213 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards 213
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Whether Arina handled things very cleverly, or they were already watching me, the contact came sooner than expected. Before the night deepened, a silver coin intricately engraved with a bird and a mouse was delivered to me.
I stroked the bird and mouse figures dressed like people engraved on the small silver coin with my finger. Jack had previously said that the mark of the place he belonged to was ‘bird and mouse.’ And he had also shown me the mark related to it.
Therefore, this silver coin with the same mark as the one I saw back then was proof that they had responded to me.
But this was all they sent, and I couldn't find any secret hints in the envelope containing the silver coin. There was no mention of how they would contact me.
So, I wondered if they had properly understood that I had Arina draw their mark.
If I hadn't brought the envelope close to the candlelight to destroy the evidence, I would never have realized their intention.
The letters that faintly appeared on the surface of the envelope when I brought it close to the candlelight surprised me. It was not because their method was ingenious, but because I feared that we might have missed each other. I wanted to know Jack's whereabouts as soon as possible, so it was even more so.
So, I sighed, blaming myself for not thinking of properly examining the envelope due to anxiety and impatience. It was fortunate that I brought it to the candlelight instead of putting it in the fireplace.
The letters that appeared on the scorched paper were simple. Tonight at midnight, window. Umbra. I understood writing midnight and window, but I was startled for a moment because I was not familiar with the word Umbra.
It was an ancient word meaning shadow, probably another word referring to them, the information brokers. Was this an intention to completely reveal their true nature with today's meeting?
I muttered the floating letters like a spell several times, then burned the envelope completely in the candlelight. Then I called Seril and ordered her to go to bed early today and not to loiter around the room until I called her.
One of the maid's jobs was to check the master's room before going to bed, but I told her not to do it. Seril widened her eyes at the unexpected order, but realizing that I was in a very low mood, she answered that she understood. And she obediently followed my instructions to loosen the latch on the window adjacent to the terrace.
Turning off the candles in places other than the bed made it feel eerie, like a haunted house. The silence made it feel even more so. And I was a gloomy ghost, crouching on the bed and looking only at the window.
Time passed terribly slowly, like a funeral march. I felt like my blood would run dry while waiting. Unpleasant delusions were also constant, making it very difficult.
Jack. Ah, my poor Jack.
Every time this name rolled off my tongue, my fingertips trembled. A different kind of anxiety than when Mother's life was on the brink was consuming me.
The funny thing was that even in the midst of this, there was a cunning mind that sharply stirred my heart with one question.
Can I save this child, even if it means ruining everything?
The fact that I can't easily answer this makes me crazy. It was because of the cruel reality that I couldn't prioritize Jack. A nature rained with greed opened its wicked jaws and cackled.
But how can I give up? How hard did I get the Bishvarts Family? What's the reason I've endured so far...? Retreating from here is the same as saying let's all die together.
I would definitely do my best to save the child. No matter what it takes, definitely. So, I didn't care how much money it would cost. What couldn't I do if I could see him again? I could be satisfied if he just came back, even if he wasn't okay.
However, if the day comes when I have to choose between Jack and the Bishvarts Family, I will definitely abandon the child. I will coldly turn away, ignoring Jack's voice begging me to save him. Even if it means hearing Arina's resentment.
"I'm a really disgusting woman."
I buried my face in my arms in terrible disgust and bit my lip until it bled. I felt like I was going to cry, but I tried hard to hold it back.
Cruelly, the scale in my head was already leaning towards the Bishvarts Family. I was already an aristocrat to the bone.
Before I knew it, time passed and the bell rang to announce midnight. I straightened my head and cast my gaze out the open window. Two shadows suddenly appeared on the window frame, just like the name written on the envelope.
They didn't come right into the room, but politely asked for permission. They seemed to be trying to be polite in their own way, bowing their heads in greeting quite skillfully.
I nodded lightly. Then the shadows jumped down to the floor without a sound, like feathers.
I slowly walked out of the bed and looked at them. They covered everything except their eyes, as if trying to hide their identities, but I thought I could easily distinguish the two people because of their unique body types.
That's because it was a combination of a fat, short person and a tall, skinny person. Their appearance seemed even more prominent because of the moonlight.
The two men immediately introduced themselves. It was very natural as a stepping stone to continue the conversation smoothly. The fat man was 'Mouse', and the skinny man was 'Bird'.
"So, you can just call me Mouse."
There was nothing anywhere that reminded me of a mouse or a bird, but the fat man said it as if it was nothing. As if he was used to being called that.
I frowned at the men's trick to hide their identities. They were people who made a living by digging up other people's information, so they must have had a lot of shady things, but this was not the way to avoid it.
"You know my name?"
Then Bird shrugged and answered nonchalantly, 'That's how this world is.'
"If you don't trust us, it's best not to entrust us. But you've been commissioning us well so far, haven't you?"
"Because I trusted Jack."
"Bravo. That's it."
Bird clapped his hands with exaggerated gestures and moved his steps. He was showing a ridiculous attitude, like an actor specializing in comedy. Mouse was standing still as if he was used to Bird's attitude.
"Yes, it's because of that child, Jack. That's why we appeared in front of you, miss. Actually, we don't move like this to save just one child. In this world, value is proven by surviving on your own. But the kid is a little different."
Mouse quickly took Bird's words. It was very natural, as if they were originally like this, with their breaths matching perfectly. Bird's attitude of standing still even though he had interrupted his words proved it.
"He's also bringing in big shots like you, miss, and his skills in handling things are also promising. So, we're very sorry about the current situation."
"Sorry?"
"His skill and courage in delivering the note safely to you, miss, without leaving any traces while running away. It's a waste to let him go like this."
