Ch#276
Fragment of the Broken Glass Slipper Side Story 3 Episode 5
Especially in Jack's case, he was so deeply entrenched in the information trade that the very thought of escaping it was difficult.
Thus, the boy gritted his teeth and endured. Tormented by nightmares and hallucinations to the point of madness, he persevered steadfastly. All for Cisse.
The sense of accomplishment and pleasure he felt each time he aided her was no different from addiction. Adolescence, stained with fatigue, approached as harshly as midwinter.
Yet it wasn't without gain. The cruel growing pains wrought mental changes. The naive boy vanished, replaced by a cunning rascal with a serpent's tongue. When negotiating with clients, Jack was utterly ruthless and sinister.
His eyes, discerning in accepting commissions, were already hailed as the sharpest in the trade. Accusations of using any means necessary to achieve his goals had become an honor to him.
No one dared belittle Jack as a mere child informant anymore. Instead, they shuddered, recounting how cold and merciless he truly was.
Strangely, as his notoriety grew, strolling the back alleys became easier. Before long, several men shadowed him as bodyguards.
Thus, anyone witnessing Jack's current state would be shocked beyond measure, jaws dropping.
Jack, who had been whining exaggeratedly with dramatic gestures, soon pretended nonchalance and slyly tilted his head toward Cisse. He blinked rapidly several times and cleared his throat.
Cisse saw through his intent clearly and suppressed a laugh, extending her hand to gently stroke his hair.
Jack's displays of affection toward her grew ever more varied by the day. The scope of physical contact had widened considerably too. No wonder Sir Ailes bristled with suspicion.
Jack's reactions were especially pronounced when Cisse held her younger brother Lian.
Valerian, now four years old, could not walk well. His unbalanced leg caused him to limp severely with every step.
The impatient child quickly complained of pain, leaving the maids flustered by the young master's whines. It was Cisse, his sister—not his bedridden mother—who quelled the commotions.
As the family's true head, Cisse handled Lian's matters personally. She keenly observed her brother's difficulties and cared for him with delicate attention to spare his wounded pride over his leg.
Cisse lifting a fussy Lian into her arms and showering his tear-streaked cheeks with tender kisses was now commonplace.
Whispering in a gentle voice, "Our Lian, you're so brave. You held back the pain and walked," was routine too.
She encouraged him each time, assuring him he would walk better soon. Her affection-filled touches gently stroked his hair.
Thus, it was natural for Lian to hold blind affection for his kind sister Cisse.
Valerian adored his gentle sister and always craved her embrace.
Unfortunately, Cisse was exceedingly busy, his mother slept abed daily, and the nursemaid floundered amid the child's whims.
The maids could scarcely cope with Lian's violent temper. Away from Cisse's gaze, no greater tyrant existed.
Of course, before Cisse, Lian behaved like an angel. Upon seeing her, he would puff his chubby cheeks and flash an innocent smile.
This shrewd young master knew exactly how to win her love. He had quickly realized no one else monopolized her attention.
To Lian, Arina and Jack were thorns in his side. Whenever they visited, Cisse handed him off to the nursemaid instead of holding him.
The sudden loss of warmth felt awful. Like his possession being stolen. The emptiness had provoked tantrums countless times.
Thus, Lian had thrown fits or wailed. But rather than embracing him again, Cisse had smiled awkwardly in distress and kissed his forehead lightly, soothing him softly.
Though young, Lian instinctively knew sharing his sister with others felt wrong. Being un-special to his beloved was profoundly sad. Yet he didn't want to trouble her.
Thus, what accumulated was only resentment and hatred toward those stealing her attention.
"Why does Cisse sister meet those people?"
One day, the nursemaid answered the furious young master's irritated question: "Because there are reasons she must."
To Lian, it was incomprehensible.
Thus, pointing at Jack and Arina, he asked, "Do they obey me too?" The nursemaid nodded, and a devilish mischief flared in Lian's lips.
Thanks to her, Lian realized Arina and Jack were no different from the maids and servants tending him—mere employees. It was natural disdain sprouted in the child's heart.
Afterward, Lian tormented Jack overtly with immense malice whenever they met.
Not only kicking his legs gratuitously, but ordering passing servants to eject him with absurd demands.
Sometimes hurling held objects. Though his feeble throws caused no real harm to Jack. All occurred only when Cisse was absent.
The servants prioritized the young master's whims over the outsider Jack, feigning ignorance of his plight and not informing Cisse.
Officially, Jack and Arina were individually hired by Cisse, warranting no special treatment.
Jack easily read the jealousy in Lian's eyes, for it mirrored his own. Enduring the child's malice was torment. Each eye contact sparked the urge to kick that tiny body!
Jack envied and resented the child nestling in Cisse's arms as blood kin. Yet he couldn't ruin their hard-built bond over fleeting emotion.
Thus, Jack sought to dispel his petty rage by acting spoiled toward Cisse.
Strangely, her light caresses on his hair, cheek, or shoulder brought relief and peace.
Hearing her call him lovable especially made him feel like an ordinary boy—utterly blissful. Even if his abandoning, deceased mother returned, she couldn't grant such feelings.
"What made today so hard?"
Jack answered her laughter-tinged question in a drowsy murmur, eyes still closed. His languid, moist voice sounded hazy like a yawn.
"Slipping past eyes to visit House Aires. Your letter was safely delivered."
"You worked hard. I can't tell you how grateful I am."
Not just any house, but the marquessate renowned in society. He must have endured every hardship infiltrating it. Thus, his drained voice and spoiled whining.
Astonishingly, Jack was growing into an ever more vital aide to Cisse. She found him admirable yet pitiable.
Yet she couldn't forever cradle the chick breaking from its shell into her world like a child.
She could only comfort him with all her heart.
Swallowing a deep sigh from her core, she gently stroked Jack.
Hoping he found peace, at least in this moment.
The day after Michael Aires visited Lysette Rosan, Cisse's letter reached him secretly.
Of course, Cisse at this point was unaware Michael had met Rosan.
Her letter was exceedingly brief: 'Please forgive my inability to explain properly amid prying eyes. Trust me and wait just a little longer.'
From the funeral day onward, society's gaze clung relentlessly, preventing even a single proper word with him.
Fragment of the Broken Glass Slipper
Novel by Yeolmae
Author: Yeolmae
Publisher: Kwon Tae-wan, Woo Cheon-je
eBook Publication Date: 2024-05-07
Production: CL Production
Address: 1108-ho, 41 Digital-ro 31-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul
This book is published as an eBook by KWBOOKS under contract with the copyright holder.
Unauthorized reproduction of this book's content without the publisher's permission is prohibited by copyright law.