Since they now had a rough idea of the mastermind's identity, Wei Wei no longer planned to hide at home pretending to be traumatized, and decided to go out and meet people.
They had been staying in the capital for nearly a month, and in about a week, it would be the New Year—originally the wedding date Felix and Wei Wei had set, but they were bound to miss it now.
As the new darlings of the social scene, the Williams family had been receiving various invitations nonstop this month, except for a few peaceful days before the queen's birthday. After the birthday banquet, the invitations had poured in relentlessly. Wei Wei had attended Countess Nelson's salon at the beginning, but after the incident, she had smoothly stayed home for over ten days. Now, it was time to make an appearance again.
Looking at the invitations scheduled for everyday—sometimes even two in a single day, one at noon and another in the evening—she felt overwhelmed.
She couldn't help but complain, "Thankfully, you can wear the same wedding dress to multiple banquets here. Otherwise, with so many invitations, my wardrobe would never be enough."
Compared to later eras and contemporary China, medieval Europeans were relatively frugal when it came to clothing. Due to underdeveloped textile industries, fabric prices remained high, and even nobles couldn't afford to wear something once and discard it. The same set of clothes could be preserved for decades and passed down to descendants. In contrast, in the banquets of China's elite, wearing the same outfit two years in a row would be seen as a sign of financial decline.
Of course, part of the reason was that silk fabrics were difficult to preserve, and dyeing techniques at the time were flawed, causing many fabrics to fade quickly.
So, if the textile industry could be developed, it would be a highly profitable business. For example, the woolen sweaters and pants she had her maids bring—perfect for winter warmth—sold out within days of being displayed in shops. Nowadays, with the popularity of voluminous skirts, women wear them underneath for warmth. Those who couldn't buy them in time had to layer multiple petticoats under their skirts to stay warm.
Upon her return to the social scene, Wei Wei attracted significant attention. The first thing most people said upon seeing her was, "Poor girl," followed by lengthy condolences, some even tearing up as if she had suffered some horrific ordeal. They acted as if they were the victim's family, sharing her grief and condemning the terrible bandits.
Heaven knew she had never even met many of these people before, so their empathy felt exaggerated.
Still, Wei Wei had mastered the art of polite smiles. No matter what others said, she could respond appropriately, positioning herself as the "weak, pitiable, but fortunate innocent young lady."
She felt that after this experience in the capital if she ever returned to modern times, she could probably win an acting award in the entertainment industry.
Countess Nelson's reaction was the most dramatic. After all, the incident had happened after leaving her salon. The countess had personally visited Wei Wei after the event, and now, upon seeing her again, she was even friendlier, once more taking on the role of introducer and helping Wei Wei and Dolores meet all the influential noblewomen in the capital.
Wei Wei also learned that when Dolores had mustered the courage to attend events in her place, aside from Avila's support, Countess Nelson had also provided considerable assistance. The reasons likely included expressing regret over Wei Wei's ordeal to win Felix's favor, as well as genuine gratitude.
During Wei Wei's absence from the social scene, Countess Nelson's niece, Daisy Nelson, had finally found a suitable fiancé—the heir of a lesser-known baronial family. While not a prestigious match, it was a decent choice for Miss Daisy.
Countess Nelson credited this good news to Wei Wei's cosmetics and was deeply grateful. Ensuring her niece married before being sent to a convent had been a long-standing worry for the countess, as an unmarried daughter would bring shame to the Nelson family and negatively impact her young daughter's prospects.
With this burden lifted, the countess viewed Wei Wei even more favorably.
Wei Wei had never met Daisy's fiancé. The information came from Dolores, who had initially heard it from Avila and later met the man in person. According to her, while he was ordinary-looking, he was intelligent and ambitious, currently a student at the Royal University.
Hearing the name "Royal University," Wei Wei suddenly remembered that Felix had mentioned wanting to recruit talent from there. After all, the school's graduates were knowledgeable, and many, though from noble families, had no inheritance to rely on and had to make their way. Those with ability who were willing to move to Sardinson County would be ideal candidates.
At the banquet, Wei Wei paid special attention to the three families Felix had mentioned. As a woman, she interacted with their wives and daughters. Whether these women were truly unaware or simply excellent actors, Wei Wei couldn't detect anything amiss.
Then she noticed that Jessica Clive's attitude toward her had grown even more hostile. Though neither initiated conversation, Wei Wei could feel the jealous glares Clive sent her way. Whenever she met the other woman's gaze, she was met with a haughty eye-roll and a lifted chin, exuding disdain.
Clive seemed to despise her as if she wanted to rush over and slap her, yet unlike during the last salon, she kept her distance, avoiding any interaction.
