Ch#285
Fragment of the Broken Glass Slipper Side Story 3 Episode 14
"Yes. He will be pleased as well. Thank you for your merciful and wise decision, Your Majesty."
The Emperor told Rosan to wait a moment before fetching a small box and handing it to her.
"I would like you to deliver this to the countess."
"What shall I say when I give it to her?"
The Emperor gave a vague smile and replied briefly.
"She'll know without me saying anything. You may go now."
"Yes."
Lysette Rosan bowed to him once more before leaving the office.
The next day, a rumor spread through high society and the Capital, refuting the previous gossip. It acknowledged that Rade Vishwaldz was indeed a war hero, but no one could be perfect in family matters as well.
This garnered sympathy from the men. They nodded vigorously, exclaiming, "A man can be like that." They pitied the countess but saw it as an unavoidable aspect of life.
"She's going to marry that Sir Aires or whatever anyway, right? Then it's all good. Only the dead count is unfortunate. Huh? To leave such a beauty and a title behind and die early—I'd go mad too."
A man, thoroughly drunk and red-faced, shouted loudly in the tavern, cackling. He kept mentioning the countess, Sir Aires, and Rade Vishwaldz, spewing all sorts of vulgarities. Each time, his alcohol-flushed eyes gleamed with base intent.
"To the empire's hero turned wench and the perverted countess who married her!"
Despite those around him urging restraint for his harsh words, the man bellowed the rude remark. He laughed as if he owned the world—until someone grabbed the back of his head and slammed it into the table. Until then, he had been king of the tavern.
The crash was followed by instant silence. The one who knocked out the drunkard was Jack. Everyone blinked in speechless surprise, wondering why he was there.
"It was so noisy, my hand moved on its own."
Jack shook his hand lightly as if he'd touched something filthy. Then he kicked the limp body of the unconscious man mercilessly. He struck so hard that the large frame rolled across the floor into the corner. Jack gazed at it indifferently and spoke in a cold tone.
"Tell this bastard when he wakes up that no medical fees are needed."
Someone asked Jack with a hesitant expression.
"Medical fees?"
"Does he look sane? I gave his head a shock, so he should be right as rain now."
"Ah, yes. Of course."
"If he really wants to say thanks, tell him to come find me. Got it?"
Jack swept his gaze around the room, where people avoided his eyes, then left the tavern. The place remained frozen in silence even after he departed.
Out on the street, Jack took a deep breath. After sitting in the tavern thick with cigarette smoke and booze stench, the outside air felt refreshingly clean. Only now did he feel alive.
"Idiots."
Recalling the drunken lout who had spewed filth about Cisse, Jack scowled and spat a curse.
Today alone, including the recent fool, he had knocked out over ten men. All had mocked and insulted Cisse.
He had spared them only because he needed to gather information at other taverns; otherwise, he would have cut out their tongues.
Of course, touching civilians while working was frowned upon, but such rules had long vanished from his mind. If anything, he regretted not punishing them more harshly.
"Anyway, I hope I can hear some decent stories this time."
Jack rolled his stiff shoulders back and forth, then spat on the ground. He started walking toward his final tavern stop of the day.
***
In less than a week, the tale of Cinderella's protagonist being Rade Vishwaldz faded away. Simultaneously, performances, songs, and paintings honoring him dwindled.
No matter what rumors spread, he was already a ruined hero. People gradually lost interest in him. Naturally, attention on the countess subsided as well.
It was around this time that Michael Aires began frequenting House Bischwaltz. Though a bit later than his conversation with Lysette Rosan, he was purely joyful at finally meeting Cisse again. Already informed through Rosan of what Cisse had done, he couldn't hide his overwhelming emotions.
"Have you been well?"
"Yes, and you, Mel?"
When she offered her hand, Michael pressed a light kiss to the back of it. He longed to steal her lips, but the servants' eyes were upon them. He had to maintain decorum.
Cisse led Michael to the drawing room. As he had sent a letter ahead, tea and refreshments were already prepared on the table.
"I've missed you."
Michael confessed honestly the moment he sat. They hadn't even exchanged proper letters for fear of prying eyes. Thus, their longing was all the greater.
"Is it all over now?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
Cisse nodded with a shy smile. Seeing this, Michael let out a sigh of relief.
While she had struggled to protect her house, he could do nothing.
Even when she spread rumors sacrificing her own honor for his sake, he could only wait without intervening.
He had searched for ways to help her, but often, staying put proved more beneficial.
Michael found this utterly agonizing. Watching his beloved in the eye of the storm was torture.
Better to be stabbed himself. He was accustomed to physical pain.
Realizing his own helplessness was terrifying.
Sometimes, he even wondered if he deserved to propose to her. Unlike him, who only wielded a sword, she accomplished anything effortlessly.
Of course, she had confessed her decision was selfish, but that was wrong. Had he been the eldest son inheriting the title, things would have been easier.
But as the second son unable to succeed, he lacked his house's power, forcing Cisse to navigate the crisis alone.
This pained Michael deeply.
At any rate, it had been so long since he'd seen Cisse. Simply sitting across from her felt torturous. He wanted to draw closer.
"May I come to your side?"
Michael asked cautiously. Cisse nodded. He rose and approached her, reaching out to caress her cheek.
Thus, he gazed intently at her face for a while. His gaze was hot and sweet.
"To say it again."
Cisse spoke, opening her mouth. The silence had been sweet as honey, but as she had written in her letter, they needed to talk. Above all, she didn't want him misunderstanding her.
"Thank you for trusting and waiting for my selfish decision. We should have discussed it properly, but there was no time."
"It must have been a hard decision."
"I was just scared."
"Of things going wrong?"
"No."
Cisse whispered in a low voice.
"Of you being disappointed in me. I... I was afraid of that."
Moisture glistened in their shared gaze.
Michael felt his heart would burst seeing the woman strong enough to confront the Emperor bare her honest feelings before him.
Feeling his throat burn, he asked in a small voice. Unintentionally, a growl like scraping from deep within escaped.
"May I comfort you?"
"Yes, please do. I feel like I can be more honest then."
He spread his arms wide and pulled her into his embrace. He lightly patted her slender back. It was a warm, tender hold.
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.
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