178 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards 178
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The Crown Prince's birthday celebration lasts for three days. Originally, I would have attended all the balls, but I used my stepfather's obituary as an excuse to only enter the palace on the first day. It was to give the Crown Prince a birthday present.
Because it was an ominous household struck by a death notice, when I presented the gift, I practically poured the temple's holy water under the supervision of a priest. It was meant to eliminate the misfortune and bad luck that had befallen the Bischwartz Family with the power of God.
The Crown Prince pursed his lips with a subtle expression, as if he didn't like the gift I gave him. Perhaps that was why he didn't even offer a word of thanks, which he had given to others.
He showed a distance from me, as if the time we had spent together meant nothing. Was it because I didn't give him what he wanted? It wasn't like the him I knew. He didn't seem to care at all that people were whispering as they watched us.
Unlike me, Roena went to the ball the next day at the Empress's invitation. Perhaps blaming others and fueling hatred was limited to me, as she seemed to get along quite well with others.
I heard that she was revealing her wounds to various people and receiving comfort. Young men and old women, in particular, seemed to be protecting her. There was no one more likely to elicit sympathy than a beautiful young girl who had lost her father. Thanks to that, Roena was gradually regaining stability.
She still cried all night and couldn't sleep, but the venom she had initially shown was gradually disappearing, and she was soon regaining her former gentleness. It was enough to make me feel deflated.
Margo did not miss Roena's unstable state and seized it as an opportunity. This cunning old woman encouraged her mistress to stay at the ball longer. She told her to go to the Empress and subtly suggest that Madam de Lavalier become her patron.
She seemed to think that appointing a patron as soon as possible could quell the chaos that had befallen the Bishwartz Family.
Most of those vying for the position of patron of the Bischwartz Family were terrible trash, including fat pigs, skeletons with only tough hides left, and drunken men with disgusting smiles.
A relative who had suddenly come up to the capital one day widened his eyes and rejoiced at the sight of the mansion's splendid exterior, the widow who was still beautiful despite being pregnant, and the two young girls who had not yet debuted in society.
It was a smile he could only make because he mistakenly believed that if he coaxed Roena well, all of this would fall into his hands.
So, without permission, he packed his bags and took up one of the guest rooms. He spouted nonsense about being a source of strength for the lonely Roena.
The family that came with him were also mongrels who couldn't find even a speck of courtesy. Whether they were thick-skinned or not, they not only threw tantrums because they didn't like the maid's service, but also engaged in shameful flirtations. The sight of them swaying their hips and touching the displayed paintings and sculptures with greedy eyes was utterly vulgar.
Demanding high-end alcohol at every meal was one thing, but there was even someone who coveted the dress Mother was wearing and openly acted like the owner. It was hard to even imagine how much more hideous they would be if they were appointed as patrons, considering they were already like this.
Roena didn't express any refusal and simply said thank you for coming, so they seemed to think it was all over. How foolish.
Their behavior became more and more serious day by day. Even the gentle Mlang complained to me that it was difficult. So, I restricted the relatives' movements and issued a warning. I said I would no longer stand idly by.
At first, they ignored my words and sneered. Their eyes were full of the idea that what could I do if I stepped up. The important thing was Roena, not me.
However, as soon as they realized that what I said was not something to be taken lightly, they became even more agitated and started to act disgracefully. They acted so dirty that even the butler shook his head. I thought there was no more bottom to show, but surprisingly, there was still an end left.
It was common for them to shout and stomp their feet, then let out hysterical screams. They even clenched their fleshy fists and uttered threats.
They asked what right I had to do such a thing. The sound of them telling me to crawl before they beat me and kicked me out flowed smoothly from their mouths.
The words "bitch" and "slut" came out without a second thought, shocking everyone. Even Margo, who would have rejoiced at cursing me, shook her head in disbelief.
Well, the quality of the food had deteriorated compared to the beginning, and the maids' service had become blatantly perfunctory, so it was understandable that they were angry. They probably couldn't sleep thinking, 'How dare a lowly thing.' So, they immediately ran to Roena and clung to her, crying and begging.
The nonsense they spewed was within the expected range. They said that I was trying to eat the Bischwartz Family, so I should be kicked out as soon as possible. They said that Mother was carrying the blood of my stepfather, so she was fit for the position of Countess, but I, who had no blood relation, had no right to use this family's name.
So, they whispered that it would be better to buy a small house and send me out, so that a perfect family worthy of the Bischwartz Family could be born. They didn't know that the only person who could do anything to me was my dead stepfather.
It was around that time that a letter came from the Imperial Palace. The Imperial family's letter, which only added words of comfort after the Crown Prince's birthday ball, tediously dragged out the obvious. It said that there was no decent adult in the Bischwartz Family, so it was difficult to hold a funeral, so a patron should be appointed as soon as possible. It also said that it seemed difficult to select a patron through engagement because the two young ladies were young.
As the Imperial family showed a positive attitude towards the patron, many people clamored to be Roena's strength.
Madam de Lavalier had taken a step back as if she wasn't interested, but everyone knew that she was the one who had the most contact with Roena. Therefore, most people expected Lavalliere to become the patron.
Ironically, none of the many relatives gathered at the Bischwartz Family offered to help me. They blatantly ignored and disregarded me. It was a move that said what was the point of talking to someone who would be leaving soon. No one recognized that I was still the eldest daughter of this family. So, I felt awkward when a stranger came to me, saying he wanted to talk to me.
