Mr. Reg's silence lingered for several seconds after the order left Jacob's mouth. The office remained painfully still around it ,with his usual composure, he lowered his head slightly.
"Understood, Young Master."
Sophia made a weak sound against the marble. Whether anger or disbelief, even she likely no longer knew. Blood continued slipping steadily through her fingers, warm against skin already turning ghostly pale.
A trembling breath left her lips, fragile enough to disappear almost the moment it formed as her body gave out beneath her.
Jacob did not look at her immediately.
Instead, he unfolded the handkerchief between his elegant fingers and wiped the blood from his hand with slow, absent care before discarding it into the trash bin. He straightened the cuff of his sleeve afterward with the same calm precision.
Nearby, his coat remained draped neatly across the back of his chair exactly where it had rested all morning, untouched by the violence surrounding it. Jacob lifted it calmly, the dark fabric sliding across his shoulders in one smooth motion.
"Reg," he said smoothly, fastening one glove, "pack my things for the visit to the human town. I'll be gone for two days. Mark, Lily, and Jennie will accompany me."
Mr. Reg glanced toward him immediately. Only then did Jacob's gaze flick briefly toward the bloodied figure collapsed behind him.
"Clean up this mess before I return," he added mildly. "Call no doctor. No physician."
He crossed the office with unhurried grace, polished shoes gliding softly across marble darkened by Sophia's blood. The doors opened for him immediately, servants lowering their heads the instant he emerged into the corridor.
No one spoke. The estate simply moved around him in obedient silence.
At the far end of the mansion Jennie remained standing near the doorway even after Miss Lily released the door behind them.The room felt almost unnaturally warm compared to the cold stillness of the corridors outside. Late morning light spilled softly across the room. Somewhere nearby, faint voices of servants drifted through the estate before disappearing again into silence as the door closes .
Miss Lily walked calmly toward the wardrobe.
"I wasn't sure you owned suitable clothing for town , " she said gently, already pulling open the carved doors. "So I had several things prepared in advance. "
Jennie blinked distractedly, her thoughts still lingering somewhere far behind them in the office .Inside the wardrobe hung rows of dresses far finer than anything she had expected for herself. Different textured fabrics brushed neatly against one another silk, cream-colored cotton, muted blues, deep wine shades elegant without becoming overly extravagant.
For a moment she simply stared.
Miss Lily's expression softened slightly at her silence.
"The Young Master dislikes drawing unnecessary attention while visiting town," she explained. "So these were selected by me to make you appear refined, but professional while in town."
Jennie stepped closer slowly, fingertips brushing hesitantly against the sleeve of a pale green dress.The fabric felt impossibly soft beneath her hands.
"These are for me?"
"Of course."
There was no hesitation in Miss Lily's answer, as though the question itself made little sense.
Jennie's hand stilled against the fabric .
Back at the orphanage , clothing had always been practical first. Mended when necessary. Reworn until fabric thinned beyond saving. Owning this many beautiful things felt strangely excessive now, especially after everything that had happened downstairs.
Miss Lily reached past her calmly before selecting a dress herself.
"This one."
Jennie looked toward it.
The gown was simple compared to the others soft but structured ivory fabric with long sleeves and delicate pearl buttons running neatly down the front.
"Young Master will prefer this appearance for town," Miss Lily said.
Jennie accepted it automatically.
Their fingers brushed briefly during the exchange, cool against warm.
Only then did Miss Lily move toward the traveling cases resting near the far wall.
"You should also prepare for two nights away from the estate."
Jennie looked up immediately. "Two nights?"
"The Young Master rarely gives exact schedules unless necessary," Miss Lily replied, kneeling beside one of the cases before unlatching it smoothly. "But if he said two days, it is safer to prepare for longer rather than less."
Jennie watched her fold garments with precision. The reality of leaving the estate settled strangely inside her chest.
Until now, the mansion had already felt isolating enough enormous corridors, endless rules, servants who spoke carefully around certain subjects. Yet despite everything, it had still become familiar frighteningly quickly.
Leaving it somehow felt even more uncertain. Miss Lily glanced toward her briefly.
"You needn't look so nervous."
Jennie gave a faint, humorless laugh. "I think I've earned the right today."
That earned the smallest flicker of amusement from Miss Lily.
"Fair enough."
Silence settled again afterward, Jennie changed slowly in the bathroom while Miss Lily continued preparing the cases with clothes and toiletries . The ivory dress fit her perfectly , the tailored fabric settling neatly against her waist.
When she finally stepped back out, Miss Lily looked up from fastening one of the traveling clasps.For the first time since entering the room, genuine approval crossed her composed features.
"It suits you."
Jennie lowered her gaze awkwardly, smoothing her hands against the gown.
"Thank you, I have never been given such lovely things before "
Miss Lily's expression grew unreadable again.
"Just think of them as perks of the job," she admitted softly.
The honesty surprised Jennie enough to make her look up again. Miss Lily rose gracefully afterward, brushing nonexistent wrinkles from her sleeves.
"I should finish preparing my own things before Young Master leaves," she said. "The car will likely be ready soon."
Jennie nodded faintly.
Miss Lily moved toward the door before pausing once her hand touched the handle.
"And Jennie?"
Jennie looked toward her.
"Do not disagree with young Master, you might not be lucky the next time ."
Before she could ask why, Miss Lily had already opened the door.
"I'll send someone to help with your luggage shortly and bring your work laptop ."
Then she disappeared back into the corridor, leaving Jennie alone with the silence of the room, the untouched traveling case beside the bed, and the growing unease twisting quietly beneath her ribs.