11 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards Episode 11
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The most significant of her actions was mocking the Empress’s appearance in front of people, pointing out that she was several times less attractive as a woman. She acted presumptuously, using the Emperor’s infatuation with her.
However, people could not point out Chatoru’s rude behavior because the Emperor laughed heartily at his concubine’s words and teased the Empress himself.
The Emperor mostly overlooked or generously tolerated whatever Chatoru did. This was true even if it involved spreading dirty scandals that affected the honor of nobles.
Chatoru loved the gossip circulating in high society and was engrossed in collecting it. It was said that all the rumors in town flowed to her and then flowed out again. And these collected stories were whispered directly into the Emperor’s ear.
The Emperor would roll around on the bed, laughing heartily at all sorts of dirty rumors that came from his concubine’s mouth. Then, he would not hesitate to kiss her lips and say, “Oh, my lovely cat.” No one before had ever spoken of noble scandals in such a caricatured way to the Emperor.
Therefore, the Emperor greatly enjoyed his vulgar mistress mocking the prim and proper nobles. This was one of the many ways she ensured she did not lose the Emperor’s favor.
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Numerous people sent letters to Marianne de Chatoru. They detailed the strange tales they knew or the hidden flaws of other nobles, hoping to gain her favor.
Marianne de Chatoru was not a stingy woman and bestowed considerable rewards upon the subjects of the letters she chose. Most of the rewards were gold or jewels. If lucky, they might even receive the title of ‘Viscount,’ albeit a nominal one.
Hundreds of letters flowed to Marianne de Chatoru daily through the hands of court servants.
She would then lie in a warm bath, listening to her maids read the letters, and set aside those with useful content.
Among them were secret aphrodisiac techniques passed down from the Eastern Continent. Marianne de Chatoru would immediately try any interesting positions or aphrodisiac foods she learned about, enjoying them with the Emperor.
There were rumors that Madame de Chatoru once covered her body in chocolate for the Emperor and enjoyed it with him.
It was said that she felt the Emperor’s tongue licking her body so intensely that she moaned so loudly that everyone in the palace could hear, and they rolled around in bed for a day and a half.
While people cursed her lewd habits, they greatly envied the Emperor’s life with the beautiful Marianne de Chatoru, who was the subject of his sexual fantasies.
Even the most renowned courtesans in the capital were not as beautiful or voluptuous as her. Marianne de Chatoru was an unparalleled seductress and, at the same time, the perfect courtesan that all men desired.
It was around this time that Madame commissioned the creation of a private opera room for the Emperor. The Emperor enjoyed gossip, but he was growing tired of hearing it in her consistent voice, and Madame de Chatoru’s voice was strained from reading letters daily for him.
A voice as clear as a bird’s chirp was one of the virtues a lady of high society should possess, so Marianne de Chatoru always wished her voice to be perfect. Therefore, she could not bear her voice becoming hoarse and scratchy like scraping metal due to the Emperor.
So, she pestered the Emperor to build a private opera room in her adjacent chamber and began staging performances based on the content of the letters.
The plays were of very high quality, created by inviting skilled opera actors. The perfect performance from the fingertips of the court orchestra was more than enough to please the Emperor’s ears.
Most importantly, he must have been delighted to be able to watch the opera comfortably without adhering to formalities, while caressing Marianne de Chatoru’s chest.
The Emperor, greatly satisfied with the performance that maximized the satire of nobles, bestowed great rewards not only on the actors but also on Marianne de Chatoru. Through the opera room, she was granted a large castle in the southwestern part of the empire as a villa.
In the past, Marianne de Chatoru’s opera room was one of the rising gossips in high society. People would list everything from the names of the opera actors she invited to the workshops that decorated the opera room, mocking her extravagance.
It was no secret that meters of silk embroidered with gold and silver threads were used to make the curtains decorating the stage.
The fact that she had placed an aphrodisiac in the ‘Little Birdcage of Turdarum’ (a wooden bird shape filled with various spices and hung in a cage like a real bird) that she made for the Emperor was also frequently discussed.
People in high society watched Marianne de Chatoru’s every move with great passion, pouring all their energy into criticizing her.
They seemed to have gathered solely to mock Madame de Chatoru. The funny thing was that while people pointed fingers at her decadent pleasures, they were desperate to be invited to those gatherings. Her parties were one of the most anticipated social events.
So, I am currently mentioning the story of the opera room she plans to create in my letter.
In the past, when Madame de Chatoru was building the opera room, she went to great lengths to find an artisan who could satisfy the Emperor’s refined taste. She was looking for new patterns and designs, never seen before, that were as dazzling as they were suitable for the palace’s formality.
Her pride as a trendsetter in high society made her standards incredibly high. Thus, Marianne de Chatoru spent countless hours and effort, interviewing people from various regions and reviewing recommendations from nobles, finally discovering the artisan ‘Benjamin Chouël.’
