152 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards Episode 152
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He still has a handsome face. I thought so when I first met him, but his appearance itself was flawless.
Even the way he lightly dusted off his hands as he approached me was like that. If the Crown Prince was a bewitching beauty who captivated people, Beatrice was a man full of masculine beauty.
“This place is very dangerous for someone like you to be standing alone, Bischwartz Young Lady. May I accompany you until a safe place appears?”
He makes a polite request, offering his hand. His blue eyes were sparkling meaningfully, as if he intended to use the escort as an excuse to talk.
I smiled gently and refused his hand. He appeared before me as soon as my conversation with Perinnil was over. Perhaps that's why I felt so much aversion.
It was no different from him watching where I was meeting her.
He was a man who not only coldly abandoned a woman he used to hang out with, but even threatened her life. So, I was a little hesitant to follow him blindly.
Perinnil explained the current situation and naturally said that the Crown Prince was a dangerous person.
This was a pretty good preliminary step to induce fear and persuade me. After all, distrust is the starting point of betrayal. That's why Beatrice is here in front of me now.
The problem was that Perinnil had honestly confessed that she had been abandoned. Perhaps she thought I wouldn't know at all because she vaguely referred to him as "Master," but the drugged woman was more sincere than I thought.
Just looking at her wailing in front of me and hitting the floor showed that. This poor woman was too busy reliving her own emotions, not knowing what should be her priority.
She must have exhausted all her energy just by squeezing her chest and crying. The emotionally changed prostitute was out of her master's control. Unintended freedom created unexpected results.
Therefore, instead of being afraid of the Crown Prince as they had led me to believe, I calmly accepted that things were turning out this way around me.
I had already experienced fear of the Crown Prince, so even if I looked at it from a new perspective, there would be nothing different. I wouldn't care anymore, except to think, "What's new?"
Besides, Jack would be back soon. Therefore, rather than taking the outstretched hand, it was better to stall for time and find out his intentions.
Despite my refusal, Beatrice was not particularly upset and was smiling. The hand that naturally withdrew was quite elegant, out of place for the location.
If the bloodstains of others that stained my shoes were not so vivid, I might have been mesmerized. He was a man with a different kind of charm than the Crown Prince, one that captivated people.
Despite maintaining a polite attitude, the ominous energy that was seeping out of him made the men lying upside down at his feet seem like a plausible backdrop.
“If you are alone, these kinds of people will appear. I am worried about you, Bischwartz Young Lady.”
Perhaps it was because I was staring at him so intently that he thought I was being rude. Beatrice shrugs his shoulders with a sigh-like voice. He was saying that he was standing by my side out of concern for me.
I let out a hollow laugh at the plausible excuse. I was dumbfounded by the sight of him struggling to take advantage of the opportunity he had created using Perinnil.
On the other hand, I couldn't understand why he was putting in so much effort for me. Is Sir Ayres's existence so great to the Crown Prince and these people? So, are they trying to move me, the person he is focused on?
“Thank you for your kind consideration, but the person who will take me home will be arriving soon. So, I will politely decline.”
“Then I will wait with you until that person comes.”
“Why would you do something so troublesome, Beatrice?”
To my direct question, he smiles sweetly and says softly, as if whispering.
“Because I don’t want to see you in danger, Bischwartz Young Lady.”
The man's face, exuding the same seductive atmosphere as when he was sitting with a prostitute, evokes a strange tension.
An ordinary woman's heart would have fluttered and she would have collapsed, but my heart, accustomed to the Crown Prince and Sir Ayres, was as calm as a stone.
His jewel-like blue eyes were shimmering strongly between the playfully curved corners of his eyes, which was very beautiful, but that was all.
I smiled shyly, as if to say thank you. And then, as if I had just remembered, I opened my mouth and said.
“I met the Baroness of Flanders. She didn't look very well. Have you seen her again?”
He smiles again at my question. His lips, which were slightly raised, drawing a deep curve as if to say, "Why are you asking when you know?" open softly as if to match my rhythm. Beatrice seemed to find the current situation very amusing.
“Unfortunately, I have not seen the Baroness since she was summoned by His Majesty the Emperor and entered the Imperial Palace. I am sorry to hear that she does not look well.”
Despite the fact that he had to use honorifics to the prostitute he had been playing with, there was no unpleasantness anywhere on his smooth face.
He was just staring at me as if to say, "Tell me more." As if he wanted me to tell him the story I had heard from the Baroness of Flanders again.
Was it because he was maintaining such a nonchalant attitude? Or was it because I read an arrogant command in his innate elegance? Suddenly, Marie's story flashed through my mind.
‘His Highness the Grand Duke, who wears a dark mask because he was burned all over his body when he was young. Don't you know, Bischwartz Young Lady?’
‘I heard from another maid that he came to watch the fencing competition last year. Black clothes, black mask, black coat... He was all black, so it was creepy. If it weren't for his blue hair, I would have thought he was a undertaker!’
For a moment, I couldn't help but lower my gaze to the wrist where he had been buttoning his cuff. Suddenly, my mouth felt dry, as if it was drying out.
No way, ...it can't be, right?
“I heard something interesting from her.”
I tried to recall the burn mark I had seen earlier and slowly opened my mouth. It was just a glimpse, so I couldn't be sure, but if my thoughts were correct, I couldn't overlook it, so my heart was pounding.
If the Grand Duke, whom Marie spoke of, who was covered in burn marks and often hung out with prostitutes, was the man in front of me.
“It was a story about the Grand Duke who has burn marks on his body. He is such a rumored person that I couldn't help but be interested.”
He raises his eyebrows and asks, as if puzzled. He seemed to think it was strange because a different story than expected was coming out. His blue eyes were holding a slightly darker color.
“She said such a thing?”
