Shattered Glass Slipper Shards Episode 13
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“Are you acquainted with Madame de Chatoureu?”
I tilted my head at the man’s words. I blinked my eyes exaggeratedly, feigning ignorance as if I didn’t understand what he was saying. I was curious as to why he was suddenly asking me about ‘Marianne de Chatoureu,’ but I couldn’t readily answer.
Marianne de Chatoureu is a prostitute. Her real name is ‘Marianne Bon-Tange,’ and before the Comte de Portes-Félix adopted her and brought her into the palace, she sold her body to nobles in the red-light district located in the back alleys of the Rue de Phillyonne.
She was such a famous prostitute that ‘Marianne Bon-Tange’ was mentioned when referring to the red flower of Phillyonne’s night.
Bon-Tange entered the red-light district at the relatively old age of eighteen and became the best prostitute in just one week of receiving guests. Her bedroom skills were innate, so every man was eager to sleep with Marianne Bon-Tange.
Was that why? In the dim evening when darkness fell, the shop was very crowded with people bringing all sorts of riches and peeking in front of Marie Bon-Tange’s room.
Among them was the Comte de Portes-Félix. The Count’s ancestors were content with taking care of the local estates, but he, an ambitious man, wanted to enter politics and seize power.
The Count realized that the Emperor was a great lecher and a vulgar figure who lusted after women, and sought a beautiful but empty-headed woman to manipulate him and make himself the noblest of nobles. And the person he discovered was the prostitute ‘Marianne Bon-Tange.’
The Emperor was completely captivated by the charm of the young woman brought by the Comte de Portes-Félix. The bedroom skills she had learned to debut in the demimonde were incomparable to those of other women.
Marianne Bon-Tange’s beautiful face, voluptuous figure, and charming behavior were a fresh delight that could not be tasted in the Empress or other old-fashioned noble young ladies.
Therefore, the Emperor wanted Marianne Bon-Tange to become his mistress and continue to please him, and he tried to erase her dark past for her sake.
So, he gifted Marianne Bon-Tange with a castle in the ‘Chatoureu’ region and showed enthusiasm in making her the ‘Marquise Marianne de Chatoureu’ and debuting her in society.
Even the Emperor, the supreme ruler, did not have the audacity to make a woman with the name ‘prostitute’ his mistress.
In any case, as a result, people began to call the prostitute Marianne Bon-Tange ‘Marquise Marianne de Chatoureu.’ It was a very shameful thing in the aristocratic society, which was famous for its high pride.
“Was that a rude question?”
“Yes. It’s a rude and even embarrassing question. I don’t know why the young master is asking me about my acquaintance with the Marquise de Chatoureu.”
The man answers my words. His voice was indifferent, and no emotion could be found. It was as casual as asking the name of a passing bird.
“I happened to hear you mention her. So, should I say I became very interested? That’s why I dare to ask, braving the rudeness.”
“Why?”
At my words, the man twists his lips and gives an eerily dark smile. It looked mean and wicked, like a hyena tearing at its prey. It was a savage smile that was hard to believe came from that handsome face.
“There are always beasts that covet bones with flesh still on them.”
He belittled himself, calling himself a ‘beast,’ as if he had become a lecherous man seeking power. But I didn’t take his words at face value. He was much better than a fly swarming around the corpse of power.
His elegant posture and tone, and the behavior ingrained with consideration for women, were too refined to be called a ‘beast.’
Above all, the ‘contempt’ and ‘disgust’ flashing in his blue eyes were emotions that were difficult to overlook. So, I deliberately whispered playfully, like singing, and countered his words.
“What a pity. I have no relationship with the Marquise. I just used a little trick.”
“A trick?”
“The owner of this store is so arrogant that he doesn’t even look at anyone who isn’t someone of importance. He said that he only brings out good items when a prominent person visits. So, I just pretended to be one. To get the item I wanted.”
“Just to get a piece of stationery? Are you saying you’re okay with your honor being tarnished with disgrace?”
I shook my head, denying his words.
“No. He and I did something that benefited each other. I got the item I wanted, and he can sell new stationery by introducing it as an item favored by Madame de Chatoureu, so he will see considerable financial gain.”
“Such a despicable! Do you know that you are doing something that only a con artist would do?”
“I don’t think you’re the one to talk, young master, who not only eavesdropped on my words, forgetting your shame, but also begged me to connect you with Madame de Chatoureu. That’s right. I won’t deny it. What I did was an act that only a con artist would do. So, is there any problem? Not only me, but everyone is selling the name of ‘Madame de Chatoureu.’ Should I give you a suitable example?”
Marianne de Chatoureu’s licentiousness was so famous in the world that collections of poems and literature mocking her were being sold secretly.
From prominent poets to lechers who enjoyed lifting women’s skirts and commoners of humble origins, there was no one who did not mention her name and disgrace her.
The man was silent at my words. He, too, must have never lived without hearing mocking remarks related to Marianne de Chatoureu, so he would know well the meaning of what I was trying to say. That’s why he must have become a mute who swallowed honey.
