Translator: Nox

12 - Fragments of the Broken Glass Slipper

Shattered Glass Slipper Shards Episode 12

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After leaving the mansion and driving for about ten minutes, I arrived at the bustling district and disembarked from the carriage with a knight's escort. Around me, other ladies, dressed up just like myself, were out enjoying themselves with the help of knights or young lords.

I put Marie ahead of me and headed to the most prosperous general store in the capital. This shop, named 'Angel's Breath,' was a place where one could see the latest works by the empire's best tepormatio (designer), and it was the perfect spot to get a glimpse of what patterns were currently in vogue.

I squeezed through a gap in the shop, avoiding a crowd of people causing a commotion at the entrance. Small birds from Turdarium and stuffed animals hung from the ceiling, while below, popular designs, bundles of paper, and prints depicting the latest fashionable dresses were on display.

In one corner, various items such as quill pens made from peacock feathers and ink made with musk were neatly arranged, drawing people's attention.

A crowd had gathered particularly around the Persian carpets and rugs brought from the Eastern continent, and a single painting of a beautiful woman.

Clutching a bundle of paper, I called out to a scurrying employee and asked to see the stationery. I emphasized that the price was irrelevant, as long as it was a 'high-quality' item that was rarely seen.

The employee then led me to a middle-aged man with a dark complexion. He appeared to be the owner of the shop, and he offered a soft smile, his eyes twinkling from beneath his fleshy cheeks.

"Welcome. What kind of patterned stationery are you looking for?"

I replied with a prim expression.

"Show me the designs from the tepormatio first. I'll decide after seeing them. Oh, and of course, you understand that the tepormatio I'm referring to is 'Baltan Etoual,' right?"

"Of course. There is no one else of his caliber in this field."

The owner spread several sheets of paper with designs drawn on them before me and began a lengthy explanation. It seemed that the current trend was to repeatedly draw small flowers, and the paper depicted wildflowers with astonishing delicacy. The designs were gorgeous yet elegant, sophisticated yet beautiful.

I chose stationery that seemed fitting for Marianne de Chateau Rieux, then said to the owner, who was looking at my selection with evident satisfaction,

"Please soak this in rose water and dry it. Can you do that?"

"Soaking already made stationery in rose water is a very difficult task."

"That's why I'm placing a special order for my own unique item."

"A special order?"

The owner's eyes sparkled. At that moment, his mind was likely filled with visions of glittering piles of gold.

I nodded elegantly and whispered to him, enunciating clearly, in a cheerful tone like a singing bird, displaying the utmost aristocratic demeanor.

"I've heard that no other place produces paper as beautiful and elegant as this shop. So, I am saying that I wish to entrust the paper I will use for the rest of my life to this establishment. Can you do it?"

"Of course. However, it will be quite expensive, is that alright?"

"Price is no object. What does money matter if it's made properly? Of course, I have no intention of using the same design of stationery. Therefore, I will visit the shop once a month to choose the latest fashionable designs. You will simply need to transfer them onto paper soaked in rose water. I don't require a large quantity. Merely thirty sets. Can you do it?"

"That's a rather demanding order. Whether it will work out well..."

I drove the point home to the hesitant owner.

"This letter will be sent to Madame Marianne de Chateau Rieux. If it is done well, your shop might prosper even more. What do you say? Will you still hesitate?"

"Very well. I will do it."

Madame de Chateau Rieux was a woman who led the latest trends. If this stationery were to please her, it was obvious that all the noblewomen, led by her, would flock to this shop to acquire such paper.

The owner wiped his greasy face with a handkerchief and gave me a subtle smile.

"If we receive contact from the palace, I will offer you a fifty percent discount on all future orders."

"A wise choice."

"Then, to where shall I send it?"

"Please send it to the Bishvarts Count's estate. I am Cishe de Bishwaltz."

At my words, the owner's eyes widened considerably. He seemed unable to believe that the 'young lady' from the gossip that had stirred the social circles for some time was standing before him.

It was understandable, as the rumors that had spread secretly painted me as an idiot, as vulgar as my mother, and utterly ignorant of etiquette.

Therefore, seeing me in person, he must have been greatly surprised by my elegance, which was so different from those rumors.

Most of all, he might have been astonished that such a young lady, not yet of age, was sending a letter to Madame de Chateau Rieux. This was, in effect, a subtle display of my unusual connections.

"It is a great honor to meet a young lady of the Bishvarts Family."

I looked at him kissing the back of my hand with amusement and let out a low laugh. The fact that the owner's greasy lips had touched my glove was deeply repulsive, but I couldn't show it, so I suppressed my discomfort.

Because this man would become the cuckoo who would spread my 'rumors' to the many women who would visit the shop in the future.

He would undoubtedly show other young ladies the designs I chose, explaining that they were for 'Madame de Chateau Rieux.'

Then, hearing that, the young ladies would mock my humble origins, but they would not dare to show it to my face. Unlike in the past. This was a phenomenon I greatly desired.

"I will eagerly await the finished product. I expect you to do your best."

