Chapter 251
On the second day of her marriage, Willow was punished to kneel in the Memorial Hall. Though she obeyed, her heart was full of indignation. She had merely made a few offhand remarks in her own home. It shouldn’t be a serious offense. Besides, this was the Osborne estate now, and she was already the young lady of the household. She thought her mother-in-law was supposed to stand up for her. Feeling wronged, Willow couldn’t stop her tears from falling. Seeing her crying so sadly, Nona couldn’t help but persuade her, “My lady, don’t be so upset. Think about what you should do next instead.”
Back when she was in the duke’s estate, Willow had Eloise to protect her. But now that she was married, crying no longer served a purpose. Even Nona was starting to get annoyed. Willow seriously reflected on Nona’s words and wiped away her tears. She looked at Nona pitifully and said, “Nona, I knew you were loyal to me. There’s no one around. Go find out what happened with Michael in the palace.” Ever since Michael had returned, Willow had sensed something was off. He had grown distant and cold. The way he looked at her had changed noticeably. There was definitely something wrong. Nona was delighted that Willow was finally using her head and quickly agreed, “I’ll go right away, my lady.” She thought, ‘That’s more like it. Crying isn’t going to get you anywhere.’ The priority now was to establish a firm footing in the Osborne household. Not long after, Nona returned. Willow asked anxiously, “Any news?”
Nona replied, “I heard the King is troubled by the recent epidemic. He sent Athena to Saint Jero Clinic to investigate the cause, and Lord Osborne volunteered to go with her to atone for his mistakes.”
“Atoning for his mistakes, huh?” Willow sneered. “Does Michael have ulterior motives, or does he genuinely want to go to Saint Jero Clinic?” Seeing Willow’s eyes reddening again, Nona reminded her, “My lady, Lord Osborne is doing this for the sake of the family. You mustn’t act rashly.” Michael, whether he wanted to see Athena or truly cared about the epidemic, was helping to ease the King’s anger. If Willow threw a tantrum now, she would gain nothing and only push Michael further away. Willow wasn’t completely foolish. She wiped her tears and nodded. “You’re right. I can’t afford to upset Michael now. I need to help him.” She recognized the symptoms of the so-called epidemic, like high fever, coughing, and headaches. It was essentially a common cold. But in ancient times, without effective medication, even a mild illness could be fatal. Willow was different. She came from the modern world. She possessed a wealth of modern knowledge. With a few clever moves, she could gain immense advantage. Willow gritted her teeth; she was going to help Michael. She would use modern knowledge to gain a foothold in the Osborne family. Her mother-in-law would be forced to see her in a new light, and the label of “bad luck” would no longer stick. Willow said, “Nona, go get me some gauze. Lots of it.”
Nona looked puzzled. “My lady, what do you need so much fabric for?”
“Just do it. This fabric will help me earn merit and even win praise from the King.” Willow’s face radiated confidence. This time, she was going to stage a brilliant comeback. Nona knew Willow was different. Even as a child in the Monson household, she had been smarter than most. When other kids were just learning to read, Willow had already been composing poetry. Her mind had always been full of strange and clever ideas. She could make soap. She could craft glass. Eloise had treasured Willow, often saying she must have done countless good deeds in past lives to have such a daughter. Willow’s name was well-known. Whenever people spoke of her, they did so with surprise and curiosity. She was a renowned talent in Pidence City. This epidemic could be her new opportunity to shine. If she could secure her place in the Osborne family, Kelsey would no longer look down on her. Michael might even come to love her again. If Willow gained favor, even Nona would benefit. Excited, Nona left and returned with the fabric. Then the two of them worked through the night in the ancestral hall. By dawn, they had created something that could hang from the ears.
“My lady, what is this?” Nona asked curiously.
Willow smiled and said, “This is a mask. The epidemic is spreading. People can get infected just by talking face-to-face. But with this, you can avoid getting sick.”
Nona exclaimed, “Is it really that incredible? So we wouldn’t even need medicine anymore?” Nona might have been exaggerating. But Willow, driven by vanity, replied proudly, “If the virus can’t reach you, why bother with medicine?”
“My lady, you’re absolutely brilliant!” Nona gushed with admiration, and Willow basked in the praise. Kelsey had ordered Willow to kneel all night to reflect. Once the time was up, she lifted the punishment. Willow’s legs were still injured. She needed help to walk and limped with difficulty. She went to apologize to Kelsey and took the opportunity to present the mask.
“This thing can really block viruses?” Kelsey was skeptical. After all, it was just a piece of cloth, and the claim sounded too miraculous.
Willow spoke firmly. “I wouldn’t dare deceive you. These masks are effective. If you don’t believe me, let the servants try them. If this works, it’ll help my husband too.”
The household staff went out daily to buy supplies and inevitably came into contact with outsiders. Kelsey also wanted to support Michael. If this worked, it would reflect well on their family in front of the King. Thinking of Willow’s special background, she decided to give it a try. “Very well, we’ll do as you say.” Kelsey had the seamstresses make more masks and ordered everyone going out to wear them. Once the order was given, Willow finally felt at ease. She looked nervously at Kelsey and asked carefully, “Today is the day I return to my family. May I go with Michael?”
Kelsey, in a better mood now, softened her tone. “Don’t worry. Everything’s been prepared. Although Michael’s injured, he’s always been strong. This little wound is nothing. He can accompany you.”
“Thank you!” Willow quickly replied.
“Alright, off you go,” Kelsey said with a gentle smile.
Willow’s mood lifted instantly. She left Kelsey’s courtyard and let out a long sigh of relief. She thought this epidemic was a blessing. It finally gave her a chance to show what she could do. Back at the duke’s estate, Henry hadn’t expected Willow and Michael to come, especially not with injuries. Yet here they were, and with generous gifts. The carriage was so full it nearly filled the entire courtyard. But Willow didn’t see much joy on Eloise or Henry’s faces. Their smiles looked forced. Henry and Michael drank with her two older brothers, while Willow followed Eloise into another room.
“Mother, you look unhappy,” Willow said.
No sooner had she asked than Eloise burst into tears. “Your brother and his wife are on the verge of divorce.”