"Tell me! What happened last night?" Venn, Leon's concubine, urged the spy in the main house to tell everything. For several days, Leon hadn't been seen visiting her in the West Pavilion. The man was busy with the street mouse he had just picked up, Arren.
"The young lady is ill, Mistress. So... the master is taking care of her," the servant said, trembling. He was afraid of misspeaking.Venn's jaw hardened. This building felt so empty without the passionate nights with her beloved. "Why give me a house like this if we don't live in it, sir?" Venn mumbled.Her heart ached hearing that Leon seemed to forget everything about her. Initially, Leon belonged to her alone. Now? Venn had to accept sharing her lover with a strange girl she didn't even know."Tomorrow! Tomorrow, invite her to the tea party. You must convey it to the personal servant. Understand?""T–Tea party?" The servant was startled. Cold sweat immediately poured from his forehead."Yes! You understand, don't you, what I mean?""A–All right, Mistress!" The servant nodded, pleading to be excused. He knew very well that an invitation to a tea party meant that one of them would die.***The next morning, Venn's plan would indeed be executed.The spy had conveyed the concubine's message to the master's personal guest servant. Nervously, the servant agreed. The servants had no right to decide anything. They had to submit and obey all the master's orders."Good morning, Miss. Come, I'll help you bathe," said Poppy, a personal servant assigned specifically to care for Arren. One good thing about this mansion was... its food and servants.Perhaps, in her childhood, Arren had a servant, but she didn't remember much. Arren was too young at the time, so all she remembered were events from her adult life, full of struggles after her mother's death."All right..."After getting Arren's approval, Poppy immediately gently led her to the bathroom. Poppy began to bathe her carefully and helped her dress up."Poppy, right? What's your name?""Yes, Miss.""Uh... why do I have to dress up?""T–uh. Well... You're invited to a tea party by Mistress Vennina, Miss," Poppy said softly."Who?" Arren asked awkwardly, feeling unfamiliar with Mistress Vennina and having no connection with her."Mistress Vennina, Mr. Leon's concubine. The most powerful woman in this mansion after Mr. Leon," Poppy answered somewhat awkwardly, afraid Arren would be frightened."I didn't know that Leon has another woman here," Arren said, a bit surprised, as the man always searched for her. Perhaps, for Leon, Arren was a new toy that caught his attention."Calm down, Miss. It's just a suitability test for the woman chosen by the master," Poppy explained, trying to reassure her.Anxiety began to creep into Arren's mind. She never expected that Vennina, Leon's concubine, would summon her for such an evaluation. Suddenly, she felt worried about what she would face."Hmm... Is this mandatory, Poppy?" Arren asked hesitantly."Forgive me, Miss, but it's a direct request from Mistress Vennina. I'm afraid there may be unpleasant consequences if you refuse.""Fine. I'll go," Arren finally said.With a pounding heart, Arren left her room and walked towards the meeting with Vennina. She didn't know what would happen, but Arren was determined to stay strong and not let anyone degrade her dignity.***"Honestly, how does that woman look?" Venn asked the spy."Beautiful, Mistress. And, she's a young girl. Her skin is very fair and radiant. If adorned a bit, she would look very charming," the spy enthusiastically recounted, unaware that the question was just a bait.CTAS!A whip was wielded on the back of the spy who seemed to like the master's new woman."Are you stupid or blind? How dare you praise a filthy woman from the streets like that!"CTAS!Another swing tore the servant's clothes, who now staggered unconscious."Me--mercy, Mistress!!" pleaded the trembling servant. "I-I misspoke," he said, sobbing. Venn seemed to grip her whip tightly with anger.'Arren! What kind of girl are you!' Venn thought angrily. "Have you prepared everything I asked?" Venn asked one of her servants."Ye–yes, Mistress," she obediently replied."Good. Let's go to the greenhouse now!"Arren walked with a slight limp to reach the greenhouse, following Poppy's instructions. Somehow... everything in this mansion seemed so strange.Firstly, the owner of this house is a kidnapper and rapist. Arren must put him behind bars!Secondly, a jealous concubine? Arren could sense that a woman named Vennina seemed to feel threatened by her presence. "I will tell her that I am not her rival!"Hearing the word 'rival' made Arren's hair stand on end. Only a fool could love a vile man like Leon. No. Arren is not that kind of person."Welcome, Miss...."A servant seemed to welcome Arren as she entered the greenhouse.A table was beautifully decorated, surrounded by rose petals. Their fragrant aroma added elegance to the room. Arren immediately liked the feast that was being held."Hello," Arren greeted warmly.A woman in her thirties rose from her chair. Her face was beautiful, with fiery red hair. The emerald green dress that enveloped her body contrasted with her fair skin.Arren was
A startled servant witnessed one of her mistresses coughing up blood.Immediately, Venn summoned someone to assist the helpless Arren. "Call the doctor!" she yelled, feigning panic. Only one servant knew it was Venn's trick, while the others didn't dare to think in that direction.Shortly after, Leon's personal doctor rushed into the greenhouse. "What's going on?" the doctor asked quickly, examining the patient's vital signs."She suddenly vomited blood and fainted," Venn said, having previously injected a hallucinogenic substance into Arren to blur her memory of the preceding events.The doctor appeared alarmed, finding signs of poisoning in Arren's body. "Move her to the room!" the doctor ordered the guards who had accompanied him.The guards quickly carried the unconscious young lady back to her room on the third floor. The doctor immediately provided the first aid he could, but unfortunately, there was no more effective way than extracting the poison through an oral method."How is
