Alice Bennett muttered to himself, “The atmosphere between us is quite harmonious right now.”

Steward Cooper thought he must be going crazy from exhaustion… Harmonious? Where?

Alice Bennett said earnestly, “So, shall I sing you a tune?”

Steward Cooper stared numbly at Alice Bennett.

Alice Bennett said shyly, “I was originally going to be sold as an opera singer, so in prison… I prepared in advance.”

Steward Cooper looked utterly desolate, unsure whether he should praise him for being so foresighted.

“Then I’ll begin.”

Alice Bennett cleared his throat, gently tapping the bed board, “After the wedding… broke the white skirt… died, this… the head of the house…”

“Shut up!!!” Steward Cooper roared in anger, “Singing that in front of the master’s family! Are you looking for death?!”

“Is that not allowed?” Alice Bennett said regretfully, “But I’m just a half-baked singer… I only know how to sing ‘The Young Widow Visits the Grave.’”

Steward Cooper’s hands trembled with rage: “You… stop singing.”

Alice Bennett nodded, “Alright, don’t be angry, I just wanted to sing you a song to help you sleep.”

“Don’t say another word! I can sleep on my own!!!”

Alice Bennett promised, raising three fingers to the sky in oath: “I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

Steward Cooper sulkily sat down again.

Alice Bennett kept his word, not uttering another syllable this time.

Half an hour later, after a day of turmoil and half a night without rest, Steward Cooper was sleeping like the dead.

The young Alice Bennett, who had stayed awake with burning eyes, curled his lips into a slight smile and sat up.

“Sorry about this…”

Alice Bennett didn’t dare put on his shoes, tiptoeing barefoot as he quietly slipped out and escaped from the villa that night.

Of course, he was caught and brought back before dawn.

Alice Bennett was pinned down in the main hall of the villa, still acting tough: “So what if I get my face tattooed? Whatever! Even if I have a tattoo on my face, there’ll still be plenty of young ladies wanting to marry me!”

Steward Cooper had chased him all night and was now half dead from exhaustion, his voice barely a whisper: “You’re not afraid, huh? Fine, fine… just you wait, just wait a bit longer.”

Alice Bennett waited, and half an hour later, Edward Carter arrived.

Alice Bennett knelt on the ground, and at the first sight of Edward Carter, he knew he was doomed.

The one who could really do him in had arrived.

Chapter 8: If I sleep through this, when I wake up, I’ll be a real man

Before Alice Bennett could complain first, Steward Cooper jumped up, pointing at Alice Bennett with a trembling finger, stammering, “He, he… talked about my mother… even sang… wanted to mourn for me, it’s been three months!!! And… and the wall is so high! So high!!”

The young Edward Carter: “…”

What is he even talking about?

Steward Cooper had finally managed to bring the young master here and was determined to report everything, but after running around for a day and a night, exhausted and angry, he could barely speak coherently. In his anxiety, he blurted out whatever came to mind, leaving Edward Carter completely confused.

The young Carter looked bewilderedly at the old, steady Steward Cooper who had cared for him since childhood. After a moment of silence, he turned and instructed a servant, “Go fetch Doctor Wright.”

“I’m not crazy!!” Steward Cooper choked with anger, clutching the back of a chair and pointing at Alice Bennett, “It’s him… him… him, him, him!”

Edward Carter nodded, “I know, but you still need to see a doctor first.”

Steward Cooper was helpless, mustering all his strength to glare at Alice Bennett before being helped away by the servants, barely alive.

Only Alice Bennett and Edward Carter were left in the main hall. The two exchanged a glance, both at a loss for words.

“Your father did such a ‘good deed.’” Alice Bennett narrowed his eyes slightly, “You bought me—aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you to avenge the prince?”

Edward Carter was silent for a moment, then nodded, “I’ve thought about it.”

“But you still brought me here. You’re really bold.” Alice Bennett looked Edward Carter up and down, muttering, “Didn’t expect… you’re not that old, but you sure are daring, risking your life just for a thrill…”

It took Edward Carter a moment to realize what Alice Bennett meant, his expression stiffened, “I didn’t mean… that, and besides…”

Edward Carter said, “Besides, I know you won’t kill me.”

Alice Bennett took a deep breath—true enough.

He couldn’t bring himself to harm Edward Carter.

“You guessed right.” Alice Bennett stood up, rubbing his shoulder that had been twisted painfully, “Every debt has its debtor… I… damn it…”

Alice Bennett suddenly felt dizzy, lost his balance, and fell to his knees again.

He hit the ground hard, gasping in pain.

Steward Cooper had at least managed a nap during his day and night ordeal, but Alice Bennett had stayed up the whole time, barely eating, and now he could barely stand.

The young Edward Carter wanted to help Alice Bennett up, but remembering what Alice Bennett had just said, he felt it wasn’t appropriate to touch him, so he ordered the servants to help Alice Bennett up and take him to the bedroom.

Soon, Doctor Wright arrived, checked both their pulses, left some ointment for Alice Bennett’s external injuries, and prescribed a calming medicine for Steward Cooper.

Steward Cooper was sickly and recuperating, temporarily unable to keep an eye on Alice Bennett, so Edward Carter had to watch him himself.

In the bedroom, Alice Bennett didn’t need anyone’s help. He rolled up his pant leg, revealing a patch of scraped skin, and applied ointment to the wound.

Edward Carter sat at the desk not far away, reading, his eyes never straying.