The contradiction was striking and felt off. If Wei Wei hadn't lacked concrete evidence and if Felix hadn't outright stated that Clive lacked the capability and brains for such a scheme, she might have suspected the kidnapping was Clive's doing.
"What's her deal?" Wei Wei asked Avila behind her fan, covering half her face.
Though young, Avila had grown up in the capital, attending banquets since childhood. Even before formally entering society, she had known many secrets about noble ladies. Naturally, she was well-informed about Miss Clive.
Hiding her mouth behind her fan, Avila whispered to Wei Wei and Dolores, "Not long after your incident, rumors started spreading that Miss Clive was involved. She hasn't been doing well since. Several of her suitors have moved on, and she can't even defend herself, hence her current state."
Avila glanced over just as Clive looked their way. Whether Clive guessed they were talking about her or not, her expression darkened further. But in the end, she merely turned her nose up and walked away.
It almost seemed like guilt.
Yet this only reinforced Wei Wei's belief that, as Felix had said, Clive wasn't cut out for scheming—she was far too obvious.
Thinking Wei Wei might pity Clive, Avila quickly added, "Don't feel sorry for her. Do you know what she did recently?"
"What?"
After checking that no one was watching, Avila continued, "A friend told me she saw Miss Clive follow Lord Williams at the Turners' banquet, cornering him on the balcony to confess her feelings."
Wei Wei's eyes narrowed as she glanced at her fiancé, surrounded by men in the distance.
Felix suddenly felt a chill and sneezed.
"Of course, your fiancé, Lord Williams, rejected her outright. According to Molly, Miss Clive's face turned ghastly," Avila said, gleeful. She had no respect for women who pursued engaged men.
"And she's not the only one. While you were away, many others tried their luck. It was downright shameless." The young lady even gave an unladylike pout, safely hidden behind her fan.
She turned to Dolores, who nodded and added softly, "It's true. But my brother turned them all down."
Felix had forbidden her from mentioning it to avoid upsetting Wei Wei, so Dolores had kept quiet. Now that the secret was out, she felt both guilty and a little excited at the thought of Felix's impending doom.
When Felix finally extricated himself from the crowd to join Wei Wei, the look she gave him made his hair stand on end.
Had she discovered the surprise he'd been planning? But if she had, wouldn't her reaction be different?
Surely she hadn't found out.
Reassuring himself, he calmly walked over, wrapped an arm around his fiancée, and surveyed the three girls.
"What are you all discussing so happily?"
"Nothing happy," Wei Wei said with a tight smile. "We were just talking about how the Earl of Williams has been enjoying quite the romantic attention lately, with so many lovely ladies throwing themselves at him."
Felix stiffened, belatedly realizing his predicament.
Avila, sensing trouble, grabbed Dolores and fled without excuse.
"I believe I deserve a chance to defend myself," Felix said, steering Wei Wei toward the balcony. A quiet spot under the night sky seemed ideal—if Wei Wei lost her temper, at least no one would witness his humiliation.
"Go ahead. I'm listening," Wei Wei replied, following his lead.
In the banquet hall, many noticed the couple's departure and exchanged knowing smiles, their conversation shifting to the engaged pair.
"Did you receive one?"
"Yes, did you?"
"I did too. That earl is quite the romantic, asking us to help keep it a secret."
"Indeed. I never took him for the type. Always thought he was a block of wood when it came to romance."
"Depends on the person, I suppose. If I had a fiancée like hers, I'd probably bend over backward too."
"Careful, your wife might hear."
The heavy curtains muffled the lively chatter inside, leaving only flickering candlelight to illuminate the edges.
The winter night was bitterly cold, and the balconies, usually popular in summer, stood deserted. Snow had fallen earlier but had since stopped, revealing the moon and casting a serene glow over the snow-covered capital.
Wei Wei held a glass of wine—more for show than enjoyment—and set it aside on the balcony railing. She turned to Felix, waiting.
"I didn't encourage them. You know I have no interest in anyone but you," Felix said earnestly.
Though it sounded like a player's line, Wei Wei knew it was true. She wasn't angry—just curious about his reaction.
And even if it was sweet talk, it still felt nice to hear.
No wonder people loved compliments.
With a smirk, Wei Wei leaned into Felix's embrace, her expression sweet but her words sharp: "You'd better remember that. Don't make any 'mistakes.' My country doesn't tolerate affairs or mistresses. If you ever betray me, I won't hesitate to castrate you before divorcing you."
To ensure he understood "castrate," she mimed the action.
Even without ill intentions, Felix felt a chill down his spine. He caught her hand and kissed it tenderly. "That will never happen."
"We'll see," Wei Wei said, then rewarded him with a peck on the lips—which Felix promptly deepened. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the curtains shift slightly as someone slipped away.
