CH 3

God King7-9 minutes 23.04.2023

The day after Joseph broke off their engagement, it had been raining continuously since the morning at the academy.

As the dampness outside the window increased, Bridget sat absentmindedly on her bed, listening to the sound of the rain.

Her mind seemed half-asleep, but there was no sense of peace. The constant sound of the rain must be the reason.

The day her father burned her at the age of five – it had been raining since morning that day too.

(“It hurts…”)

Bridget clenched her left arm, which seemed to be on the verge of spasming, with her right hand.

Without her consent, she was taken to the reception room where, in front of a blazing fireplace, her father mercilessly grabbed her arm. Her throat tightened with fear, but there was no way she could match the strength of a grown man.

In her memories, her father, with the face of an evil demon, yelled at her over and over again while scorching Bridget’s arm in the flames. “Show me that you can live up to my expectations, you incompetent, useless, good-for-nothing…”

Hoping that she wouldn’t hear his voice, Bridget squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears.

(“Even though it happened eleven years ago…”)

Why did it still hurt so much?

As Bridget’s expression twisted in pain, she heard a knock on the door and hurriedly looked up. When she hesitantly responded, Sienna, Bridget’s personal maid, entered the room.

“Miss Bridget,”

With her orange hair swaying and dressed in her maid’s attire, Sienna bowed her head. Sienna, a girl two years older than Bridget and a distant relative of the Meidel family, was the daughter of a merchant family. She had distinctive bobbed hair, and although she was short, she looked much younger than Bridget.

Bridget trusted Sienna wholeheartedly and secretly admired her talents.

“I’ve prepared a meal that’s gentle on your stomach. Please, eat at least a little.”

Kneeling on the floor, Sienna peered into Bridget’s face. When their eyes met, Sienna’s expression seemed pained. Though Sienna was beautiful and composed, her voice had a desperate tone, and it was clear that she was worried about her mistress, Bridget.

Bridget had been cooped up in her room since she returned home last night, not feeling well. Sienna was worried about her.

(“Sienna and the others must already know what happened…”)

The one-sided engagement annulment initiated by Joseph.

Accused and condemned of something she hadn’t done, she had fled back to the mansion last night.

Her parents must have heard about it too. Yet, no visitors came to inquire about Bridget. She couldn’t tell if she was relieved or disappointed about that.

“If I weren’t your maid… I could’ve hugged and comforted you,” Sienna said.

“No one would blame you for that, Sienna.”

At her words, Sienna stood up and hesitantly embraced Bridget.

“I’m sorry that I couldn’t do anything for you, Miss Bridget, who has been suffering for over ten years.”

“What are you talking about? You’ve always been looking out for me, haven’t you?”

When Bridget apologized, Sienna stiffened in surprise. Then, with a trembling voice, she said no and continued. Bridget was filled with regret, wondering why she hadn’t spoken up sooner.

All the servants at the villa had been subtly expressing their grievances towards Bridget, who had become completely submissive to Joseph’s whims.

(“I was foolish… I never listened to their words, not even a little… “)

Bridget and Sienna’s relationship had not been good from the start.

That’s because the Meidel family’s villa – was originally built to isolate Bridget.

(“Poor girls who had to accompany me, who was punished, even though they were innocent… “)

Bridget’s father did not forgive her for contracting with the Nameless.

Deeming her unworthy of staying in the Meidel family’s main residence, he hastily prepared a small villa in a corner of the estate… and pushed Bridget, who was finally recovering from the aftereffects of her injuries, into it.

“Don’t ever show your face in the main residence again, you disgrace to the Meidel family,” he warned.

(“No one stopped my father’s actions”)

Bridget’s mother would not even meet her eyes. To her mother, Bridget had become a repulsive existence.

Sienna and several other maids had been ordered by the Count of Meidel to look after Bridget and were forced to transfer from the Meidel family’s mansion. This was also true for the cooks and gardeners. A few who were deemed lacking in ability at the main residence were transferred to the villa where Bridget lived.

Because of these reasons, their initial life together had not been smooth. Still, as they spent each day together, they gradually grew closer.

They were always there for Bridget, who acted haughty and arrogant outside, just as Joseph said.

The reason she was able to endure the loneliness of being abandoned by her family – and now, not being imprisoned by the despair of being abandoned by her fiancé, was because Sienna and the others were there for her.

In this small cage, she could feel warmth only from their existence.

(“…Warm”)

Thanks to Sienna, it felt as if some warmth had returned to her chilled body.

“Thank you, Sienna.”

As she muttered, Sienna slowly let go of her. There was an unusual mischievous look in Sienna’s orange eyes.

“When the rain stops,”

“Yes?”

“Shall we burn all the pink dresses in the wardrobe?”

“Uh, well…”

“Let’s burn them.”

Sienna repeated with a faint smile. With a quiet intensity, Bridget nodded in agreement.

“I’ve prepared a warm stew for you, so please eat. The head chef is so worried about you that he’s pacing around the kitchen without even letting go of his knife.”

“Th-that’s troubling… I-I’ll eat. I need to tell Nathan quickly that I’ll eat properly.”

Being able to have warm and properly portioned meals at any time was one of the advantages of this small villa.

As Bridget hurriedly replied, Sienna nodded contentedly, “I’ll let him know.”

“Shall I bring it to your room?”

“Yes, could you?”

Sienna bowed, “Certainly.”

It felt like it had been a long time since they had calmly talked like this.

Just as she was about to see her off with a smile.

“…Where in you is the arrogant and foolish young lady, Miss Bridget Meidel?”

Suddenly, a murmur brushed past her ear.

But by the time she noticed, Sienna’s figure had disappeared behind the door.