Ch#246
**Shards of the Broken Glass Shoe**
**Chapter 246**
**Act 7: The Final Shard**
A deep silence lingered for a moment. I stared at her, unable even to think of closing my parted lips.
Lady Roshan, perhaps feeling sympathy for me as I stood speechless, tried to move closer. She extended her hand with an awkward smile, looking as if she intended to embrace me. I raised my hand to stop her.
"Are you saying Lian will limp now? Because of Roena?"
I understood her words well enough, but accepting them was another matter, so I asked again slowly.
A flawed heir... I felt as if I could sense my mother's despair, and my mind grew faint. The reason Mago and other relatives had been able to acknowledge Valerian—aside from the fact that he was the spitting image of my deceased stepfather—was that he had been born healthy without any chronic illnesses.
Had that not been the case, they would have continued to support Roena. There is no place more sensitive to aesthetics and physical perfection than high society.
Just look at how the Grand Duke, who suffered burns, was mocked by everyone. No one respects a noble who limps. That was true even for a commoner.
"Yes, unfortunately."
Lady Roshan expressed her regret with a light shrug. Then she began to explain slowly how it had happened.
She said that because Roena seemed very unstable, she had arranged for her to meet my mother while avoiding the Empress's gaze.
Since they had appeared as a very close mother and daughter in society—at least until Valerian was born—she thought my mother would be a sufficient person to lean on.
That thought proved correct, and for a few days, they reportedly got along well and were often seen together. That was until the day the Empress raised an army to seize the Capital.
"I had to lead people to the Imperial Palace. I never imagined such an accident would occur. But when I returned after suppressing the rebellion, the young master had suffered a serious injury to his leg, and the Countess was in a state of fainting after wailing. Only Lady Roena was standing there, intact."
"That alone isn't enough to conclude it was Roena's doing."
At my words, Lady Roshan clicked her tongue lowly as if pitying me. She let out the words, "Oh, lovely Sise," as if I were pathetic, and suddenly rushed over to grab my shoulders firmly.
I flinched and tried to pull back, but she was stubborn. Her deeply curved eyes sparkled strangely, as if trying to inject a certain emotion into me.
"I want to believe that too. But Sise, sadly, there is someone who saw Lady Roena drop the young master. So, what should be done about this?"
"...Where is Roena? And Mother? I must go check on Valerian's condition."
"You can see the Countess and the young master now. But Lady Roena is not here."
"Why?"
At my question, Lady Roshan let out a low sigh.
"Everyone on Pulker's side is currently under investigation."
She said I probably couldn't even imagine how many things had happened while I was unconscious. She told me various stories, which could be summarized as follows:
The Crown Prince had overtly drawn his sword against the Empress. Not only had evidence surfaced that Pulker had poisoned the Emperor in league with the Grand Duke—it was said that Emery Nilam provided the evidence—but the circumstances of her raising an army to seize the Imperial Palace were clear, so it could not be overlooked lightly. Not even if she was his biological mother.
Furthermore, since the Grand Duke, the leader of the rebels, had not yet been captured, they could not overlook the people on the Empress's side. Thus, the atmosphere in the Capital was currently very grim; it was said that anyone even slightly associated with the Empress was lying flat on the ground, watching the Crown Prince's every move.
I nodded slowly at the part where Emery Nilam had betrayed Pulker. When we met in the Empress's palace previously, she had acted like a loyal subject without equal, yet seeing her betray her master because she couldn't overcome a trivial emotion like 'disappointment' was quite laughable.
Could she have predicted her position would fall like this in less than a year?
While she might feel proud of having devised a way to survive, it was uncertain whether Lady Roshan would value her services in the future. There was no law saying one who betrayed once wouldn't betray again.
Still, since she had spent many days active as the Empress's confidante, it was certain she would be treated as a valuable witness until everything they wanted was obtained.
Regardless, now that I understood the situation, I no longer wished to stay here. So I spoke to Lady Roshan.
"Let me see my mother. I must return to the mansion now."
