Sold to My Killer Husband: His Concubine's Dilemma
Chapter 52: Connecting the dots

Chapter 52: Connecting the dots

In Liora’s room , Mira sat holding Liora’s hand, caressing it. She continued to talk in whispers, "Madam, I am sorry... it had been my fault," she wiped her tear with the back of her hand. "If only I were not around you today, the Queen Dowager would not have punished you like this," she whimpered, feeling guilty.

Back then..,

Mira, when she was a teenager, was sent by her parents to the palace, or rather, sold as a contract worker. The money she earned at the palace was how Mira’s household survived. Everyone from her village had one girl sent here. At that time, out of the groups of girls, Edgar was the one who selected her to work in King Regnar’s harem, and then she was appointed to Lilian’s house.

She was now at the age of twenty. A few years back, she was still serving in the same place, but back then, she was promoted to be closer to Lilian. To her, Lilian was a caring woman, although she had always been strict. But when she felt insulted or threatened, she became violent to an unimaginable extent.

She was there when Lucien was still a prince. She could not tell Liora, considering the fact that it might hurt her, as now she was his concubine. Mira knew after spending so many years in the palace that, close or not, women despised other women who were near their man. And this was why there had always been conspiracies, deaths, and murders in the harem.

It was Scarlet Merches, Lucien’s ex-wife. She was the one Lucien had been married to, so deeply in love that he refused to take any other female as his own, even if it was for increasing the number of his family. Lucien barely used to stay in the capital. He was always busy at the borders as an army head, and it was rare for him to come back home.

Lilian was Scarlet’s mother-in-law, so she would always be in the house. Lilian was too caring towards her; she would take care of her, feed her, and console her and do everything she could to take care of her

It was not until the day Mira was asked to visit Scarlet’s house when Scarlet had requested her help with room cleaning. A few of her maids had finished their contracts, and until she found replacements, she asked if Mira could stay and assist her.

"Your Highness, could you please tell me where I should place these jewels? I have cleaned them thoroughly, madam," Mira asked, holding the jewelry box.

"Please place it near the dressing table. I would like to wear one of these for the evening today," Scarlet said joyfully in her sweet voice, her gray eyes brimming with excitement.

Mira thought Scarlet looked adorable whenever she smiled like that; her gray eyes would squint a little, and her fair cheeks would get a pink blush on them.

Many times, whenever Scarlet’s maids finished their contracts or were sent back home, Mira would accompany her. But something strange was happening there, as all maids were frequently appointed to Scarlet, served for a limited period and then, one by one, they would disappear.

When Lucien was just a month away from returning to the capital, and during this time, Scarlet had been truly happy. She used to smile, daydream, and even create many new dresses and pieces of jewelry to ensure she looked beautiful to keep her husband by her side.

The house was nearly empty, with only a few maids remaining. Since Scarlet had spent so much time with Mira, she had asked her to join her in trying on the new dresses. Mira eagerly nodded. Scarlet was no older than Mira, which made it easy for them to get along.

Lilian had always been strict with Mira, but Scarlet had a softer personality, so it was easy for Mira to be with her.

Mira followed Scarlet into her changing room, carrying an armful of dresses she had received from the eunuch delivering them.

Scarlet first picked a yellow dress with peach flowers on it and stepped behind the dressing screen. She changed out of her gray-shaded gown, hanging it over the screen, and slipped into the yellow dress. Unable to tie the gown from behind, Scarlet called for Mira’s help.

"Mira, can you tie this for me?"

"Yes, madam," Mira answered, stepping forward.

Scarlet pulled her long blonde hair to the front, making it easier for Mira to tie the dress. But as Mira reached for the strings, which were used to tie the dress and secure it well, her eyes landed on Scarlet’s back. Her breath hitched.

There were burn marks, fresh ones. The uneven shapes suggested they had been made with a long object, while some looked like they had been inflicted by a cigar.

Mira’s hand reflexively reached out, her fingertips barely brushing against the wounds. Scarlet flinched at her touch.

Mira froze, her heart pounding. "Madam..." She could hardly believe what she was seeing.

The marks on her back were of different shapes. Some looked like they were made with a long object, while others were from cigars. Scarlet tried to hide her back.

"Oh, it is nothing, Mira. Just an infection. I had been using the wrong paste. Someone suggested I use it to make my body more beautiful, but I just got infected," she stuttered and turned to look at Mira.

Scarlet held Mira’s hand and asked, "Do not worry. They are just marks, nothing much to worry about."

Mira did not say much. This was the first time the ever-brimming-with-happiness Scarlet looked sad, but she hid her pain well behind her smile.

"Now, will you help me with the dress?" Scarlet asked her. "Come on, we have three others to try too," she nudged Mira.

Mira, considering her words again, got ready to do it. They tried all of them, and Mira was helping her, but at the back of her mind, she was terrified of how bad those marks were. Lucien was not around. Who would give her those marks? If Lucien saw them... what would he do?

On the same day, Scarlet had asked Mira if she could return to her chambers for the night since she had been working tirelessly in her mansion. Mira wanted to say no, but in the end, after Scarlet tried to force her, she agreed and left for her chambers.

Inside her chambers, Mira was still worried about Scarlet. She was such a caring lady, yet how did this happen? Who would do this? Mira, worried about Scarlet, ended up going inside the house.

Mira sneaked in. She was going to call for Scarlet, but her words died in her throat the moment she heard a cry. Someone was whimpering and hissing at the same time I was a not-so-loud cry. Mira ran in the direction of the place the cry was coming from.

It was none other than Scarlet’s room.

Mira stood behind the vase, crouching as she felt eyes on her. She hid behind the vase and heard Lilian cursing. When Mira leaned ahead, she saw Scarlet sitting with her dress torn from the back. She was sitting with her back to the person seated on the chair, holding a cigar in her hand. Scarlet had her chin resting on her knees.

That was when Mira saw Lilian bending and pressing the bud of the cigar to Scarlet’s back.

Mira was so horrified by the scene that she shrank back behind the vase. Even when she entered the house, no one was guarding the room. It must have been because a mother-in-law was just meeting her daughter-in-law. What else in the world would be happening here?

On top of that, this was Lucien’s wife, Scarlet. Lilian loved Lucien more than anything. So why would she do this to Scarlet? She treated her so well in front of everyone—so why?

Mira was too stunned to speak. She could not go ahead and decide what to do. If she went ahead, Lilian might just kill her. What about her family? What would happen to them?

Mira ran as fast as she could before Lilian’s eyes could see her.

The next day, Scarlet did not leave her room.

While she was being abused, Scarlet could not hear or look anywhere. In her pain, she could not see around—just two eyes, tears in them, were peering at her.

Mira knew Scarlet was hiding the pain well, but she had witnessed it. However, she did not speak out, as that would only shame Scarlet. That day Mira tried to connect the dots.

Maybe all those maids who left had seen it. Maybe that was why they were being replaced.

This was not something everyone knew, because she had heard that when Lucien returned, it was not long before Scarlet was killed. It was after his return from the war, and he had won credits.

Somewhere, Lilian had doubted that Mira had gone to Scarlet’s house, but when questioned, Mira thoroughly denied it. Since no one had witnessed her, and Edgar had protected her when she pleaded with him, she had been spared.