Chapter 243

Chapter 243: Chapter 243

Even with the heavy silence that befell upon them, Orland did not change his attentive expression. Completely willing to listen, watchful to what was to be told next... And placing aside his emotions to hear objectively. With difficulty. Yet with determination, so the truth could be found.

Paige saw it clearly during her nervous pause and decided to continue. Entirely sure that her Master would listen sincerely.

"There have been occasions where Louisa and Debra would keep silent at my questions and avoid any conversation when they learned I had noticed their wounds."

"... Is there a reason why you came to think it is Theressa who hurt them?"

"At first, I believed their excuses. They would often say they tripped or got hurt while doing chores. Sometimes they also feigned stomach ailings. However... There was a day I happened to listen to one of their private conversations... where Louisa clearly said that the Lady had stomped on her hand after pushing her for not taking care of her dresses as she liked."

"... What?"

"... Yes. However, then I came to hear it myself... By coincidence... I heard how the lady yelled at Debra for not serving the tea she expected and how Louisa received the hit... Being poured the boiling tea on her hand by the lady in leisure."

"..."

"I asked Louisa for answers once I saw her hand covered... I asked what had happened. But she always denied it saying it was an accident."

"... I believe... You are now to explain why you never said anything to me, Paige."

Orland could not help but glare, since acerbity at being kept ignorant was pushing his patience to the edge.

"... I had... I had tried to convince them to speak... I had tried to make them confide in me, in your Grace... But I couldn’t... I thought about saying it myself... But..."

"If they weren’t willing to speak, I would deem your words as false and dismiss your service."

".... Yes..." — Paige’s voice broke as she confessed. Ashamed of herself for not trusting her fair Master.

"... Sigh... It might as well have been the truth... I’ve been... quite blind..." — Pressing the bridge of his nose, Orland mumbled with sad exhaustion.

"..."

Once again the quiet was felt. Chilling and depressing. Even though more was yet to be discussed. More was to be shared... More was to be learned.

"What else is there that I ignore about Theressa? ... I am trusting... Truly... That nothing has been hidden about Marianne. Paige."

"No! My Lord, if it is about my Lady I would never–" — Paige had raised from her seat in exaltation. Cutting herself off as she recalled one thing she had not told her Master and confessed. — "... I am lying."

"..."

"I did not inform one thing I witnessed the day Lady Marianne received her Surname in private ceremony..."

"... I’m listening." — Pressing for the information untold, Orland did not look at the girl in an attempt to contain his displeasure.

"... That day, the Ladies came back together to my Lady’s chambers. The Ladies usually... They are never together for long. And it is usually when I am not there that Lady Theressa visits... It was the first time I was incurring in the two ladies while interacting with each other. Hence... I had thought the tension and... The carefree... Better said, impolite ways of Lady Theressa when treating with my Lady was a common thing..."

"Impolite?... You thought it is common??... Paige... Please, child... Fuhhh... Goodness." — Bringing his hands to his face in disbelief... Orland sighed in frustration and pain.

Having heard the violence Theressa had treated her servants with and the little importance she placed to let Paige listen to the inappropriate ways to address her Sister... Orland feared his imagination.

The idea of what could have happened when his two daughters were on their own...

"If you knew she was... If you knew that Theressa was mistreating Louisa and Debra.... How come you thought... Kh..."

"My Lord! I thought that was the case because my Lady was graceful as she stopped her disrespect!"

"..... What?... Marianne did?" — Finally looking at the young maid in front of him, Orland’s eyes widened. Hopeful. Intrigued. For the gentle child’s character was difficult to imagine going against the selfish one her sister beheld.

"Yes!... T–the lady... Lady Theressa had insulted her... Calling her crazy, stupid..... Even that she was a b*tch....." — Paige pouted as she mumbled.

"... Paige. Don’t mumble. I want to hear it clearly." — The words had been caught by his hearing... Yet Orland could not believe it.