Simultaneously, I twisted my body to slip from her grasp. I then stood up from the bed. Perhaps because I moved my body so suddenly, my vision spun for a moment, but I barely managed to keep my balance.
Though it was quite uncomfortable having both hands hanging limply, there was almost no pain, as if the treatment had been effective.
"Already? It's too early. Think of your body, Sise. Don't overdo it."
"Still, I can't stay here forever. I can't keep imposing on you."
"Sise, imposing? How can you say such a thing between us? Are you perhaps feeling disappointed in me?"
I quietly gazed into Lady Roshan's eyes. At that, she flinched and slightly turned her head away. Her eyes, shaking enough for her thoughts to be easily read, were unlike Lusette Roshan.
As far as I knew, she was someone who knew how to hide her emotions more skillfully than anyone in society. Yet her constant fretting and watching my reactions was very suspicious.
Of course, this behavior of the young lady was not due to worry over my injuries or guilt for not informing me of the fall of House Bischwaldz in advance.
She was stalling because she had another scheme. In the midst of that, she was flustered because I was staring at her. I thought Roena would be entangled in that scheme.
However, if I spoke about Roena, Lady Roshan would likely brush it off as the Crown Prince's order. Then she would repeat that this place was safer, claiming it was a measure to protect me.
So, I offered a casual response as if nothing were wrong. The smile on my lips was a mask to reassure her.
"That's not it. There's no way I'd feel disappointed in Lusette. I would have acted the same way if I were you. So don't think that."
"Then why do you want to leave? You've only just woken up. Your body hasn't fully recovered. It will be more comfortable here than in a chaotic mansion. There's no place safer than this, Sise."
"Because I am a Bischwaldz."
"Pardon?"
"I am Cisse de Bischwaltz. Isn't that enough of an answer?"
Lady Roshan parted her lips as if speechless at my reply. She was extremely flustered.
Understandably so, for until before the war, I had hidden behind my guardian and had not revealed that I was the one moving House Bischwaldz.
This was true even toward my ally, Lady Roshan; I had been very cautious, fearing she might hold it against me later.
But now, I had declared that House Bischwaldz was entirely mine. I had overtly expressed my ambition. To Lady Roshan, this version of me could only feel unfamiliar.
"Sise..."
"The place I should be is the Bischwaldz mansion. So, I am going."
At my firm words, Lady Roshan let out another sigh and nodded. She seemed to have given up since I was being stubborn and refused to listen.
It seemed her claim that she cherished me wasn't a lie, as she occasionally yielded to me like this—even to the point of stopping something she had already decided.
While the Crown Prince was the priority for the young lady, she didn't seem to exclude me entirely. Though such a relationship was now at an end anyway.
"It can't be helped, then. Do as you wish. How could I break your stubbornness? The Bischwaldz mansion has already been completely tidied up. So you can enter at any time. The Countess is currently in another room on the second floor."
She called a maid to guide me to where my mother was. Then she took a step back as if she would not accompany me.
When I tilted my head at her unexpected behavior, she laughed awkwardly and offered an excuse. She said she had an appointment afterward and couldn't help it. The corners of her mouth, telling me not to be disappointed, were twitching slightly.
I said thank you and followed the maid. Lusette Roshan stood in the center of the shadowed room, staring blankly at my retreating back.
***
My mother's face, seen after a long time, was so wretched it was heartbreaking. Her eyes, where tears never dried, were red and sore, and her lips were white and peeling. Her tangled hair was very messy, as if it hadn't been brushed for days.
She had been a woman whose beauty was outstanding even while ill, but her current appearance was so haggard it was hard to recall her former looks.
Her gaunt cheeks were hollowed out like a starving person, making her resemble a skeleton. It was to the point I doubted if she was the person I knew.
My mother was struggling to drink water while being attended to by a maid.
"Mother."
I called her quietly. *Let's go back.* My voice was low and calm, but it was enough to awaken my mother's spirit.
"Sise? Sise, is that you?! Heavens, my child. Where have you been all this time!"
