BLOODY LOVE'S
Episodes 202

Lady Chantall took a slow breath. He blinked his eyes and raised his chin high, preventing his tears from falling. He cannot look weak. Not in front of the servants, not in front of Marco. "Omong is empty" he said in a tremble of anger. He laughed dryly. "I'm loyal and Marco knows that. Anyway, what betrayal do you mean, Renata? If there's no proof, you know what it's called, hm? Defamation! It's Slander!"

"It's weird how you showed up all of a sudden at Ashington Castle without telling this house about your suspicions about the South. Though you know we're looking for Marco, too."

"I don't have to explain myself to you."

Renata turned her face back on her sister-in-law. "George noted there was a telephone connection to Aston made from this house, done at midnight. It wasn't me or you who did it, brother. And it's been going on since Lady Chantall came."

"Then why? What if your hair falls out when I'm in this house then I'm wrong too?" Lady Chantall pushed the ladies in front of him violently and walked over to Marco. If one were to accuse him of others, he would not be this golden. Renata is a member of the Argent family. The woman was engaged to Edgar since she was very young. Marco thought of her as a real sister and pampered her greatly. Their closeness even makes people misunderstand and think both have an affair.

Lady Chantall knows Marco is very concerned about his family, their opinions will obviously be taken into account. He grabbed the man's hand and placed it on his chest, in his heart. "You believe me, don't you?" The corner of his lips trembled. "I've explained why I didn't call Rolan or Jose. I can't think clearly since you've been lost, I just want to find you quickly."

"When was the phone call made?" Marco did not stare at Lady Chantall, but did not withdraw his hand either.

"One of them was last night at one in the morning." Renata blinked again, this time more gently.

Marco nodded in understanding. He shifted his face until no one saw him but Lady Chantall, then whispered without a sound. Whatever I ask, answer 'yes'.

The green eyeballs blinked slowly. Tears rolled down her cheeks, hanging at the jawline like a tiny pearl.

"Milady," Marco begins, "are you really out of the room on a night called Renata?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"You see someone calling?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"That guy's the waiter in this house?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"So you look at his face and you can show me who he is?"

Lady Chantall did not hesitate when she nodded. "Yes." Yeah."

Marco lowered his head to the side of Lady Chantall's cheek, nodded slowly and acted as if he were hearing a whisper. Then he laughed hoarsely. "really? You see Renata's ladyboy face?"

"Yes." Yeah."

Renata raised the eyebrows. The small curves in her smile did not fade. He turned quickly to his four maids who were now looking at each other in shock. "That's right?" tanyanya malignant.

The four immediately dropped their knees and denied. The two senior ladies-in-waiting denied the loudest, giving a barrage of defense.

"If you're all right, then my brother is wrong?" Renata looked at Marco.

"You'll bring two workers outside. I saw Finnian and Harold. Have them drag these people into the basement" Marco said casually. "Make them confess."

Renata called Finnian. The door opened and two workers rushed in waiting for the next order. His two senior maids began to panic more and more and more and more begging. Everyone knows what Jacob did to Xavier Hastings there, they have also heard that Marco decapitated two Jorms in an underground cell. Everyone who works in this house knows what happens to people who are dragged into the basement. Everything will be dead or deformed.

"That's a lie, ma'am!" Seeing that the senior ladies were not shy about pleading and wailing, one of the young ladies said, "There's no way she can see anyone's face! It was dark that night!"

The dayang jerked himself and lowered his head deeply, hiding a face. The silence fell hard in the room. There was no sound, no one else was even.

"Oh?" Renata raised the corner of her lips. He turned the steps closer to his day. "That night was dark. How do you know?"

"The night that Madam meant ... when there was no moon," whispered the lady, now looking down deeper and deeper until her forehead stuck to the carpet.

"How do you know if there's a moon or not?" ask Renata. "You should be in the room with me, and I'm not opening the window. Did someone open the window last night?" He turned his face to the other three maids, who immediately shook his head.

"I ... I just guess."

Renata held up one hand, and the two senior ladies who had been in the loudest service now rose up in trained composure, then blocked the young lady's arm. Their faces slab, with no residual panic or sadness they could show.

"Take him to the basement and interrogate him" Renata orders.

Finnian walked leisurely pulling the arms of the lady, who was still screaming and muttering, shouting words of defense that all this was a mistake and that she was innocent. The other young man was still on the floor, confused. Renata gave a sign with a single nod. The two senior ladies helped the young lady wake up, then they withdrew. The door closed behind Renata's back.

Lady Chantall watched everything with increasing wonder. "What does this mean?" whispered, still clutching Marco's hand in the chest.

"Renata," Marco sighed. "Your game is annoying."

Marco nodded in agreement, understanding Renata's logic. "But you're suspicious of your ladies."

"Because neither house maids nor scullery maids will be able to touch the phone. In addition they are also closely watched by George and Margie, especially lately. The only ones with the right to touch the phone are my ladies. They only had a chance to call when I took a shower, after Jose left. When Jacob came home and started organizing the Clearwater warriors, they couldn't correct the info because I was watching them, therefore our opponent didn't prepare another plan against the two."

Lady Chantall understands now. A mosquito-like mosquito net flashed in his head, making him understand the entire incident. "Why do you need to play this ridiculous charade?"