I grabbed the candlestick and held the candlelight close to their faces. Beyond the fiercely flickering light, eyes that I couldn't understand were looking at me. Unlike the words of regret, their eyes were very calm.
Was that why? I thought I should examine their intentions first, rather than immediately bringing up the story of rescuing Jack. I had to save the child as soon as possible, but I couldn't help it.
The men's attitude of not feeling urgent, despite expressing regret for Jack, felt strange. It was even more so because it was a different flow from what I had expected, that if I drew the information broker's code in a place where others could see it, they would appear to stop it. The following words were further amplifying these suspicions.
"If he grows up well like this, he won't be too good to be a successor."
"That's right. There's no one like Jack."
Successor? I twisted my lips and thought.
No matter how smart Jack is, he wouldn't be an irreplaceable person. If I just searched the back alleys, there would be countless children who would give up their lives to eat just one dried-up piece of bread.
So, the inner thought that they appeared to make a contract with me would have sounded more persuasive than these emotional reasons.
Could it be that Jack knows more information about the information broker than I thought? So, they appeared because they were worried about him being caught by the Grand Duke?
I looked at them without saying a word. I was wondering if it was a good idea to give them money and have them find Jack. I was even worried that I hadn't been able to think properly because I was confused. Because I didn't have enough time to reconsider whether I had made the right judgment.
My head was getting more and more complicated with these thoughts. Suddenly, Bird raised both hands as if telling me not to worry and said to me. It was as if he was surrendering.
"Actually, before, we would have appeared to break the contract and take the codebook rather than save Jack. But not this time. We sincerely want Jack. More than you think, miss. So, you don't have to worry."
"How can I believe that?"
"You have to believe us. Jack is a more outstanding child than you think, miss."
What was in Bird's eyes was greed for Jack. That's because he had done something that no other member of the information broker had done - finding the Grand Duke's residence - and he had even escaped well, so he couldn't help but be greedy.
He also wanted to hear directly from the child how he escaped. That's why he willingly responded to my call, Mouse added. It was because he wondered if there was any information on the note Jack had given him.
"He's a really amazing guy. Even though he was injured, he skillfully avoided the surveillance and pursuit of everyone so that it was difficult to find his traces. Can you believe it? The child is even deceiving our eyes. I don't know if he's exerting superhuman strength to live, but he's showing outstanding appearance that I couldn't see before. He's worthy of being called a genius."
Bird raised his voice as if admiring. He was still maintaining the same exaggerated attitude as a theatrical actor.
But I was more concerned about the fact that Jack was hurt than that. Was the blood on the note Jack's? My chest was aching as if it was being stabbed.
"Where is he hurt? How much?"
"I heard that he had two or so fingers cut off. He seems to have wrapped the wound roughly and ran away, but he bled a lot, so his condition won't be normal. It seems that Jack didn't tell you anything, miss."
I was so shocked by the words that his fingers were cut off that I couldn't speak. Suddenly, Mouse took Bird's words.
"So, we need to find Jack quickly. We can't just let him die in vain like this, can we? Instead, let's not have you commission this, miss, but let's have us find him voluntarily. So, please don't call us by drawing the code big next time. Instead, we'll tell you the place and method to connect directly."
"How can I trust you? I can't trust you unless it's a contract made with money."
Jack had previously told me that there was no place that kept contracts as well as the world of information brokers. Unless the customer betrays first, they will not break the trust until they complete the entrusted work.
If they don't, they will be ostracized even by the same information brokers. They make a living by selling information, so they need a close cooperative relationship with fellow traders, and if they are shunned here, it's the same as telling them to die.
The reason I specifically said that I would make a contract with them was for this reason.
"Even if we leave like this?"
I calmly spat out a lie.
"Can you really leave easily?"
When I indirectly implied that I had hidden soldiers around, Mouse and Bird gave me fierce eyes for the first time. The hidden emotional agitation beyond the masks was clearly coming to me.
"...Even while preparing for the infamy of bringing a strange man into the room late at night?"
"You already know who is moving this family. This level of rumor is ridiculous."
At my words, Mouse shrugged again and looked at Bird. They sent each other unspoken glances and then sighed deeply. They seemed to think that accepting the contract was better than arguing.
"Okay. Anyway, we needed a lot of money to ask for help from the 'Fairy Grandmother'."
"Fairy Grandmother?"
"It's a word that refers to the most outstanding and secretive organization among the information brokers in the capital. It's said that they've been active since before the empire was founded, so their history can't be compared to other places. The alias is 'Fairy Grandmother', so I think they have a very nasty taste. They'll be able to find Jack's location easily."
Mouse, who answered my question willingly, gestured to Bird again. As if this kind of contract was not uncommon, Bird took out paper and a portable quill from his arms and quickly began to write down the contract. The amount they demanded was forty gold coins, which was an excessive amount.
I quickly and very carefully read the paper that Bird handed me and carefully examined whether there were any defects. And after signing in the blank, I took out all the jewelry and money bags in the vanity drawer and handed them to Mouse.
"This should be enough."
At that moment, Jack, who was groaning in pain somewhere, flashed through my mind. A child with his fingers cut off. A poor boy who is desperately wandering through every corner of the capital to live.
I suppressed my self-loathing and spoke in a calm voice, as if ordering.
"Save Jack. And bring him to me right away."
Mouse and Bird bowed their heads and answered in a polite voice.
"We promise that the dress will be delivered soon. Magical things have always happened with the Fairy Grandmother, Mouse, and Bird."
Even in the midst of this, their tone of expressing Jack as a dress in comparison to my position was truly amazing. But that was only for a moment, and the shadows lightly approached the window as they had when they first appeared, and soon disappeared in an instant. As if what had just happened was a dream.
