Unlike the others, Mariya was a concubine's daughter. But the Lao family matriarch had no daughter of her own, so she had been chosen.
"Lady Maryan Rashet once helped me with calligraphy, and I helped her with embroidery. That's all," she murmured.
She didn't want anyone to know she and Maryan had a history.
Mariya was a concubine's daughter. Maryan was a nobody. She hated the implication that they were the same kind of people.
After all, she was still above Maryan.
Lilli chuckled.
"To be honest, my lady," she said, turning to Nyasia, "Mariya is very nervous. She's been crying for days ever since she heard she had to come here. You see, she's in love with a son from another family."
Mariya's jaw tightened.
She shot Lilli a sideways glare.
She expected Nyasia to scold her like most noble ladies would. But Nyasia just sipped her tea and said nothing else. Which only made Mariya feel even more uneasy.
"It's normal to admire," Nona said. "But it's important to stay one's limits. As long as a noble lady preserves her dignity, she should be alright."
Nona gave a faint eyeroll.
Always saying the right words.
Meanwhile, Nyasia's curved faintly, thinking of the hundred times she had let Dorian bend every rule of decorum. And when she thought of what had just happened earlier, her ears turned red.
"Anyway, about this selection," she said, shifting the topic. The other ladies turned to her. "Father has given Brother the right to choose his bride as a compromise. This situation is so sudden, after all."
Naturally, these daughters already knew the household duties expected of a marchioness or any nobleman's wife, so she didn't dwell on it. Instead, she explained the basic details of the main house and advised that the future marchioness should build good relationships with key servants like Mrs. Reniel and the butler, Basil.
"And one more thing," Nyasia added. "Brother may already have someone in mind to marry, and this marriage selection is just a formality."
The news made Lilli hold a stiff smile. Nona's face remained too calm. And Mariya's jaw dropped slightly.
The young master likes somebody else? Lilli thought bitterly.
Surprised, aren't you? Nyasia thought, seeing her lie had stirred a reaction. One of them is surely Elder Chem's spy.
...
DAYS LATER.
Ezekias announced that the marriage selection would take place in just one week. By Saturday, a maiden would finally be chosen.
The three girls gathered in the main hall, showcasing their talents: etiquette, accounting, management, embroidery, music, calligraphy, writing, poetry, horticulture, and knowledge of Tenusa's history and culture.
Nona was shown to have the most talent, excelling in calligraphy, poetry, and horticulture. Mariya was extremely skilled at embroidery, while Lilli had a natural gift for music and tea-making.
After a flower appreciation session, Lilli spotted her mother greeting the marquis in the main hall. When they finally found a moment to talk in a corner, Lilli spoke.
"Mother, why is Mariya even being considered as a bride? She's just a concubine's daughter," she hissed.
"The Lao family has no legitimate daughter," Madam Arceo replied. "And why are you so focused on her? Focus on impressing the young master. That Ochia daughter is outshining you. Do you want to disappoint the head elder?"
The Arceo family owed a debt of gratitude to Elder Chem. They had to win the marchioness position—to please him and elevate the Arceos.
Lilli watched Nyasia surrounded by powerful servants from the main house, sitting there with the finest foods before her.
She scoffed, burning with jealousy.
If she became marchioness, she would make sure she was the only respected woman in the main house. If possible, she would have Nyasia married off to some lecherous old man. She couldn't let the young master's attention be divided between her and his sister.
But she had to get rid of others first.
Then, she walked toward a cottage.
...
THE POTTERY SESSION was held on a large veranda overlooking a steep mountain slope across the cliff, thick with bushes. Nyasia caught a glimpse of a small cottage hidden behind leaves and tree bark. She had only been there twice as a child, and it had had a perfect view of the mountains.
She stopped. Wasn't this where Dorian had taken his life in the past?
She turned away.
"My lady, are you alright?" Fay asked, standing beside her on the high-raised platform. She was worried about the lady's health. Though the lady had been improving, her body still couldn't withstand the heat of the sun.
"I'm fine," Nyasia murmured.
The session began.
A teacher stood and announced the painting them. Later, the veranda grew quiet as the ladies began painting on large sheets of paper at their respective desks.
Once again, Nona won the competition. People clapped. Nyasia noticed Lilli's eyes roll as Nona received her reward.
During tea time, Lilli sent a gift to Nyasia: a box of chamomile tea. And so, it was this tea that was served.
Mariya spoke up.
"Lilli, where are my paint brushes?" she asked, frowning. "You told me yesterday you would return them today. But earlier... you said nothing. I need them for our painting session after this."
Lilli gave an innocent drop of her jaw.
"Oh, I completely forgot," she said. "Before the painting session, I wandered around here and got so drawn to the scenery that I started practicing in that cottage across the pathway."
Mariya bit her lip.
"You didn't bring them?"
"I'll have a maid go there and fetch them," Lilli said meekly.
But several minutes later, just as the painting session was about to start, the maid returned without the box of brushes and said indifferently, "I couldn't find them."
Mariya gritted her teeth.
"But what should I do?"
But the maid ignored her and walked away, leaving Mariya to decide she should check it herself.
*