179 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards 179
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In just a few days, my new guardian became a public enemy. Although he was granted the position of guardian of the Count's Family by the Emperor's order, the atmosphere was one of utter rejection. Most of the public opinion was like a ferocious hunting dog, baring its teeth and tearing at him.
In particular, the complaints from relatives were severe. They couldn't help but be angry that someone they had never even heard of suddenly appeared and was about to swallow the Bishvarts Family whole.
Among themselves, they had already formed a coalition to fairly divide the Bishvarts Family's assets in preparation for when one of them became the guardian. Therefore, they couldn't tolerate someone like my guardian suddenly popping up and monopolizing the Bishvarts Family.
So they hired someone to dig into the background of the guardian, 'Sheldon Bishwartz'. Ironically, the place they approached was the information broker where Jack worked.
As soon as the request came in, Jack secretly informed me. He wasn't supposed to leak customer information, but the boy did it without hesitation. It was all for me.
At that time, I was already looking into Sheldon Bishwartz through Jack. I was curious to know what kind of person the Crown Prince had sent.
In the data Jack sent, he was strangely clean. This man, who lived day by day on the wealth his father had left him, was someone who had lived an ordinary and uneventful life.
Indeed, his appearance was so common that he was easily forgettable unless you looked at him closely. Even the neighbors around him would trail off, saying, 'There was someone like that, but was there?' What more could be said?
However, the fact that he was of the family blood was surprisingly clear. He was a very distant relative, so much so that you could only find his name written down after going far down the family tree, but it was undeniable that 'Bishwartz' was written after his father's name.
The butler, upon seeing Sheldon's name, was puzzled, wondering, 'Was there someone like that?' It meant he didn't remember.
However, when he saw Sheldon's face when he visited the mansion, he nodded as if he finally understood. The man had a faint resemblance to his father.
Nevertheless, the butler couldn't hide his unease about Sheldon. This old man, full of loyalty to the family, was very displeased with the fact that Sheldon had entered the mansion because of me. He thought of Sheldon as an ambitious man who had contacted me first in order to become the guardian of the Bishvarts Family.
So the butler said to me in a worried tone.
'Do not trust the guardian too much.'
His face was like that of a father watching his daughter fall for a scoundrel.
The foolish relatives would also have learned the same information I had. And they would have been disappointed that Sheldon was someone who had nothing to hide. There had to be something wrong in order for them to clamor for a new guardian to be chosen.
So they began to fabricate and spread a huge scandal, hoping to get rid of not only Sheldon but also Mother and me all at once. What they created was an incredibly sordid piece of gossip.
It was Marie who brought the secret rumors circulating in the capital. She told me that such words were going around outside these days.
I frowned and repeated the words Marie had uttered.
"Mother and my guardian are having an affair? That's why I put him forward as my guardian?"
Marie fidgeted anxiously and added with difficulty.
"The baby in your womb is also Sir Sheldon's child..."
Ha, so that's how they're coming at this?
I raised my hand and washed my face. And I ordered the maids to keep their mouths shut so that this rumor would not reach Mother's ears.
Since Sheldon became my guardian, I was able to freely access the Bishvarts Family's documents. Even Yangbu's secret vault was no exception.
No matter how much people expressed concern and said it couldn't be done, if he stood firmly behind me and said, 'I allowed it?' everything was magically resolved. Even the butler couldn't stop me.
Everything in the Bishvarts Family was in my hands. What Roena wore, ate, and drank was all under my control. Now, even if I kicked Margo out without any justification, no one would say anything.
But very few people knew that I was manipulating the Bishvarts Family. I was putting Sheldon forward as the face of the family so that all eyes would be on him.
Even the people who were initially worried that I would swallow the Bishvarts Family were now mocking Sheldon Bishwartz, who was using a scarecrow to imitate the Count. In reality, he was just attending events here and there and showing his face, just as I had told him to.
Sheldon Bishwartz, in the name of guardian, took me around to various social gatherings. I was already doing fake social activities following Roshan, so it was almost meaningless to say that I hadn't made my social debut.
People couldn't complain about me doing external activities through him. It was an undeniable fact that Cis de Bishbalz was the face representing the Bishvarts Family.
Of course, it was Sheldon Bishwartz who stamped the approval documents, but since it was I who put him in that position, I was allowed to join the noblemen's conversations and eavesdrop on information.
Of course, it was very humiliating to sit in a corner like a decoration to brighten up the place and just prick up my ears. The gazes that licked down my body as if I were a high-class prostitute, without even touching me, were also disgusting.
Nevertheless, I had no choice but to endure it because high-level information that I hadn't known before was pouring out raw.
Most of the noblemen coveted me greatly. The more insignificant the father with a worthless child, the more so.
They knew that Sheldon's tenure as guardian was only a year and a half.
So they thought that if they had me before Roena made her social debut, they could easily take over the Bishvarts Family.
After all, I am now the eldest daughter of the Bishvarts Family recognized by the Imperial Family. Therefore, they whispered in sweet voices that if I were to combine with their family, I would be freer than ever.
There were also those who were wary that Sheldon would take me and rise to the position of Count. Marrying cousins to preserve legitimacy was not even a matter of gossip. Sheldon Bishwartz's age - mid-forties - was nothing in their world.
Every time, I politely refused, selling Sir Ayres' name. I said that Sheldon was sincerely giving to us, that is, to Roena and me, and that I didn't want to doubt his sincerity. And in a low voice, I said that the Crown Prince had introduced Sheldon to me.
"Goodness, His Highness?"
"Yes, he was kind enough to listen to my difficulties and step in himself, it seems."
