After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World

Margaery, Bleumrick's newest wife, walked across the large halls of Hassen's palace, walking past the servants and the guests who had ventured a bit deeper into their house—likely to look for more private spaces to do whatever they wanted.

She was used to such an atmosphere in this place she grew up in, and the one she married into was not too different.

Fortunately, she managed to escape Bleumrick, at least for tonight. The nobles here sent women to serve him, making him too preoccupied to look for her. He was no doubt philandering with multiple women at this time.

She walked past a few more hallways, intending to go to the opposite side of the palace.

Hassen's royal abode was a palace complex. The smaller ones were one of the more expensive villas available in the System, while the main palace was an aether building the previous Lord bought at an auction.

It was twice as large as the largest available one in the system and had a number of passive qualities. For example, increased spirit recovery rates, which were good.

However, when she thought of how it was taken advantage of in this place—by men in plunder—she just felt disgusted.

In any case, she soon reached the back door of this palace, heading towards the garden areas and to the area with smaller 'palaces'. It took several minutes before she reached one of the corner villas.

It was one of the neglected villas. If the system buildings hadn't cleaned themselves once a month, then this building would've looked dilapidated and dirty.

This was where she grew up in.

From a young age, they had lived here, with her father just calling for her mother if he wanted her. When he did, her mother would cry, but she would go with the servants anyway.

Margaery didn't understand it back then, because she was little and didn't know anything about the world. That was until she reached an age where she was taught about the duties of a woman.

From her understanding, and from what was taught to them by the governesses and the teachers, the measure of a woman's success was the favor of men—whether it was her father and brothers, and then her husband, and then her sons.

If she was disliked by these men, it was understood that she could only cry at her pitiful fate.

However, as she grew up, she realized why her mother felt like dying whenever her husband called on her. She felt the same now.

Margaery took a deep breath and entered the small palace. There were only two servants there, one for cleaning and gardening and the other one for food-related items.

She would find her mother in her favorite place—the gardens at the back of the palace. It was quite a pretty garden her mother maintained through the years.

It had a symbolic meaning, too. After all, it was the farthest place she could be from her husband.

Margaery looked heartbroken as she looked at her thin mother, who was now sitting next to her favorite shrub. She had obviously aged years after she left. It had only been a few weeks since she was gone…, but she looked years older.

"Mother…"

Zinnia blinked but didn't react immediately, thinking she was just hearing voices—as she had been since her daughter left.

"Mother!" Margaery repeated, this time standing in front of her mother. The older woman flinched, eyes widening at the realization.

"M-Margie!?" she yelled. "Oh, my daughter—"

The woman immediately burst into tears at the sight of her daughter. Margaery quickly raised her arms to embrace the older woman.

Obviously, her mother had been so out of the loop that she didn't know what was happening outside and that she had actually arrived to attend a wedding. She had actually sent a letter, but it seemed like someone wanted her mother to suffer for a long time.

However, this was not the time to make an issue out of it. Margaery forced herself to calm.

After a few moments of small talk, the two decided to head to the verandah for some tea and snacks. At the very least, they did not lack food here.

"Has… has he been treating you well?" Zinnia asked, refusing to let go of her daughter's hand. "I don't understand why you would go out during that time…"

"I…"

Her mother was referring to the party, where she attended despite not being invited.

In fact, Margery purposely got into Bleumrick's radar.

She wanted to see… those people. She wanted to see her uncle and his family.

Was her uncle truly a good man? Or was her mother romanticizing old memories? If he were maybe… they could find a way to help her mother?

She had to do it herself because they were always blocked from sending anything outside, and all their servants were not on their side at all, ready to betray at a moment's notice.

She could feel her mother slowly losing her will to live. Her mother was so strong and kept holding on because of her and her brother. However, as her brother neared adulthood, Margaery had the inkling that her mother would soon willingly let go.

Margaery became desperate and took matters into her own hands.

"I… I'm alive," she said, patting her mother's frail hand. "I… he hasn't hurt me yet, except for…" during sex.

Most men only focused on their own pleasures, not caring whether the woman was uncomfortable or not. At the same time, few women knew any better, and they thought this was completely normal. It was considered a blessing if they didn't suffer as much as others during sex.

Zinnia had lived this life for decades, and it broke her heart to think it would be the same for her daughter.

People envied them for being nobles, for having no problem of having food to eat or having a roof above their heads. This was true, but she believed if she had freedom, she was willing to suffer a lot more.

"My poor daughter… how difficult our lives are…" Zinnia cried, covering her face.

If only there were a way to get her out of this.