# Chapter 38: 38
Chapter 38 - The Marquisate of Russell
—Haha...
In the carriage heading to the Marquisate of Russell, Radis sighed heavily.
—It's over. Even though I don't want to go back to the Tilrods' house, I can't do it anymore.
He calmly cut all ties and turned around as if he had built a dam and knew he couldn't turn back.
—And Marquis Russell… he's not going to cancel the contract, is he?
He felt goosebumps forming on the back of his neck.
There was a reason why she was feeling anxious.
Radis knew that Marquis Russell's decision was based on a complete misunderstanding.
First of all, it was a big mistake to think that Olivier Arpend, the third imperial prince, liked Radis.
If Radis had really been a normal sixteen-year-old girl, she would have seen the world around her with rose-colored glasses and accepted Marquis Russell's assumptions as true.
However, as her soul had suffered countless twists and turns in the cold reality she experienced, she believed otherwise.
It didn't make sense
Considering that Marquis Russell had those long black bangs draped over his face like a curtain, he clearly saw it wrong.
—If I trust this contract, or whatever it is, I could get stabbed in the back.
Didn't even her own flesh and blood abandon her because she was blinded by money?
So how could Radis trust others?
Watching the blurry scenery outside as the carriage sped by, Radis murmured.
—Marquis Russell will arrange a meeting between Prince Olivier and me one day, but until he discovers that he was wrong, I can stay in the Marquisate. In the meantime, I'll have to find a way to live.
While she was deep in thought, the carriage passed through the main gate of the Marquisate and stopped in front of the mansion. That's when he realized he had arrived.
Radis got off the carriage and was greeted by a man with an enormously large physique, similar to that of a buffalo.
—Welcome to Marquisate Russell, Miss Radis.
His body was as big as a mountain, but his voice was soft.
—My name is Allen and I am the butler of the Marquis Russell. If you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know.
Stunned by Allen's appearance, who looked more like a commander of guard knights than a butler, Radis barely snapped out of her reverie.
“I have to stay here for a while so I don't look strange!”
Radis bowed her head to greet him, trying to appear as polite as possible.
—Thank you for inviting me.
Allen looked at Radis with a smile.
It seemed like all of Radis' luggage was just the bag he was carrying now.
She was also dressed simply, as if she had gone for a short trip of one or two days.
Allen motioned behind him.
Then the servants, who were waiting to collect her luggage, bowed and greeted her.
—Follow me, please. Oh, let me hold your bag for you.
At Allen's words, Radis waved his hands in surprise.
—I'm fine, it's my bag.
Radis had never been greeted or treated like this in both of her lives, so she was quite taken aback by Allen's kindness.
And in turn, Allen was also surprised by Radis' rejection, but like the experienced butler he was, he responded well.
—If the lady feels more comfortable with that, then that's fine too. Please come this way.
Radis recently attended Prince Olivier's birthday party at that mansion.
However, since the banquet was held in an annex, it was the first time he had entered the main mansion of the Marquis Russell estate.
The annex was already so beautiful that she gasped as she looked at it, but the main building was like a completely different world.
There were soft carpets covering the hallways and it was a shame to step on them with dirty shoes.
There was no decoration in the hallways that revealed the owner's good taste, but everything he saw was grand and luxurious. The columns showed excellent craftsmanship and the walls were covered with silk wallpaper. Even the curtains were embroidered with gold thread.
Radis followed Allen as he led her, trying not to look around too much. She held up her old, dirty bag to cover herself, as if it were a shield to protect her.
Arriving in front of a door, Allen politely opened it.
—This is the room you will use, Miss Radis. Use it comfortably and consider it your own home.
Home?
Radis doubted his eyes.
Behind Allen, there was a large room on the other side of that door.
Overall, it was a room that had a bright atmosphere decorated with mint tones.
In the center was a marble table so large that even if Zade, Margaret, David, and Jurich were sitting around it, there would still be plenty of free space. The walls were covered with old paintings, while on each side were cabinets and decorative vases.
The room was filled with warmth and a refreshing aroma, as if someone had lit the hearth with the comforting smell of burning wood.
Valiz