Chapter 12: Part of the Plan
The heavy rain poured down, and the dark night was split open by a pale crack of lightning.
At that moment, the urgent sound of hooves trampled through the rain curtain and stopped in front of the mansion’s gate.
The carriage door was pushed open violently, and Veronica Noval stumbled out.
Her light purple formal dress was already soaked through with rainwater, clinging to her body and outlining her graceful curves.
Her platinum hair was messily stuck to her porcelain white cheeks and neck, with droplets of water continuously dripping from the tips.
Her lips were slightly pale from the cold, making her appear even more pitiable.
“Sister Lena! Please, let me in!” Veronica trembled as she banged on the door, her voice filled with panic.
The door opened, and warm yellow light poured out, illuminating her disheveled appearance.
Droplets of rain still lingered on Veronica’s eyelashes, sparkling with a fragile glow under the light.
Lena stood inside the door, her brows furrowed tightly, a sharp contrast to Veronica’s drenched and messy figure.
Reid was standing slightly further back, holding a cup of unfinished hot tea, the amber liquid gently swaying in the cup.
“My axle broke… and there are bandits around here…” Veronica’s voice quivered slightly, as if she was struggling to hold back her fear.
What Veronica said was indeed true; there were bandits lurking around the Noval Mansion.
This place was not comparable to the family estate in the upper city of Gran City; after all, it was just a villa located in the suburbs.
Before Lena returned to Gran City, not many members of the Noval family were willing to come close to this place.
Even now, only the necessary rooms in the mansion were kept clean, while most of the rooms were covered in dust.
As for why Lena wasn’t afraid of these so-called bandits—
Why not ask how her sword feels about them?
“Lena, I… I really have nowhere else to go…”
The rain outside suddenly intensified, and Veronica instinctively tightened her wet collar.
It was evident that this was of no use against the cold.
As Reid’s gaze swept over her tightly crossed arms, Veronica seemed to suddenly realize something, shuddering slightly.
She hurriedly lowered her eyes, her thick golden lashes casting fan-shaped shadows on her face.
This unconscious defensive gesture made her look like an innocent neighbor girl.
Lena’s fingertips lightly tapped on the door frame as she squinted, scrutinizing this unexpected guest.
Veronica’s disheveled state was too perfect, like a meticulously designed performance.
Although she had decided to let Veronica in, necessary pressure had to be applied.
If Veronica truly found herself in this situation by accident, providing help would clearly be more appreciated than simply enhancing a fortunate situation.
But if Veronica had ulterior motives, deliberately prolonging her wait outside would also signal Lena’s stance.
In the end, Lena stepped aside to create a passage.
“Come in.” Lena’s voice was cold, yet still retained the decorum expected of a noble.
Veronica lowered her head in thanks but stumbled over the slippery carpet as she passed by Reid, almost falling forward—
According to The Book of Etiquette, when a lady falls before a mature gentleman, he should lightly support her wrist with three fingers and step back immediately after she stands.
But Reid merely shifted slightly, allowing Veronica to steady herself against the door frame.
Yet her soaked sleeves brushed against Reid’s arm, leaving a cool trail.
“I’m sorry…” Veronica murmured.
When she slightly lifted her face, her blue eyes, strikingly similar to Lena’s, were now glistening with tears, stunningly beautiful.
“Mary,” Lena finally spoke, her voice carrying a hint of scrutiny, “take Miss Veronica to change into dry clothes.”
The maid led Veronica’s figure out of the dressing room, disappearing around the corner of the corridor, leaving only a faint scent of bitter orange blossoms in the air.
Once the surroundings fell back into silence, Lena finally spoke, her gaze toward Reid filled with admiration:
“Well done, Mr. Reid.”
What Lena pointed out was clearly Reid’s earlier act of letting Veronica fall.
“That’s why I was holding this cup of tea.”
Reid raised the cup in his hand, taking a gentle sip: “After all, Miss Veronica wouldn’t want me to spill hot tea on her while trying to help her, would she?”
Though Reid’s presence made Lena feel incredibly secure, she couldn’t help but remind him:
“Mr. Reid, remember, everything goes according to plan.”
—————–
As the maid led Veronica out of the dressing room, Lena’s fingertips unconsciously dug into her palm.
Veronica had shed her earlier disheveled state, lightly waving a fan, her hair still carrying the steam of a recent bath.
She wore a clean dress, but the high-collared gown took on a different meaning on her.
The dress obviously did not fit Veronica’s figure; the fabric tightened across her chest, creating an alarming curve.
Although the style the maid picked for Veronica was as conservative as possible, Veronica’s northern hemisphere was still on display.
It was not difficult to understand; the women’s clothing in this mansion could only fit Lena’s dimensions.
There was no helping it; to restrain Veronica’s softness, at least a steamer would be needed.
Lena’s small bowl was clearly a bit inadequate.
Though she had anticipated this, it still surprised Lena.
If Lena was spirited, then Veronica was the kind of seductive beauty that penetrated to the bone.
Everyone has their comfortable zone, just as Lena was unstoppable on the battlefield, so too was Veronica lethal in front of men.
Her body seemed to have been born to please them.
A small mole adorned the top of the valley, as if blood had dropped into the snow, and the previously aimless gaze suddenly found its focus.
It was glaring enough to be unmissable.
Noticing Lena’s gaze, Veronica lowered her eyes: “I’m sorry, Lena, sister’s dress seems a bit tight around the chest…”
Veronica’s voice carried just the right amount of embarrassment, her fingertips lightly tugging at the neckline, drawing attention to that expanse of snow-white skin.
Lena’s gaze uncontrollably drifted toward Reid—
He was staring intently at the center of Veronica’s brow, his gaze calm as if appreciating a landscape painting.
Reid was entirely respectful.
This should have made Lena breathe a sigh of relief, yet some sharper emotions suddenly pierced her heart.
How could he be so calm?
Had he seen too much? Or did he simply not care?
Lena took a deep breath, dispelling the chaotic thoughts in her mind.
She gave Reid a meaningful look, a signal they had agreed upon beforehand.
Reid immediately understood, with a gentlemanly demeanor, he removed his coat and draped it over Veronica.
As the dark wool coat enveloped her enticing figure, Lena felt an absurd sense of satisfaction—
As if the coat, imbued with Reid’s warmth, was a kind of devil’s seal.
“Miss Veronica, please allow me to escort you to your guest room.”
Reid’s voice was gentle and detached, his arm maintaining just the right distance, not allowing even the hem to brush against her.
Watching their departing figures, Lena suddenly realized that Reid’s pace had slowed by half a step—
That was the rhythm he deliberately matched when walking with her; now, he was using it for Veronica.
The mansion suddenly felt empty and cold.
Lena instinctively clenched her fists.
“This is just part of the plan…”
It was as if to reassure herself, Lena murmured to the air, yet she could hear her own voice quivering uncontrollably.