The middle-aged man with a splendid mustache told me honestly as soon as he saw me. He said that he was the scarecrow the Crown Prince had mentioned.
"Approval that I have become the patron of this mansion will be issued soon."
He spoke calmly, as if he were talking about something that had already been decided. He said not to worry because he would only lend his name as a patron and do nothing else, but even though it wasn't realistic.
But the man repeatedly emphasized that it couldn't be helped. It was because the Crown Prince wanted it.
"What about my aunt?"
"It wouldn't look good to others if the Lavalliere Family were to control the Bischwartz Family."
His voice, as he spoke definitively, had a strange force in it. The man tried to reassure me again with the words, "Don't worry." But his actions were so much like comforting a child that it wasn't even funny. The Crown Prince had picked a strange person and was acting as if everything would be fine.
A few days later, the patron of the Bischwartz Family was decided. He was a distant relative who lived in the city that my stepfather had visited whenever he went on business trips, and he was an ordinary person without any particular disqualifications.
On the surface, it was known that I had requested the patron, and the Imperial family announced that they had selected the man as the patron in consideration of my position as the eldest daughter.
The Imperial family recognized the eldest daughter of the Bischwartz Family, Cishe de Bishwaltz. The people's mouths dropped open in an instant. So, even Madam de Lavalier couldn't question when I had contacted that relative and started the work.
Instead, Madam soothed the sobbing Roena and looked at me. It was less than an hour after I had kicked out the relatives who had stayed at the mansion and showed various disgraceful behaviors.
She said I was cunning. And she indirectly told me not to be greedy and to take good care of the family. It meant that neither I nor the baby in Mother's womb could become the heir to the Bischwartz Family.
"I will keep that in mind."
I barely concealed my sharply filed nails and gave a docile smile.
Now that the patron had been decided, Madam de Lavalier no longer had a reason to come and go from this place other than the excuse of being an aunt and niece.
In other words, until the Imperial family's designated patron period - which was set until Roena debuted in society - passed, the Bischwartz Family would be entirely under my control. It was temporary, but still. So, I couldn't help but smile.
That night, the strange note that had come before was delivered to my bedroom again. The words written were the same, but the feeling was very different.
『Who is the true master served by the Bischwartz Family's sword?』
If it was a question before, now it seemed like a compulsion to get him. It was as if it was whispering that now that I had the family in my grasp, I should get him too.
So, it was difficult. I could be a 'master' due to superficial relationships, but I didn't think I could be a 'true' one.
Michael Ayres and then Lustewin Halberd. I couldn't understand why the people around me were making such a fuss about the two knights.
I rubbed my dry face and burned the note. The feeling of elation I had felt all day at the thought that the family had become mine was instantly sinking. A sigh escaped from my parted lips.
"I have to find the person who sent the note."
Otherwise, I might not be able to sleep because I would be tormented by this uneasy feeling forever.
The list of things I had to do was growing.
\*
My stepfather's funeral was held in a simple manner. Since the body had sunk into the sea and could not be found, the work of making a shroud or washing it with myrrh was omitted.
The coffin, made of good wood, contained my stepfather's usual belongings and all the belongings brought by the sole survivor. The ring symbolizing the Bischwartz Family was on my hand.
People threw flowers into the coffin and offered formulaic words of comfort. It had been three weeks since the death notice was announced, so there was enough time for the grief to dissipate.
But Roena cried non-stop, to the point where it was a miracle she was breathing. Because she was a noble young lady, she couldn't cry out loud, but tears flowed down her cheeks and chin like rain, to the point where she didn't have enough handkerchiefs.
Madam de Lavalier stood by Roena's side and offered kind words of comfort. Her eyes were also swollen and red, to the point where it was difficult to hide them with makeup.
Although he was a Count, he didn't have influence in society, and he wasn't the empire's leading merchant, so very few people came to the funeral.
At least Lady Roshan and Princess Dieunzel came to save face, but there were very few nobles worthy of the name.
My stepfather was a gentle person for a noble, but he didn't have a wide circle of acquaintances.
With the priest's prayer, the coffin was lowered into a spot prepared in a corner of the Bischwartz Family's cemetery. People took turns throwing dirt on the coffin.
Mother stroked her greatly swollen belly and sobbed incessantly, then fainted because she couldn't overcome the extreme stress.
The maids, who were anxious that something might happen to the baby in her womb, held her up and made a fuss about calling the doctor.
Roena was also trembling with a deathly pale face, as if she would faint soon. Both of the people who should have been leading the funeral were not in their right minds.
I, who had spent the past few nights preparing for the funeral and quelling the rumors about the patron, slowly watched the sight of my stepfather's coffin completely disappearing with a face that was dripping with fatigue.
Many people clicked their tongues and whispered at my appearance, which didn't shed a single tear, but it was different in that they were watching me. Until Roena debuted in society, it was I who would be acting as the face of the Bischwartz Family.
Michael Ayres hesitated for a moment, then pulled my shoulder towards him as if to comfort me and asked again, "Are you alright?"
I quietly nodded and watched as the last handful of dirt was thrown on the grave.
A lot of time had passed, so I wasn't very sad, but it felt strange to say goodbye like this. So, I quietly accepted the kind comfort that Michael Ayres offered in his arms.
I could feel Sir Halberd's gaze from among the knights standing to one side, but I pretended not to notice. Now was not the time to pay attention to such things.
In that way, my stepfather, the Count of the Bischwartz Family, left Mother's and my lives. It had happened a year and a half after he remarried Mother.
