TWWRCBAT 07

Chapter 7

When Lynette spoke with a smile, Kenneth thought she was just saying it to get his attention. But it didn’t take long for him to realize she was serious.

“Just pack only the things that are easy to wear.”

“Miss, are you really leaving this house?”

“Of course. Why would I pretend? I already have a place to stay outside, so don’t worry about it, Katrine.”

Although Lynette told her not to worry, Katrine couldn’t help it. Since there was a risk of theft, they didn’t pack any expensive jewelry or dresses. Katrine only helped her take simple clothes and money.

“Miss, what about me? What am I supposed to do?”

“What do you mean? You’re my nanny, so of course you’re coming with me. But if you don’t want to, you can stay here.”

“No! Miss, where could you possibly go without me? Of course I’m going with you.”

There was no way Katrine wanted to stay in this house without Lynette. So, she packed her own belongings too. Even though she didn’t pack much, she smiled with satisfaction at how neatly the boxes were filled.

“Hey! Are you really leaving the house?”

Despite hearing she’d be going to the imperial palace today, Edgar somehow found out and came with wide eyes.

“Yeah, I’m leaving.”

“Are you crazy? What if something bad happens out there? Just stay here and do whatever you want.”

“I’m going to live my own life from now on. You can live here and do whatever you want. Now move, I’m busy packing.”

Although Lynette rarely came to this house before she turned fifteen, that was understandable. She had attended the academy and always used studying or training as an excuse not to return, sometimes seeing the family only once a year.

Seeing Lynette, who now seemed completely detached from this house, Edgar sighed quietly.

“Lynette… I know you’re disappointed in Father and me, but this isn’t the right way. If you’re upset, deal with it here at home.”

“Back when I needed you, you acted like you didn’t see anything. So I hope you keep that attitude to the end.”

Whenever Lynette clashed with Esther, she was the one who got scolded by their father. She often glanced at Edgar for help, but he always pretended not to notice. She resented not only her father who hit her but also Edgar who looked away.

“At least act like you care when you speak.”

“You’ve never been a brother to me. You didn’t care whether I got beaten up or not.”

With her tomboyish nature, she often got into fights with boys. Even when she came home bruised, Edgar would just say she got hurt because she was weak and brush it off, never caring about “kid fights.”

“Lynette, that’s…”

“It’s too late for excuses. So just leave. Oh! Feed the birds here every morning. This is the bird feed container. Anyway, I’m busy.”

As Edgar tried to keep talking, Lynette cut him off by giving him the bird feed and pushing him out. Then she called people to move the boxes to her new address.

“What should I do with this?”

Lynette hesitated as she looked at a teddy bear on her bed. Katrine, noticing this, picked up the bear and took it outside. With that problem solved, Lynette stepped outside, and Kenneth came rushing over.

“Lynette, really…”

“Goodbye.”

With a brief farewell, Lynette turned her back. Seeing her act as if she had let go of all attachment, Kenneth reached out and grabbed her wrist.

“Lynette, no matter what, this isn’t right. I know you’re upset about a lot of things, but it’s better to resolve them at home. It wouldn’t be good if others found out.”

“Even now, Father only cares about appearances, huh?”

“That’s just how life is, especially for nobles like us. Once a reputation is damaged, it’s hard to repair.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll pretend not to know you if we meet outside. And that reputation? It hit rock bottom ages ago.”

With a bitter smile, Lynette shook off Kenneth’s hand and climbed into the waiting carriage.

“Just in case—don’t come barging into where I live. If you do, I’ll move to an even filthier and more remote place.”

Smiling sweetly, Lynette closed the window. Then, smiling at Katrine, she gave the signal to depart.

“Are you sure we can just leave like this? You did receive a dowry… Wasn’t that Father’s way of asking for forgiveness?”

“Money alone can’t fix the wounds I’ve received. In times like these, it’s better to live far away.”

If they stayed together, one would constantly walk on eggshells, and the other would get sick from the stress. That’s why she chose to live separately.

“Miss, the Freuina estate is getting smaller and smaller.”

“Don’t worry. Even if it gets smaller, it’s still right there—it’s not going anywhere.”

As the Freuina estate faded into the distance, Lynette clenched her fist and closed her eyes. If it weren’t for Fernando and Esther, the mansion would’ve still been filled with laughter.

She and Edgar would be bickering, Esther sipping tea in a ladylike manner, watching with aloof amusement. Kenneth would shake his head at the quarreling siblings and mutter how immature they still were.

That was the usual Freuina household scene. Lynette had once believed such daily life was a small happiness. But now she realized it had all been an illusion. Her fiancé and her sister’s affair was beyond forgiveness.

❅

“Miss, we’ve arrived. Please get out now.”

“Hmm? Ah, sorry. I dozed off.”

Lynette checked on the people unloading boxes in front of her new home. After paying them, she and Katrine began unpacking.

“It’s so small and cute.”

Compared to the grand Freuina estate, it looked almost adorable.

“I have good taste, don’t I? The owner needed cash urgently, so I got it cheaper than market price.”

The three-bedroom house had a cozy charm. Before Lynette could bend down, Katrine had already unpacked her clothes and filled the wardrobe. She smiled, pleased with the neatly arranged and lovingly decorated little home.

“I bet food made in this kitchen will taste amazing.”

The clean kitchen was stocked with utensils and ingredients. The house had everything necessary for a comfortable life. Katrine cooked right away, wearing her apron.

“See? Your food is always the best, Katrine.”

“Oh, no, miss. The food at the estate was made by professional chefs. That’s better.”

“But you learned to cook from Grandma. That’s why your food tastes just like hers, and I love that.”

“Miss… eat slowly and eat plenty.”

Though it was just a beef stew, Lynette had never enjoyed a meal so much. Later, she lay on Katrine’s lap, relaxing.

“Miss, what do you plan to do now?”

There was still a large amount of money left from the dowry—enough to live comfortably for years even without working.

“Actually, I’ve been thinking… I want to open a shop.”

“A shop? But, Miss, why would you do such menial work with your noble hands?”

Katrine, who usually never questioned Lynette’s decisions, shook her head at this one. Lynette, rubbing her cheek against Katrine’s hand, shrugged.

“I want to succeed through my own effort. Even if I don’t become rich, I want to earn enough to support myself and you.”

Since she had left home, she wanted to prove she could live with pride, even as a woman. She didn’t want to waste time taking bride lessons and waiting for marriage.

“But you don’t need to earn money, Miss.”

“I know, but… I want to succeed and show her I’m doing great.”

She wanted to be successful enough that even Esther, resting in the villa, would hear of it. She wanted to see her smug face crumble.

“When noble daughters cause scandals, they’re often sent off to marry some faraway man once the gossip dies down… Won’t that happen to Miss Esther too?”

“I know it’s mean, but I kind of hope she ends up marrying some old, penniless noble in the boonies.”

Even as Lynette cursed Esther, Katrine gently stroked her hair. Her glossy brown locks glowed under the light—then Lynette suddenly sat up.

“Hey, want to go check out the shop? I already bought the whole place!”

At her words, Katrine nodded. No matter what anyone said, Lynette was her lady—the girl she had nursed and raised as her own.

Watching Lynette walk ahead like she was showing off a treasure, Katrine smiled and followed.

❅

Lynette stood in front of the shop, slightly away from the city’s busy center. Katrine looked at the building and nodded approvingly.

“What do you think? Nice, right?”

“Of course, our lady has excellent taste.”

The building looked fairly new and clean. Behind it was a small field and a spring that made it easy to draw water—no need to fetch it from a well or river