My mother jumped up from the bed and practically ran to me. She paid no heed to the cries of concern from the people around her. I didn't know where such strength had come from.
My mother reached out to hug me but paused momentarily upon seeing the bandages wrapped around both my hands. Then, with trembling hands, she began to touch various parts of my body before bursting into a wail.
It was because she feared my hands had been ruined beyond repair, just like Lian's leg. I comforted her in a composed tone.
"Calm down. My hands are fine. They will heal perfectly soon."
"Yes, they must. Surely no scars will remain on your hands?"
"Probably."
"Probably? No! Let me see the wounds. Hmm? Let me see how they are."
"Mother."
"Sise, child. You at least must be intact. Lian... our Lian's leg...!"
My mother finally broke down. She collapsed, clinging to my waist, and began to sob with her whole body. Her heaving shoulders were so pitiful they brought tears to one's eyes. Mago turned away and was sobbing, seemingly unable to bear the sight of my mother like that.
"Yes, I heard the details from Lady Roshan. But I must hear from your mouth what happened. What occurred?"
"What occurred?! Exactly what I said! That girl Roena dropped Lian on purpose. She was jealous of the child who is the heir!"
The way she screamed until the veins in her neck stood out made her resemble a madwoman. The way she spat out Roena's name as if chewing it up was the same. Perhaps because she had lost her reason, her words were incoherent.
However, the hatred was clearly conveyed. My mother blamed Roena. It seemed that what had been building up since before had finally exploded at this point.
Understandably so, for although she had entered House Rosan by accepting Lady Roshan's consideration, my mother had been quite fearful of the way Roena looked at her.
Just seeing her reminded her of Mago trying to swap Lian for a daughter, and she couldn't bear it. So she rejected Roena when she tried to approach the child.
As long as she didn't come near Valerian, she could drink as many cups of tea with her as needed. It was also possible to match her mood with a hypocritical smile. *Let's hold out until Sise, who is said to be missing, returns safely*—this was what my mother had been thinking.
Had Roena not entered the room and embraced Lian on that fateful night, they would have continued to spend peaceful days. It was Roena who broke the tenuously maintained peace. She protested to my mother, who was screaming at her, asking what she was doing, and sobbed as if it were incredibly unfair.
'Someone was just trying to take Lian away. Oh, really. I was protecting the child. Mother, please believe me. Why are you looking at me with those eyes? Please don't. Do not doubt my sincerity. More importantly, we must leave this place. Mother, we cannot stay here. Something terrible is about to happen.'
Because she had lived a life close to seclusion for health reasons, my mother was ignorant of the Capital's affairs and social issues. Therefore, she couldn't understand at all what Roena was saying.
Above all, there were no signs of intrusion in the vicinity, and even if someone had entered from outside, it was impossible for the Marquis's people not to know.
Therefore, she believed Roena was lying. She thought she had been caught trying to harm the child out of jealousy toward Valerian.
So my mother lost her reason and lunged at Roena. No, precisely, she reached for Lian, whom she was holding.
Roena, terrified by my mother lunging at her like a madwoman, stumbled backward until she was cornered at the edge of the room.
Then, her shoulder hit the wall, causing her to flinch violently. Simultaneously, the strength left the arms supporting Lian, and the child's body fell helplessly downward.
Had it ended with just falling to the floor, Lian would have been safe. Even if a problem developed in his head later, he would have appeared fine on the outside, and they could have avoided gossip.
The problem was that the panicked Roena, while reaching out to save the child, knocked over nearby ornaments, which fell directly onto the child and shattered.
The sharp glass pierced the child's foot. Small shards also dug into Lian's tender flesh. The child's frantic crying paralyzed everyone's reason.
In an instant, blood flowed profusely, and the room became a mess. The fact that the child had fallen headfirst wasn't even an issue at that moment.
My mother wailed and asked the people around to call a doctor. Lady Roshan had already departed for the Imperial Palace, and since everyone's attention was focused there, much time was consumed just calling the butler or the head maid.
