Chapter 258 Chapter 258


    As soon as they returned to the inn, Nn practically shoved Eliza through her door and said sternly, "Get in there and sleep. Now. You''ve barely recovered-what do you want, a rpse?"


    “Alright, alright, I''m going!" Eliza didn''t dare argue.


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    After everything that had happened tonight, she was honestly exhausted. The moment she stepped inside her room, her limbs started to go heavy with fatigue.


    Just as she was about to close the door, she paused and asked, "What about those two downstairs...?"


    "I''ll handle them." Nn reached out to gently smooth her hair, then pulled his hand back quickly and added, "Go to bed. Tomorrow you rest. We''ll leave for Hasen City the day after."


    They had originally nned to depart in the morning, but tonight had clearly thrown that out the window. Nn made the call without hesitation-and Eliza, happy to sleep in another day, had noints.


    Once inside, she changed clothes, copsed into bed, and slept straight through until noon.


    Meanwhile, Hudson-now one hand short-had been tossed into the firewood shed like a sack of trash.


    The next day, Eliza was woken by a loud gurgle in her stomach.


    She blinked up at the ceiling, dazed. "I''m starving."


    "You should''ve gotten up sooner to eat," Tina said, appearing at the door.


    Eliza dragged herself upright, sore and sluggish. A sharp chill lingered in the air as she began dressing. "What time is it?"


    "Just past noon," Tina replied.


    "No wonder I''m so hungry."


    Eliza finished dressing, smoothed out the bedsheets with practiced efficiency-and right on cue, there was a knock at the door.


    Eliza immediately understood. "Renee? Let her in."


    Tina opened the door, revealing a freshly dressed Renee holding a basin of


    steaming water. She peered inside, eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Your Grace! You''re awake! I brought your wash water!"


    "I am. Perfect timing-I was just about to go get some myself," Eliza said, epting the basin with a smile.


    As she washed up, Renee lingered nearby and asked nervously, "Your Grace... may I stay by your side? As your maid?"


    "You can stay with me," Eliza said, still smiling. "But you don''t need to be my maid to do that."


    Renee shook her head stubbornly. "I want to. You saved my life and took me in. I have nothing else to repay you with. If you''d let me serve you-cooking, cleaning, anything-I may not be as good as a proper housemaid right now, but I''ll learn. I swear, I''ll be the best maid you''ve ever had."


    Eliza looked at her determined little face and found it hard to refuse.


    "Alright then. You can give it a try. But since I''ve taken vows, I don''t believe in master-servant ties. No contracts. If you ever want to leave, you''re free to go." Renee looked a little disappointed at the "no contract" part. If she had one, she''d officially belong to Eliza. She could follow


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    her forever. But Eliza wouldn''t bind her.


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    Still, she buried her disappointment quickly. Even without a contract, she''d stay by Eliza''s side-until she truly became "hers."


    Renee beamed at the thought, then busied herself around the room, determined


    to take over every single chore Eliza might need help with.


    When Eliza finally came downstairs, she had a shadow trailing behind her.


    Nn was already seated in the main hall, surrounded by a mountain of ount ledgers. At the door, a whole group of people were kneeling quietly.


    He looked up at the sound of her footsteps. "Awake? Good. Come eat. I had them keep your meal warm."


    He looked up at the sound of her footsteps. "Awake? Good. Come eat. I had them keep your meal warm."


    "Thanks.” Eliza sat down, and steaming tes were brought in immediately.


    Since she was the only one who hadn''t eaten, everything was ced before her- and she didn''t waste a second.


    While Eliza ate, Renee stood at her side, dutifully filling her bowl. There were only three dishes, but that was by design. Nn knew she didn''t like waste, so he only had her three favorite dishes prepared.


    In no time, the food vanished. Then, Renee handed her a cup of coffee-quickly brewed from boiled water. The vor was a little off, but Eliza didn''t say a word.


    She could feel Renee''s tension, so she simply patted her hand. “Don''t worry. These little things take time. You''ll of it."


    get


    the hang


    She''d experienced both extremes in her life-being served by a dozen maids, and doing everything alone. In truth, she didn''t really care. But Renee did. That girl had set her own bar sky-high.


    Eliza finally looked up from her cup and gestured toward the kneeling crowd. "Bradford''s people?"


    Nn nodded. "Not just them. Some local officials too."


    "Officials?" Eliza raised a brow. "What are they here for?"


    "To plead for mercy," Nn said, his voice coated with disdain.


    At that, Elizapletely lost interest and turned her eyes to the mountain of ledgers in front of Nn.


    "All those books... you''re really nning to squeeze military funds out of the Bradfords?"


    "Of course. Would be a shame to waste such a golden opportunity." Nn flipped through another ledger, his expression sharpening as he found another discrepancy. He marked it, tossed the book into the growing "problem" pile, and said to Ross, "Send these to Lucian Bradford. Tell him to get moving- deliver the funds fast, and maybe his son leaves here in one piece. If he drags his feet... he can say goodbye to that second hand."