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It's late afternoon now. People in the mansion were still so busy preparing for the wake after the service that they paid no attention to Ashley and Mary, who were scouting in the garden in the disguise of taking a walk to find the hidden passage Olga told them about.

Mary said as they walked, "It may look concealed due to the plants and shrubs, but there are specific locations where people may see us if we use it."

"You are right. Thus, we should go once it is dark."

After finishing their inspection in the garden, Mary and Ashley decided to head back inside the mansion when someone unexpectedly blocked their way.

"My Child." Countess Reeva looked at her with glittering eyes and gave her a bear hug.

What had happened shocked Mary and the other present servants. Ashley struggled to break free as a chill ran down her spine while restrained in the Countess' arms.

"Madame, you're wrong. She is not your daughter." One maid attempted to convince her otherwise, but the Countess insisted.

"I miss you. Where have you been?"

She touched Ashley's face after releasing Ashley from her grasp. "What happened to your lovely face? You seem very unhealthy and frail. My poor baby. Please don't leave this poor mother of yours again, or I will die because of sadness."

She turned to face Ashley as her eyes began to well up. Ashley glanced around and was baffled by what was happening. She could see the servants crying as well. Mary attempted to help Ashley after noticing her expression of unease.

She hid her behind to protect Ashley from the Countess, then murmured, "Madame. "You might seem confused. This lady is not your daughter at all."

The Countess slapped Mary hard and could be heard all over the garden while Mary remained still as her right cheek turned red.

"Mary!" Ashley exclaimed.

"How could a simple maid get in the way?" with a cold gaze, the Countess attempted to smack Mary again, but Ashley stepped forward to protect her. The Countess halts.

"My Child, what are you trying to do?" She abruptly switched to a more cordial tone. "Why protect that disrespectful maid?"

"She's not a maid." Ashley exclaimed with pride, "She is my friend. I'm not your daughter, either. So, kindly, stop."

The Countess sobbed while covering her mouth. "My child. Poor little child. Why did you even forget your mother? What happened to you? It won't do." She then grabbed Ashley's hand.

"Let's go to my room and talk." She said, then turned to her maid. "Prepare some refreshments for us."

Ashley attempted to free herself from the Countess's grip while being dragged by the Countess. Then Mary made another attempt to stop them.

"Madame, let go of Milady, please."

This time, she received another slap on the left cheek.

Mary continued to stand steadfastly, acting as if she didn't feel it.

The Countess threatened to smack her again if she blocked her way.

"Stop!" Ashley yelled. The Countess stopped her hand and turned to Ashley. "I'll go."

The Countess smiled while Mary frowned at her.

"That's right. That's my girl. Let's go." They started walking again.

'It's okay, I'll be back,' Ashley said as she passed her and left Mary in the garden alone.

Butler Carl welcomed them both as soon as they entered the mansion.

"Hello, Madame and Milady. Good Afternoon."

Carl deduced that the Countess believed Ashley to be Elizabeth as he watched what happened in the garden.

The Countess asked, "Carl, where is Lana? Please tell her to teach her servants to be decent and courteous."

After a brief moment of surprise, Carl said, "Certainly, Madame."

"Excellent. Then we're off. My daughter and I will have a lengthy mother-daughter conversation in my room," the Countess said, gently holding Ashley's shoulder. "Let's leave."

As they made their way upstairs, Ashley felt uneasy.

The butler stared at the two as they ascended the stairs.

'Poor Madame.' The butler sighed as he thought to himself. 'She must have gone insane attending her daughter's burial.'

He then turned away to tend to his duties on the guests that would arrive anytime.

…..

Ashley sat next to the Countess in her chamber while she barraged her with questions.

"How are you doing? You seem weak and skinny. Have you been starving to death?"

Ashley didn't respond to her and remained silent.

Then the maid brought the tea to the room and served it on the table.

"When you finish, leave us, and don't let anyone in. I don't want our Mother-daughter time de disturbed." The Countess instructed the maid.

When the maid opened the door, Ashley noticed Mary standing outside then their eyes locked.

Mary mouthed something which made Ashley frown.

'Don't drink.'

"Oh!" The Countess called out to her as she poured her a cup of tea. "It's your favorite tea: Chamomile."

Ashley looked at the tea set the maid brought in, then looked back at the door, but the door was already closed.

"T-thanks. M-mother, how about you?" While attempting to pour her cup as well, Ashley questioned. After saying thanks, the Countess smiled.

Before starting, the Countess took a drink of her tea.

"When you were gone, I felt like my heart was missing as well," she sniffled. "My world was shattered when the knights delivered that body and said it was you."

Ashley kept a poker face as she saw the Countess sobbing loudly.

"Everything seemed to vanish as if it had never existed, but when I saw you in the garden, I felt full again. Everything made sense again." She wiped her eyes and reached for Ashley's left hand. "Don't leave again, please."

While she listened to the Countess, Ashley sighed. The Countess then continued speaking.

