The Deal

"I'm here to make a deal, Milady." Olga looked at her with determination.

Ashley gave her a frowning face while Mary questioned her, "You're a fool to strike a bargain with Milady, I say. That takes a lot of courage to do."

Olga pursed her lips and clenched her fist. "Please, Milady. I beg you to listen to what I have to say."

Olga disregarded Mary's comments that annoyed her, "Don't pay attention to her, Ashley." she muttered as she turned to face her. "Before your food becomes cold, let's get inside."

However, Ashley remained steadfast in her position. She stared at Olga, who pleaded with her to listen by saying, "Just this once, Milady. Please."

Ashley frowned as she heard her words. Then she turned and said, "Let's go inside."

"Ashley!" Mary expressed her displeasure by calling out to her. "Let's hear her out," Ashley murmured, looking at her.

"Thank you, Milady," Olga said as she got inside with them. She strolled as she tried hard to step at a time. She couldn't even walk properly with her broken leg, so Mary wanted to help her.

When they arrived inside, Ashley sat on the couch while Mary stood beside her, and Olga sat across from them.

"Now speak," Ashley commanded her to talk while giving her a stern look

She pleaded with them, "Please help the Countess witness her daughter's burial."

Ashley raised her brows and scoffed, "What did you say?"

"Please help the Countess." She repeated.

"How dare you ask us to help her when you, everyone here, know what she did to Ashley?" Mary furiously said.

"I know. That's why in exchange for helping her, I'll assist you in leaving this place and escaping your forthcoming marriage."

"Marriage?" Ashley ask. "Whose marriage?"

"Indeed, Milady. The Count wishes to marry you to the Count's son, to whom Lady Elizabeth was supposed to be betrothed."

"What?!" Mary angrily asked.

Ashley was astounded by what she had heard. She tightened her hand while gritting her teeth. "Ha! She loudly exhaled as she became aware of her so-called father's intents. She let out a mocking laugh as her eyes start to tear up. 'So you want to use me as well?'

"How could you know that, though?" As Ashley was still attempting to gather herself, Mary questioned Olga.

Olga wondered if she should mention that she was present that evening when the Countess proposed getting Ashley married to Count Lottway's son. She had no alternative except to disclose all, or else they would never believe her, even if they rejected her bargain.

"The Countess brought you up to the Count the night he finally called you, Milady. That's when they decided you should replace her deceased daughter in marriage to Count Lottway's son." Olga said.

"So they decided that Ashley would be a wonderful replacement for their runaway daughter because they raised her.", Mary said, and Olga nodded in agreement.

"What's wrong with the people of this place? Treating people like objects, using them when necessary, and discarding them when they were no longer necessary." Mary said furiously. "And how dare you ask us to help the Countess when it was all her fault that Ashley was…." Mary gritted her teeth as she didn't want to bring up those memories anymore. She looked across at Ashley, who had been silent for some time, and noticed a sour frown as she massaged her temple.

"Because Milady now controls the situation in this home. All the employees and knights in the mansion started to acknowledge her as the Lady of the House ever since the Count recognised her and declared her his youngest daughter." Olga explained.

"Why should I lend her a hand?" Ashley spoke out of the blue, giving Olga an icy stare. The two servants were taken aback to witness her in such a manner. Mary, who has known her for so long, has never seen her look like that.

"B-because…" Olga struggled to find her words as she was rendered speechless by Ashley's intense gaze.

Suddenly a knock came from the door and startled Olga, and she trembled when Ashley saw it.

"Ashley, it's me, Lana. May I speak with you?"

Ashley turned to Mary and nodded. Mary understood it and walked towards the door to open it. Upon opening it, Mrs Lana saw Olga immediately.

"Olga? What are you doing here at Ashley – Milady's room?" She asked.

Olga pursed her lips as she glanced everywhere. Then she looked at Ashley, who still had a stern look on her. Mrs Lana was taken aback for a moment.

'What is happening here? Why is she here?' she thought to herself as she sat beside Olga.

Mrs Lana looked at Mary, and she just sighed in response. She gulped a lump of liquid before she spoke.

"Milady, I have come here to tell you about the information I obtained from one of the maids." She said as she took a glance at Olga.

"What is it?" Ashley ask.

"It seems the Count plans to marry you to Count Lottway's son." Mrs. Lana continued.

"Yes, it seems so," Ashley replied with a deadpan expression.

Mrs Lana was confused by Ashley's tepid response, but she spoke again.

"And I also heard that it was the Countess who suggested it. That's why the Count started to pay attention to you."

"I already heard that, too," Ashley responded again.

Mrs Lana then looked at Olga, who was still looking down. 'She must be the one who told her, then.' She just sighed as she spoke again.

"Then you must have heard that the Countess is being poisoned too."

Ashley's brow suddenly raised upon hearing it. "What?" then she turned to look at Olga, who was now pale and trembling.

"I-I", Olga stuttered again as she tried to say the right words. "I-I am innocent, Milady." Tears started to fall as she said that.

"The Count called a doctor to check you out last night when Milady had a fever. After finishing, he checked on Countess Reeva since she had also been severely ill," Mrs Lana explained.

"When he examined the Countess, he declared that she had been poisoned for a week. It was a poison that had been consumed in small quantities and was undetectable until the symptoms worsened. It includes loss of appetite, dizziness, hallucination and the possibility of death."

"Is she…?" Ashley couldn't continue her question when Mrs Lana shook her head.

"She is okay right now." She looked across at Olga, who was still sobbing, "But this woman beside me is not. The Count accused her of poisoning the Countess," she continued.

"But isn't she still healing from the injuries the Countess gave her? You did say that her damaged leg prevented her from working here any longer, correct?" Mary queries.

Mrs Lana nodded and said, "That should be the case, but the Count insisted on interrogating her since she was the longest and closest maid the Countess had."

Olga wiped her tears and finally said, "I would never do that to her. Sure, she broke one of my legs, but I didn't want to get back to her. I've been serving the Countess for many years and am loyal to her and only her. I want to keep supporting her even if I stop working here and even if I am accused of poisoning her. But I swear I would never do such a thing."

The three women stare only at her as she continued, "That's why I tried to reach out to you, Milady. I want to help her see her child for the last time. I want her to say goodbye to her even for the last time before she could die, either by that poison or the grief she is feeling right now. So please help the Countess go to the funeral, and I will also help you run away from this place and your marriage."

Mrs Lana raised one of her eyebrows as Olga bowed her head to Ashley, who had a straight-faced look. Mary was quiet as she glanced at Ashley, still staring at Olga.

Ashley sighed and said, "Why are you doing this for her when she  hurt you and made you like that?"

Olga looked up and spoke, "The Countess was the one who helped me when I was in need. And I swear to myself that I will help and assist her as long as possible. She may be like this now, but she used to be kind too. I know you have suffered so much because of me, so I apologise. I know I couldn't take back everything we did but let me help you escape from the Count's scheme."

Ashley frowned as she watched Olga's pleading expression on her face. "You're still far from winning my forgiveness, but if you can help me leave this place and that marriage, I might be up to it," she took a deep breath as she leaned back and crossed her arms.