This is an era marked by profound sorrow, yet we choose to live as if untouched by it. The upheaval has already taken place, leaving us surrounded by the remnants of what was. In the midst of this, we labor to create small shelters of comfort, planting seeds of fragile hope. The path ahead is jagged and unforgiving; no clear or easy road lies before us. Still, we find ways to maneuver, climbing over or around each barrier. Life, relentless as ever, demands that we move forward—even with a sky that seems forever shattered.
At the beginning, she couldn't help but let her imagination run wild whenever she thought about him. There was something magnetic about the way he spoke, the ease with which he carried himself. She wondered if he had the same sense of humor as her, or if their conversations would flow as effortlessly as she hoped. Would they talk about everything or keep things light? She imagined the way his eyes would light up when they discovered a shared interest, or the way he'd smile when they talked about the things that mattered most to them.
The visit of Miss Victoria was a major event at the manor.
"Why has she arrived so suddenly and early? What should we do? My foot still hasn't healed!" Martha seemed worried.
"It's okay! I can handle it." Sophie dismissed it casually. Over the past few days, she had found the viscount relatively easy to deal with.
"But Miss Victoria is difficult to serve..."
"Oh, you're overthinking it. Won't Miss Victoria bring her own maid?" Sophie was optimistic.
"That's true, but as the viscount's personal maids, we'll have more opportunities to interact with Miss Victoria. She really loves to put on airs."
"Come on, Martha, don't worry so much. Just rest and recover!" Sophie dismissed it with a wave of her hand: "Look! I can handle the tricky viscount, so how could I fail with Miss Victoria?"
"But..." Martha was still concerned, "She might be the future lady of the manor."
"That's your lady. You forget I'm only here for a month?" Sophie winked and patted Martha's shoulder, "Relax! With someone as clever as me, who can't I handle?"
Martha wanted to say more, but a clear bell rang, signaling the arrival of the guest.
Sophie walked towards the door, "You stay here and rest! I'm going to open my eyes and see what a high-class lady looks like."
Sophie stood with the other servants by the heavy steel door to greet the guest. When Victoria Jark stepped out of the car, the bright sunlight reflected on her blonde hair, creating a halo. With her fair skin and delicate features, she was a quintessential French beauty.
Nathan, the viscount, walked out of the house, bowed his head to greet Victoria with a cheek kiss, and then led her into the house holding her hand.
What a beautiful couple! The thought flashed through Sophie's mind.
His tall and handsome figure paired with her delicate and graceful appearance, set in the ancient castle, gave people a sense of temporal displacement, as if witnessing an ancient prince and princess.
She suddenly remembered a brain teaser: Why do every prince and princess live happily ever after?
Because the story has no more room!
She couldn't help but chuckle – just when all the servants were bowing halfway and the viscount and Miss Victoria were walking towards them.
Sophie blushed and muttered, "Sorry."
The viscount remained expressionless, but Sophie could see a flicker of amusement in his eyes, while Miss Victoria furrowed her brow and glanced at her one more time.
Sophie smiled at her, but she coldly averted her gaze. Oh well! Such a humorless person!
At lunch, Sophie stood by the table as usual to serve.
The viscount sat at the head of the table, with Miss Victoria opposite him, and her maid Nicole standing behind her.
Sophie smiled at Nicole, who ignored her with a cold face. Sophie shrugged indifferently, thinking that not every French person was warm and easy to get along with.
Aaron, halfway through the meal, picked up the cork from the ice bucket, opened the bottle in one fluid motion, and poured amber-colored liquid into the wine goblets with skill.
Sophie saw the bubbles and exclaimed, "Champagne!"
Nicole glanced at Victoria and only spoke after seeing no objection, "Champagne is only champagne if it's sparkling wine from Champagne. This is just sparkling wine."
What? Are there such detailed rules?
Nathan picked up his glass and sipped, "Even without the name of champagne, Tino's sparkling wine is still superior to champagne."
Victoria elegantly raised her glass, "You're right. Who dares to underestimate the wine of the Tino family?" She reprimanded, "Nicole, don't be rude! You don't have a say here."
Nicole nodded in agreement but glared at Sophie.
Sophie was mystified by the glare, not knowing what she had done to offend her. In the quiet of her daydreams, she pictured the two of them laughing under the stars, creating memories that felt like they were written in the stars themselves. Maybe, just maybe, this could be the beginning of something truly special. But for now, she was content to let the fantasies unfold in her mind, savoring the thrill of the unknown. Until she saw the viscount and Miss Victoria push the lobster meat aside, she couldn't help but murmur, "Such a waste!" Anna had gone to great lengths to prepare those two lobsters! Yet they only took one bite each and left them.