The retreating figure looked like Miss Clive.
Felix cupped her face, reclaiming her attention. "Distracted? Is my kiss not good enough, my dear?"
"Just a little. Let's try again," Wei Wei said, looping her arms around his neck. "But don't chafe my lips."
"Of course. Anything you say, my love."
By the time they left the banquet, Wei Wei's lips were swollen and glossy, though the dim candlelight hid the fact that her lipstick had been thoroughly kissed away.
Once back in the social whirl, Wei Wei became swamped again, too busy to check on the children they'd purchased. Fortunately, Qin and Penny were taking good care of them. According to their occasional reports, some of the brighter children had already memorized the alphabet and a few basic words—starting with their names. In math, they hadn't yet tackled addition or subtraction, but they could recognize Arabic numerals from 0 to 10.
"A few are exceptionally quick. They've not only mastered spelling faster than the others but also grasped numbers intuitively. Though they've only learned up to 10, some can already count to 100," Qin reported proudly. She was developing a teacher's instincts.
Wei Wei nodded. "And Penny? How's she doing?"
Qin smiled. "She just finished a book and asked me to borrow another from you."
Though Penny had initially been reluctant to study, being around the children had motivated her. Wei Wei was pleased—she only expected Penny to read and write at a basic level. She handed Qin a book from her shelf. "Give this to her."
These books, bought in the capital and made of expensive parchment, were meant for Sardinson. Though she had digital copies in her encyclopedia, she was happy to lend them out as long as they were treated carefully.
Sadly, only the four maids from Sardinson ever borrowed them. Dolores had zero interest, preferring embroidery or doll clothes over reading.
"Have the children tried running away again?"
"No," Qin said. "A few might have considered it early on, but no one acted. Lately, they've even been asking if there's any work they can do."
Well-fed and clothed, the children no longer wanted to flee. But the comfort felt surreal, especially to the girls, who were used to laboring for meals. Eager to prove their worth, they studied diligently and sought tasks.
Wei Wei sighed. "Then assign them something. What can they do?"
"Despite their age, they can handle chores. The girls know spinning and weaving, but the boys' skills are less clear."
Coming from poverty, if they'd had marketable skills, they'd have been apprenticed or working, not sold.
"This is tricky," Wei Wei mused. Felix was already arranging for mercenaries and a convoy to transport the serfs. The children wouldn't stay long, making it hard to assign meaningful work.
But leaving them idle risked anxiety-induced illness—a real danger in winter, when even adults caught colds easily, and children were more vulnerable. In this era, a simple cold could be deadly.
In the end, Wei Wei settled on having Qin bring wool from storage—leftover from winter sheep slaughter—for the children to sort and spin. It was simple, meticulous work, perfect for keeping them occupied.
After Qin left, Wei Wei wandered the mansion, noting the reduced staff. The butler wouldn't explain, but she knew Felix was behind it. Thankfully, help was always at hand when she needed it—otherwise, she might have had to hire more servants.
Later, when Felix returned, she asked about the mercenaries and convoy.
"Everything's ready, but the snow's made travel difficult. The mercenaries want to wait until it stops."
Felix had hired several small mercenary groups. After agreeing, they needed time to coordinate and establish leadership. The convoy's wagons and drivers came from a carting company, with the mercenaries responsible for safety en route.
Felix's orders were clear: Ensure the convoy and serfs arrived in Sardinson with minimal losses. Minor casualties were acceptable, but excessive deaths would incur fines—something the cash-strapped mercenaries couldn't afford. Only the high pay and Felix's provision of food and winter gear had persuaded them to take the job in winter.
"They say the snow will stop in a few days."
"But even after it stops, the roads will be buried. Can wagons travel then?"
Wei Wei was skeptical. On their way to the capital, snow had made travel arduous. Even in the city, where streets were regularly cleared, slips and falls were common. Unmaintained country roads would be worse.
"The Carters know their business. Their wagons are winter-ready, just slower," Felix assured her. Otherwise, he wouldn't have hired them.
Satisfied, Wei Wei changed the subject. "Next time, let's buy people in a different season. Prices might be higher, but transport would be easier."
"Agreed. I've already told slave traders to send suitable candidates directly to Sardinson in the future. We'll just pay extra for delivery."
Though Felix disliked slave traders, business was business. Many were backed by nobles, and by recruiting serfs in the capital, he'd already encroached on their turf. Throwing them a bone now smoothed things over.
Moreover, developing the textile industry could be highly profitable. The wool sweaters and pants she'd had her maids bring—ideal winter wear—had sold out quickly. With voluminous skirts in fashion, women wore them underneath for warmth. Those who missed out had to layer petticoats instead.