106 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards Chapter 106
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Chapter 2: Founding Festival
The Empress's promise to call me when she was ready was apparently not an empty one, as months passed after the invitation without another letter arriving from the Empress's palace.
It seemed the Empress had decided my usefulness after that one meeting. She considered me a card that couldn't be used right away but could be called upon again if needed.
This was very welcome news to me, as it meant I didn't have to worry about being humiliated again. If she were to call me right now, I would have no choice but to enter the palace.
I had managed to get through it somehow by luck this time, but I couldn't guarantee that I would be so lucky next time.
So, I couldn't help but feel relieved that it had been so quiet for so long. It was a moment that made the days I had spent preparing seem pointless.
On the other hand, Margo's family was very disappointed that Roena had not received another invitation from the Empress.
Margo, in particular, felt that way. The old fox seemed to think that Roena's beautiful looks and witty remarks would be enough to captivate the Empress. So, she was puzzled and impatient that a second invitation had not arrived.
Even I had visited Chatoul several times, so she had secretly expected Roena to be even more welcomed.
But no matter how long they waited, no good news came. There were also no rumors about how outstanding Roena had been at the Empress's palace. It was as quiet as if the invitation had been a dream.
An ordinary person would have given up, thinking that no more letters would come.
But Margo was not like that. No, she couldn't. The old woman, full of stubbornness and obstinacy, couldn't believe that Roena's visit had been a failure.
So, she would urge her subordinates several times a day to check if there were any letters from the palace. There was also a suspicion that Marie's family was hiding the letters to trick her.
"I think she's really senile. What a nasty old hag!"
Marie said she was going crazy because Margo would look at her with fierce eyes every time she saw her and ask if there were any letters for Roena. She couldn't stand being watched so closely all the time.
"Now she's accusing me of being a letter thief! Miss, please do something. I feel like I can't breathe."
Unfortunately, all Margo's family received were letters of greeting from Roena's friends. There were no letters that appeared to be from the Imperial Family.
Therefore, Margo's family had to turn away with a disappointed expression every time. The conflict with Marie also gradually worsened.
In the meantime, autumn had passed and winter was approaching. It was the kind of weather where it wouldn't be strange for snow to fall.
It was around this time that Blan talked about the 'Witch'.
"Miss, do you know about the Witch?"
She, who was brushing my hair, said to me as if she had suddenly remembered.
"Witch?"
I tapped the dressing table with my index finger and muttered the word 'Witch'. I couldn't possibly not know about her, since I had gone to a Witch in the past to get a Love Potion.
I stared at Blan as if asking why she was asking.
"It's popular these days to get medicine from an old woman called a Witch. They say she can do anything? She can do fortune-telling, cast curses, and even perform abortions."
Until now, it had been common for the people of the Empire to see fortune-tellers from Vagus (wandering fortune-tellers).
With skin so rough and dry that their bones were visible and their backs slightly bent, they were a nomadic people who wandered the world, always saying that they were wandering in search of the guidance of the stars.
Their fortune-telling, which they said allowed them to glimpse the future by borrowing the mysterious power of nature, was quite accurate and popular among noble ladies.
It was around this time that the Witch appeared. Unlike the Vagus, she claimed to perform magical things by borrowing the power of the devil.
Therefore, she boasted that she could do dangerous things that the Vagus could not do, such as curses, abortions, and conceiving a son. The 'Love Potion' was the item that the Witch was most proud of.
Before returning, I had secretly visited the Witch and purchased a potion that could capture the heart of Sir Halberd. I had gone to her with the desperate hope of having him.
So, in an old house at the end of the city, I had desperately prayed while watching an old woman putting all sorts of strange things, such as bat powder, rat tails, and frog legs, into a large pot.
To make Sir Halberd love me.
While paying a large sum of two gold coins for the potion. Well, I found out later that it was a fake medicine.
Come to think of it, there was a big incident caused by the Witch, wasn't there? I know that something happened that made people in society tacitly hush it up and keep their mouths shut. What was it?
"Miss?"
"Ah, right. You asked about the Witch? Why are you asking?"
"They say that the Witch will appear at this year's Founding Festival and make predictions. So, the city is in chaos. The Vagus can't even dare to make predictions. But they say that an old woman who made a contract with the devil is doing it, so everyone is trembling with fear."
Blan seemed quite excited and chattered in a cheerful voice. She didn't seem to believe in the Witch, but she seemed very curious about what kind of predictions she would make.
"Come to think of it, it's almost the Founding Festival."
Usually, festivals are held in the fall after the harvest is over. Autumn, with its clear and pleasant weather and abundant food, is the perfect season for everyone to enjoy together.
However, the Founding Festival was different. It was around this time of winter that the Empire was founded, and the fact that they had laid the foundation for the country while enduring the harsh cold was considered a source of pride for the people of the Empire.
They thought that the strong mental strength and perseverance that did not yield to nature, and the great spirit of being able to unite for the country, were well demonstrated through the season of winter.
