Portrait of An Arrogant Master - Chapter 227

Maria, sitting alone eating some distance away, sneered sarcastically.

“Don’t romanticize madness. That’s pure insanity. It’s the mindset of someone who ignores the feelings of the one who left because she hated it, and now forcibly drags her back—using the power of the crown, no less.”

“Are you calling our Duke a madman?”

“Even people talk badly about the other person when he’s not around. What’s the harm in that?”

Maria’s shameless attitude left the maid dumbfounded, and with a sour expression, she grabbed her tray and left.

For a moment, a cold silence swept through the room.

“Why does she always get like that when Duke Krygen is mentioned?”

“Apparently, she had a problem with a stalker before. But comparing a stalker to Duke Krygen? She’s clearly not right in the head.”

“I just don’t get why Madam would put up with someone like her.”

“She’s the daughter of someone Madam owed a favor to when she was younger.”

“Still, leaving a child in the annex to be raised—don’t you think that’s going too far?”

“Madam gave permission, what can you do? The servants just have to follow orders.”

“But I heard some weird rumors, too.”

“What kind of rumors?”

The dining hall erupted back into lively chatter as if no silence had passed.

* * *

Autumn leaves had fallen in Lettern village, and winter had arrived. Though it wasn’t deep winter yet, a chilling cold surrounded the Krygen villa.

The lake where ducks used to float was already beginning to freeze solid. Maria warmed her frozen hands and headed from the main house to the annex, which was much quieter. Only Maria’s servants stayed there.

Though still upset by the earlier events, Maria forced a bright voice as she opened the door to the room at the end of the third floor.

“Have you finished eating, Mother?”

A woman looked up. Though young to be called a mother, she smiled warmly.

“Yes. Miss Dia fed me before leaving. Anna, how about you?”

“I ate too. It was so delicious I was practically stuffing my face like a child.”

Anna gently wiped Macy’s chin with a handkerchief, clearly fond of her. Macy had chestnut hair and light green eyes, just as the servants said.

She was slender with unusually pale skin, but they didn’t know Macy was confined to a wheelchair and couldn’t leave this room.

“I really liked the pumpkin stew. Please thank the chef for me.”

Much had happened between them.

When Anna saw Macy locked in the basement through a secret passage, she couldn’t hold back her tears.

“Macy!”

“Anna…”

“Why are you so thin? What happened to your body?”

Originally slender, Macy had nothing left but bones. Although the room wasn’t cold inside, she wore only a light nightgown.

There were bruises faintly visible beneath her skin. Her lively face had faded into a dry smile.

“I’m fine. You came here.”

Though she was far from fine, Macy said this to comfort a shocked Anna.

“That bastard!”

The man who caused this was oblivious, deep in sleep. The sedative was so strong he wouldn’t wake easily.

When Anna moved to hit him, Macy grabbed her arm.

“Let’s go… I want to get out of here as soon as possible…”

Her trembling hands, filled with fear, left an impression Anna would never forget.

Anna and Dia immediately took Macy outside. Lady Werfel said she had something to discuss with the Duke and left, while Macy entered the carriage after a brief conversation with Lady Werfel.

They rode away from the Bayatten mansion in County Werfel’s carriage. Being from a noble family, the guards let them pass without checking when told the lady was asleep.

“Anna, listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

Only after they were far from the Bayatten estate did Macy finally speak about what she had held back:

Her Name master, Duke Krygen; the Duke’s hidden identity; the scars on his body; Lettern village; and evidence proving a man named Eren Wood was impersonating the Krygen family’s heir.

“So your Name master is Duke Krygen?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my god. How is that possible…”

At first, Anna could hardly believe it.