Ch#42
For ordinary commoners living in the city, a few people badmouthing them could simply be ignored. But in the world of nobility, reputation was as vital as life itself.
Friendships formed on that reputation, marriage proposals were exchanged, money was entrusted, and careers advanced.
*‘Contrary to what people think, Linia is quite perceptive. She knows nothing of high society’s language or customs, but she knows when she’s being ignored and that her reputation matters. That’s why she’s going mad.’*
She wants to do well somehow, but doesn’t know how.
There’s no one around to help her.
She has to navigate it all alone, with no way to know if she’s right or wrong, terrified that her mistakes will drag her brother down too.
Edel could understand Linia’s feelings.
“So, who’s going?”
Around the time the crashing sounds from the second floor died down, Marsha looked around at everyone with an irritated expression and asked.
*Spoils of war*
*Duchess*
Edel found Marsha’s attitude repulsive—acting like Linia’s personal maid usually, but trying to sacrifice another maid only at times like this.
Truly written by Lemon Frog
So when everyone else clamped their mouths shut and subtly stepped back half a pace, she stepped forward.
“If you’ll allow it, I’ll go.”
At that, Marsha’s eyes narrowed. They held a question of what scheme she was up to.
Edel stated her reason flatly.
“The miss won’t hit me because of all the previous incidents. But we can’t guarantee what might happen if someone else goes in.”
Daisy and Celia beside her quietly grabbed the hem of Edel’s skirt. But Edel briefly squeezed their hands and looked back at Marsha.
Marsha seemed suspicious somehow, but couldn’t send someone else in this situation. If the replacement came back truly beaten, she’d bear the resentment.
“If you’re so confident, get in there and clean up quick!”
She’d easily resolved a headache, yet pretended to show mercy.
- 2 -
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Edel grabbed a broom and dustpan, trash bin, mop, and such, then headed to Linia’s room.
“Miss. You should wash up and rest first.”
By the time she knocked, sobbing sounds came from inside.
“No. If I wash and sleep and wake up, I have to go back there. No!”
“Miss, it’s Edel. I’m coming in.”
Linia’s misery and despair felt vividly clear, as if visible to the eye.
Edel gently grasped Linia’s shoulder.
Edel spoke as calmly and steadily as possible, then quietly entered the room.
Opening the door revealed a sight to behold.
The chandelier laden with crystal beads, replicas of famous sculptures, exotic porcelain vases—all shattered and scattered on the floor. Dresses from the wardrobe flung everywhere.
“If you don’t go, they’ll gossip behind your back anyway. Excuses like being ill won’t work. Even if it’s hard, you must go, pretend nothing’s wrong, and face them.”
“Why? Why do I have to go that far?”
And Linia lay slumped over her vanity, crying.
“Miss, why have you done it this way until now?”
Edel began cleaning without a word.
She carefully dusted off the flashy yet utterly mismatched dresses for Linia’s charm and draped them over the long sofa’s backrest, sweeping up glass shards here and there.
The unexpected question made Linia grit her teeth.
The swish, swish of the broom continued for a while when Linia’s voice faintly reached her, making Edel pause her sweeping.
As the maids said, this wasn’t the first time she’d returned humiliated.
………Tomorrow too. Please come and grace us with your presence.”
Yet Linia attended the invited parties again, got hurt again, and came back.
Linia sniffled.
The reason was one.
“Because I’m afraid my brother will get criticized because of me.”
“They’re real bitches. They ignore and mock me but never tease me to my face?”
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, speaking in a watery voice.
Edel nodded.
“But now…… Even if I attend, it feels like my brother will get trashed. No matter what I do, people ignore and curse me…… What the hell do they want from me?”
It was utterly natural in noble society, but to Linia, raised as a commoner, it must feel cowardly.
Insult her to her face, and she’d grab them by the hair.
Edel stroked her back.
The Linia everyone pointed fingers at as immature and hysterical was actually this fragile and loving toward her brother.
“It must have been so hard.”
“……….”
“First, you need to reset your reputation to ‘zero.’”
“To zero? How do you do that?”
Linia barely managed a muffled ‘yes,’ then started crying again.
“Go to tomorrow’s party and sit as if nothing happened. Nod lightly while listening to others, sip a little tea, then leave at an appropriate time. You can dance if asked, but during the dance, don’t talk much.”
Edel sighed softly and resumed sweeping. First, she had to clear all the dangerous shards so Linia wouldn’t get hurt.
After sweeping the shards, she mopped up the water spilled from vases and pitchers.
“And?”
The large trash bin she’d brought filled with shards from broken items and wilted flowers.
Only after roughly tidying did Edel cautiously approach Linia, still slumped over the vanity, and speak.
Desperation laced Linia’s voice.
“Greet the hostess, Viscountess Emerson, politely too. Show no sign of holding today’s events against her. That’s all you need to do tomorrow.”
- 4 -
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