Lantern Against the Wind

If Gareth were to lose to Logan, Rowena and Marina were still going to be useful as they were the only ones who could drag out Elena from hiding in Gareth’s estate.
Logan was desperate to have Elena as his, and if he were to miraculously beat Gareth, Lydia needed something to negotiate with her cousin.

There were multiple plans in Lydia’s mind, but the best one out of them was the scenario where both Logan and Gareth died.

‘If that were to happen…’ Lydia let out a quiet laugh and grabbed the chunk of Marina’s hair that she had cut off earlier. ‘Maybe this might make it possible…’ With a good feeling, Lydia descended the stairs and went back to her room with Marina’s hair in her hand.
Unable to do anything about what just happened, Lenoa trudged down the steps to the hall and into the kitchen.

* * *

Elena quickly fixed her eyes to the stove when she could hear Lenoa’s steps grow closer to the kitchen.
Lenoa soon entered the kitchen and plopped down onto a chair as if she were exhausted.
Elena’s heart sank once she glanced at her face—it was terribly swollen.
Her nose was covered in red bruises, and even her ears were filled with scabs.
Without realizing it, Elena approached her and knelt before her, gently grabbing her feet.

“It’s okay,” Lenoa spoke in a despairing voice, trying to refuse her touch.

“Madam, she’s a new maid, and she’s very good.
You should let her,” one of the maids suggested, as Elena had constantly rubbed the maids’ tired feet at night, making their mornings better.

The maids carefully surrounded Lenoa, hoping to help her relax.
They thought pitifully of their madam, but Lenoa was the one who stopped the brutal beatings they would receive from time to time.
Their madam cried and slept at the foot of the bed next to Logan every night, but she also helped the maids hold onto their lives here.
Still, pity was pity, and Lenoa’s face turned red with embarrassment, making her look even more pathetic.

Elena bowed her head deeply and began to rub Lenoa’s feet, thinking, ‘Thank you, Lenoa.
My sisters are alive thanks to you.
I can’t thank you enough.’ As Elena carefully rubbed Lenoa’s small feet with gratitude, Lenoa spoke.

“Thank you for doing this.
I hear that you’re new? It’s hard work, but I’ll make sure you get adequate compensation,” she murmured, then she let out a long sigh.

Logan had taken out his anger on Lenoa for the past few days, making her want to give up.
Continuing to live this terrible life was worse than death, but she always thought of what Elena had said during miserable times.

“No one is born strong.
Life makes you strong.
I’m not a strong person, either.
I’m scared, too.”

Lenoa thought of Elena, the woman who had used her wits to help her live back then.
It was said that she had sold herself to a mercenary named Gareth for her family.
Such news had caused Logan to spend many days intoxicated, abusing Lenoa in bed while shouting Elena’s name.

‘How could she have done something like that? How? I don’t think I could…’ Lenoa knew that the better decision was to commit suicide for the sake of her father.
Logan had a terrifying plan in mind, and her father, Viscount Nar, was oblivious, only being used to Logan’s advantage.
Still, she couldn’t do anything because she was frightened.
She could only wish for someone to end the nightmare she was in.

At that moment, Lenoa could feel that the new maid was staring at her, and she focused her blurry vision to meet the maid’s eyes.
Her eyes soon widened, but Elena quickly hinted at her, asking for silence.
Lenoa cleared her throat and stood up, saying, “Let’s see you work.”

Elena quickly obeyed Lenoa’s instructions.
The two deliberately stood in front of the hot stove to secretly exchange words.

“How did you…” Lenoa trailed off.

“I’m here to help Gareth win against Logan and Lydia.
I plan to take control of this castle.”

Lenoa stopped breathing at Elena’s words.
The woman had just spoken a load of nonsense, yet she was determined and confident.