Plan

Olga lowered her head and said, "Thank you, Milady," with tears streaming down her face. Ashley merely looked at her while Mrs. Lana and Mary exchanged glances after hearing her reply.

"You said she got poisoned, so how can I help her attend the funeral?" Ashley asked.

"The doctor created a medication that assisted in flushing the toxin from her system. She's awake now but in her room, still in a trance," Mrs. Lana replied. Ashley nodded then Olga spoke about what was on her mind.

"Milady, when I investigated further into the disappearance of Lady Elizabeth, I once found a secret tunnel on the garden wall. We may make use of it to get the Countess to go and attend the burial. Later on, you can utilize it to get away."

"A hidden tunnel? In the garden?" Mrs. Lana asked with suspicion. "I've worked here all my life, and that's the first time I heard about that."

'A hidden tunnel in the garden… If only I knew about it all along.' Ashley thought to herself.

Olga pointed outside the balcony. "You can find it hidden there; if you look up at the tallest shrub, continue straight until you reach the walls."

"How did you discover the hidden passage? Mary asked at this point since she couldn't help herself.

"As I have indicated before, I investigated regarding Lady Elizabeth's disappearance too under the direction of the Countess secretly. That's when Mia told me about the secret route Lady Elizabeth used that night." Olga explained.

"Mia? She is not Lady Elizabeth's maid, is she? Why didn't she mention that throughout the questioning?" stated Mrs. Lana. When that incident occurred, she was one of the persons that interviewed the residents of the mansion.

"The Countess advised her to tell them what she knew without bringing it up. At the time, the Countess thought Lady Elizabeth would return and possibly utilize it once more to enter the mansion. The Count might cover it up if he found out about the tunnel. Therefore she was terrified of that." Olga said.

"But that would have made the investigation easier and faster. If you only …" Mrs. Lana gritted her teeth as she looked at Olga furiously.

"But if you take the secret passage, it will just take you to the large field beyond the mansion walls, which will only help a little. It didn't help that I discovered some foot and horseshoe prints because, after following them, they ended up on the main road."

Ashley was now the curious one. "Is there a way besides using the main road?"

Olga thought for a while, then shook her head, "I don't think so because once you get out from the passage, tall grasses will surround you, and the only pathway I saw leads to the main road."

"So if you use the passage to go to the funeral, you'll still need to take the main road. Then wouldn't you get caught?" Ashley asked.

"That's why I have a plan to discuss. Once the funeral starts in the afternoon, people will parade and leave the house. That's the time we need your help, Milady." Olga explained. "You must invite the Countess to the garden for her to use the secret passage. Once she is in the garden, we can sneak her out through the passage while I'll have a carriage wait at the main road where the secret passage leads."

Ashley thought about the plan, but before she could say something, Mrs. Lana interrupted.

"Your plan is ridiculous. Have you given the knights any thought? A carriage on the main road when security is so strict now? Won't that make you appear suspicious? What will happen to Ashley if you successfully sneak the Countess out? Since she was the one who initially invited the Countess, wouldn't she be the one to blame if the Countess also vanished?"

"T-that…" Olga couldn't answer back.

"See?! You might have yet to give the Countess' potential rejection of Ashley's invitation or Ashley's reaction much thought. Are you sure the hidden route isn't visible even in the daytime? Mrs. Lana continued, and Olga became discouraged.

Ashley sighed, then spoke, "Let me think about it more. You may go now."

Olga stood up and bowed before leaving. "Thank you, Milady."

Once Olga left, Mrs. Lana was the one who broke the silence.

"Are you sure about helping them out?"

"That is why I said I would give it some thought. Aside from that, aren't you busy? What would happen if the Head Maid didn't attend the funeral?" Ashley made an effort to change the topic.

"Oh, that's correct." Mrs. Lana replied, standing up straight away. However, before she went, she said, "I know you purposefully changed the subject, but please know that whatever your decision, I'll be by your side." Mrs. Lana grinned. Ashley smiled at her back then Mary walked Mrs. Lana to the door and closed it.

Ashley rubs her temples as she considers Olga's proposal and the hidden entrance. When Mary returned after shutting the door, she placed the meal she had brought on the table.

"Eat for now. No man can be wise on an empty stomach." Mary interrupted her thoughts.

Ashley smiled at her. "Thank you, Mary."

Once done eating, Ashley talked to Mary about her thoughts.

Ashley looked over the balcony and said, "I want to get out of here. And now that I have an opportunity, Mary, I want to take advantage of it."

Mary gave a slight nod as she spoke. "When that time comes, I'll be happier than ever."

"All right, let's get out of here." Ashley turned to face her and said, "Let's assist them." Mary gave her a bitter smile.

"Okay, let's carry out that. But I'm afraid I have to disagree with Olga's strategy. If we carry out her proposal, it would reveal the secret passage. Let's utilize your 'Milady' position instead."

"What do you mean about that?"

"You don't have to sneak her out; you may let her attend the funeral. Later, tell the staff at this mansion to have a carriage ready and let the Countess go. And when the knights ask who let her out, you can step up and say that the Count allowed it." Mary said.

"But if the Count finds out, won't that get me into trouble?"

"I thought you wanted to leave this place?"

"Yes."

Mary smirked, "Then don't worry. You'll depart this place before the Count can tell you anything."

"That is reasonable. Go ahead and ask Mrs. Lana to prepare the Countess covertly. Don't forget the carriage also." Ashley commanded.

"Yes, Milady," Mary answered and left the room.

When afternoon arrived, the procession to the town for Lady Elizabeth's burial got underway. A regular carriage stopped at the mansion's front porch when the last carriage had passed the gate. With the help of the maids, Countess Reeva started to leave the manor. When the knights recognized her, they blocked their entrance to the carriage.

What are you trying to do? How dare you obstruct the Countess' path!" one of the maids demanded angrily.

One of the knights replied, "We can't let the Countess go anywhere."

"Why, though? She plans to go to her daughter's burial. Is letting her go against the rules? The Count also gave her permission to go."

"But the Count-" The knight was about to explain when a voice interrupted him.

"Let her go," Ashley ordered them as she stood at the mansion's entryway. She fixed her gaze on them with an icy stare. "It's alright. Father permitted her to attend the funeral."

Before giving her a brief, gentle bow, the knights exchange glances. Then they answered, "Yes, Milady."

Ashley waited there, calmly watching as the knights made room for the Countess and her attendants to board the carriage. Their eyes connect as the Countess turns to face her. Ashley and the Countess held each other's gaze until the carriage door closed like a contest was going on. During prolonged eye contact, Ashley couldn't tell if the Countess was thanking or hating her. Ashley sighed as the carriage began to move, and Mary saw it.

"Are you alright?" Mary asked.

Ashley slowly nodded as she witnessed the carriage cross the gate and disappear from view.

"Then let's go and get ready, too," Mary said, and they entered the house again.

Meanwhile, in the carriage…

Countess Reeva's eyes were still fixed on the direction Ashley was standing until they were briefly out of view. "I was able to go without slipping away," she murmured. "Even so, I won't say thank you."

She then looks across at the person seated in front of her. "Olga, did you successfully entice her to the secret passage?"

Olga nodded in agreement. "Yes, Madame, as per your instructions."

The Countess nodded happily. "Alright. Then tell them to get ready and do their job."

Olga gritted her teeth and answered with a faint nod. "Yes, Madame."

The Countess turned to face the window and grinned broadly.