If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 6
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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“At this point, you should understand what you did wrong. Remember it clearly, Agatha. The more you disobey me and act foolishly, the more painful it becomes for the people around you.”
Swinging the whip, Stella seemed to have calmed down a bit and instructed the maids to take care of Irene.
“Irene!”
“Your Ladyship…”
Once Stella and the maids left the bedroom, Agatha and the maids rushed to Irene. They quickly untied the rope from her wrist and helped her lie down on the bed.
“For heaven’s sake, all this over a simple letter…”
Liana, one of the maids, burst into tears, saying that Irene’s clothes were torn and even her flesh was bruised.
“Hush. Quiet, Liana.”
Irene hurriedly stopped Liana’s mouth, who was venting her sadness and resentment towards Stella. They couldn’t afford to give Stella more reasons to drive away the servants from the estate. If they lost this girl too, Agatha wouldn’t be able to endure it any longer.
Despite her discussion, Liana, as if feeling unjust, lowered her voice and whispered her complaints, “What could a simple letter do to make someone like this? It’s truly… distressing, Your Ladyship.”
Unfortunately, Agatha had no idea where Charlotte had gone during her absence. After questioning the servants for days, she finally found out where Charlotte was staying secretly and wrote a letter to send there without Stella’s knowledge.
However, Stella discovered that letter. It was probably one of the servant girls who had felt guilty about Agatha’s request.
“Endure it a little, Irene, even if it hurts. It seems like we need to clean the wound,” Agatha said, trying to console her.
Irene nodded weakly. The cloth soaked in warm water gently brushed over her wound.
Irene was the one injured, but Agatha was the one writhing in pain. Agatha’s slender wrist, clutching the bedsheet tightly, trembled.
How long did they intend to torment this delicate young lady? The headmaid, who had witnessed the whole situation, turned her head with a heavy heart.
Even after the treatment was over, Agatha stayed by Irene’s side for a long time. She fretted, feeling guilty for causing the girl’s pain, and tried to comfort her as she sobbed softly.
It was days of seemingly endless suffering.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Imperial year 517, February.
It was an unusually cold winter. Calvino County’s domain was located in the northern part of the Empire. For Agatha, who had grown up in a relatively mild region, the cold here felt harsh and unrelenting. No matter how many years passed, she found it difficult to get accustomed to this cold.
If there was any silver lining, it was that Stella had departed to attend the royal hunting competition with Count Calvino. Since it took about a week to travel to the capital from here, considering the duration of the hunting competition, Stella was not expected to return to the County’s mansion for another month.
Her body was weary, but her heart was at ease. It would be even better if she never returned. Agatha sighed softly and rose from her seat.
“Hey, Agatha.”
Then, at some point, a man who had been watching her from behind suddenly appeared, causing her to almost stumble.
“…John.”
It was Stella’s son, John.
“I have no idea what you’re thinking, but I can’t even get your attention.”
Though they were distant relatives, every time she talked about John to someone, she would always explain that he was Stella’s son, John Calvino. Agatha genuinely disliked any further entanglement with him.
“If you have nothing else to say, I’ll be on my way. I have a lot to do.”
However, he grabbed Agatha’s arm and turned her toward him as she tried to pass by. The power imbalance between them was too stark for her to shake him off.
“Why are you like this?”
“If someone calls you, you should look them in the eye and talk.”
John’s expression as he spoke face-to-face was quite mocking. Agatha felt a sensation akin to bugs crawling from the arm he held onto, and she gritted her teeth. She disliked him intensely to the point where she wished she could cut off the arm he was holding.
“Have you lost some weight?”
He held her firmly, preventing her from moving, and scanned Agatha’s body with his eyes, as if savoring every inch of her. His gaze, which assessed the delicate girl before him with an unsettling hunger, sent shivers down her spine. She twisted her arm even harder.
“Let go.”
“You should show some restraint, my dear.”
“Don’t call me that way.”
But John not only didn’t release Agatha’s arm but also pulled her closer into his embrace, ignoring her attempts to resist him with all her might.
“Well, there’s something cute about how stubborn you are.”
John almost whispered in her ear, holding her as if he wanted to take her away.
“Shut up and go away, John.”