Furthermore, by ill luck, that day happened to be the one day a week the House Rosan physician returned to his own home. Because the Empress had raised an army and was controlling various parts of the city, it was difficult to even go out to call him.
Thus, they helplessly let time flow and had no choice but to pull out the glass and attempt to stop the bleeding as best they could.
But that was only temporary; the hurried treatment had seemingly touched a part of the leg or had been worse than doing nothing at all.
After nightmare-like hours passed and the physician finally arrived at the mansion, Valerian's injury was already beyond help.
"He said there might be a problem with his head later because he hit it. Ah, Sise. What should we do about our Lian? Hmm? And what should we do? Surely that girl Roena did such a trick to kick us out. She did it knowing Lady Roshan wasn't here. If Lian is gone, she would become the heir to House Bischwaldz!"
My mother's remarks were inappropriate to make in front of the House Rosan maid. So I had the maid help her up. Then I offered her warm tea and waited until she calmed down. In this situation, the only thing I could do was tell her to go back.
"I understand, Mother. Now that I know clearly what happened, let's return home."
"Sise, child. Don't you have any thoughts? How can you be so calm? Even if your brother is going to limp because of that damn girl!"
"Mother, do you think I don't understand your feelings? But we can't do anything here. This isn't House Bischwaldz. So let's go to our house and talk again."
Her eyes sparkled at the words 'our house.' It was only for a moment, but that vitality was the light of the mother I knew well.
"Our house? House Bischwaldz?"
"Yes. We must go back."
"Yes, yes. We must go. You've returned, so we must go. You've come back safely, *sob*, so we must go back. Yes, let's go. Let's go with Lian. *Wail*."
Lady Roshan likely reassured her with many words, but the news of my disappearance had already spread widely through the Capital.
That alone must have been quite anxiety-inducing, and when Valerian was injured, she likely couldn't endure it. She had simply been suppressing and suppressing it because there was no one suitable to complain to.
Having met me in such a state, she likely wanted to vent everything she had been repressing. She would have wanted to cry out her festering, sorrowful heart and receive comfort. Because I was the only person here who was on her side.
Is that why? My mother looked at me and shed tears again, and then soon fainted with an unknown short scream.
The surrounding maids were flustered and began to lay my mother on the bed and massage her limbs. Someone also ran outside to call the physician.
"Lady..."
Mago looked at me anxiously. Only then did I approach Valerian, who was held in her arms, and slowly examine the child. Lian was whimpering and twitching his lips in his sleep, seemingly uncomfortable with the bandages tightly wrapped around his foot. He looked quite pitiful, having grown as gaunt as my mother.
"Because the medicine is strong, he can't even take his milk properly. Because of that, the Madam has also practically stopped eating. She says how can food go down her throat when the young master can't eat."
"Still, we must endure. We must."
"But..."
"Did Mago see anything?"
"I'm sorry. At that moment, I happened to have to relieve myself and stepped away for a moment... When I arrived, Lady Roena was holding the young master in her arms."
Mago spoke in a mumble, unable even to meet my eyes. Come to think of it, one side of her cheek was a mess, as if scratched by something. Had she been struck by my mother? Her lips were also covered in dark red scabs.
"When Mother wakes up, prepare to take Lian and return to the mansion."
"I heard it's a mess, will it be alright?"
"According to Lady Roshan, it's been mostly tidied up, so we should be able to live there without difficulty."
"Yes."
I gently stroked the child's soft skin with just one finger, so as not to cause Lian discomfort with my bandaged hands. The scent of milk wafting from his plump cheeks and lips made it finally feel a bit real.
The heir with a physical injury and Roena, who was cornered because she was on the Empress's side. I hadn't realized a perfect board that even the Crown Prince couldn't ignore would be created in this way, so it felt strange.
Was this a reward from destiny, or a distortion regarding a child who didn't exist in my previous life? Regardless, what was certain was that this variable would become the greatest opportunity for me. And that if I didn't leap now, I would never be able to again.
