Chapter 84: Ambush

After Isolde finished speaking, she retrieved the painting before handing it to Helena. Helena opened it and examined it. Stunned, she asked, “Is this a painting of shining light?”

“Yes. I didn’t know what to draw, so I drew what came to mind,” Isolde said with a smile.

Helena slowly rolled up the painting and looked sadly at Isolde. She said, “Miss Langley, we grew up together. Are you abandoning me now?”

Isolde was surprised that Helena could see through her. But on second thought, it wasn't shocking. They had grown up together, and Helena had always been perceptive about Isolde's intentions.

Isolde sat Helena down and asked, “Helena, let me ask you. Do you like Lad?”

“Not really,” Helena said.

“Then do you hate him?”

“No.” Helena shook her head, her face flushed.

Isolde reasoned, “Helena, I need you to do this for me. If you don’t marry Lad, Father will keep pestering Mrs. Wood and trying to make me marry him. However, if Lad is married, Father won’t be able to threaten me anymore. Are you willing to do this for me?”

Helena’s eyes were wet as she replied, “Alright. Stop talking. I know what you’re thinking.”

Helena was well aware that she was just a servant. The best path she envisioned for herself was to marry a fellow servant and bear the next generation of servants. She would never be able to break free from servitude. She was beyond lucky to be able to marry into a proper family like the Woods.

“I’ll send the painting over tomorrow,” Helena said, tears in her eyes.

Isolde’s eyes were teary, and her heart ached. She hugged Helena and said, “I will miss you dearly. But I must not keep you here forever. You’ll eventually start your own family. Thankfully, the Wood family lives nearby. You can come back to visit me anytime you want.”

Helena broke down in tears.

The next morning, Isolde went out with Hattie and Hazel. Michelle was already waiting at the entrance. She only had a maidservant with her, but the girl was unfamiliar to Isolde. The maidservant moved nimbly, avoiding dust on her heels. With just one look, the Goodwin sisters could tell that the maidservant was proficient in martial arts.

“Isolde, you look quite handsome today,” Michelle praised, smiling at Isolde.

Isolde was dressed as a man that day. She wore no puffy skirt or jewelry. Her hair was tied in a bun, and she carried the Flowing Cloud Whip on her belt. She wore goatskin boots, giving her the look of an adventurer.

Michelle, on the other hand, was dressed in a white dress with a large petticoat. She had the scar on her face covered.

“We’re going to church, not a party. I see no reason to dress up,” Isolde said indifferently.

Michelle nodded and said, “Indeed. Come and get in the carriage.”

The carriage owned by the Duke’s estate was very spacious; more than enough for five people.

“Head to the Church of Wealdir,” Michelle instructed the coachman.

Isolde looked stunned and questioned, “The Church of Wealdir? Aren’t we going to the Church of Paemis?”

Michelle said in frustration, “I forgot to update you. The Church of Wealdir is more suitable since the goal of our trip is to pray for Father’s well-being.”

Isolde seemed anxious and said, “Every church works just the same. The Church of Wealdir is high up on the mountain. It’ll be exhausting to climb all the way up there. We should go to the Church of Paemis.”

“No. The Church of Wealdir it is!” Michelle said as the carriage set off.

Isolde grumbled angrily, “The Church of Wealdir is so far away. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

Michelle comforted her gently, “If you don’t want to climb up yourself, we can hire someone to carry you up.”

Isolde kept quiet, but she glared at Michelle resentfully. Michelle’s eyes glistened with malice. Her lips, under the veil, curled up slightly. She figured Isolde had positioned her men around the Church of Paemis.

The carriage left the city from the northwest gate and headed west. The scenery was excellent. Flowers bloomed on both sides of the road. The sound of cicadas chirping could be heard.

Since their destination was remote, they barely encountered anyone along the way. Occasionally, they would see ox carts carrying goods towards the city.

Isolde seemed to have calmed down. She lifted the side curtain and looked out, mesmerized by the scenery. Michelle was also resting with her eyes closed, but she would occasionally peek at Isolde. Hattie and Hazel remained quiet throughout the journey; they looked frail and leaned against the carriage.

The journey was bumpy. They stopped once to let the horse rest. Afterward, they headed straight for the Church of Wealdir.

The Church of Wealdir was indeed far away. It took them three hours to reach the foot of the mountain. Then, they needed another two hours to climb the mountain.

In total, they would spend ten hours traveling. Therefore, they would not be able to return to the estate at night unless they had set off very early in the morning.

At the foot of the mountain, Michelle looked around curiously and asked, “Why don’t I see any locals offering their services? The last time I came, the locals were willing to carry visitors up the mountain for a small fee. Why don’t we wait here?”

Isolde was a little impatient. She said, “Never mind. Let’s go up. God knows how long we’ll have to wait. We’ll be late. If we delay any longer, we might need to stay overnight at the church.”

The five of them ascended the mountain, leaving only the driver to watch over the carriage. Michelle repeatedly reminded him not to leave.

Along the way, Isolde and Michelle’s maidservant, Daisy, led the way. Hattie, Hazel, and Michelle fell behind, walking slower and slower.

Isolde shouted angrily several times, “Can you ladies walk faster? If we’re slow, we won’t be able to go back tonight.”

Michelle would try to hasten each time Isolde called out angrily, but she would eventually slow down, requesting multiple breaks.

Isolde said angrily, “I told you not to come to the Church of Wealdir, but you insisted.”

Exhausted, Michelle told Daisy, “You and Isolde can go up first. I’ll join you later.”

Daisy replied, “Noted.”

Isolde asked the Goodwin sisters, “How are you two doing?”

Hattie panted while replying, “We… we can still continue.”

“Then, let’s go,” Isolde said coldly to Michelle. “If you don’t mind, you can join us at your own pace.”

Michelle sat and panted. She said, “You go up first. It’s daytime. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Isolde turned around and left. Daisy led the way. Soon, they arrived at a ravine. It was windy. Due to the ravine’s unique location, the wind howled as it passed through, causing the leaves to rustle restlessly.

Daisy suddenly stopped and turned around. She looked at Isolde with a sinister smile and announced, “Miss Langley, we’ve arrived.”

Confused, Isolde asked, “Arrived where? Is this the Church of Wealdir?”

“No. This is where you’ll be buried.” After Daisy finished speaking, she took out a dagger and lunged at Isolde.

Isolde dodged to the side and drew her whip. At the same time, several people dropped from the trees, surrounding Isolde and the Goodwin sisters. Isolde looked at the group’s leader; it was a familiar face.

Milton was no longer as majestic as before. He was dressed in plain clothes, looking like a farmer from a mountain village. His ordinary appearance starkly contrasted with the disgust and viciousness in his eyes.

Milton stared at Isolde, the disgust and viciousness in his eyes a stark contrast to his ordinary appearance. “Miss Langley, you don’t look surprised at all. Did you expect my ambush?” Milton was indeed an old fox. He could tell at a glance that Isolde had been expecting to meet him.