After spending a few days together, Nathan couldn't possibly be unaware of her feelings. This little maid was like Anna's personal guard. In her eyes, not finishing what Anna cooked was a heinous crime! He slightly lifted the corner of his lips and took another sip of his wine.
"Take the dishes away," he said with a hint of malice, wanting to see what she would say.
Sophie fell for it and, as she collected the plates, muttered, "Such a waste! Those lobsters were so delicious!"
Nathan couldn't help but burst into laughter. No one had ever dared to criticize him to his face like this woman had!
Victoria, sitting across the long table, couldn't hear Sophie's words clearly, but she could vaguely guess their meaning and sneered, "Zack!" Zack being a derogatory term for a rural bumpkin.
Sophie looked up in surprise. She understood what Zack meant; she just couldn't believe that the elegant Miss Victoria would criticize her so directly.
Her eyes welled up with tears, her pride hurt. The descendants of the Yan and Huang Emperors were spiritual aristocrats and could not tolerate ridicule from foreign women! If all French people were like her, then what was the purpose of her struggling to come to this land? Wasn't it to admire their artistic achievements? How could a nation capable of creating beautiful things have such a narrow mindset!
How suffocating! She couldn't tolerate it. She wouldn't allow anyone to call TWAN people Zack!
Sophie was just about to retort, but Nathan spoke calmly, "If it weren't for the help of their British relatives, the Jark family would have been almost entirely destroyed during the Zack Wars. Isn't that enough to make you, as a descendant, vigilant?"
Right! Sophie recalled the famous Zack Wars in French history, which originated from the harsh oppression of the aristocracy, forcing the common people to rise up and overthrow their lords. Huh! So the Jark family was also involved! Her goodwill towards Victoria had almost disappeared.
Victoria's face turned pale and green, obviously not accustomed to being criticized in front of others. She took a sip of her wine to steady her emotions and stood up gracefully, "Enjoy your meal."
Nathan nodded and continued eating without intending to rise.
Victoria felt embarrassed as Aaron led her out of the dining room. As she passed Sophie, she gave her a cold stare.
Sophie stared at Nathan's back in confusion. Why did he help her? Logically speaking, he and Victoria were both descendants of aristocrats; emotionally, they were likely to become a couple.
Although Victoria was somewhat spoiled, why did he help Sophie? Were their relations that good?
Sophie felt like she was increasingly unable to understand Nathan.
He had an inherent sense of superiority. He was the sole king of his manor, yet he wasn't as arrogant as he looked. Despite his thorough gentlemanliness, he boldly ignored his female companion's abrupt departure. Logically, a gentleman shouldn't continue sitting leisurely when a lady rises.
What a complicated person!
However, Sophie was somewhat grateful to him. If he hadn't spoken up just then, the situation would have been even more awkward.
"Pour the wine," Nathan suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
"But there's still wine in your glass!"
Nathan leaned back in his chair, "The best drinking temperature for sparkling wine is between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius." He tapped his wine glass with his slender fingers, "This has already lost its chill."
He taught Sophie like she was an idiot, making her cheeks puff up in anger. It was such a waste to pour out a perfectly good glass of wine that had only been sipped a couple of times, especially considering how long it took to make a bottle of wine. But who was he to argue? He was the boss. She sulkily poured another glass.
"And don't whisper curses so easily."
Sophie stared at him. Such a petty person!
He raised his glass to her, "You're not even allowed to curse me secretly in your heart."
What? He knew she was secretly cursing him in her heart?
Nathan rose, elegantly placing his napkin on the table, and tapped her head with his finger. "Your thoughts are all written on your face!" This little maid was so interesting. Observing her ever-changing and curious expressions was his greatest entertainment besides handling busy business matters.
Sophie pouted and angrily watched him walk away. How rude he was! He was still the same annoying person!
"Sophie," he called as he walked.
"I'm coming!" She sulkily followed him, fulfilling her duties as a personal maid.
When would her passport application be approved again? Sigh!
From Sophie's observations, the viscount and Victoria treated each other with respect, showing no signs of being a couple.
"Who said the viscount and Miss Victoria are a couple?" Martha laughed at her.
What? "Aren't they, 'supposed to,' get married?" She had clearly heard the servants say so!
"They will marry, but they are not a couple," Martha explained to the confused Sophie. "It's more accurate to say they are dating with the intention of marriage, but there is no emotional foundation between them."