The search process for the suspect became a heated topic in the mansion. Everyone appeared anxious and doubtful— who could have provoked their master to such an extent?"Idiots," muttered a servant passing by the master's office. After delivering two cups of tea to her mistress, the servant returned to the kitchen, where she should be. She then continued spreading gossip and rumors about the comprehensive search by the security team for the perpetrator of the poisoning of the master's new love.***"Could it be Miss Venn who did it?" asked Ford, Leon's newly joined aide, after completing a reconnaissance mission at the Napoli headquarters, Leon's business rival who had recently disturbed the peace of his club."Venn? Hmm..." Leon seemed to consider the possibility. For men, competition in the power domain might be common, but does the same apply to women?"I'll find out," said Leon seriously. Ford burst into laughter. "Oh God. What happened to this polar monster? Why do you seem so con
The guards tasked with Arren's safety asked her to come down from the tree. This situation could lead to punishment and even a reduction in their pay if their employer were to get injured."Calm down, I'm good at climbing," Arren responded confidently. She moved her feet slowly, climbing up one by one until she reached the end of the branch.At the end, there was a nest of sparrows missing one of its chicks."There, there, little bird," Arren said gently, placing the fallen bird back into its nest.Arren was about to descend the sturdy but slippery tree trunk when, unfortunately, she slipped."Aaaaaaakkkhh....."Arren slipped and nearly fell. Her leg could have been sprained, but luckily, someone caught her just in time. Arren was truly grateful. It seemed the guard assigned by Leon had a purpose after all."Who is saving whom?" Leon retorted, displeased because Arren was in danger once again. The guards exchanged worried glances, realizing they wouldn't be getting overtime pay that da
"Before that, explain first, why did you suddenly drag me into the warehouse?" Arren asked, bowing her head to hide the fear and embarrassment she felt.Leon raised an eyebrow, considering the question foolish from the girl who had captured his heart. "Are you foolish or just don't understand?" Leon retorted."What do you mean?""I already warned the guards to keep you safe. And what did I witness? You almost broke a bone!" scolded Leon while gripping Arren's frail arms."Aww...."Instantly, Leon released his grip as he knew Arren winced in pain. The girl's face looked pale and frightened."Sorry, I mean it. Don't endanger yourself! Understand?" Leon emphasized so that Arren would be more careful in the future."Okay, Master," Arren obediently replied. Somehow, Leon's behavior seemed different. He wasn't as arbitrary as before. What was this? Was Arren starting to melt toward him? Arren quickly slapped her face hard to snap out of the hallucination she created for herself."Just call m
"Your final task is to become the scapegoat. I will create a story to protect myself and blame you for the poisoning," Venn said with a threatening tone.Hillis knelt led with Venn not to trap her like that."Have mercy on me, Madam. I would never dare to lie like that." Hillis's tears flowed freely, and her body trembled irresistibly."You will take the responsibility, and I will ensure the safety of your family. It must be done!" Venn insisted without giving room for negotiation."Oh, God!" Hillis cried out in desperation.Hillis paled, feeling the weight of despair in her heart, but she knew there was no other option.Her family and her life are in Venn's hands. She could only follow her master's orders."Remember, Hillis," Venn added sharply. "If this plan succeeds, your family will have a better life. If it fails, you will face the consequences."Hillis nodded sadly, lowering her head. She felt an immense burden, but she had no choice.Venn looked at Hillis with satisfaction, know
"When will she regain consciousness?" Leon asked, his concern evident."She will regain consciousness soon, Sir. You don't need to worry. It's the same poison Miss Arren had before, and we have the antidote," the doctor reassured him."Alright, thank you for your assistance," Leon said, and he walked away. He had fulfilled his duties as the host towards his ward. Now, Leon needed to return to work.Venn was unaware that Leon's treatment of her was very different from how he had treated Arren when they were both on the brink of death. Only the doctor and the servants knew about it. If Venn had been conscious, she would have thrown a fit to gain her lover's lost affection.***"Leon, what's happening? Why is the mansion in such chaos?" Ford, who had just stepped out of the car, asked. He was carrying some newly designed alcoholic drinks for Leon's club testing.Leon's nightlife business required him to supply the best products to his clubs in the capital. He must ensure the best materia
Chapter 12 # The SecretArren held the girl's hand tightly and led her to sit in the nearest pavilion. She instructed a servant to prepare a warm tea to calm her."Please drink," Arren said gently as she offered her a cup of warm tea.The girl appeared trembling and accepted the cup with fear. A moment later, the cup slipped from her grasp.Crash!The cup shattered, startling Arren, and the guards returned to their positions near their master. However, with a hand gesture, Arren managed to send them away."I'm fine," she said firmly.Arren ordered his guards to keep their distance, creating a less intimidating space for the girl. She didn't want to make the situation more complicated.Arren refocused his attention on the mysterious girl who remained silent."Do you want to keep acting like this? How can I help you if you don't speak?" Arren began to press the girl, giving her a reassuring hand squeeze.He truly didn't know how else to persuade her to talk.The girl lowered her head and