“Yes. Perhaps because she was sick, she couldn't even continue properly. I don't know what she was so sad about, but I couldn't hear properly because she was crying so hard in front of me.I intentionally did not tell the story as Perinnil had instructed in advance, and I let slip that she had acted emotionally and showed a demeanor that went against his orders.
To emphasize that the man's approach was completely useless, I even added, "She put white powder in her nose in the middle. It's a strange thing, isn't it?" It meant that she was doing drugs even while meeting me, so there was no way she could maintain her sanity.
“But it was quite interesting.”
“What is?”
“That a Grand Duke with a beautiful appearance and blue hair has such hideous marks on his body.”
“You said beautiful appearance? Did the Baroness say that?”
Instead of answering, I took a step closer to him and reached out my hand. Very boldly, like a shameless woman, I grabbed the wrist where I had seen the burn mark earlier and smiled gently. To make the best gamble of my life, I hid my agitation and turned over the con man's card.
“The button is loose. May I re-button it for you?”
Beatrice looked at me without a word. His face, which had lost its smile, was exuding a cold chill, just like when we met at the Masquerade.
Yes, these are the eyes. That was the gaze he gave me back then. Goosebumps were rising.
After a while, he chuckles and takes a step back. The hand that was grabbed was naturally released with a movement that was not embarrassing to me.
“A man like me sometimes misunderstands this kind of kindness. Because I can taste a feeling of ecstasy that is suffocating. I wonder if I will collapse on the street and lose consciousness. You are a really dangerous person.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. You make me have bad thoughts. So, for the honor of everyone, I have no choice but to take a step back like this. This kind of opportunity only throws sweet pain.”
Beatrice was acting as if I was a person who had set out to seduce him, giving me subtle shame. He was driving me to the point where he was saying, "If grabbing my wrist wasn't that intention, then what was it?"
At the same time, he was buttoning up tightly so that the button would not come undone, which was very suspicious because it seemed like he did not want to show the inside of his wrist.
“It’s just a favor. But since you think that way, I can’t bear the shame of myself. I thought Beatrice and I were close enough to give this kind of help.”
He raises his eyebrows as if he heard something he shouldn't have. On the outside, he was acting surprised, but the man's eyes were emitting a strong light as if trying to search me.
“You said close?”
“You’ve helped me several times. Isn’t that enough?”
The sound disguised as innocence was so absurd that even I, who had uttered the words, was taken aback. If I were him, I would have thought, "What the hell is she talking about with this nonsense?"
Or he would think of me as a fool who has not learned etiquette even after a year and is doing this kind of vulgar behavior.
Well, it would be nice if he thought of me as a useless woman and stepped back.
Anyway, I had caught a clue about the Grand Duke, and I had cut off the flow of the conversation I had with Perinnil, so if I just parted ways like this, I could be proud that it was a successful outing.
Even if I call Perinnil later and find out the truth, I won't be able to meet her openly as long as I'm by the Crown Prince's side - otherwise, he wouldn't have called me to a place like this - so I'm sure I won't be directly questioned. So, I just need to part ways with this sullen feeling.
But Beatrice's thoughts seem to be a little different.
A bright smile suddenly appears on his face as he looks at me as if he is dumbfounded. The man, who quickly became closer to me with a stride larger than the one he had taken back, had transformed into someone who knew well how much impact his beauty had.
This arrogant ruler grabbed onto the slightest opportunity I had let slip as if he would not let it go, and then spat out an offer, no, an order, that I could never refuse. He was chillingly calmly enjoying the sight of me floundering in my own trap.
“Then I can send you a letter. Since we are close, this kind of healthy exchange is certainly possible.”
A chill runs down my spine in an instant. A letter. Just thinking about it made me feel suffocated. Isn't that the same as a declaration that he will drag me into the mire? And that too, for the Crown Prince to see.
I tried to hide my trembling voice and said in a nonchalant tone. The voice flowing through my opened lips had a gentle tone, as if soothing the man.
“Wouldn’t you be very upset if I committed the rudeness of not replying? So, how about we think about this part slowly?”
Then he smiles again. It was a smile that was so beautiful that it was dazzling, but somehow it felt like a beast was baring its teeth and snarling fiercely. Even his attitude of subtly pressuring me as if to say, "Don't use such petty tricks," was like that.
“Just receiving the letter will make me feel very good. Ah, that's right, it might contain a story that is helpful to you, Bischwartz Young Lady.”
“But other people might misunderstand. I don’t want such scandals.”
“That will never happen. Only you will know that it is a letter I sent.”
A letter that only I can know, what does that mean? I was frowning at the incomprehensible answer.
Suddenly, he greets me. I wondered why and turned my head following his gaze, and I saw Jack walking over. Surprisingly, he knew that Jack was my companion.
Since when has he been watching?
“Let’s continue this story next time. I hope to see you in a safer place then, Bischwartz Young Lady.”
Beatrice kisses the back of my hand. It was a declaration that he would not talk anymore.
Thanks to this, I was unable to talk about the letter, so I quietly organized my miserable heart and quietly pulled out my hand. And I whispered to this dangerous man who was straightening his back.
“Please give my regards to Perinnil.”
The key is how much she remembers of her conversation with me while she was drugged.
Beatrice opens his eyes wide as if he has been hit, and then laughs out loud. It was clear that he was going to see her after this time, so I tried to provoke him for the purpose of provocation, but he seemed to find it just amusing.
“I will.”
Jack had already come close. The child looked at the man and hesitated, bowing his head. He had an expression that he didn't know how to treat him.
Beatrice turned his body without even looking at the child once. His back, which was disappearing quickly as if he didn't need to be there anymore because my companion had arrived, was somehow chillingly scary. I was regretting whether I had provoked him for no reason.
