“Yes,”
Margaery couldn’t be bothered to argue. She simply intended to walk past him and leave.
Avery wasn’t expecting such an answer, Reflexively, he reached out to stop her. “We grew up together, we both know we need to protect Tessa. She’s been through so much… how could you be so cruel?”
But in his haste, he shoved her too hard, knocking her to the ground,
She hit the floor hard, her already aching legs going numb from the impact. Yet a faint smile tugged at her lips.
Avery froze, surprised by what had just happened. He hadn’t meant to hurt her.
He’d come in worried about her health, concerned that staying in the firewood shed so long might leave her sick, His intention had been to persuade her to apologize to Tessa to calm Raul’s anger and get her out of there.
Seeing the ironic look on Margaery’s face, Avery felt a strange pang in his chest.
She slowly pushed herself up, ignoring the pain, and took the medicine pot from his hand, stepping around him. “If that’s what you think, then so be it.”
An overwhelming sense of distance hung between them.
Avery’s heart sank, a vague sense of unease creeping
- in.
He quickly followed her, trying to salvage the situation, his voice softening. “You’ve been pampered here for so long, while Tessa has suffered so much. You should show some understanding…”
Margaery’s eyes flickered slightly as she cut him off, her tone flat. “You’re right.”
Avery couldn’t finish his sentence,
His words stuck in his throat.
He had never believed Margaery would push Tessa down the mountain. But the injury on Tessa’s arm couldn’t be faked, and even Margaery’s maid had confirmed it was her doing.
Now, Margaery herself had admitted it…
Avery took a deep breath, feeling the need to reason with her. “Margaery, no one’s perfect. If you truly regret your actions, I’ll go to Father and beg him not to lock you up again…”
Margaery didn’t want to hear him spreading more false accusations. She turned to interrupt him, her voice cool. “Where is Tessa?
Avery’s heart lifted. He hurriedly answered, “She’s in Sunbeam Court. If you take the medicine to her and apologize, encouraging her to accept Father’s care, then this whole thing will be over.”
“I thought she was planning to leave the Wallen family and never return, which made Father furious. That’s why you asked
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me to go apologize and beg her to come back.”
Margaery laughed bitterly. “So she’s living in the best courtyard in the Chancellor’s estate!”
Sunbeam Court had been built two years ago. When it was being constructed, Raul had said it had great light, a beautiful view, and was sheltered from the wind.
After it was finished, he had suggested she move in.
Margaery still remembered his words. “Margaery’s health is fragile; the autumn wind makes her allergies worse. Once it’s ready, she can move in. Let’s call it Blissom Hall,”
But after it was finished, Margaery never set foot inside.
Then Tessa arrived.
Raul, overjoyed, had sent Tessa into Blissom Hall.
The name “Blissom Hall” was replaced with “Sunbeam Court,”
Now, Tessa lived there, while she was being asked to beg Tessa to accept Raul’s care and not leave.
Margaery laughed, but tears welled in her eyes.
“Only because Lord Avery is kind–hearted that he goes to see her! If it were up to me, someone as selfish as her should be taught a good lesson to make her remember.”
“Yes, she’s not even worthy to serve Lady Tessa.”
“If Lady Tessa had lived here all these years, she would have been the most respected young lady in the Sinderin City. She would have been a hundred times better than Lady Margaery!”
Around her, whispers echoed, some praising one while putting down the other.
Avery didn’t like the tone of it.
But then he thought he could use this as an opportunity to teach Margaery a lesson. “These rumors are a result of your own mistakes in the past. You really need to learn from this and be more careful moving forward.”
Once Margaery truly repented, he would control the servants and stop them from gossiping.
But what he didn’t know was that all of this had been stirred up by Tessa. Margaery had nothing to do with it.
Unfortunately, in the vast Chancellor’s estate, no one was willing to believe Margaery anymore.
Even her own maid had betrayed her, aligning herself with Tessa and giving false testimony on her behalf.
These thoughts weighed heavily on Margaery’s mind, but she still couldn’t help but acknowledge his words. “You are right.
She really should have learned her lesson by now. There was no point in holding onto people who didn’t deserve it or
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chasing after those who no longer cared. It wasn’t worth risking her life for people who had already cast her aside.
Without another word, Margaery turned and walked straight toward Sunbeam Court.
As she reached the door, she heard Tessa’s crying voice.
“Lord Chancellor, please, please let Lady Margaery out! On such a cold day, she’ll get sick. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have come back home. If I hadn’t, there wouldn’t be so much chaos in the house!
“I feel so guilty. Once she’s recovered, I’ll return to the countryside and live quietly. I only hope your family can all be happy together.
“That would be enough for me.”
Margaery paused at the door, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.
It was no surprise. She could already imagine it: Raul would be furious upon hearing this and would undoubtedly take his anger out on her.
She still remembered the first time Tessa came to the house, how timid and unsure she had seemed.
No one had even paid attention to Tessa, but she had insisted on holding a pear and pulling Margaery aside, asking, “Lady Margaery, do… do I deserve a pear?”
Before Margaery could say anything, Raul was already furious, scolding her for not being considerate of Tessa, saying, “What do you mean ‘deserve‘? Everything in this house from now on belongs to Tessa.”
And just like that, Margaery became the villain, the one who “bullied Tessa.
That label had stuck, growing more and more exaggerated with each passing day.
In the end, everyone believed it was she who had oppressed Tessa, making her live in fear and submission.
But the truth was, Margaery hadn’t cared about Tessa at first.
The Chancellor’s estate had more than enough to provide for all children. It didn’t matter if there were ten daughters; no one would lack anything.
But Tessa’s so–called “understanding” had caused her family to misunderstand her, to resent her, and to push her aside. All their attention and affection had shifted to Tessa.
Step by step, Margaery had been pushed to the edge.
And now, she simply didn’t care anymore.
She pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Sure enough, Raul had already helped Tessa to her feet, holding her in his arms and comforting her.
“Tessa, please don’t think like that! Even if we have to expel that rebellious daughter, I will never throw you out!
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“You’ve suffered so much these years. My heart aches for you!
“From now on, you can stay here in peace. Just tell me if you need anything. This house has no place for her to speak.”
As soon as Raul finished speaking, he looked up and saw Margaery standing in the doorway, her fragile figure seeming as though it could be blown away by a gust of wind.
For a moment, as he saw her so thin, a surge of pity filled his chest.
He was about to say something when Tessa interrupted.
“Lord Chancellor, please don’t blame Lady Margaery anymore. It’s all my fault. Lady Margaery must be upset because she’s afraid I’ll take your affection away.
…I can understand her.”
Raul’s heart filled with both anger and pain. “After the way she treated you, you’re still defending her?”
“But she’s my sister. We didn’t grow up together, but we share the same blood. We’re still family, no matter what.”
Tessa looked at Margaery, her eyes filled with a mix of hesitation, longing, and a touch of fear, as if she didn’t dare to get too close. She tried to please her, “Lady Margaery, you don’t need to apologize. I… I’ve already forgiven you.”
Then, looking up at Raul, her eyes filled with admiration and unshed tears, she asked, “Lord Chancellor, please forgive Lady Margaery, won’t you?”
AD
