Chapter 3 Before Tessa could finish speaking , tears welled up in her eyes and quickly slid down her cheeks , only to be hastily . concealed . As he saw this , Raul's heart softened , filled with warmth and a pang of pain . " You're such a sensible child . " 71 % He sighed , his voice catching in his throat , then reached out to ruffle Tessa's hair before turning a stern gaze on Margaery . " Look at Tessa , and then look at you ! It's one thing for you to push her aside in the past , but now you've actually gone so far as to push her down from the mountain ! " I won't let you off without teaching you a lesson ! I'll let you out of the firewood shed , but tomorrow , at the recognition party , you'll publicly apologize to Tessa and promise never to bully her again ! " Publicly apologizing would ruin her reputation , Tomorrow , all the families of high - level officials would be attending . If Margaery apologized and admitted to pushing Tessa down the mountain , she would be seen as nothing more than a troublemaker . No one would ever marry her after that She was already to happen . at the age when marriage talks were su Her future would be destroyed . If this was meant to be a lesson , the cost was far too high . This was her father . Margaery stared at him for a long while before finally replying , " Fine . " " Perfect . Tomorrow's recognition party would also mark the moment she left the Chancellor's estate and started a new Chapter in her life . The more people there , the better . It would serve as a witness to her decision . " Then you can go now . Tessa still needs to recover . You being here will only make her uncomfortable , " Raul said , thinking of how submissive Tessa had been in front of Margaery , He waved his hand , signaling her to leave . It was already dark .. Margaery returned to Gracewind Garden . Before Tessa came , she had lived in Twilight Retreat . Later , she had planned to move into Blissom Hall , so Twilight Retreat was demolished . But in the end , Tessa moved into Blissom Hall , and it was renamed Sunbeam Court . Her own Twilight Retreat was gone . Finally , Raul had sent her to the abandoned Gracewind Garden . 15 23:38 Wed , 20 Aug Chapter 3 Aug This winter , no one even bothered to send charcoal to her room . The maids , bribed by Tessa , didn't even care that she had returned . No one came to look after her . This was no place for her to stay . After the kneeling and being locked in the firewood shed , she had developed severe rheumatism in her joints . It needed treatment as soon as possible . She couldn't afford to delay . The only doctor in the household was Avery . But now , Avery's attention was completely on Tessa , and the family was no help . She had only one choice : to leave the Wallen family and seek out Craig Eastwick for treatment . Craig was a reclusive healer , and he could certainly cure her rheumatism . In her previous life , Craig had wanted to take her on as an apprentice and had given her many prescriptions , but at that time , she was too focused on trying to repair her relationship with the Chancellor's estate . She even used the prescriptions Craig had given her to please Avery , This time , she had made up her mind to become Craig's apprentice , leave the Wallen family , and build her own future . With that thought , Margaery lay down fully clothed and fell asleep . The next morning , she heard Avery's excited voice from outside . " Margaery , hurry up and change into something presentable for Tessa's recognition party . Don't show up looking like a beggar and make a fool of yourself ! " As he spoke , he entered and placed a set of new clothes on the table . They were the kind of silk and satin a lady of the Chancellor's estate should wear . In her previous life , Margaery had fought with Tessa over this very thing , and it had greatly annoyed Avery . Now , it seemed like nothing more than a superficial trinket . Only real skills would allow her to make her mark in this cruel world . " Thank you , Avery " Margaery got up , washed her face , and changed into the new clothes . Avery couldn't shake the feeling that something was off . The last time he visited her in the firewood shed , she had cried and clung to his legs , refusing to admit her mistakes , tears and snot mixing together . Now , she seemed distant , almost detached . 25 23:38 Wed , 20 Aug Chapter 3 And suddenly , she had acknowledged all her wrongs - it felt too sudden and suspicious . But Avery didn't overthink it . After all , Margaery had been pampered her whole life . She'd been treated like glass , always protected from harm . It made sense that she'd be emotionally shaken after being locked in the firewood shed for days . He figured she'd come around in a few days . Once she accepted Tessa and things settled down , he'd buy her some gifts to smooth things over . With that in mind , Avery couldn't resist giving some last - minute advice . " Remember , when you get there , speak properly . All the families of high - level officials will be there today . First , it's to Introduce Tessa to everyone and ensure she's well looked after . Second , it's to consider her marriage prospects . "If you mess this up , Father will never forgive you . " Margaery looked up at him , a chill settling in her heart . Tessa's marriage prospects