Stronger 

The sun was starting to set when Lord Bennet decided to go back. As they prepared to leave, the Count came to see them off together with Ashley and Carl.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay for tonight? It could be dangerous travelling at night." Count Harriston offered.

Travelling from the Count's mansion to the Capital usually took one and a half days, and the chances of meeting bandits and dangerous beasts while travelling were high, even in the daytime.

"I am grateful for your invitation, but we must return to the Capital now." Lord Bennet politely refused. "And I don't want your wife getting angry with me for spending the night." He sarcastically added.

"You don't have to mind her. But if you are that decided, then at least bring some of my knights."

"No. I don't need it. Besides, I have my two knights there." He looked proudly at the twins saying goodbye to Ashley and Mary.

"Ho… I see. Then please be careful in your way."

Ashley, Mary and the twins walked over to Lord Bennet and Count Harriston. Mil hugged Ashley as she cried while Pil was trying to separate her.

"You silly girl. I don't know if you are the older sister or a younger sister. Stop clinging to Milady already." Pil complained.

"You are just jealous because I'm hugging Milady." Then Mil stuck her tongue out to Pil, making him angry.

"Who's jealous? I don't need a hug from a pig like you."

"What did you say?" Mil unclasped her hands around Ashley to chase Pil. Ashley and Mary looked at them happily. When the Count saw Ashley while she smiled happily, he was shocked.

"Mil! Pil! We need to go now." Lord Bennet called out to them.

They stop chasing around and head to Lord Bennet's carriage with him. Ashley, Mary, Count Harriston, and his butler stood outside the carriage. Then Mil hugged Ashley again before she rode the carriage.

"I'll come here again with Lord Bennet," Mil promised to her.

"Hey! Don't count me out. I'm Master's assistant too." Pil complained, but Mil ignored it and unclasped Ashley from her hug. Then she rode the carriage together with Pil and Lord Bennet.

As they watched the carriage disappear, The Count looked at Ashley with her new yellow dress and matching shoes and accessories.

"It suits you." He complimented her.

Ashley was shocked to hear a compliment from this man, but she didn't show it on her face.

"Thank you, Father. Now that I have my clothes, can I go to the town now?" She asked calmly.

'Even her way of talking had changed. Was it because of Sven?' The Count thought.

"You can't."

Ashley frowned. 'Is he breaking his promise now?'

"You can't go now because it will turn dark already. You could go to the town tomorrow. Let's go inside now."

Ashley felt relieved upon seeing him walk away from her. Then she glanced at Mary, whose somewhat trying to look composed.

"What's wrong with him?" she whispered. Ashley just laughed at her reactions.

"Don't mind him. Let's go inside now." And they walked towards the house.

Inside the carriage, far enough away from the mansion, the twins were still fighting like cat and dog while Lord Bennet looked outside the window in silence. He remembered his conversation with the Count in his study.

"Percival. What's wrong with your wife? Why would she call her child trash? And I bet she was the one who gave her those scars." He nagged upon entering his study. Carl, the butler, excused himself and got out of the room.

"Sven, it's a long story-"

"And she even called me a pest? A PEST."

The Count sighed. "She is not her child. She is my child from my mistress."

Lord Bennet was shocked. Now that he noticed it, the child had the same eyes as the Count, yet she didn't even look like the Countess.

"Oh my! Percival having an affair, that's the first time I heard of. But still, why didn't you stop your wife from beating that poor child?"

"I forgot about her existence. One of the reasons I called you was to help me turn her into a fine lady. She should have been introduced to society by now."

"You forgot about her?" He angrily asked. "Are you her father?" he fumed with anger.

"She looked so thin and unhealthy. And her scars-I need clothes that could hide those scars of hers." Lord Bennet was mumbling to himself as Count Harriston looked at him then he just sighed.

"I'm planning to marry her to the Lottway," He blurted out.

"Alright. So you need a wedding dress too- Marry what? Are you joking?"

"I'm serious. I want to be on good terms with the Lottway, and at the same time, I won't need to worry about finding her a suitable partner. It's like killing two birds with one stone."

Lord Bennet was speechless for a moment. Count Harriston is right. A lady with flaws would have a hard time finding a marriage partner. But if Lady Ashley married the Lottway, then that would make the rumours about Lady Elizabeth fake.

"Then the rumours about Lady Elizabeth and Lord Owen's relationship a fake? It was Lady Ashley and Count Owen all along?" Lord Bennet asked with a confused look.

"That's all true. Elizabeth should be the one betrothed to Owen. But that child, she..."

They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Carl's voice spoke outside the room. "Master, the Madam wants an audience with you."

The Count sighed and looked at Sven. "We will continue this conversation next time. Go back now. I have something to do."

"Wait?! That's it? What happened to Lady-"

"We'll talk again later, Sven." The Count looked at him with a firm look that made Lord Bennet give up.

Lord Bennet stood up unsatisfied. As he walked out of the room, Lord Bennet saw the Countess and faked a smile. The Countess did it too, and then she walked inside when the Count permitted.

When the door closed, Lord Bennet vanished his smile. Then he walked towards Mary, who was walking in the hallway.

"You!" He called out to her. Mary got startled upon seeing Lord Bennet. She was about to run, but he got hold of her shoulders.

"You are acquainted with Milady Ashley. I need to talk to you."

And he made her spill all the details she knew: Ashley's suffering to Lady Elizabeth's disappearance.

"Disappeared, Huh…" Lord Bennet mumbled to himself that made the twins' fight stop.

"Disappeared? Who disappeared, Master?" Mil asked.

Lord Bennet still looked outside the window. "I'm talking about the mansion. It's out of sight now."

"Now that you mention it. I can't see Milady's house now. I hope she'll be alright." Mil sadly looked out the window.

"Don't worry, Mil. She'll be fine. We even taught her about our tricks, right?" Pil assured her.

Lord Bennet looked at Pil with shock. "Even your flying kick?!"

"Master!" Pil's face became red, and he looked like a tomato. The carriage got filled with laughter because of that.

Ashley rested her tired body as Mary tucked her in the blanket. Ashley looked up at the painting on the canopy. Then Mary sat next to her bed.

"Mary, do you remember the first time you met me?" Ashley asked, still gazing at the canopy.

Mary pretended to have forgotten it. "Umm. Not really. How did we meet again?"

Ashley looked at her with a pout. "Hey! Did you forget it already? Are you that old?"

Then Mary laughed. "I'm just teasing you. Of course, I remember it like it was just yesterday."

Ashley then looked up again to the canopy. She could still remember it like it was just yesterday.

"I want to get stronger, Mary. Much stronger than when we first met."

Mary looked at Ashley with a smile as she slowly closed her eyes. "Stronger…Stronger…." Then she dozed off.

Mary gently tapped her blanket. "Don't worry, Ash. You are a lot stronger than before. And I know you will continue getting stronger until you can achieve happiness. Rest well, My Ashley."

Mary blew the light from the candle, and everything turned dark.

The night was young but not for Countess Reeva. She was frustrated about what happened with Baron Bennet but was more frustrated to see Ashley replacing her daughter.

"That rotten trash. I should have killed that girl," Countess Reeva held her whip tightly as she swung it back and forth on the floor. She even complained to the Count about the Baron's behaviour towards her, but she only got dismissed. She's so frustrated that she wants to beat someone to death. Her maid stood by the door, frightened, not wanting to be beaten to death.

"Olga!" Countess Reeva called out to her maid.

"Yes, Madam?" she managed to hide her fright from the Countess.

"Find out where or what she will be doing tomorrow."