Chapter 1596: Walk of Shame
Sadly, the world had a way of going against her lately.
The first half of the walk was not too bad. People in the Inner Circle either stayed at home or headed to entertainment areas with their beast carts, and it so happened that the time she was kicked out, there were very few people littering around the Inner Circle.
Except for servants heading to the markets and doing errands, she did not recognize anyone she encountered in the Inner Circle.
The moment they exited, however, things changed.
At some point, while she and her maids were hurriedly walking to her maternal house—located just outside the inner circle—she ended up encountering a few peers.
"Liaroa?"
Lia internally cursed but kept a demure and solemn expression on her face as she turned to look at them.
It was some noble ladies walking along the sidewalk of their neighborhood, though there were a few guards following at a distance to give them space.
They were all beautiful and giggling, and she could feel their condescending gazes meters away.
This group happened to have a few girls she didn’t get along with. Some she had been a bit arrogant with (though subtly in their noblewomen kind of way), and they must be having fun seeing her like this.
"Good to see you again," one said, looking her up and down, and it irked Lia very much. "It’s been a while since I saw you."
The last time was at a wedding.
Liaroa’s lips twitched. "Indeed. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have many other things to do—"
"Oh? Why are you so leisurely
walking around then?""I... just need some fresh air. Can’t I?"
A pause. "Are those... luggage?"
"She carried so many things during a walk that they couldn’t fit in the servants’ spaces..."
Lia’s jaw clenched. She knew these maids brought too much!
Anyway, the other girls’ focus changed quickly after that. "I heard about your husband. Why are you out here and not taking care of him?"
"Ah... I... I love him so much I can’t bear it," she said, her tone slowly softening without her noticing. "I’ll stay in my home while I calm down."
"I see..." they said. "Well, then...enjoy your walk."
They parted, and Lia turned around, but she could hear their giggles. Lia grabbed her skirt in anger, but what could she do now? She could only remember this day and make them suffer later.
She was part of the Sephon Family now, after all!
Sadly, when she arrived home, she was not welcome either. However, for the sake of face, they let her return to her room, which was already claimed by one of her brother’s daughters!
She even had a hair-pulling fight with a girl nearly twenty years her junior! So young and such a bitch already!
However, her level was higher than that of the little girl. She also threatened to ruin her face, so she managed to take her room back temporarily.
She moped around her room for hours, crying her heart out, slapping and beating up a few servants to vent in between.
When she lifted her head again, she decided this could not be how it ended!
She headed out, desperately needing something to make herself feel better. Who else probably feels more miserable than her? Estra, of course!
Maybe she could also use her to get back to the Sephon House as well!
Anyway, she had made it clear to her that she had nothing to do with what her brother tried to do with her. Since she didn’t open it up again, Lia assumed Estra believed her. She always did.
Unexpectedly, while she left the gates of the Roach Villa, she saw Estra outside their gates, instead.
"Lia?"
"Estra?"
She didn’t even have to look for her. However, instead of the usual tired expression on her face, Estra seemed... brighter? She wore cosmetics again, too.
What’s going on?
"Are you here to visit me?" Lia asked, frowning. She just left the Sephon family house. Did Estra already find out she got kicked out?
"No, I’m visiting Veronica..." she said, a shy blush on her face, which made her seem like a young girl in love again.
Now, Lia was very confused.
"What?"
...
Veronica, her brother, and their servants stayed in a few rooms in the Roach family’s mansion.
They were lent a small section that had a small living room where they now hung out. Usually, they would have tea from Alterra. Now, they could only make do with the bitter leaves this place offered.
They’d be stuck here for a while. Because the Lord didn’t let anyone go until the investigation was finished, they were not allowed to leave the City. For now, insisting on leaving wouldn’t do any good.
Veronica did send a letter to her family saying their situation. Hopefully, they’d find a way to convince the Lord to let them go without offending him.
For now, though, they were stuck, which sucked because they were running out of their Alterran food stock!
How would they survive?
It was around this time that one of the maids appeared.
"Sir Vangh, Miss Veronica... Miss Estra is here."
They sighed.
Since that day, Estra had been extra friendly with them, and somehow, they knew that she saw something. They appreciated that she didn’t say anything. It was just that she was with them too often.
Now..., it wasn’t like they had a lot of better things to do in this place, but they also needed some space!
No wonder Otto ran away from her...
At this, she couldn’t help but look at her handsome pink-haired brother.
"I think she’s in love with you, brother."
The man’s eyes twitched, but he didn’t deny it. "It’s uncomfortable, really."
"Have you tried telling her?"
"Would it help?"
Veronica paused, thinking of how Otto had not gotten rid of her even after decades, despite openly rejecting her many times.
Estra... definitely had an obsession problem. And a stalking problem.
Sigh
Now what do they do?