Chapter 191: The Real Foe
As she spoke, Rose didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say, as what Lily said was the truth. If Edna had not meddled with her, if she had simply left Rose to deal with her problems herself, Edna would have left the castle in a much better situation.
She would still have the favor of the Queen and perhaps receive benefits, especially as she was leaving to get married. Everything Lily said was true, and Rose could only stare solemnly as Lily spoke.
After Lily’s outburst, she seemed to have calmed down a bit. Her chest, which had been heaving as she spat words at Rose, slowly returned to normal breathing. Her fists uncurled, and she wrapped her arms around herself.
"Edna didn’t want me to tell you," Lily said as she looked at the floor. She still sounded on the verge of tears, her voice cloudy with unshed emotions. However, she held out, and her voice steadily returned to normal. "I thought she should have, and even now I know she is still sparing you. I know you think you have it worse than the rest of us but..." Lily paused, lacking a better way to express herself without dismissing Rose’s situation.
She didn’t want to do that. She knew how much of a hard time Rose had, but unfortunately, she sympathized with Edna more. It was logical for she had known Edna the longest and she almost didn’t have any relationship with Rose. Therefore, she felt it was unfair that Edna would be treated this way when all she did was a good thing—something Lily probably would never have been able to do.
Lily didn’t bat an eyelid when Martha bullied Rose. It had nothing to do with her, so she didn’t think deeply about it. It wasn’t until Edna started to move against Martha that she considered it—and even then, she knew she wouldn’t have done a single thing to stop it.
Maybe it was cowardice. No, it wasn’t "maybe." Lily was certain it was cowardice. That’s why she was here, yelling at Rose—who was simply an ant caught in the midst of it all and practically had no power. All she was was the crown prince’s plaything, nothing more.
"I am grateful to Edna," Rose eventually started speaking when Lily stopped. "I do not take her actions for granted. I know she made sacrifices on my behalf, and I am eternally grateful for that." Her experience wasn’t as bleak, and she had no one here but Edna to thank for that.
"I didn’t know how bad it was," Rose paused. "I wish I knew. I suspected, but you are right—I may ’ave thought I ’ad it worse. But I assure you I am not angry, never was. I ’ave no reason to be. I am just sad. I don’t exactly ’ave a lot of supporters ’ere, as you ’ave said. It is sad to lose my only friend."
Rose was surprised she didn’t cry. She didn’t feel numb, not in the slightest. She could feel her emotions very clearly, and the foremost one was regret. She shouldn’t have let how hurt she felt stop her from saying a proper goodbye to Edna. She should have fought for it.