"I don't know who the traitor from among my ladies is, I want to ascertain which one is exactly," Renata gave an excuse. He spoke in soft words and his articulation was clear. Her slender body stood gracefully like a silent stork. "There's been four assigned to look after me since Anna and Linda got sick. Two are senior ladies and two have only been working here for two years. I suspected two young ladies, but didn't know which one was the traitor."

That reason doesn't make sense. Lady Chantall was inflamed, "You'll be able to throw both of them underground straight away!"

"And hurt my faithful lady? It'll hurt my reputation." Renata smiles.

"How about my reputation? You accuse me in front of the waiter!"

"Actually you could've worked with me from the beginning. I tried to tell my plan through eye work and other gestures, but you didn't catch it, so I asked my brother for help." Renata shrugged, not rubbing the anger of the woman in front of him. "You don't have to think about my other paddle. The two seniors already knew of this plan, they were trying to lure his traitor away by begging and wailing. The other one must have understood by now that this is just common sense. Your reputation won't be tarnished."

Lady Chantall turned her head towards Marco, seeing the man looking at her coldly. He only realized now that since the beginning of Renata's arrival, Marco already knew what happened. And the man was silent. His stomach feels heartburn. Am I too arrogant to think there is love between us?

"Wait outside, Jeanne," Marco said. "I want to talk to Renata."

Lady Chantall didn't want to go out. He was afraid that if he stepped out of the room, it would be difficult for him to enter once more. However Marco gently rubbed his hair and asked once more, so Lady Chantall nodded obediently.

As soon as the room door closed tightly, Marco turned his face to Renata. "He's crying. Are you satisfied?"

Renata shakes his head. "I don't understand, Brother?"

"Come on, you want to lie in front of my face?" Marco pulled the nightstand drawer, took the painkiller from there.

Renata desensitizedly poured water from the available teapot on the coffee table and handed the glass to Marco. "You still sick?" whispered. "Sorry to interrupt your rest."

Marco put down the glass without a sound. "There are many ways to find out who is a traitor among your ladies." He wiped the corners of his lips with his thumb. "You're smart, there's no way you're short of ways. But you deliberately chose this way to harass Chantall. Still a grudge because he treated Nolan harshly?"

"Nolan was under my protection, and I was annoyed when he treated her like a servant" Renata admitted. "But it's not his fault. Nolan was wearing a waiter uniform."

"So?"

There was a momentary silence in the room. All that was heard was the rustling sound of the cloth as Renata walked to the edge of the window, looking out from there. "It's only been Lady Chantall's two days here, but I've had a lot of complaints" she finally explained. "She acted like a hostess and sent out the waiter at will. His dayangs invaded this house and he wandered around in messy clothes. It's not classy." Renata took a breath. "You handed me household affairs, so I have the right to restore order in this house or reprimand him—though by any means."

"I understand that she's already crossed her limits as a guest, and that clearly offends you. But you can tell me, I can take care of it." Marco shook his head slowly. "I don't like any quarrels in this house. Lady Chantall is my guest. Like you were angry when Nolan was insulted, do you think I can't take it personally you barged in and insulted him in my own room? Now you want to step on me?"

The cold tone of the man made Renata lower her face. His eyes softened in fear. "I didn't mean to," he murmured softly.

"I know." Marco approached, embracing Renata and hugging her warmly. "I see a shadow of anxiety on your face. You're exhausted. You're worried about Edgar, Jacob, Rolan and especially Jose, and that makes you nervous." He judges, weighs each word before saying it. "I hear you're urging Rolan to tell me everything that's going on. You also find out for yourself from here and there about the mystery of Bjork. Renata, do you know why we never told you in detail what we did or what happened?" He took off a hug, touching the side of his finger to Renata's chin. "That's gonna make you anxious. And anxiety will make you sick."

It also makes you cruel, he added inwardly. Renata could be more ruthless than Edgar if he wanted to. Women can always be crueler than men.

"I understand" whispered Renata, brushing her nose. "You're right. I'm weary. I'm nervous to think about all this and even become senewen myself. I'm sorry."

"All right, don't be sad. Leave everything to me, you believe I can handle all this, right? Too many heads involved will even make me dizzy. Youunderstand?"

"I still want to take care of the traitor myself." Renata raised his face. His brown eyes stared wet with pleading gazes, just like he used to do when they were little. "Sister will allow it, right?"

Marco laughing. "She's your ladyboy. Of course I allow. But do it tomorrow. Tonight let Finnian take care of. You take a break, I don't want to be denied. Edgar would be sad to come home and see your face as haggard. He'll blame me."

Renata laughs. He tiptoed, peeked briefly at Marco's cheeks, then said goodbye warmly.

Outside, Lady Chantall confronted him.

"You did it on purpose" the woman whispered lowly. "You deliberately humiliated me in front of Marco."

Renata stared straight past Lady Chantall, acting as if he had not seen her. "I don't have to humiliate you, milady. You've done it yourself." He smiled in a special way. "If you want to be Argent, act like an Argent."

To make her point, Renata swept a glance at Lady Chantall from top to bottom, especially on the loosely tied sleeping coat showing off her cleavage, which she had, then he left without saying anything more.

***

¬Scullery maids: the rate is lower than house maids. They do a rough job in the kitchen.