He refused to... Unless she said it clearly.

Biting her lip. Paige trembled, disheartened. Because in her Master’s eyes, the young maid could see the heartbreaking disappointment this truth was dealing on his spirit.

"... She called her a b*tch... Because my lady kept staring at her, waiting for the young miss to pick up the stack she had taken and thrown to the ground."

"..."

A moment of halted time transpired. And solely broke with the sudden rise of Orland from his seat.

Walking around trying to do something with himself so his fury wouldn’t slash at the innocent servant seating across him. Holding onto his rationale, for the Duke knew that Paige had no ways or authority to do something against a noble like his youngest daughter.

"... What else."

"....."

Paige hesitated. Yet the feel of his eyes made her speak. Causing the maid to tell in detail about the situation that had occurred in front of her.

From the way Theressa had rudely answered her lady’s ask of opinion on her chambers, to how she ignored and made fun of her lady’s approaches, along with how her lady stopped the young miss from doing as she pleased when ordering Paige to pick what she threw and how she had settled after Marianne imposingly requests Theressa to leave by asking for the claw to her chambers. Even the way her lady had gone to directly retrieve the claw so the little miss understood her determination and severity... Everything was told to the duke.

"... If not because suddenly my lady went off to rest... I believe that even my lady’s gestures when she went off were ones that conveyed my lady’s displeasure... I offered help yet she denied it. After that, she ignored lady Theressa’s presence with a disgruntled spirit... I could tell... Since my lady’s essence is always gentle... Yet back then, I could see in her demeanour that she was bothered... Probably exhausted from dealing with lady Theressa."

Orland decided to pause and go back to his seat to contemplate the maid’s sayings.

’Theressa was essentially bullying Marianne with such attitude.’

"I understand. We will talk more about Theressa’s matter later... There are still other things we need to prioritize right now."

’Even if Marianne tried to defend herself, it doesn’t mean it has always been that way... It is only recently that she has changed... I can’t base a decision on one simple exception.’

"For instance... Keep yourself close to her and don’t ever leave her alone again with Theressa... And Paul..... Paul also, by no means, don’t let him go near her if her bodyguard is not there..."

’It could be difficult to get the right guard..... Paul has sharpened his skill... But... Hopefully... He

"My Lord... I am deeply ashamed... I am... I apologise for not doing my assignments correctly..."

Orland watched the regretful woman forfeiting his thoughts.

Sinking in her seat, frustrated and shivering in sad tears. She was forcing the drops to stay in her lids.

He watched the sincere youth repent for a moment. Only to whisper a few words of comfort.

"... You have done well." — ’It is I who failed.’

Watching the crestfallen master, Paige kept quiet in concern that his kindness was talking instead of his honesty.

Both guilty, the Duke and maid lowered their heads at the depressing situation they were currently facing.

"... Do you happen to know something in Paul’s case?" — Orland then continued.

"... I have never seen him treat the Lady badly... At times he would visit her or call for her to spend time together. And I would always hear him speak softly and nicely to Miss Marianne... but..."

Paige shivered at the thought.

In her mind, doubt had always been there when it came to the Young Master. Mostly because of the crudeness of his gaze whenever dismissing her humble self from their presence in their shared noons... And because of the disturbing aura he emanated when looking at her Ladyship from a distance.

"... If I am to be honest–"

"Please do."

"..."

"All I ask right now... Is some cursed honesty, child... I’m begging you... JuSt..."

Orland’s voice... Could not help but break.

The chin of his trembled; for honesty was what he most needed in the web of hidden truths he had slowly begun to dissolve.

Nevertheless, he was a Duke.

A strong man who could not let more of what was suppressed in facades... To continue hurting his child.

Even when those who hurt her were his offspring too.

... For what was fair and proper... Orland would end it.

"... Just tell me. Whatever it is, even if it’s mere suspicion. I want to know everything."