174 2.1.25: 'sIsolation”

That incident with the Duchess had left Xiao Yunhua traumatized as she woke up the next day. She could never look at the Duchess the same way again. She was, luckily alone, as no one had checked up on her—or dared to, probably because the Duchess ordered to isolate her—so she had time to think.

Even after knowing that she ordered bandits to kill a child, it wasn't as bad as experiencing death personally dealt by her. The way she grabbed the neck, the bloodthirsty expression her eyes...it was clear that it wasn't her first time.

She was cruel, but for what reason?

Yes it was possibly due to losing her daughter all those years ago—creating a misperception of the world, turning vicious and acting like a madwoman—but what had happened that night to make her so? From what she remembered, that year, the news had spread that the Warrington mansion had been attacked, but the news didn't specify what. Could it be that there was a deeper problem than simply the attack that was spread?

She inhaled deeply and summoned herself to the dimensional space, which she hadn't visited for a long time.

"Little Tao,"

Immediately, she felt the presence of the little fairy before her. Cheerfully, she greeted Xiao Yunhua but her joy faltered when she realized that her host was serious. The little fairy hadn't expected to see her host since

"Yes Host?"

"Investigate the incident that happened in the Warrington mansion that costed the life of Vivienne Rosalind Warrington." Xiao Taotao froze. Why was her host interested in such a trivial thing? Besides, it wasn't permitted to be revealed to her at such a stage.

However, instead of refusing—as she couldn't refuse her host unless it went against the rules such as when she asked about Juliet's real condition—she ended up nodding. But—to find herself a loophole—she said, "Host, it'll cost 41,500 Pretty Points."

Xiao Yunhua rolled her eyes. "You really like keeping it at the perfect number."

Xiao Taotao giggled, "It's aesthetically pleasing." She waved her hand and the points were immediately taken away. "Your balance is 900,000 points." Xiao Yunhua expectantly looked at her, waiting to see the results but the little fairy cheekily smiled in her direction, blinking innocently with her gray eyes. "Unfortunately, I can't give you the investigation because it's not ready. But once it's ready, I will let you know?"

What rubbish! The system needed time to 'investigate?' Xiao Yunhua knew that with a snap of her small fingers, everything about that day would show before both of their eyes. But, seeing how adamant she was against showing her right now, Xiao Yunhua knew that she was most likely restricted. She hesitantly nodded, leaving the dimensional space and appearing in her room again. Fortunately, nobody had come in to see her disappear again, so she didn't need to panic over angering the Duchess again.

Speaking of the Duchess, her words constantly echoed in Xiao Yunhua mind, especially in regards to 'him' and the 'disgusting creatures.' What has caused her to harbor such hatred to say those words with such menace?

She sighed and closed her eyes, ignoring her impending headache. Her stomach grumbled in hunger and she stood up to open the door, but realized it was locked from the outside. This was the reason no one had visited. The Duchess had locked the door and kept the key for herself. Despite her hunger, she wasn't stupid. There was a possibility that she was being punished to go without food.

And her assumption was right when a few days passed and no one came in. On the third day, the Duchess had expected to see a haggard and pale Violetta due to the lack of food but was surprised to see her still glowing with vitality. In fact, the Duchess didn't know that Xiao Yunhua had exchanged points for food. Her balance was currently 897,000 due to the immaturity of the woman who thought starving her was the way to punish her. This made her more angry and the minimalistic food in her hands were taken back and brought back two days later, when Xiao Yunhua's points were now 895,000.

By that point, the Duchess had assumed that she was being stubborn and finally gave her the food that was used to feed the servants. She didn't complain—eating very few bites due to eating beforehand—and the Duchess coldly stared at her. She pulled out books that were as thick as logs, telling Xiao Yunhua that she needed to copy and learn that her indecency was wrong. She was also told that she would never see that boy again, so she needed to give up her silly delusions. Then, with a humph, the Duchess left her alone with some ink and paper.

She didn't see the Duchess again, nor anyone for the matter. The only person she saw was the new servant who averted her eyes and placed her meals on the table, leaving swiftly after.

This went by for two months, an endless cycle that was supposed to last a week or two originally. The Duchess presumed that during these two months, Violetta had been in the room the entire time. But she didn't know that Xiao Yunhua still had the ability to move her soul around. And thus, this was how she knew that Dominic had tried to contact her frequently during these past two months—from the whispering of the servants—to the point that it arose rumors about them. Far worse rumors than when they had diligently invited each other for tea.

She even used her soul to travel outside to the market, not feeling isolated like she was 'supposed to.' Due to her period of absence and the growing rumors about her, her former glory that she had accumulated from going to parties had deteriorated. She was slowly forgotten—accompanied by her average features—it was no surprise.

She was finally visited by the Duchess, one day before the knighting ceremony who looked at her with a sneer. "Have you learned your lesson?"

What lesson was she supposed to learn? Instead of voicing out her real thoughts, she nodded obediently and the Duchess sneered. "Good, because I will give you a chance of redemption." Her contemptuous attitude was clear when regarding Violetta. "Tomorrow is the knighting ceremony of that Harrison boy. You will not go. This will be publicly denouncing your relationship with him. Only then will you be allowed to be as free as before."

The Duchess' plan made Xiao Yunhua mockingly smile. Not only would that completely destroy her progress, but her equivalence of 'freedom' before was going out to socialize and make herself known in high society under the strict supervision of the Duchess. So either way, the Duchess wanted to make it to where she had no way of winning.

"Violet," her supercilious smile was replaced with a gentle one. The way she said her nickname, it was almost like she had forgotten that she nearly choked her to death. Her tone was so endearing, it was like a mother speaking to her child. The irony of it all made Xiao Yunhua chuckle. "your debutant party is approaching in three months, meaning you'll be fifteen. Your reputation as a woman is on the line."

Reputation or was it the engagement she kept pestering over? But who was the 'him' that she was so inexorable about?

"Alright." In the end, her only choice was to agree. Of course, a plan was brewing in her mind but she couldn't expose herself so soon. Not only would this plan trick the Duchess, but it was time to end it once and for it.

If she wasn't allowed to take it slowly and evoke feelings gradually, then she would force sympathy from him.

And sympathy, was the way to win his heart.