"How can that be?" Sophie felt the romantic image of France she had in her mind gradually collapsing. "I thought French people believed in free love."
After spending time with them, they all knew that Sophie had come to France with dreams. Martha glanced at the disillusioned Sophie.
"For most French people, that's true. But the viscount is different. The Tino and Jark families dominate the two most important wine-producing regions in France. An alliance between these two families will create the greatest benefits for each other."
Martha paused, "And a betrothal is the best way to forge an alliance, as it has been since ancient times."
Sophie nodded. Such marriages of convenience could be found in every country.
"But they look so perfect together. I thought they might spark some love." She still felt a bit disappointed.
Martha winked at her, "Let me tell you, the kind of woman the viscount likes is definitely not like Miss Victoria!" As she said this, she cautiously looked around to see if anyone had entered the servants' dining room.
"So what kind of woman does he like?" Sophie was curious. Victoria was cold, but she was truly beautiful. How could he not like her?
Martha chuckled and then opened the cupboard, pulling out a stack of magazines from the bottom and handing them to her, "Look, these are gossip magazine reports capturing each of the viscount's mistresses."
The more she thought about him, the more her imagination weaved different scenarios—each more vivid than the last. She pictured the first time they would go on an adventure together, the excitement in their eyes as they navigated through unfamiliar places. Would they get lost and laugh about it, or would they have moments of quiet, just enjoying each other's company without the need for words? She imagined them at a small café, sipping coffee on a rainy afternoon, talking about everything and nothing at once, the kind of conversation where time seemed to stretch and bend, leaving them with a sense of belonging. Sophie flipped through the pages curiously, occasionally emitting exclamations of admiration. "He has so many mistresses? Wow! They all have great figures!"
"Of course, the viscount is wealthy and powerful, so naturally many women are willing to follow him," Martha pointed to an article in one of the magazines and read out loud to her, "He changes mistresses faster than he changes shirts."
She didn't know how often the viscount changed his mistresses, but based on her observations, he changed shirts multiple times a day. Sophie didn't feel very good about hearing this.
"Isn't that giving him an easy ride?" He looks like a decent person, but he's just a stallion!
"You're wrong!" Martha guessed what she was thinking from her expression.
"For the viscount, romantic relationships are about each party getting what they want. All his mistresses know this rule and understand that they will never become Lady Tino. Furthermore, despite his indulgent behavior, the viscount has never let any of his women get pregnant. The viscount's heir will only be born by his future wife, who will inherit the Tino family's business and title."
"Wow!" But Sophie still didn't agree with his actions. According to the gossip magazines, he was just a horny male dog. "Maybe you're just more lenient towards him!" Huh? "Ugh!" She noticed that there seemed to be a heart in Martha's eyes! "You... like... the... lord!" Remembering Thor, she exclaimed as if catching someone in an affair.
Martha stared at her in disgust, "Who doesn't like the viscount? Although the viscount is much more reserved in the manor, who doesn't like beautiful things? Don't tell me you don't like the viscount!"
"I—" Sophie wanted to protest, but she couldn't say anything.
Yes, aside from having a bad temper when woken up, he's actually a decent boss. Her eyes scanned each photo in the magazine where he was embracing beautiful women and treating them gently. If he were that considerate to her, who could resist?
His noble status, superior sense of entitlement, and unruly personality blend into a unique charm exclusive to Nathan; as long as he wants, countless women would crawl at his feet awaiting his favor.
Indulgent romantic relationships—is this the true face of romance?
Martha patted her, "I know what you mean. You think I'm a couple with Thor, so how can I like the viscount, right?" Sophie nodded.
"That's different. I like Thor and enjoy the time I spend with him. My admiration for the viscount doesn't involve any other fantasies."
Sophie looked at her with suspicion.
Martha surrendered, "Okay! I admit that I really admire the viscount. Even just making his bed and smelling his scent can make me happy for the whole day, but that's a different feeling from what I have for Thor." She tried to explain, "Have you ever read about puppy love?"
Sophie shook her head.
"Poor child."
Martha explained in a different way, "Well, it's like... like admiring an idol. You may appreciate someone, knowing full well that you're from two different worlds and there's absolutely no chance of being together; but when you can be close to them, you feel ecstatic and take care of them with caution and reverence. Even though there's no illusion, you still feel that the air is sweeter because of their presence." Martha took a deep breath, "I like the smell in the manor because the viscount breathes the same air as me."
