Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 34
Hannah took a deep breath and entered Mary’s bedroom. She dropped the green liquid into Mary’s favorite lotion, used often due to how frequently her hands went dry.
Shaking the bottle up and down, the tiny amount of liquid diluted, seamlessly returning to the original lotion color.
“Now… it’s done.”
All set. Everything is finished. Now I can return to a sunny place. I’ve done a good deed.
The faint guilt was overshadowed by anticipation for the future.
Hannah pocketed the empty bottle and left the room, feeling much lighter now that the deed was done.
Was that why? She was a bit off guard.
Just at the time when the men were leaving their seats, heading to their respective rooms.
“You there.”
A cavernous baritone echoed through the corridor. Her wrist was suddenly seized.
“What were you doing here?”
The fiery red hair stood out alone in the moonlight.
“Y-Y-Young Master Nigel.”
“Young Master?”
Nigel chuckled.
“Who are you calling ‘Young Master’? You can’t even get my title right?”
His smooth face contorted menacingly.
“S… Sir…”
She was caught by Nigel Rosencrantz.
Caught by this relentless man who never lets go once he bites!
Hannah felt her mind go blank, as if she might faint right there.
“What were you doing in there?”
“I, I didn’t do anything.”
Getting caught meant death.
She must deny it at all costs.
“But you are not supposed to be here, Hannah Linfitt.”
“…!”
Hanna jerked her head up in surprise. She never imagined that Marquis Rozencrantz’s heir would know her name. Now she couldn’t even spin a different story in case of emergency…
“Hannah Linfitt. The mongrel’s nanny. I asked why you were coming out of here.”
“Ah, it’s just that…”
Right! This man didn’t know she had been thrown out by Cecilia. If she played her cards right, she might get away with it.
“I, I meant to go to Miss Cecilia’s room, but got distracted and ended up here…”
“Really?”
A hyena-like laugh sounded above her head. Suddenly, her scruff was grabbed. Reptilian eyes, slick and smooth, scrutinized her terrified face.
“Tell me.”
In the middle of those amber irises, the dilated pupils were chilling.
“What did that mongrel make you do?”
At the moment of hearing this mingled question of misunderstanding and mistrust, a particularly cunning plan flashed through Hannah’s mind.
‘Pin it on her.’
On Cecilia, on that shameless bastard. To extricate herself from a possible situation. To have this man prove her innocence!
“I, I cannot tell you, even if it costs me my life!”
Hannah spoke firmly.
“It’s my lady’s command. I won’t tell a word to you, even if it means taking it to my grave!”
“Really?”
Nigel tilted his head. His eyes widened, his head moved slightly, resembling a predator ready to pounce.
“Don’t know, huh…”
His grip on her collar shifted. Simultaneously, Hannah’s hefty body was dragged effortlessly like a feather.
“No choice then.”
Bang!
She was flung against the wall.
“Ugh…!”
Hanna groaned, feeling like her shoulder would shatter from the impact. She squeezed her eyes shut from the pain and then saw the man’s hand moving towards her throat.
“Ah, ahh…”
Frozen in terror, she couldn’t even scream. She felt death inching closer.
“Stop it.”
A new voice brought the hand to an abrupt halt. The man slowly turned his gaze. Ulysses, just ascending the staircase, glared at Nigel.
“Who are you to order me?”
“This is not the Rosencrantz residence, Young Marquis.”
Nigel laughed, his chuckles intermittently filled with derision.
“Pretending to be the master of the house, huh?”
“The Coffret Manor is not my home. I have never considered it so.”
Ulysses responded in a calm tone.
“That’s unexpected. I thought this was your house since the you mongrels have been clinging and wagging their tails at each other.”
Ulysses’s stoic demeanor slightly faltered at Nigel’s taunt, but he immediately composed himself and steered the conversation back on track.
“Stop it. If there is a problem, discuss the punishment later.”
“Are you concerned because this maid is the bastard’s accomplice?”
“That’s not it.”
Nigel bared his fangs in a mocking sneer.
“Oh, is that so? I thought you interfered in my business because you just love that wench too much.”
