Sold to My Killer Husband: His Concubine's Dilemma
Chapter 60: that’s a lie

Chapter 60: that’s a lie

Layla was curious about the potion sent here, but knowing Lilian, it wouldn’t be something simple. Or maybe it could be medicine for him. Tessa had come along with five other maids for taking care of Layla; sending this many was too much, just a week starting from that day.

Beatrice had received the potion from the soldier. She also saw the number of maids that had been sent for Layla. That put her under stress. "How to manage this number of maids? There are limited chambers for us," she touched her forehead. She couldn’t even make Layla disappointed. Later, when she was in the kitchen, she saw many other boxes were also sent here along with fresh vegetables, cheese, and fruits.

"Maybe this is not bad. This will be enough for the rest of the month or three, maybe," a smile spread on her lips. Beatrice, even as a steward, had fewer responsibilities than any palace steward, as Lucien was living away from the city and there were no visitors. It was just him, a few people of his, and a few servants and maids. These people were in the shelter of the house, not having other places to go. Lucien had asked them to stay here and serve as household servants. He was paying out of his own pockets for them. His income was never known to anyone, but to Beatrice, she thought it was Lilian sending Lucien money.

But now the problem was accommodation. Only two girls were living in a single chamber that was Lily and Mira. Maybe two of the maids could stay with them. The rest of them could live in another chamber, which was quite small in size.

Tessa had joined the kitchen just after Layla demanded to eat something good, as the food here was bland for her taste.

Tessa was cooking cream puffs with berries. She was all done with the dough, but the syrup still needed to be prepared. Mira was already cooking on the same spot. Tessa remembered the details her madam had told her. Smirking, she went ahead and pushed Mira with a soft force, making the ladle she was using for cooking curry spill it on her.

"Oops, sorry," Tessa smirked.

Mira did not understand her action. "What are you doing?" she asked, stepping forward.

"Oh, I didn’t want to spill it on you." Tessa played innocent, but Mira had seen her smirk just now.

"You’re playing innocent now? Huh?" Mira took another step closer.

This time Tessa played innocent, making a cry face. "Oh, but I wanted to cook syrup for..."

"I do not care..." Mira told her. Her voice was getting louder. Soon enough, they had grabbed the attention of the co-workers in the room, and this led to one of them going and informing Beatrice about it.

"Who are you?" Mira asked her. "I am just a maid..." Tessa played innocent again. Getting irked with the drama, Mira took another step closer, pointing at her face as she seethed, "Hey, you pushed me just now. What I am asking and what you are answering..."

"I am sorry," Tessa played the façade again. Holding Mira by her elbows, she shook her.

To get out of the hold, Mira smacked her hand. Just this was the moment Tessa wanted; she acted as if Mira had pushed her and she fell on the pastry tray she had placed just behind her on the counter, making it fall down too.

Just then, Beatrice had entered the room and had seen everything.

"What is happening here???" Beatrice screamed, looking at Tessa, who had fallen. She knew Tessa was Layla’s maid. But now the damage had been done. To cover up the matter, Beatrice came forward and asked Mira, "Apologize to her, Mira," eyeing her to do what she had asked. "No, I would not!!" Mira stood her ground. "Why would you even ask me to say sorry?" She was pointing at Tessa again.

"I did not do anything! She was the one who pushed me!"

"Say sorry! I do not care..." Beatrice gritted her teeth. She knew even this small thing, Layla would make a big blunder of it."What is going on here?" Layla stepped into the kitchen. Hearing her madam’s voice, it looked like life came back into Tessa ,she went to her madam.

That was when Mira got the idea that Tessa was Layla’s maid. She had not seen her before, but if she remembered the palace time well, Scarlet had mentioned to her about a scullery maid of Princess Layla; ’maybe this was her.’

"Madam, I was just cooking pastries for you... But I did not know how I offended that girl; she pushed me, madam!!!" Tessa started complaining to Layla.

"That is a lie..." Mira resisted.

Layla this time scolded her. Her voice was so rageful, it sent a shudder through every maid’s body. Tessa’s hidden face had a smirk on it. "Who gave you permission to talk to me like that... you maid???"