Later, the ornate decorative patterns, known as the ‘Chouël technique,’ were unearthed by Madame de Chatoru’s hand.
《I have never seen furniture with patterns as beautiful and original as those by the artisan Benjamin Chouël. His furniture, combined with the mysterious culture of the Eastern Continent, is both ornate and very elegant. I dare to assert that his craftsmanship will not disappoint your Ladyship’s expectations.
Benjamin Chouël works at the ‘Red Bird’ workshop in the bustling district. If your Ladyship summons that artisan to the palace and meets him, you may be surprised to find he is a younger man than expected. However, his skill is genuine.
I sincerely hope that Madame Marianne de Chatoru will show the generosity to discover such a promising young artisan.
I earnestly wish that your Ladyship will lend an ear to my loyal words. (Omitted)》
If this letter reaches Marianne de Chatoru properly, perhaps I will have a chance to enter the palace and meet her.
If that happens, I plan to do my best to win her favor and, at the same time, request her to appoint my ‘Chaperone (a guardian for a young woman going out into society).’
I can confidently say that Madame will not be able to refuse this request and will, in fact, be overjoyed and strive to assign a suitable person.
Many have requested a ‘Chaperone’ from her before, but they were all mere social climbers aiming to debut, with no high-ranking nobles among them. Only a ‘Lady’ renowned in high society appoints a Chaperone for a noble lady, and everyone considers it an honor.
No one would be crazy enough to present a prostitute at such an important event connected to their honor. Even though she is the Emperor’s favored mistress, her low birth prevents her from becoming a true Lady respected by all.
Therefore, if my prediction is correct, Chatoru will surely be pleased with my request, as I am an adopted daughter with the status of a Countess’s daughter.
In the past, Madame de Chatoru also showed me deep interest. This was because I was the only one who showed animosity towards Roena de Bishbalz, who was renowned for her high standing in society.
So, every time she saw me, she would offer a few kind words and try to continue the conversation. Strangely, Madame was surprisingly kind to me.
However, at that time, I was not interested in Marianne de Chatoru. I was afraid of the eyes of those who would curse us for meeting, two people of low birth. So, I did my best to avoid her.
Thinking back now, my past actions were nothing more than spoiled complaints. At that time, I was already a subject of ridicule for being a commoner’s daughter.
Therefore, adding Madame de Chatoru on top of that would not have made much of a difference. Yet, why did I fear that and repeatedly act so foolishly?
So, now that I have returned, I will approach her. For me, who needs a powerful background, Madame de Chatoru is the strongest lifeline. The fine-sounding name of honor was nothing in the face of power.
It is better to choose the future that is Marianne de Chatoru rather than the honor of the name Cishe de Bishwaltz.
After finishing the last sentence, I stopped writing the letter, adding my signature at the end.
I reread the text, meticulously checking for awkward sentences or any words that might anger her. This was, after all, the lifeline that would make my future rosy.
Meanwhile, Marie entered with a dress and hat, as if she had finished preparing for my outing. I changed clothes with Marie’s help. I tied a white ribbon with a belt and put on a pendant made from a miniature portrait around my neck. Marie, with quite a deft touch, gathered the pleats of the puff sleeves to make them voluminous.
Everything I am wearing and wearing now was sent in advance by my adoptive father so that I could live without difficulty after entering the Bishvarts Family.
He sent an artisan to make me a dress and shoes that fit the latest fashion so I wouldn’t feel intimidated. These, numbering in the dozens, were all adorned with pearls, flounces, ribbons, and jewels without restraint, making them exceptionally beautiful.
Some were more ornate and expensive than what Roena owned. Because of this, the maids who saw them would whisper, ‘She must be completely bewitched by that woman.’
This silk dress had a voluminous ruffled collar at the neckline, emphasizing my ample bosom. The wide neckline added a seductive yet innocent feel, and there was no other outfit that suited me so well, given my mature physique for my age.
I lightly placed a hat decorated with fresh flowers and feathers on my head and put on shoes with pearls embedded on blue satin.
“Let’s go, Marie. Guide me to the haberdashery.”
Marie’s gaze shifted towards Capsa, and she looked uneasy. She seemed very concerned about leaving Seril behind.
“She won’t wake up for a while even if she does. If you’re that worried, why don’t you lock the door? We’re having dinner in the hall, so no one will enter my room. So, don’t hesitate and get your heavy butt moving like a pig.”
She finally took a step after I kicked her foot with my shoe. I put on gloves over my silk brocade coat and then followed her.
We first informed the butler that we were going out. The butler said with a stoic expression, ‘Please return by dinner.’
And he assigned a knight to me. He was a young man barely twenty years old, with an impressive, well-groomed mustache.
I calmly watched the knight introduce himself with a dashing gesture. Judging by the fact that his name wasn’t in my memory, he didn’t seem to possess any particularly great skills.
However, regardless of his skill, I, who had become a young lady of the Bishvarts Family and even had a knight as a guard, boarded the carriage with a proud stride.