So, I was very curious. Why he approached me and asked about my acquaintance with ‘Marianne de Chatoureu.’
I already thought that the collision with him was also due to his ‘plan.’ Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to separate me from Marie and the knight so easily.
When I thought this far, the favor I had for the man’s enchanting voice seemed to fade away. So, I looked at him with wary eyes and prayed that Marie and the knight would come out of the store quickly.
“I have committed a rudeness to you. I don’t know how to apologize for it.”
The man says. Even though he utters the word ‘sin,’ his expression was very peaceful. Annoyed by that appearance, I snapped like a child, forgetting my dignity.
“How can you erase the rudeness you have already committed? Let’s just say it was offset by the consideration you gave me.”
Then he grabs my hand and lightly kisses the back of it. And he introduces himself with a captivating smile that would captivate everyone.
“I am Theodore of the Vitraice family.”
“I’m Cishe de Bischwartz.”
At my words, a strange light appears in his eyes. Perhaps surprised that the woman he had grabbed was an unexpected person, he says politely without erasing the smile on his lips.
“So, you’re that young lady of rumors.”
I retorted in a coy tone.
“Then you must be someone who has never even heard of rumors.”
“It can’t be helped. The shadows hidden behind the curtain are darker. People are always afraid of something lurking behind the darkness. That’s why they don’t try to find out what truth is waiting beyond it. So, there’s no way anyone would know.”
“Are you confessing that you are a dangerous person?”
“If so, would you shake off this hand I’m holding?”
“No. I’ll pull it in. I’m not afraid of danger. The only things I shake off are the things that don’t benefit me.”
At my words, the man laughs out loud. It was the first ‘sincere’ smile he had shown me. After laughing heartily for a while, he soon stopped laughing, bent down, and kissed me on the cheek.
And he whispered in a soft voice in my ear, which had stiffened in surprise at the sudden skinship.
“Your scent is like neroli (orange scent). You are the first woman to make me feel so pleasant. But today, our relationship ends here. The passing time is so cruel and heartless that my heart aches. So, I look forward to meeting you again someday, Young Lady Bischwartz.”
It was like a theatrical actor’s movement. If I hadn’t glimpsed the elegance and arrogant pride in unconscious actions in each of his actions, I would have mistaken the man for a prominent theatrical actor.
After finishing speaking, he greeted me with surprisingly exaggerated actions. It was so excessive that it was ridiculous, so much so that passersby glanced at me once.
Wondering who was such a great woman to receive such an excessive event.
And as if this was a signal, Marie and the knight, who had not even been seen as shadows until the man and I finished talking, barely escaped from the entrance of the store and approached me. Their faces were drooping like boiled cabbage, as if the experience of being swept away by the crowd was very terrible.
“Young lady! I was really worried.”
“Are you alright?”
I barely received the greetings and tried to find Theodore Vitraice, who had been hidden by them.
But like a mirage in the desert, he was gone. It was a quick movement that I thought was magic. It was truly in the blink of an eye.
It was a meeting that could have been easily overlooked, but for some reason, I felt like I had been played with, so I bit my lip tightly.
It was the first time I had experienced such a rude behavior of spitting out questions as much as he wanted and disappearing after his curiosity was satisfied, so I was completely speechless.
While recalling the conversation I had with him in my head, I was afraid that I might have made a mistake and given him something to hold against me.
I was still a young girl who had not debuted in society, so it was necessary to prevent rumors that could harm the family in advance.
Although a bad reputation had already been added due to the mother who seduced the stepfather. Still, I refuse any more titles than this.
What I need is not the vulgar femme fatale temperament that everyone thinks of, but a lovely yet somehow dangerous, unconsciously ingrained cold attitude that is attractive, such a chameleon-like character.
Therefore, the display of friendship with Madame de Chatoureu also needed to happen little by little, like the hem of a dress getting wet with dew.
There was no reason to instill vigilance in everyone about the existence of ‘Cishe de Bischwartz.’ It was enough to have a cautious action with a question mixed in, ‘I heard she has a considerable friendship with Madame de Chatoureu? Is it true?’ that they couldn’t act rashly because they couldn’t be sure.
What I was worried about was that Theodore Vitraice had an appearance that he might have debuted in society, and I was worried that he might gossip about me to please other ladies who participated in the salon.
A man in love, a man eager to win a woman’s heart, is harder and tougher than iron hammered by a hammer, so they are con artists who make up stories that don’t exist.
So, there’s no guarantee that he wouldn’t say these words to make a joke to attract everyone’s attention!
‘I went to the Breath of a Thousand Angels the other day, and I met that young lady of rumors. She was, oh my god, really the girl of rumors. There, with a vague smile, and a gentleman with the eyes of someone trapped in a maze, there’s a high possibility that what I’m thinking is the same. Anyway, there was a vulgar taste that was hard to put into words. So, let’s all respect her in our imagination with dignity and courtesy. Isn’t that the benevolent and honorable heart we can have?’
Just thinking about it makes me dizzy.
