Free Web NovelChapter 456: Chapter 456: Adina 9
Tan You never would have imagined that while she was quietly reading and studying in her room, Catherine and Lilith would make plans for her without asking. Her expression froze when the maid relayed their decision.
"Miss Adina? Miss Lilith is waiting for you in the front hall." Seeing Tan You sitting there silently, Catherine’s personal maid frowned. ’No wonder Miss Adina isn’t favored,’ she thought. ’She’s like a block of wood.’
Tan You snapped out of her daze. "I understand. You can go back first. I’ll change my clothes and be right there."
Normally, Tan You didn’t dress up elaborately, but since she was going to be a guest at someone else’s house, she would abide by the etiquette this world required. Her current situation was perfect for lying low and building up her strength, so everything had to be done by the book. She absolutely could not afford to stand out.
Besides, if Catherine was there, Tan You had something to ask her anyway. Adina had no money, and for her grand escape plan, Tan You had to find a way to line her pockets. Otherwise, how would she survive after getting out?
With Laura’s help, Tan You changed into a formal dress more suitable for visiting. When she arrived at the front hall, Catherine and Lilith were sitting across from each other, both drinking tea. Standing just outside the hall, Tan You felt a little dazed watching the scene.
One was an adult woman in her thirties, and the other was a five-year-old child, yet from the way they raised their pinkies to hold their teacups to the way they took small sips, their movements were practically identical. In any case, Tan You found it all rather pretentious.
’Or is every noble family this affected?’
Brushing those thoughts aside, Tan You walked lightly into the front hall. Following Adina’s old habits, she greeted Catherine formally. "Good day, Mother."
Catherine wore a gentle expression as she affectionately pressed her cheek against Tan You’s. "Good day, Adina. You’ve been home for so long, and your sister Lilith wants to take you out for a change of scenery. Do you remember Karina?"
Tan You nodded, glancing at Lilith, who couldn’t hide her smug expression. "I remember. She’s my sister’s good friend."
"Thank you for taking me out."
’That’s a bit strange, though. Lilith rarely ever took Adina out to socialize. What’s gotten into her today?’
Lilith jumped down from her chair. "You’re my sister. Of course I’ll take care of you."
She deliberately stressed the words "take care of," and Tan You understood. This was clearly not the kind of "care" most people would imagine. It definitely held a deeper, hidden meaning.
Thinking back to the dirty look Lilith had given her yesterday, Tan You knew exactly what was going on.
"Mother, Adina and I are leaving now." Lilith was already getting impatient. She couldn’t wait to see Tan You get the cold shoulder from her friends. Only then would some of the bitterness in her heart dissipate.
But Tan You didn’t move an inch. "Mother, I’d like to get an advance on some Gold Coins. I want to buy a few things at the shops."
Catherine was very agreeable on this point. "Go find the butler. He will give you the Gold Coins."
Tan You was naturally pleased by how readily she agreed, and a hint of a smile touched her lips. "Then I’ll go find the butler now. Thank you for your generosity."
As Tan You went to find the butler, Lilith grew displeased. "Mother, I want Gold Coins, too! I want to buy things, too!"
Catherine affectionately tapped Lilith’s nose. "Didn’t I just give you Gold Coins yesterday? Well, how about I give you some more?"
When Tan You returned with a small coin pouch, she saw Lilith holding a lady’s purse. Judging by its style and craftsmanship, Tan You knew it wasn’t something Lilith would choose for herself.
Glancing at Catherine, who was sipping her tea nearby, Tan You lowered her gaze and smiled faintly. ’So the favoritism is this blatant, is it? Whatever. It’s not like I’m the real Adina, and I won’t be staying here for long anyway.’
Once Tan You and Lilith were in the carriage and had left the Edmonds estate, Lilith finally spoke up, her tone boastful. "So, Adina, what are you planning to buy?"
This was her first time leaving the Marquis’s manor, so Tan You naturally found everything novel and interesting. She looked at the shops lining both sides of the road, then glanced at Lilith. "I want to go to a bookstore to buy some books. The ones in the library are too difficult for me to understand."
The moment she heard the word "books," Lilith’s little face scrunched up. "But we’re supposed to go to Karina’s house... It would be rude to be late."
’If Tan You doesn’t go to Karina’s house, how am I supposed to get my friends to teach her a lesson?’
Tan You’s eyes narrowed for a second before her expression relaxed. "Then let’s go to Karina’s house first."
’I’m also curious to see just how these noble young ladies make things difficult for people or ’teach them a lesson.’ If I play along with their little scheme, maybe I can use it to plan my escape from the Marquis’s manor?’
’It’s a shame Dumont isn’t back yet. If he were here, this little play would be much more complete.’ Musing over this, Tan You was no longer in a hurry to go to the shops. There would always be other opportunities.
The carriage CLIP-CLOPPED along for nearly forty minutes before stopping in front of a manor. The moment she stepped out, Lilith affectionately pressed cheeks with a blonde, blue-eyed girl. "Good day, Karina. Your dress is so pretty."
Karina, holding a fan that demurely hid her face except for her eyes, replied, "Thank you. Your hair is also styled beautifully today."
Listening to their exchange of insincere compliments from inside the carriage, Tan You couldn’t help but find it amusing. ’Is the world of children already this fake?’ Before she could even get out, Lilith had already linked arms with Karina. "Who else is coming today? When are we going to see the Magic Beast?"
Just like that, she brazenly left Tan You behind in the carriage. Karina, whose arm she held, didn’t even glance back once. The two of them walked right into the manor.
A faint smile touched Tan You’s lips. ’The old Adina would probably be cowering quietly in a corner right now, but I’m not her. Did they really think I’d be intimidated by such a childish power play?’
Leisurely following behind Karina and Lilith, Tan You felt perfectly at ease. She showed no signs of timidity or anger at being ignored and treated so poorly.
She simply treated the whole group as a source of entertainment. As long as she didn’t take them seriously, their actions couldn’t hurt her.
So, when Karina led the group of noble young ladies to see the Magic Beast, Tan You watched with great interest as well. She couldn’t help it; she was a country bumpkin at heart. Who would have thought she’d one day end up in a Western Fantasy World?
Naturally, Tan You had to get a good look at this rarely seen Magic Beast. After all, opportunities for such an eye-opening experience weren’t common.
Even though no one was paying her any mind, Tan You seemed to be having the time of her life. She was either drinking tea, eating pastries, or chatting with her maid, Laura.
Seeing that her attempts to isolate and ignore Tan You—with Karina and the others’ help—hadn’t made her the least bit sad or upset, Lilith’s mood worsened.
Karina noticed her mood and her eyes darted about schemingly. "Lilith, let’s go play outside the manor this afternoon. We can bring a few guards with us, so it won’t be dangerous."
Lilith clearly understood the hidden meaning in her words. She glanced at Tan You. "Adina, want to come with us?"