Sophie rolled her eyes and patted Martha in exasperation, "Okay, you can keep breathing! I need to prepare the afternoon tea for the viscount and Miss Victoria." Enough is enough!
Nathan and Victoria were sitting in the courtyard enjoying their afternoon tea. Sophie and Nicole stood behind their respective masters, ready to attend to them at any moment.
"Have you been busy with work lately?" Victoria asked.
"Everything is under control," Nathan replied indifferently.
Sophie didn't know if Victoria was just making conversation, nor did she understand why Nathan didn't seem interested in talking too much about business. She just found their aimless conversation amusing. She couldn't help but imagine—
The gray-haired viscount and Miss Victoria sitting here. She might ask, "The weather is really nice today." And he would reply, "Yes, it's the same as it has been for the past fifty years."
The thought made Sophie burst into laughter. Pfft! She quickly covered her mouth.
Victoria gave her a cold glance, while Nicole looked unimpressed. Only Nathan, who was already accustomed to her occasional absent-mindedness, didn't react. But if you looked closely, you could still catch a flash of amusement in his eyes.
A lady shouldn't chatter incessantly, but Nathan also seemed uninterested in speaking, so there was a long silence, and no one spoke.
Sophie boredomly observed Victoria and noticed that her body was tense. Could it be that she didn't like being with the viscount?
Sophie's gaze shifted to him. He was drinking his coffee leisurely, as if no one was sitting opposite him.
Sophie suddenly felt some sympathy for Victoria. If she had to face such a cold husband for the rest of her life, wouldn't that be pitiful?
She looked at the viscount again. He was very handsome, and he was reportedly the richest man in France. But what did they like about him?
She tried to inhale deeply like Martha did. Huh? There's nothing! She tried again, but there was still no scent. Well, she took one more deep breath to see if there was a "happy" scent. There was no reason why she couldn't smell what Martha smelled, standing right behind him!
The continuous panting behind her finally made Nathan turn his head in confusion, just catching Sophie with her cheeks puffed out like a frog after taking a deep breath.
Unexpectedly, he turned his head suddenly. Sophie retreated three steps in a hurry and accidentally blew out all the air in her mouth with a puff.
Nathan laughed heartily. She was really a joy!
Sophie walked back to her place, embarrassed and annoyed, while Nathan's laughter echoed in the garden for a long time.
"I'm honored to make you so happy," she muttered sourly.
Nathan laughed again when he saw her unwilling expression.
Victoria, who had been left out, put down her cup unhappily.
Nicole behind her immediately sneered coldly, "The servants in the Tino family are so well-behaved!" It's one thing to be clumsy, but always stealing the viscount's attention!
Anna and the others never treated her like this before. Sophie stared in astonishment at Nicole, who looked hostile, not knowing how to respond.
At home, her parents would also tell her to prioritize guests, but there wouldn't be such unequal treatment in TWAN! Being a servant is also a job. Isn't Nicole a servant herself?
Sophie felt aggrieved. If she hadn't been robbed of her purse, she should have been living in a rented apartment and waiting for the new semester to begin, instead of being treated as a servant here!
Nathan sprang to his feet and said sternly to Victoria, "I will not allow anyone to bully my people, not even your servants." What you do is up to you." Ignoring Victoria's pale face, he strode into the room.
Sophie originally felt wronged, but later felt a little sorry for Nicole, she just said a word, did not expect viscount's reaction is so big! She bowed slightly to their master and servant, and walked off after him.
"Miss, viscount has no honor for you!" 'she said angrily.
"Well, you speak too inappropriately yourself." Victoria looked helplessly in the direction of Nathan's departure.
''Miss! Nicole is so bored, "I did it all for you!" She gritted her teeth and said, "It's all the fault of that Oriental maid! Be careful. Viscount is too protective of her. He wouldn't be that way with Martha."
"He wouldn't have done anything to the maid! Besides, he has never brought his mistress back to the house. I think he will think it over." Victoria sighed. "Go back to Burgundy first!"
'Miss! Nicole protested.
"What else can we do? Didn't you hear what he said? Do you want me to come back with you? He is very busy, and I know that he will remain at the manor for a while. If I do not take this opportunity to bond with him, when shall I wait?"
Although the parents of both sides have always had a tacit understanding to facilitate their marriage, the matter has not been mentioned since the plane crash of the Nikos a few years ago, and Nathan's attitude has always been erratic, so in any case, she needs to use this opportunity to gain his approval.
This is her duty as the eldest daughter of the Jark family, the inevitable fate.