So, every year in winter, they held various events to celebrate the founding of the country and to get together. In particular, the competitions between knights were the highlight of the Founding Festival.
"Yes. Sir Halberd will be in the competition again this year, right? He will definitely win."
"I hope Sir Ayres comes out this time too. That way, we can shut up the people who like to gossip."
Marie said as she put a vase on the table. Blan agreed with her.
"Yes, you're right. Sir Ayres has to come out this time. He didn't participate last year."
Last year was before I entered the Count's family. At that time, I was too busy trying to make a living to even think about going out to play at the Founding Festival.
So, I didn't know what the Founding Festival was or what kind of events there were. I could only look at the bustling square and envy them.
That's not to say that I had a good first Founding Festival at the Count's family either. It was because of my foolish pride.
I just couldn't stand the fact that such a knight was escorting me, while Roena had Sir Halberd with her. How could I watch that with a clear head unless I was crazy?
So, I pretended to be sick and didn't participate. I yelled at my worried mother and insisted that I wouldn't go.
I wanted to go, I wanted to play so badly, but I held back by throwing things around because of my pride.
Then, I hid under the covers and tried very hard not to think about him competing.
Therefore, I only found out much later that Sir Halberd was the final winner of the swordsmanship competition, and that as soon as he was confirmed as the winner, he took out the handkerchief that Roena had given him from his chest and kissed it reverently. Also, that he had put the winner's Floral Crown on her.
It was only because the maids were talking about it as they passed by that I was able to find out.
Afterwards, a small banquet was held in the mansion to celebrate his victory, but I only found out about this through the busy maids, and I would have had no idea otherwise.
No one came to ask me if I was feeling better or if I could attend the banquet. Even my mother didn't seem to think about taking care of me.
Ah, how sad I was at the sound of laughter flowing in through the open window... I can still see myself covering my ears and repeating that it would be boring and dull.
It was my first Founding Festival since entering the Bischwartz Family, but it was ruined by my twisted pride.
So, there's no way I would know anything about it even now that I've returned. I only found out a little while ago that Sir Ayres didn't participate last year.
"Why didn't Sir Ayres?"
Blan quickly answered my question in a cheerful voice.
"There were people who said that Sir Halberd won because Sir Ayres didn't come out last year. That's why. Oh my, come to think of it, Miss! If Sir Ayres comes out this time, you'll throw a handkerchief at him, right?"
"Stop talking nonsense and keep brushing my hair."
At my scolding, Blan shut her mouth and spurred on the hand brushing my hair.
I continued to tap the dressing table lightly with my fingers and blinked my eyes.
Then Marie quietly approached me and handed me a small porcelain bottle. I asked her what it was, and Marie answered with a sly smile.
"The Witch that Blan was talking about, I went to see her once. They say this is a medicine that makes your breasts bigger."
I opened the lid slightly and looked inside, and there was a brown, sticky liquid neatly contained.
"They say that if you apply this, your breasts will get bigger and firmer. So..."
"Are you really going to apply it?"
Marie was silent. I realized that it meant yes and clicked my tongue softly.
"If you get some kind of strange skin disease, I'll never let you stand in front of me again."
Even so, the reason I didn't stop her was because I was curious about the result. Well, the 'Love Potion' had been proven to be a lie, but who knows if that medicine might be effective?
Besides, I thought it would be fun to think about Marie grimacing as she applied that sticky stuff to her chest.
Marie was as happy as if she had gained the whole world at my words. And Seril and Blan were watching her with curious eyes.
After that, whether she had been applying the potion steadily, one day Marie looked down at her chest and suddenly muttered, 'I think it's gotten a little bigger'.
In my opinion, it was still a terrible level with no difference, but she was standing up straight as if she was very proud.
Marie soon began to spread rumors around the mansion that the Witch's skills were quite good.
I don't know why, but she was showing an almost blind enthusiasm for the old Witch. It was ridiculous.
As soon as my mother heard the rumor that Sir Ayres would be participating in this year's swordsmanship competition, she forcibly brought me a new embroidery frame, saying that I had to make a handkerchief for him.
She said that I hadn't been able to give him a gift last time because I had hurt my hand, so I had to make one this time. Most people in the mansion were convinced that Sir Ayres would ask me for a handkerchief before the match.
"We should also get a dress to wear to the Founding Festival, right? What should we do with the jewelry? Oh my gosh. I'm already nervous."
"Everyone will be jealous when they see Sir Ayres and you, right? They'll say you're a beautiful couple. Last time, Yonel kept teasing me that Roena has Sir Halberd. So, I said this to him. Our Miss has Sir Ayres."
"Why are you going around telling everyone that? Stop talking and keep embroidering."
At my scolding, Marie shut her mouth with an 'eek' expression. I shook my head and pulled out the needle. The emblem symbolizing the Ayres Family was already clearly visible on the cloth hanging on the embroidery frame.
