140 - Fragments of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards Episode 140
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It was three days later that my stepfather called me back to his private study. He asked if I needed anything, and then slyly handed me a money pouch filled with gold coins. It was nothing more than a bribe for what he was about to say.
“You need to understand her.”
My stepfather explained that the former wife had been bedridden since giving birth to Roena, unable to care for her, which was why this had happened.
He said that Roena, who had not been able to enjoy her mother's love to the fullest and was starved for affection, could not help but be sensitive to the attention my Mother was showing.
Therefore, she was shocked by this pregnancy, and he passionately defended her, saying that she couldn't help but be jealous when she thought of her Mother pouring all her attention on the baby in her womb, and that was why she was hurting.
He completely erased the image of Roena congratulating Mother on her pregnancy before I even mentioned the word ‘heir.’
I almost let out a bitter laugh at his tearful paternal love. I was slightly annoyed that he had called me in just to say this. If this had been the end, I would have thought differently about my stepfather.
Perhaps feeling sorry and apologetic for my silently listening attitude, he brought up Margo's story as if it were a reward, even though he had already finished talking with Mother.
“The look in her eyes when she looks at you is quite fierce. Now I know what you were worried about.”
How could he do this, no matter how much he was trying to manipulate things?
He was talking about getting rid of the head maid, who had devoted herself to the Bishvarts Family for decades, for the sake of his wife and stepdaughter, who had only been in the earldom for barely a year. A decision made after only three days of agonizing.
“She’s old enough to retire now.”
With those words, my stepfather's gaze, fixed on me, contained the meaning, ‘Is this enough to satisfy you?’
I almost laughed out loud. Margo, whom I could only drive out after several months of seizing control of the earldom, was now being urged to retire so easily. By the Earl, no less.
Was that why? I felt both empty and scared. At the same time, I was chilled by my stepfather's decision to abandon Margo, who was like a nanny and grandmother to Roena, in this way. I had always thought he was weak, but he was a nobleman after all.
I tried to hide my trembling voice and said as if it were nothing.
“Roena will be sad.”
“She’s only giving up her important position as head maid, so there’s not much to be sad about. Now she can take care of Roena comfortably.”
He wanted her to disappear from the earldom at the same time as she gave up her position, but I guess it was too much to ask for that yet. No, it would be enough as long as she wasn't by Roena's side, even if she didn't disappear. Margo had to be chased out in a more miserable state.
My stepfather, who didn't want tears to fall from Roena's eyes, secretly suggested that we compromise at this point. It was the least bit of consolation for the old woman who had devoted her youth to the earldom for her entire life.
So I indirectly asked him to speed up the time when Margo would step down as head maid.
“I need to prepare a gift for her to start a new life. How long do I have to prepare?”
My stepfather replied in a calm tone.
“It won’t be long.”
The rumor that Margo would soon step down as head maid swept through the earldom like a typhoon. This was like a bolt from the blue for some people. It hit the maids who were on her side especially hard. Wouldn't they be, since their center of power was losing strength?
At the same time, complaints arose that it was unfair to suddenly step down in this way, as Margo's efforts had been so great. It was also the first time since the Bishvarts Family was founded that she was stepping down without deciding on a successor.
However, since the head of the earldom had decided so, the principle was that they had to follow without complaint. That was because he was the Bishvarts Family. Previous precedents and principles were not important.
Therefore, the dissatisfaction that had arisen little by little, like young sprouts in spring, was soon uprooted and disappeared as if it had never been there. This was also possible because the number of maids who followed Marie was four times greater than the number of maids who followed Margo.
My stepfather said that Mother was in charge of the household, so she would choose the next head maid. Madame de Lavalier, having heard the news from Roena, sent a letter advising him not to manage the maids in that way, but he didn't even pretend to listen.
The above actions clearly instilled in most of the people in the mansion the idea that the maid who was well-liked by Mother and me would become the head maid.
Then the situation that followed flowed very interestingly. Most of the maids, except for Margo's group, would rush to take care of me whenever I moved even a little, trying to take care of this and that.
They were not only flattering me in ridiculous ways, but also working hard to show how useful they were. Sometimes, even a maid belonging to Margo's group would hover around as if asking me to pay attention to her.
It was Marie who warded them off, snorting like a wild boar. She huffed and puffed like a beast whose territory had been invaded, acting as if she would pull out all the maids' hair. She seemed anxious because I was silently watching without giving any definite answer.
Was that why? Marie looked at me with expectant eyes every time she brushed my hair, brushing it with great care. And she talked more enthusiastically than usual about how she had been bullying Margo's maids.
Marie wanted to show off her leadership in this way. To emphasize that she was a prepared head maid. Her eyes were fixed on my mouth all day long.
However, it only revealed her foolishness and did not give me any inspiration. Rather, I was convinced that if Marie became the head maid, she would become endlessly arrogant.
