A week had passed, and my luggage was packed, ready for my journey to Baron Rutherford's territory. On the eve before my departure, another argument erupted between my parents and me.

"I don't want any of them to follow me," I asserted. "The carriage coach is enough."

"Has all that studying damaged your brain?" the Earl retorted, raising his voice. "Take your maids and two guards with you."

"No! Aren't there maids and guards at the manor? Why do I need them to follow me?"

Beside me, Brett looked dejected, while Brenda shed tears. My heart ached at the sight, but I remained resolute about not taking them to Rutherford. My decision was driven by two reasons. First, I couldn't bring myself to fully trust them. I feared they might report everything happening at the manor to my parents. Second, I didn't want to involve them in my mess. If things were to go awry, they would be implicated as well.

These reasons conflicted with each other. I couldn't trust them, yet I wanted to protect them. I wasn't sure what I truly felt about my maids. They had dutifully served me for the past few months. However, due to my experiences in my previous life, where my job required a skeptical mindset toward those working under me, I could never fully trust anyone.

The Earl interjected, "Can you do anything by yourself without your maids? Who's going to protect you during your journey? That's why you need guards."

I understood that demanding to travel on a long journey without maids and guards was foolish, especially considering my status as the daughter of an earl. Nevertheless, I was determined to take as few people with me as possible.

"You don't let me do anything I want! You won't let me study, and you won't let me go on a solo journey... I feel like I'm trapped in a cage in this house," I retorted, though inwardly cringing at my own words. Looking back, I recalled many petty fights with my parents during my previous life.

My words seemed to strike a chord within the Earl.

I took the chance and continued, "You've never paid attention to me your entire life. I've always been second to Matthew. You gave him everything — a good education, love, affection... But with me, you treated me like a doll to be kept in a showcase. Why is it so difficult for you to just give me permission to go alone on a journey? All I want is to be free from your shackles!"

I hated this. The expression on the Earl's face made me even more miserable. However, there was something important to do in Rutherford. I could not afford to back down here.

I looked towards the Countess, who was standing beside the Earl. The moment her eyes met mine, she gave me a knowing smile. It seemed that she knew exactly what I was doing. She could not be easily manipulated like the Earl.

Although inwardly shaken, I did not change my expression. This woman was not easy to deal with.

He let out a sigh and replied, "Ha... Then take at least one maid and guard with you. I won't let you go if you insist on having nobody accompany you."

Brett and Brenda exchanged glances. Brett whispered something to Brenda. It was evident what they were thinking – the twins clearly did not wish to be separated. However, Brett, being a dutiful servant and a caring sister, was offering to accompany me.

With a dissatisfied expression, I conceded, "Well then... I'll take Gemma with me. As for the guard, you can choose one for me, but I expect him to return after dropping me off at the manor. I don't want to feel restricted even when I'm away from the capital."

"Gemma? Are you sure?" the Countess asked, her eyes curving into a smile behind her fan.

"Yes," I replied.

"Well then," the Earl said. "Now that's settled, Maxine, I want you to come to my study after dinner. I'll introduce you to the guard."

"Noted."

With that, I headed back to my room. Once we arrived there, Brett asked me, "Miss... Why did you choose Gemma?"

"Because she is the only maid whose name I know other than you and Brenda," I replied.

"Even so, Miss, she isn't a good person. She has a bad reputation. In last month's incident, she was most likely the culprit..."

"Hmm..."

What Brett was referring to was an incident that occurred last month when the Countess' expensive amethyst brooch went missing. The entire mansion was turned upside down in search of it, but the efforts were futile. It was then assumed that it was stolen by one of the employees working in the mansion. The servants' quarters were also searched, and when asked about who could have potentially stolen it, most maids pointed at Gemma. Her room in the servants' quarters was searched once again, but no one could find the amethyst brooch.

That was because I was the one who stole it. And no one ever suspected me.

The reason I did it was simple. I wanted to see who the maids would point their fingers at, and then choose that person to accompany me on my journey. I wanted a maid to follow me whose weakness I knew very well. So that I could take advantage of it in the future.

"Why do you think so, Brett?"

"Apparently, she used to work in Count Lawrence's manor before coming here. One of our cooks had also worked there and she said that Gemma was notorious for stealing other maids' belongings. Although they knew it was her, strangely enough, nobody could prove that she was the culprit."

"Oho."

"When we asked her about it, she got strangely defensive too. It was definitely suspicious."

"I see. Anyways, go and ask Gemma to prepare for the journey. We have a long trip ahead."

"Yes, Miss." With a bow, Brett left the room.

Since I was 'grounded' at the moment without access to a single book to bide my time, I decided to sleep for a while.

Sometime in the evening , Brenda came in carrying my supper ꟷ roast chicken with herbed potatoes and seasoned vegetables.

"Brenda, was Gemma told to prepare for tomorrow's journey?" I asked, lifting the fork and knife.

"I have, Young Miss."

"What was her reaction?"

"She appeared to be overjoyed."

"Is that so..." I said, taking a bite of the chicken.

"But Miss, why not take one of us? You are accustomed to having us attend to you," Brenda questioned, her concern evident.

"Brenda, do you know why I'm leaving the mansion in the first place?" I asked, savoring the delicious chicken.

"You had a fight with the Earl and Countess..."

"That's right," I replied, swallowing. "And I don't want to see anyone who might remind me of them. I'd only feel like you're spying on me for them. You do report all my daily activities to the Countess, right?"

Brenda hung her head, not replying. Truth be told, I hadn't known if they reported my activities to the Countess. But seeing as how she didn't reply to my question, it seemed that my guess was right.

After finishing supper, I rose up and headed towards the Earl's study.

Knock, Knock.

"Come in."

Beside the Earl stood a young man in his late twenties. He was tall, towering over six feet, with tousled shoulder-length blond hair. His lean and muscular frame, along with his straight back, exuded a sense of reliability.

"My guard?" I inquired.

"Yes. This is Sir Lucas Hartwood. He is a knight, and he will protect you during your journey. I loaned him for a bit from the palace," the Earl explained.

"An imperial knight?" How in the world did he get an imperial knight to run an errand for him?

"Yes, and quite a formidable one at that. I don't have to worry about your safety anymore," the Earl stated, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied expression.

"Father, you didn't have to go to such lengths for me..." I murmured, already strategizing ways to get the knight off my tail.

"I did some thinking and realised that what you said before was right... I had ignored you all your life, despite you being my daughter. Going forward, I want to make amends for that," the Earl admitted sincerely.

Had I known my words would have such a profound effect on him, I would have chosen a different approach to dealing with the guards.

The aloof knight beside my father seemed unperturbed by the conversation, as if we were talking about a tree in the garden, and not him.

Without a word, I turned away to leave the study, needing some space to process everything.

"Your mother asked you to meet her in her room as soon as you're done here," the Earl reminded me.

It was going to be another challenging meeting with the Countess, probably worse than the one I just had.