Two Swords and the Angel’s Feather - Chapter 44

Mrs. Bryson shoved the women from her side, walked in front of Ellen, glared at her, and grinned. Ellen rolled her eyes.

“You’re going to have the Duke of Madison’s child? How do you think a stork like you will pay for it?”

“Yes, a woman like you doesn’t suit the Duke. Well said, Ellen.”

Ellen jerked around, stared at her sister, and took a step closer to Margaret after what she said.

“Sister, stop it. You have a fiancé. Throw away the idea of using me to do something with the Duke. The Duke of Madison doesn’t need a sister or a woman like Mrs. Bryson. He’s not just the Duke of Madison. He’s a man named Ryder Pelbrook.”

“What?”

Margaret looked at her sister, who had always been calm and had an expression that she couldn’t understand. Then, Mrs. Bryson snorted from behind.

“Oh, that sly rat was actually after you, not your brother? But what do we do with this? The Duke is not interested in things like you; look at you. No man is interested in anything like you. So why don’t you just step back with the crumb you’ve got? Before I take it all away?”

Ellen jerked around and glared at her.

“First, do not call Lord River a crumb. And finally, he wouldn’t be interested if you danced naked in front of him.”

“Oh, you need a hideous scar like yourself to stand there, right? That’s a bummer. I used to think it was okay.”

The women laughed loudly. Ellen’s reason snapped.

She had never used violence in her life. Ellen is a person who stood back, bowed her head, curled up, and hid in the events that involved disturbance. She never stood up to anyone, and it’s only after she came to the palace that she could only speak her opinion.

But for now, she wanted to erase that damn smile from her face. She tried to rub that arrogant face with her hands and pull out all her hair. She wanted to tear up the vicious words.

“Hey, Ellen!

She could hear Margaret screaming, but Ellen didn’t care. On the other side, the women shrieked away, and Mrs. Bryson also shouted loudly. Ellen’s hand grabbed and pulled the woman’s hair, which had always been gruesome, and Mrs. Bryson struggled to push her away.

All the women screamed, but Ellen wouldn’t let go of Mrs. Bryson’s head. The Lady’s sharp nails scratched her face, and a had high voice hurled abusively.

“You crazy girl! Get away! Let go!

“How dare you speak ill of my man? You of all people? I’ll kill you!”

Ellen also screamed, shouting loudly and liberatingly. She thought she knew why Celia kicked the chair. But kicking Mrs. Bryson wasn’t an easy task because of her big crinoline skirt. Mrs. Bryson’s headdress flew in sideways, and her blonde hair was tangled up and rolled down her shoulders.

“Take this crazy girl off me! guards, guards!”

“Ellen, stop it! What are you doing so shamelessly?”

Margaret screamed, too, but Ellen wouldn’t let go of her hair. Then someone hugged Ellen’s waist and lifted her up. Ellen struggled and tried to scratch the stranger’s arm, but a low, soft voice touched her ear.

“Ellen, you’d better leave nail marks in the bedroom.”

She jerked her head and blinked. River picked her up and pulled her out of the lace and cloth that made up Mrs. Bryson’s clothes. Soldiers grabbed Mrs. Bryson and raised her to her feet.

The woman’s delicate make-up spread like a mess, and her head looked as if birds could turn their backs. Mrs. Bryson pointed to Ellen and shouted in a tearful voice.

“I want you to lock that crazy girl up right now! I’ll tell the king! She’s coming at me! That crazy bitch!”

“If I were you, Countess Bryson, I’d watch my mouth. Because they don’t like people who violate loyal subjects.”

Mrs. Bryson snorted at River as she watched dumbfoundedly and pulled her arm out of the soldiers. Her loyal maid-like aristocratic wives quickly made a fuss by going to her side, touching her hair, and wiping off her makeup.

“I have a witness. It’s a big mistake if you’re going to let this go lightly. No matter how much you are the Duke’s brother, I will file a formal complaint to you. I dare not let you step on the palace again.”

“Hey, Lord River, why don’t you talk to the Duke before things get any bigger? You tell the Duke well because it’s also my virtue to teach sister wrongly. Anyway, Ellen wasn’t cut out for the royal palace in the first place…”

Margaret approached River in a demure, coy tone she used only in front of men and whispered. But before Margaret could finish her sentence, Ellen looked back at River and spoke in a sharp tone.

“Did you sleep with her?”

River hugged her more comfortably and then looked up with a look of sorry.

“I didn’t know you then, and Mrs. Bryson lifts her skirt in front of every young man.”

He added quickly, apparently noticing Ellen’s eyes flashing.

“But I’ve never been interested in any woman since I met you. I swear.”

“Why is she making such a fuss about you? Why is she making such a fuss about your scar?”

“Come on, Ellen. You know I don’t care what a woman who talks like that.”

“I care! I don’t like it! I don’t like it when such a light-hearted girl looks down on you!”

Mrs. Bryson again screamed sharply at the insulting story, and the women next to her gasped, but Ellen didn’t even look. A smile slowly spread over River’s face. He looked with his forearms under Ellen’s lap, and her chest held high.

“That’s why I love you, Lady Ellen.”

“Look, sir, this is undignified behavior. If you think of Ellen, you’d better clean up this place right now and call the Duke to solve this problem. If this kind of story goes into my father’s ears, it will never go well with you.”

Margaret whispered to River in a hurry, and Mrs. Bryson screamed.

“I’ll tell him everything in front of you! I’ll tell him all about how much she insulted me, what kind of assault she committed, and make him kick you out!”

Note: 2 more chapters left for the main story!