had been bought at the cost of her own shattered reputation . This was her father , and this was is was her family . " I'll apologize to Tessa , don't worry , Avery . " Margaery averted her gaze and walked out the door . She wasn't going to make the same mistake as in her previous life - crying and making a scene in front of all the noble families in the Sinderin City , just to make Tessa look more composed and virtuous . This time , she was going to set the record straight and bring the truth back to the beginning . By the time she arrived at the party , it was already packed with guests . Tessa stood at Raul's side , basking in the spotlight , her small face glowing with a sweet , bashful smile that was hard not to love . When she saw Margaery , she let out a soft, timid cheer , " Margaery , you're here ! " Instantly , all eyes turned to Margaery . " So , this is the Wallen family's daughter Lady Margaery ? jealous she can't even tolerate Lady Tessa ? " he looks proper enough , but who would've guessed she's so " She's got a heart as venomous as a serpent's . She probably wants to kill Tessa . " Such a woman should be avoided , Whoever marries her will regret it ! " Tessa quickly stepped forward to speak on Margaery's behalf . " Ladies and gentlemon , please be kind . " She turned toward Margaery with a concerned look , " Margaery , I see you have a rash . Is your allergy acting up again ? Should we have Avery take a look at it ? " 315 5.71 % 23:38 Wed , 20 Aug Chapter 3 Margaery almost wanted to clap for her . With acting like that , it was a shame she wasn't a stage performer . Avery , who had just noticed the rash on Margaery's skin , was instantly furious . " Margaery , why didn't you tell me about this allergy ? How could you be so careless ? " He felt guilty for not noticing sooner . I Frustrated , he quickly ordered the servants to fetch medicine for Margaery , wondering , ' How could I be so absent - minded to miss something like this ? Tessa's heart tightened at the sight . Originally , she had hoped to spread the word about Margaery's allergy , knowing no one would want to marry a sickly woman . But it had backfired - Avery was now overly concerned about Margaery . Still , that was fine . Since things were already going in this direction , she might as well stoke the flames . Margaery had seen through her act before , and she wasn't going to fall for it this time . " Thank you for your concern , Tessa . The rash isn't serious . It's just that after kneeling for an entire day and night in the snowstorm and then spending a few days in the cold wind of the firewood shed , it flared up again ." She cast a glance at Raul , who was seated higher up , and continued , " I should actually thank Father . If he hadn't punished me so severely , I wouldn't have realized so many things . Father was right - 1 , as the elder sister , shouldn't have made you kneel for half an hour , causing you to catch a cold . " I ask for your forgiveness , Tessa . Please , forgive me . " Avery nodded , looking satisfied . He thought as long as she admitted her mistakes , she was still his good sister . " Margaery really seems to have reflected on her actions and is ready to change ?" The guests exchanged uneasy glances . " Wait , is she talking about that snowstorm day ? Kneeling for an entire day and night in that cold ? And then being locked in the firewood shed ? " " Good grief , Lord Chancellor is cruel ." " No , it's not cruelty . It's more like bias , don't you think ? He has Lady Margaery kneel for a whole day and night and she doesn't even catch a cold , while Lady Tessa one kneels for half an hour and is already sick and on medication . " " No wonder Margaery would be jealous . " The atmosphere shifted , and the expressions of the guests became awkward . Tessa , hearing the murmurs , turned pale . 4/5 www K 71 % 23:38 Wed , 20 Aug Chapter 3 She glanced behind her , her eyes welling up with tears . Russell , sitting inside , sneered at the sight . " Everyone , don't listen to Margaery's nonsense! " He stood up " Margaery , if you've really learned your lesson , you'll apologize to Tessa now , not try to play the victim ! " apologize to Tward her , eyes narrowing as he called " A smug smile crept across Russell's handsome face . The Wallen family was a prestigious one , and their reputation was carefully guarded . If no one had intentionally spread the rumors , things wouldn't have gotten out so quickly , becoming common knowledge . It was Russell who had spread the word about Margaery pushing Tessa down the artificial mountain , doing so to get back at her and make her lose face in front of everyone . He wanted to remove her from the list of eligible young ladies in the Sinderin City . He wanted Margaery to feel the same pain Tessa had endured . Russell stared at Margaery , determined and unyielding . Behind him , a few of his classmates from Inkwell Academy piped up . " Lord Russell is right ! You still haven't apologized for the incident at the mountain ! " " Yeah , you came here to apologize , didn't you ? " " Then go ahead and apologize ! " Behind Margaery , Avery gave her a shove . " Margaery , hurry up and speak ! You came here to apologize to Tessa , didn't you ? " Russell leaned in close to her ear and shouted , " Say something ! " 55 ୦