It wasn't a lie since he was the one who introduced me to him. It had merely been transformed into a heartwarming story of him taking pity on me and personally finding a relative for me.
Moreover, the important thing in this conversation was that the person who would become the next Emperor was tarnishing the person he had brought with him with dirty gossip.
"But I don't know who dares to misinterpret His Highness the Crown Prince's favor. His Highness must be very upset."
The people who had been gleefully gossiping about Mother's infidelity quickly shut their mouths and looked at me. They wanted to talk more, but with the Crown Prince's name on the line, they couldn't easily wag their tongues.
"Ha, hahaha. I don't know who spread such outrageous words, but they are truly terrible people. Ahem."
"Y-yes, that's right. Ahem. Who in the world would doubt the Countess's sincerity? I mean, there are crazy rumors, but how could something like this happen..."
I looked at them with moist eyes and opened my mouth in a low voice. The plaintive voice was one of the talents I had learned early on, a method that Roena often used.
"I'm just glad that even those of you here know the truth. But I wonder if others will think so..."
"Ahem. It is said that lies cannot overcome the truth, isn't it? So I don't think you need to worry, Lady..."
"Groundless rumors will soon die down. By the way, I didn't know that you were well acquainted with the guardian and His Highness the Crown Prince. Ahem. I should talk to him for a moment."
"Oh, I also had something to say. Let's go together."
I couldn't help but find the sight of the noblemen clearing their throats and sweating profusely amusing.
Their attitude of running to him and flattering him as soon as they knew that he was the person recommended by the Crown Prince was also a sight to behold. I almost regretted not laughing out loud.
Anyway, I should be glad that I was able to quell the unnecessary rumors. Since people's perception of Sheldon Bishwartz had changed to be closer to goodwill, the gossip about him and me would also disappear.
A few days later, Marie came running to me with new rumors. The rumors were about Sheldon Bishwartz's excellent character, and I had become a frail young lady who was bravely enduring the grief of losing Yangbu under his protection. The Crown Prince, who had recommended the guardian for me, was being praised by everyone.
The sordid rumors that had lumped Sheldon and Mother together had disappeared as if they had never spread.
Marie swept her chest with exaggerated gestures and said she was relieved. According to her, everyone she met was pitying me for being tormented by the false rumors.
"But what if such rumors spread again? You didn't know about it this time, but what if you find out later?"
I smiled at Marie's anxiety and replied in a natural tone.
"That won't happen."
Of course not. Wasn't that why I dragged the Crown Prince into this? Unless they were crazy, they wouldn't dare to say anything about the person he had personally recommended. There were only two people in this empire who could disagree with the Crown Prince's judgment.
The Emperor or the Empress.
Of course, the Emperor had stamped the document approving Sheldon as guardian, so he wouldn't say anything, but the Empress, who often met with Roena, could certainly offer a different opinion.
If she stepped in directly, even the Crown Prince wouldn't be able to help but be mindful of her.
In fact, the Crown Prince called me in and lightly questioned me about selling his name, clicking his tongue softly. It meant that he didn't know how to respond to my daring actions.
But the expression on the Crown Prince's face as he said that was much kinder and softer than the one he had shown at his birthday party. It was as if he didn't particularly like what I had done, but it wasn't that bad either.
So I replied with a nonchalant expression, as if it were nothing.
"Wasn't that why you released Madam de Châteauroux's approach in preparation for this?"
"I would like you to tell me what that means?"
He knew everything but pretended not to. I don't know why I found it so annoying that he was frowning and acting troubled on the outside while he was fine on the inside. So I didn't say it outright either.
"What I mean is that I will not do anything that will harm Your Highness."
"...You want to alienate me from Mother."
"Of course not, how could I want such a thing? You misunderstand."
The Crown Prince is silent. He tapped the table lightly with his fingers as if keeping rhythm and was lost in thought.
After a few minutes, he opened his mouth and said to me.
"If it's a misunderstanding, I have nothing to say, but I hope you will act wisely."
"Is that what you mean? I would never even think of doing anything that Your Highness does not want."
I smiled and accepted the Crown Prince's words. At the same time, I was thinking about Madam de Châteauroux.
It is said that there is nothing more powerful than pillow talk, and I was curious to know how much power the whispers of a favored courtesan would have. Now that the Crown Prince had condoned it, there was no better time to make good use of the tongue of the Emperor's bewitching concubine.
If she, who was running wild without knowing the height of the sky, would she not produce proper results?
I got up from my seat and bowed to the Crown Prince. This was already the second time I had met him without Lady Roshan, so I needed to be more careful.
The Crown Prince also nodded and accepted my farewell, as if he had said everything he wanted to say.
It was when I was about to reach the door with quiet steps.
Suddenly, his words flew coldly from behind me and pierced me.
"Do you remember the Witch we met at last year's Founding Day? I would like to go and see that old woman again together."
The steps stop for a moment. Was he testing me, or didn't he know? I calmed my voice and tried to answer indifferently.
"From what I hear."
It wasn't a long sentence, but I don't know why it was so hard to say.
"She committed suicide."
The back of my head was tingling and numb. My body was tense at the Crown Prince's silence, who did not respond immediately.
After a while, he uttered a word like a sigh.
"That's a shame. I understand. You may leave."
I left his room without looking back. It was only after the door closed that I felt like I could finally breathe.
Reflexively, I raised my hand and touched my forehead. The sweat that had gathered was flowing down like water. I had only heard one word, but I felt like prey being targeted by a beast. An existence that could overwhelm the other person with atmosphere. That was the Crown Prince of the Empire.