"But I did not do that..." Mira’s voice died in her mouth. Beatrice, who was standing beside Mira, whispered,

"See, this is why I was asking you to..."

"What are you talking about?" Layla called on them.

"Now... Has everyone forgotten that I am a princess and a guest here? Is this why you go and bully my maid? You think I am blind?" Layla’s eyes were on Mira.

Mira now couldn’t even fight for herself. This was not enough when Layla went ahead with her scolding.

Layla stared at Mira’s face. "You are the girl, right? Do you serve Lady Liora?"

"Ye... yes," Mira said. Layla snorted before she could scold Mira again.

"Your Majesty," Beatrice whispered. Mira got the clue and she repeated, "Your Majesty..."

"So, for you... Wasn’t your day with Lilian enough for you to understand your place?" Layla spoke with venom.

This was not just directed to her but to Liora too.

"I guess the punishment was not enough for you... Would you like me to discuss this with your madam?" Layla gave Mira options.

Mira, knowing that Liora was already injured, cried out, "No, Your Majesty!"

"Good... Then go out and keep kneeling until I ask you to be here." Mira nodded without arguing.

Meanwhile...In the room, Lucien had been there since he left Layla behind after she tried tormenting him in the corridor.

Now, he was seated on a chair while Cecelia and the patient Lily stood nearby. They had offered him the seat, assuming he was still injured.

Lucien’s pale blue eyes were fixed on the doctor’s handwritten notes. Strands of his hair fell over his eyes now.

Lily, standing a little off to the side, couldn’t help but admire him. Feeling her gaze, Lucien spoke without looking up.

"Stop staring at me."

The warning made Lily flinch, baffled. She hadn’t been ogling him, just thinking how effortlessly charming this man was. A charm no one could resist.

"Now... weren’t you the girl who served..." He cleared his throat. "Umm... that woman."

Lucien didn’t want to risk saying Liora’s name aloud.

"Yes, I serve Madam Liora," Lily replied, answering his question, though she didn’t understand why he avoided her mistress’s name.

"And Cecelia..." Lucien turned toward the doctor, who wore the same look of admiration Lily had moments ago.

"Yeah?" Cecelia glanced at Lily. "Ah...yes, Master." She nodded quickly.

"So tell me. Has the patient made any movements so far?" Lucien asked, glancing at the bandaged woman lying on the bed.

"Her breathing has returned to normal. It seems the pain has lessened," Cecelia answered.

"So that means... the flower worked?" Lucien arched a brow.

Lily chimed in, "Yes... my madam did that."

Lucien’s eyes darkened. "Did I ask you that?"

"No, sir," Lily said quietly. As irresistible as Lucien’s presence was, so was the intensity of his stare it could make anyone shrink under it.

"Cecelia, call that... uhh... woman here. Ask her if there’s anything else that can be done."

Lucien paused, then turned to Lily instead. "You go. Bring your Madam here."

Lily quickly ran outside to fetch Liora. This room was like a hidden chamber, anyone coming here had to be careful of their surroundings. Until recently, no one dared enter this place. But now, with outsiders involved, they had to be more cautious.

"Master Lucien," Cecelia called as he stepped toward the bed. He kept his distance but asked,

"Can you tell me... is she from the jungle or something?"

He remembered the people he’d rescued her from the ones with face tattoos and marks on their cheeks. Maybe they belonged to the outer villages. Many such villagers had birthmarks inked onto their bodies. But this woman was wrapped in bandages; it wasn’t clear yet. They had to wait until she recovered to be certain.

’Where is she from?’ Lucien wondered, studying her face and hair. But it was impossible to tell for now.

He had too much to deal with. The day he rescued her had only been yesterday, which meant the news must have already reached someone. The soldiers who saw him would have reported it, and interrogation would begin soon.

Besides that, he had to look into what Helia had mentioned, the issue of girls being kidnapped from villages and sold to brothels.

Lucien had confronted Hoffman about it once, but Hoffman wasn’t someone who’d personally deal in trafficking. No, there were others. People in the shadows.

And Lucien was going to find them.