It was the night before Margo's retirement ceremony that my stepfather called me to his study once again. He had me sit across from him and immediately got to the point.
“Your Mother said she would follow your decision.”
Originally, he should have listened to Roena's opinion as well as Mother's, but he was thoroughly treating Roena as an exception.
Moreover, he acted as if the fact that this important matter had been entrusted to me was not surprising at all. After all, the head maid was a maid who helped the mistress of the family and took charge of the household, and her importance and symbolism were considerable. For a moment, I even suspected that he was testing me.
And the suspicion became a certainty with the words that followed.
“I will also follow your decision. I know how considerate, kind, and clever you are.”
My stepfather was now forcing me to act wisely. He meant not to reveal any ridiculous greed. It was okay to move Marie, but he wouldn't allow her to be the leader who controlled them.
I forced the corners of my lips up and smiled faintly. I knew that it was too early for my maids to become head maid, but I felt unpleasant because I was being urged to choose in this way.
He said it was for our sake, but in the end, all directions were aimed at Roena, so how could it not be? This was no different from a notice that even if the child from Mother's womb became the ‘heir,’ we would never be able to touch the Bishvarts Family.
In the end, my stepfather would take all the gains, and I would only get the proposition of being a ‘kind-hearted young lady.’ Not a material gain, just that one thing that would disappear in a few days. So I couldn't help but laugh.
I wouldn't have been so angry if he had openly announced that he would make Roena's maid the head maid. Whoever was chosen, it would be the same anyway. It was just a matter of whether my situation would get less worse or worse.
Of course, all of this would be possible on the premise that ‘Mlang’ did not exist. A hidden card that my stepfather would never know. So should I praise my foresight in bribing her in advance?
“Mlang would be better.”
“I can’t help but admire your inclusiveness.”
The fact that she was one of the younger maids and had East Continent blood mixed in was not even worth considering. The important thing was that she was Roena's maid but was aloof from Margo's group and loyal to me.
My stepfather focused on the fact that ‘Mlang’ was Roena's exclusive maid and had very good manual skills. The fact that she was attached to Margo's group was also something he couldn't miss. If she was young, she could learn, and even if she had different blood mixed in, it could be embraced with ‘inclusiveness.’
“She’s a clever maid.”
He smiles softly at my compliment. As if saying that it was a pretty good choice.
“Then let’s have her attached to the butler and study.”
It wasn't as if the earldom would collapse without a head maid right away. That was why my suggestion was easily accepted.
I took the opportunity to ask my stepfather for information about the noble families that were trading with the Bishvarts Family. I only chose those with young ladies and wives.
This was an appeal that I needed this help because I was struggling alone, unlike Roena, who was receiving support from Madame de Lavalier. On the one hand, it also meant that since I had granted your request, you should also give me practical compensation.
Then my stepfather tells me as if he is in trouble. He said that it was high-level information that was directly related to the family's income, so he couldn't give it easily. It was because he didn't have much trust in me that this happened.
“Isn’t there Lady Roshan? No, more than that, why are you suddenly saying this?”
“It’s very sad that someone who knows more about high society than I do is saying this. You know. You know what I want to say.”
The reason why a prominent young lady in high society takes another young lady with her is very clear. It was for the purpose of an accessory to make herself stand out or a maid who could get her hands dirty instead. Otherwise, there was no way she would carry people around like a bunch of grapes.
Therefore, she was filling the ranks with only people who were quite useful, and she was desperate to make such budding figures her own.
Of course, there were extremely rare gatherings that were linked by friendship, but even those didn't last long. It was because of ‘comparison.’
Even if people of similar status gathered, there would always be someone who stood out, so they couldn't stop the attention from being focused on him. In the end, the rest of the people were reduced to extras, and that became the cause of conflict, which naturally led to them breaking up.
This was the part I was talking about. Lady Roshan was taking me around to show off her inclusiveness, nothing more, nothing less. I had endured and endured, but now I was reaching my limit, so I just acted pathetic.
“I just want other people to see me as a young lady of the Bishvarts Family. So please don’t think it’s too much.”
It's not good to list all the shame and humiliation I've suffered here in detail. I just had to look at his face with an expression close to resignation. Then he would use his imagination on his own.
“Can you swear to God that you will not reveal what you have seen to anyone else?”
Look. Isn't my stepfather's resolve wavering? The hesitation he showed a moment ago was ridiculous.
“Yes. I’ll keep it in my head. I swear I won’t use it for any private purposes other than the ones I just mentioned.”
Of course, I won't pass it all on. How could I, unless I was a fool? I'll just throw a few strands of information that have been filtered and filtered out. But even that would be a great help to me. Lady Roshan would tell me the rest later.
“Okay. I’ll send you the organized version in a few days.”
“Thank you for understanding my heart.”
I smiled and thanked my stepfather. It was a satisfactory negotiation for both of us.
