Chapter 10 Raising an Eagle to Peck Her Eyes Blind?
"There's no need to tell her about this. Her return has already caused you grievances - I can't deny you even a proper title."
Michael chimed in: "Rose cured Father's leg. She should've been added to the family registry long ago!"
"We'll handle this in a few days. I've already discussed it with your father. We just need to invite the clan elders," Clio said.
Rose nestled into Clio's arms and called out sweetly: "Mother, it feels so good to have your love. Rose is willing to give everything to my sister, as long as I have Mother."
"Silly child, Mother loves both of you," Clio said, embracing Michael and Rose with a smile.
For several days straight, Michael didn't dare provoke Cressida again.
Although Cressida lived in the Drifting Flowers Courtyard, it was extremely quiet and neglected.
Clio didn't even assign her any maids - only Emma served her personally.
The cleaning servant came once a day, swept the courtyard halfheartedly, and left quickly.
Emma felt indignant on Cressida's behalf.
"Ms. Rose Hamilton bought expensive medicinal ingredients and cured Mr. Michael Hamilton's back injury. Mrs. Clio Hamilton praises her every day. Why should Ms. Rose Hamilton use the wealth Ms. Cressida Hamilton earned to build her own reputation?"
All the rewards the Patrick household received came from Cameron's achievements.
That money and those properties were all controlled by Clio.
In ordinary households, the lady of the house would start teaching her daughter how to manage the household and accounts when she turned twelve.
Rose had countless properties and shops under her name, while Cressida had absolutely nothing.
The food sent from the kitchen got worse by the day.
Today, even the charcoal supply was cut by more than half.
What should have been three days' worth of charcoal only lasted one morning.
It had snowed last night. It was cold outside, and the remaining warmth in the room gradually faded until it became like an ice cave.
Cressida had no extra clothes. She still wore the two old garments Clio had casually sent over on her first day at the mansion.
The thin sleeves were loose and let in drafts, but she had martial arts training and didn't feel very cold.
When Cressida was practicing calligraphy at noon, Emma finally returned carrying a pile of firewood.
She looked up briefly.
These past few days, Emma had been going out for long periods and returning with piles of wood from who knows where. Burned together with charcoal, it kept the room warm for quite a while.
The only downside was the heavy smoke, so it could only be burned near the door.
"Where did this wood come from?" Cressida asked.
"Della from the kitchen gave it to me," Emma said, sniffling.
"Della is willing to help us?"
All the servants in the mansion, following Clio's deliberate neglect, didn't dare show them any kindness.
A few days ago, when Jade brought over a plate of pastries, she acted like a thief.
Emma smiled sheepishly: "At first she wouldn't talk to me, but she couldn't resist my enthusiasm."
Whenever she had time, she'd pester Della Ford, fighting to do all the dirty and hard work.
In such cold weather, she washed all of Della's dirty clothes, helped clean her quarters, and mended her garments.
Della's attitude toward Emma finally softened, and when she was watching the kitchen, she let Emma take some firewood back.
Emma lit the wood and pushed the basin to the doorway.
She pulled out a small box of ointment from her sleeve and came over to apply it to Cressida's hands.
Smelling the ointment, Cressida raised her eyebrows: "Beauty restoration cream?"
Emma was surprised: "How does Miss Hamilton know about it?"
"When I was at the border, I once saved a prostitute who was nearly beaten to death. She gave me the ointment she carried with her - it had this same smell."
Cressida's eyes reflected the flickering candlelight, looking beautiful.
Emma quickly knelt on the ground, explaining: "Miss Hamilton, please don't be angry! I asked Della for the ingredients these past few days and made this myself."
"My birth mother was a performer in a brothel. I learned to make this ointment as a child. Because it removes scars and beautifies the skin, all the women in the brothel used it..."
This was true. The day Cressida saved Emma, she heard Emma's gambling father humiliate her using her birth mother's brothel background.
"Miss Hamilton! I'm absolutely not comparing you to a prostitute. I just wanted to help remove the scars on your hands."
Cressida lowered her head and quietly looked at her hands by candlelight.
Her hands were slender and elegant, but unfortunately, years of martial arts training had left old scars on her knuckles and calluses on her fingertips.
"Emma, do you also find my scars ugly?" Her tone was calm, but tinged with lonely sadness.
"I wouldn't dare. I just think that Miss Hamilton has suffered for ten years - now you should treat yourself better."
Cressida suddenly froze.
She had been so brutally abused in her past life that after being reborn, her heart and mind were filled only with revenge.
Emma's words awakened her. Since she could live again, why not treat herself better?
These days she could go without food, wasn't afraid of wind or frost, always holding onto a determination to drag everyone in The Hamilton Mansion down with her.
Those people deserved to die, but her life was too precious.
If no one would treat her well, then she would take good care of herself.
At that moment, Cressida's peripheral vision caught Emma's hands on the ground, covered with chilblains, far more horrifying than the injuries on her own hands.
Emma must have suffered a lot to win over Della, yet this foolish girl never complained.
Seeing Cressida remain silent, Emma panicked, her hands trembling slightly.
"Miss Hamilton, I'll throw away this beauty cream right now. Please don't be angry."
Cressida helped her up. "Emma, you're right. We should both treat ourselves better. Make more of your beauty cream. Tell me what you need, and I'll figure out how to get it."
Emma was stunned. Seeing that Cressida wasn't opposed and was even using the cream to treat her chilblains, Emma's eyes reddened with overwhelming gratitude.
Cressida had made up her mind - she could let anyone suffer, but not herself.
Without money, she'd find a way. It was time to live differently.
"In a couple of days, come with me somewhere," Cressida said.
She calculated the time - the imperial decree for Odette's banquet should arrive soon.
Before that, she needed to visit an old acquaintance.
For several days, Cressida used Emma's method to remove scars - first soaking in hot water for an hour, then applying the beauty cream all over her body.
Emma's smile grew more frequent: "Miss Hamilton, your skin has improved a lot."
On December 17th, the sun finally came out.
Cressida took Emma to the main courtyard to see Clio.
She waited under the covered walkway while a servant went in to announce her.
During this interval, Cressida heard faint laughter from inside the room.
"Mother, if you like this bird, keep it here with you." It was Rose's voice.
"Michael found it especially for you because you've been wronged these past few days. Let it keep you company."
Hearing this, Cressida's whole body went cold, instantly engulfed by memories from her past life.
If she wasn't mistaken, the bird Michael got for Rose was a type of domesticated bird of prey called a red-tailed hawk.
Though only slightly larger than a parrot, once trained, this bird would attack people!
In her previous life, she ran into Rose in the garden when Rose was carrying the bird.
Cressida only heard a strange whistle sound, and the previously calm red-tailed hawk suddenly lunged at her, nearly pecking out her eyes. Its talons scratched and clawed at her.
Even though she dodged quickly, she was still scratched on her cheek and arms.
This hawk must have been raised to deal with her - Rose wanted to blind her.