"If you ever go missing again, this unfortunate mother of yours will undoubtedly pass away."

Ashley uttered something that caused the Countess to scowl, "Please stop."

"My child, what do you mean?"

Ashley responded firmly, "I'm not your child."

The Countess was so furious that she abruptly sprang up and slammed the table. "You are my daughter. What are you saying?"

Ashley replied, "No, I'm not."

The Countess immediately experienced vertigo and grabbed her temple.

She whimpered, "No... No... No," as she stumbled, and the table began to swing and topple as she failed to maintain her balance. When the Countess reclaimed her seat, the tea set dropped on the carpet.

"Countess Reeva, I'm not your daughter; I'm not Elizabeth."

The Countess' eyes began to close. She smirked, "I see. Your name is Ashley.

"That's correct."

The Countess carried on speaking slowly. "I see. Are you leaving this time?"

She saw Ashley nod. "Yes."

The Countess murmured, "Go ahead... Never... Come...back," as she passed out.

She got up from the seat and made the Countess lie down after determining she was asleep.

A hand abruptly stopped Ashley as she was about to open the door. She turned around to see Olga motioning for her to be quiet.

"Olga?" she murmured. "How did you get here?"

Olga answered her, "Milady, come with me."

"What and why?"

"Please follow me; I'll explain everything on the way."

"No," Ashley shook her head.

"There isn't enough time, Milady. I even promise Mary that I'll take you away instantly."

Ashley grimaced. "Why Mary, exactly?"

Then she handed her the wristlet which she and Mary bought in town. "Will you trust me now?"

Ashley looked at her before sighing and nodding as she locked the door.

Before leaving the room, Olga opened the balcony door slightly and covered the Countess with linens.

"Come on, Milady."

"So if we can't access the main door, which route should we take?"

Ashley followed Olga as she entered the Countess's closet. She then pushed the wall, turning it into a spinning door.

She emerged from the closet to see an antique staircase that looked exactly like the ones she had used to get into the attic, but instead of going up, it meant going down.

Mary said, "There will be a door leading to the garden at the bottom of the stairs. We could use it to walk to the garden, but we need to be careful not to be seen by the knights."

Ashley questioned in a chilly manner, "That's not what I want to know. What do you mean by taking me away, and what about Mary?"

Olga muttered, "Milady…." She gritted her teeth as she tried to find the words on what to say.

Ashley scowled as she noticed Olga's guilty expression. "I'm sorry, Milady, for lying to you."

"The Countess… she's planning to kill you. That's why she told me to let you know about the hidden passage."

Olga informed Ashley about the Countess's plan while Ashley clenched her teeth. "She gave instructions to hire some mercenaries who will wait for you at the entrance to the secret passage and then silence you."

Ashley tried to gather herself as Olga began to cry.

"Are they there already? The mercenaries? "

Olga gave a head shake. "Still not yet, Milady. However, they will begin to patrol once it gets dark because the Countess told them that the optimum time to do it was at night."

"That's why you are trying to make me leave earlier than Mary planned?"

Olga bowed to her and said, "Milady, I don't deserve your compassion. Please understand that while this may come across as a justification, I truly regret what I did and am now trying to make amends."

Ashley nodded as she started descending the stairs.

"Mary…what about her?"

"I got to speak with Mary when you left her in the garden." Olga continued, "Mary requested that I took you away first and added she would join you once you are outside."

Ashley nodded again. "I don't still entirely trust you, and I won't thank you for helping me out because you misled me again."

"As I said before, Milady, I don't deserve your compassion nor gratefulness. I'm a sinner and wanted to redeem myself, so I did this."

"How did you know this staircase?"

"I've used this often since the late Lady Elizabeth's disappearance. It's my passage to enter the chamber of the Countess secretly and relayed what I discovered in my investigation."

Olga filled her in about the lover of Elizabeth and how she fled that night only to be deceived by him as they walked until they reached the bottom. Olga slightly opened a piece of brick to scan the surroundings.

"It's clear." She opened the door similar to the one in the Countess's closet. Olga stepped out first, scanned the place again, and soon let Ashley out.

As they made their way to the secret entrance, the sun had already set, and darkness gradually engulfed the garden.

"Wait!"

When they reached the opening of the secret passage, Ashley stopped her. "Are you certain that the mercenaries are not still in the area?"

Olga gave her a nod. "Certainly, seeing as how I was the one who shared the Countess's message. Moreover, I modified her instructions and ordered them to arrive here at midnight.

While they were in the garden, Ashley had been feeling uneasy. It seemed as though someone was distantly observing them. She tried to shake that feeling as she stepped into the passage.

Ashley and Olga were welcome with a field of tall grass as soon as they exited the secret tunnel.

Olga led the way and remarked, "This way, my lady."

As they walked on the artificial path, the grasses started to move aggressively toward their position.

Then a man unexpectedly emerged from it and noticed the two of them.