A coach halted at the Marquis's mansion, and after a week, Valentina returned for a visit. Hastily the marchioness descended to greet her. However, the woman's face appeared weary, for Mariam's nightmares persisted and the girl's condition worsened day by day.
"Welcome, mother-in-law. I regret that I cannot tend to you as you deserve, but your granddaughter Mariam has been having a great deal of trouble sleeping."
"Granddaughter? I don't recall recognizing her as my granddaughter, but it's unfortunate. I hope she recovers," said Valentina before entering, brushing past the marchioness and Rogelia, who bowed deeply. Valentina merely sent a maid to fetch Charlotte, having brought her several gifts. Valentina's maids entered with various boxes. The marchioness observed silently but was visibly annoyed by the way Valentina referred to her children, who were now the Marquis's legitimate offspring.
Charlotte promptly descended, dashing towards her grandmother with a smile, embracing her as any child her age would.
"Granny, I missed you so much! What are these boxes?" she asked, astonished.
"They are presents for my dear granddaughter. Let's go to your room," Valentina commanded the maids to carry everything to Charlotte's room. The marchioness grew anxious, as the girl's chamber was quite plain, boasting only a basic bed with white sheets, grey curtains, and a modest desk, while the toys once owned by the real Charlotte were now Rogelia's, as with the jewels and dresses.
"Is this your room? A maid's quarters look better. Where is everything?" Valentina queried as she inspected the closet, finding only outdated dresses.
Charlotte shyly averted her gaze.
"The marchioness gave it to my sister; she says she's pretty and deserves the best...but Granny, please don't tell her I said that," the child clung to Valentina's skirt, who could see the fear in Charlotte's eyes. One of Valentina's maids looked on with concern.
"Madam... could it be that..." she started but hastily silenced herself.
"I know, Lulu. It might be what you're thinking," Valentina, now infuriated, surely believed the woman to be mistreating her granddaughter, and her son seemed oblivious. She demanded the removal of the antiquated dresses and the arrangement of the new dresses she brought. Also, she sent two maids to the village for accessories. While Charlotte stayed with Lulu, Valentina summoned Nidia, the marchioness. When Nidia arrived, she received a sharp slap across her face.
"Do you know why that was for? My granddaughter lives worse than a servant while you lavish everything on your bastards. Remember, it's because of my son that you're not on the streets, but if my granddaughter loses any more of what is hers, I'll ensure you and your bastards return to the gutter," Valentina threatened.
Nidia touched her cheek as she absorbed Valentina's words, her fists clenched.
"You have no right to disrespect me in my home... my children are the Marquis's legitimate offspring," Nidia retorted.
"They are grown; it's clear they were born before you became marchioness. Even if you are now my son's wife, you're still nothing more than a vile harlot who sought out a fool to elevate her status."
"Leave! Do not return to this house... Guards! Remove this woman from my home," Nidia yelled.
The guards arrived but recognized Valentina, so they did nothing, merely standing silently.
"What are you waiting for? Expel this old hag from my home!"
"We apologize, marchioness, but she is the Marquis's mother; we cannot act against her or face punishment."
"What? I'll also punish you for not obeying the lady of this house, and that's me!"
Valentina ordered the guards back to their posts, leaving Nidia to watch them leave helplessly.
"I've said it; if your daughters take more from my granddaughter, I'll personally administer their punishment," Valentina declared.
The marchioness returned to her room, demolishing everything in her path as she cursed Valentina, despising how she belittled her and her daughters.
Meanwhile, Charlotte was trying on the dresses received from her grandmother. Upon her return, Valentina praised the child for looking like a lovely doll in the beautiful attire. Later, she and her grandmother stood in front of all the servants and the Marquis's other two concubines, with no one understanding what was transpiring.
"I've seen the state they keep my granddaughter in. I'll take her with me until the Marquis returns..."
"N-no, you can't. The Marquis won't allow it," Nidia objected.
"I'll discuss it with him. I expect my granddaughter to be well cared for upon her return; otherwise, each one of you will end up on the streets. Especially you, Nidia, remember, I can easily have you sent back to the brothel from whence you came."
Everyone shrank back; Valentina's commanding voice struck fear, her presence that of a woman of the highest societal respect. Upon giving the order, Charlotte was escorted to the coach, and Valentina demanded that Charlotte's belongings be moved to a nicer room, threatening consequences to anyone who touched them.
As the carriage departed, Nidia stormed into her chamber, flinging things around, while the other concubines returned to their quarters, deliberately avoiding Nidia, knowing her terrible temper. Yet, part of them was pleased with the scolding she received.
"That damned crone... I wish I could kill her..."
Charlotte watched from the window as the mansion receded in the distance, a pity since she could no longer torment Mariam, but at least she was out of the marchioness's sight and could now focus on studying and honing her magic.
"Granny, may I have a magic tutor?"
"Magic? But our family has no magic."
"I know, but I would like to learn about magic and potions."
The woman fell into silence, but Lulu, her maid, suggested that it might be a good idea. If the child learned about potions, it could prove useful in the future, given there were those intent on harming her. Valentina agreed, though it would only be for a week.
****
Upon arrival at Valentina's mansion, the servants awaited her at the door, bowing respectfully.
"Welcome back, Baroness. You have visitors awaiting you," the butler informed her.
"Good, Lulu, take Charlotte to the garden and serve her lemonade," Valentina instructed.
Lulu obeyed and escorted the young girl to the pergola, fitted with cushioned tables and chairs. Charlotte headed toward the space when a blonde, blue-eyed boy blocked her path.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here? This garden belongs to the baroness."
"Young Duke, this is Lady Charlotte, the baroness's granddaughter," Lulu clarified.
The boy studied Charlotte, who remained silent but vigilant, watching everything the little aristocrat did or said, gauging whether he posed a future threat. She couldn't remember a boy like this from the story, though everything had changed because Charlotte was taken to her grandmother's mansion after getting engaged to the second prince.
"Yes, I believe Madam Valentina mentioned something like that. I apologize for being abrupt. Pleased to meet you, lady. I'm Sigrid Richardson," he bowed slightly.
"Richardson? As in the royal family?"
Charlotte searched her memory for the name. If he were connected to the royals, he would likely have been mentioned before.
"Yes, my father is the younger brother of the king."
Then Charlotte's memory clicked. Of course, he was the king's nephew, Sigrid—that boy became the great general of the king's troops, renowned for his bravery in war and his role in securing victory for the kingdom. After the crown prince abdicated, Sigrid competed for succession but, like every story, the hero prevailed.
"Oh! My apologies for being rude. Charlotte Leroux, a pleasure, Your Highness," she bowed in return.
Charlotte wore a smile, realizing a friendship with this child could be beneficial in the future, possibly helping her thwart the second prince and his beloved.
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