and, raising her head, looked into her stepfather's eyes.

"To rebuild the Oakridge Manor, the first thing to do is to live within your means. Also, please read the handover documents I left. Important matters are recorded there. ... And, if possible, treat the servants like family. If you do, they will be a great help to the Oakridge Manor."

"Wait, Edith...!"

Lionel, shielding Edith from the Earl, stood up from the sofa with her help.

"That's all we have to say. We will take our leave now."

As they headed for the Oakridge Manor's entrance, Edith looked around, wondering if she would ever step foot in this house again, and searched for Laura. At that moment, she heard light footsteps.

"Miss Edith!"

Edith smiled happily as Laura ran up to her.

"Laura, I'm glad! I was just looking for you."

"I heard you were here and rushed over. I'm glad to see you looking well."

Laura, seeing Lionel, who was recovering, beamed and bowed deeply to him.

"Lord Lionel, please take good care of Miss Edith. She is a kind and wonderful person."

"Yes, I know. My recovery is all thanks to Edith being by my side."

"Oh, I see. ... Miss Edith also helped my grandmother. I believed that Miss Edith could work miracles... I'm glad..."

With tears in her eyes, Laura, Edith asked.

"Laura, have you been well?"

"Yes. ... Since Miss Edith left for the Granville Manor, the Oakridge Manor has been in turmoil over the business, and I have felt lonely, but I have managed to stay strong. ... Actually, I am getting married to my cousin and will soon return to my hometown."

"Oh! Congratulations, Laura."

Edith's face lit up with a bright smile. Laura, blushing, looked at Edith.

"Before leaving my job, I wanted to meet Miss Edith in person. I am glad to see you again today."

"Me too, Laura. Please be happy always."

"Thank you. I also wish for Miss Edith and Lord Lionel's happiness."

Feeling warmth in her heart, Edith waved goodbye to Laura. As they left the Oakridge Manor, Edith looked up at the manor and thought to herself.

( ... I have no regrets about this house anymore.)

"Shall we go, Edith?"

"Yes, Lord Lionel. Thank you for protecting me earlier."

"It's nothing, Edith. Compared to what you have done for me, it's not much at all."

Lionel and Edith got into the Granville Manor's carriage that was waiting and left the Oakridge Manor.

Your warm words are always a great encouragement to me. Thank you very much.