"Of course."

Although it wasn't the design I truly wanted, I needed stationery immediately, so I racked my memory and chose stationery that suited Madame de Chateau Rieux's taste. Then, I nodded to Marie to settle the bill. I twisted my body to leave the shop.

Perhaps it was because I turned without looking around? I failed to avoid someone approaching me and ended up colliding with them forcefully.

What saved me from falling and being utterly humiliated was not Marie, who was behind me. Nor was it the knight escorting me.

Ironically, it was the person I collided with. He rudely wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me deep into his embrace.

Before I could even collect myself, the firm yet captivating scent of the stranger filled my nostrils, making me dizzy.

I barely managed to suppress my wildly beating heart and let out a ragged sigh. Shaking my shoulders violently, I instinctively grabbed the man's forearm.

"Oh dear, I've committed a rudeness. Are you alright?"

A voice, strangely low, tickled my ear like a feather. His voice was polite yet deep. And incredibly sweet. I had never heard such a captivating voice before.

---

Is this what the sirens were like, singing on the dark shores with black waves to lure people?

The man's voice possessed such a strange, enchanting magic. If Marie hadn't called out to me immediately, I would have forgotten myself and remained in his arms.

"I am fine. So please let me go now."

Breathing heavily, I managed to whisper. The fact that I was pressed so closely against the stranger's chest, almost embraced, gave me a peculiar thrill.

Especially the firm chest I could clearly feel through my clothes made it impossible to breathe properly.

However, the man did not comply with my request. Instead, he tightened his grip on my waist and held my forearm with his other hand.

Then, in a voice as gentle as before, he whispered in my ear, his smooth tone like velvet caressing my neck, surprisingly polite and exuding a noble air.

"If you are going outside, I will escort you. I feel it would be quite difficult to go out as you are."

Though somewhat rude, the man's judgment was entirely correct. The shop was utter chaos. Moving alone amidst the throng of people, my delicate body would undoubtedly be crushed.

The hem of my dress, flowing down like the heel of a shoe, had already been ruined by others' footsteps, and my hat, dropped to the floor when I collided with the man, had long since turned into rags.

I had no choice but to nod and accept his offer. My cheeks were flushed red with embarrassment and shyness.

But please, do not misunderstand. This was far from containing any flutter of excitement like the scent of spring, or any subtle emotion akin to the signs of first love.

It was merely the instinctive sensation towards a male, felt by a girl who had just begun to bloom, and a maiden who had experienced her first 'moon guest' (menstruation) last month.

I swear to God, no one had ever touched my pure body so directly before. I was flustered, unsure how to explain this intimate situation where his hips were pressed against my stomach.

As soon as I agreed, he began to push through the crowd like a beast tearing into its prey. He paid no mind to the protests and screams from those around him.

At the same time, he moved his body sideways, protecting me like a shield, and his escorting of a lady was quite adept, as if he were accustomed to it.

He exited the shop so quickly that Marie's voice calling out "Miss!" from behind grew fainter and fainter.

Only when he reached the shop entrance did the man release his arm from my waist without hesitation. He waited patiently until I adjusted my clothing.

As I was exhausted from the strange tension and excitement of navigating through the crowd, I strongly pinched his forearm, which would have hurt, yet he showed no sign of it, displaying such kindness.

After some time, thinking my crumpled clothes had straightened somewhat, I bowed politely and expressed my gratitude.

Though momentarily embarrassed by our excessive closeness, I knew I couldn't have gotten out so easily without him, so I paid my respects formally.

For instance, my knight and maid were still unable to exit the shop.

"I don't know which family's young lord you are, but I am greatly indebted to you. How can I repay this favor?"

"First, it was I who committed the rudeness. So, you need not worry about it."

The man spoke. His voice was still captivating. Suddenly, I became curious about the man's face. So, without even thinking of opening my fan, I tried to capture him with my eyes alone.

There was a considerable height difference between us, so I had to tilt my head up slightly, but I did so willingly. It was a bold action that a polite young lady would not undertake, but I met his gaze with confidence.

He was a considerable handsome man. His fine-textured blue hair, sapphire-blue eyes, and a jawline that exuded masculinity were flawless.

His forehead, clearly revealed, was as smooth as white snow. The beauty of the man, who drew the eyes of passing women, exuded a strong, masculine charm.

Though he wore only a light shirt and trousers, they possessed an aristocratic flair in themselves.

Every movement was imbued with elegance and grace. The courtesy he showed me was exceptionally elegant, as if innate. Thus, I concluded he must be the young lord of a prominent family.

At the same time, I thought, 'If this person had appeared in society in the past, he would have been the talk of everyone, so why is he not in my memory?'

His face was one thing, but his voice was so captivating that one would never forget it after hearing it once.

"I am grateful that you think so."

In any case, since he refused compensation, there was no reason to insist. So, I stepped back slightly and turned my gaze towards the shop entrance, waiting for my knight and Marie to emerge.

Had he not spoken to me again, I would have continued to pretend not to know him and ignored him.