Ch#290
Fragment of the Broken Glass Slipper Side Story 4 Episode 4
"Rest isn't so bad, is it?"
"It's strange how much I've come to regret hesitating."
Duchess Rosan smiled broadly at my response.
"That's fortunate."
Her cheeks were flushed red.
A moment later, the maid brought the liquor. Duchess Rosan sipped it slowly, leaning languidly against the sofa.
Silence flowed between us for a while. It was a quiet she had initiated. The lively Rosan, who had been chattering boisterously with cheerful laughter, had vanished, replaced by the duchess with a melancholic air like a heavily overcast sky sitting before me.
I thought perhaps playing the piano despite her unwell state had been her own ritual to summon 'Lysette Rosan.' The warmed liquor was merely supplementary.
A moment later, Rosan spoke. Her voice, soaked in alcohol, was very low and dark. I swallowed dryly at the sudden shift in atmosphere.
"House Bischwaltz has been running smoothly without any issues during the fortnight we've been here. So don't worry. The Capital is very quiet too—boringly so."
This was the first news of the Capital I'd heard since arriving. As I listened silently, Rosan continued.
"Of course, no one knows that Cisse and I are at the villa. His Majesty must have suppressed the rumors. But don't misunderstand. He didn't order me to bring you here. I hope you believe that."
I thought she was revealing her hand far too quickly.
It had already been nearly a fortnight since coming to the villa. If someone had plotted something, it would have unfolded long ago.
How could I believe her claim of acting on her own now? And why bring it up at this moment? I couldn't fathom it.
As I remained silent, Rosan muttered with a forlorn expression.
"It's true. If it were a lie, why hasn't His Majesty summoned me? I was trying to spite him, but now I feel like the one who's been had. How upsetting."
It was an unexpected remark. I was flustered by her frank confession of her inner thoughts. Wasn't she the Emperor's closest confidante? Why say such things?
Was the Emperor trying to show he was fine without Duchess Rosan—and thus not sending even a single letter?
These two had reached a level I could no longer comprehend.
Suddenly, I wondered why she had insisted on rest. It didn't quite fit as merely to spite the Emperor.
But asking outright felt exceedingly rude. Unaware of my confusion, Rosan kept talking.
"Cisse, I hope you've enjoyed the time spent with me. And thank you for not finding my embarrassing side strange."
I couldn't respond immediately. Realizing it must not have been easy for her to show me this side, I strangely found myself unable to speak. Instead, I stared at her intently.
"What shall we do tomorrow?"
Lysette Rosan asked me. I didn't answer this time either. Why probe like this when such a confession itself signaled the end of our vacation? I couldn't understand.
At my gaze, she nodded as if she understood perfectly, then raised her hand to her forehead.
"I really can't fool you, can I, Cisse? Yes, it's time to return to reality. We'll don again all the honor, responsibility, and lingering attachments we cast off to come here, and bid farewell to the immature woman within me. We'll leap back down the cliff. In the sorrow where despair and frustration repeat, I'll still crave someone's affection, only to soon recall the word 'resignation.' But it won't matter soon. It's always been that way."
Startled briefly by her sudden lament, I calmly listened to her words. This must be the true reason she had fled to the villa.
"...Are you hesitating?"
At my halting question, Rosan smiled faintly. It was a dim smile mingled with what seemed like tears.
She was now afraid of the Emperor. I pitied her for it. I knew that feeling all too well.
"Who knows? Well, Cisse, shall we now bid farewell to the child within our hearts? Thank you for everything. It was such a delightful time, wasn't it? If possible, let's send a tender kiss."
Luse evaded the question and rose from her seat. Her cheeks were now burning red, as if she might melt. Perhaps from the alcohol and fever, she staggered briefly before waving to me. I asked her,
"What shall we do tomorrow?"
Lysette Rosan laughed loudly at my words, as if unable to bear it. Then she replied in a gentle voice.
"We take the carriage back. To our original world. The rest is over now. Like in the Cinderella fairy tale, the magic has ended. So good night, Cisse. See you tomorrow."
Rosan turned without hesitation.
I stared piercingly at her retreating figure as she left the music room.
A passing maid fidgeted, wanting to support the heavily staggering Rosan, but she waved her off. And she walked to the end of the corridor on her own power. As always.
Left alone in the music room, I sighed while gazing at the window where wind and rain poured in.
Her declaration of returning to the Capital exactly after a fortnight felt suspicious. Leaving without notice and now suddenly departing. It coincided perfectly with the time needed to prepare for Duchess Debenzel's tea party a fortnight away.
Rosan had clearly said it wasn't at the Emperor's behest. She claimed it was entirely her own will that she had dragged me here.
But I wasn't naive enough to believe that outright. What could these two rival duchesses, on bad terms, be conspiring together for? And the answer to all these questions likely lay at the tea party a fortnight from now.
I lifted the cold teacup toward her already absent figure.
"To the joyful childhood."
The days had been utterly lacking in decorum—loud, chaotic, and nearly pandemonium—but it had been a fairly enjoyable fortnight. After all, where else could I learn fishing and hunting if not here?
This rest was sufficient for that alone.
The cold liquid sliding down my throat was sweetly pleasant.
The next day, Lady Rosan approached me with a slightly feverish face, acting as if she had never said such things yesterday, and casually struck up a conversation.
Dressed in a lavish gown adorned with jewels, she was fully Lysette Rosan once more. The brave woman who had wandered barefoot on the grass and fished was nowhere to be seen.
And the same went for me. Thus, the two noble ladies boarded carriages and headed to their respective homes.
***
Returning to House Bischwaltz, there was work piled up.
I let out a small sigh while holding Lian, who welcomed me. I'd reviewed documents sporadically at the villa, but Jack's visits and dress fittings had consumed me entirely. Duchess Debenzel's tea party was now less than a fortnight away.
I holed up in the study again, working frantically. Fortunately, the proper rest had calmed my mind, reducing headaches compared to before. My insomnia had also greatly improved.
Well, I'd slept so deeply at House Rosan's villa that I didn't even know if someone tried to drag me away, so it was regrettable that my sleep time had shortened again—but still, this was fortunate enough.
The problem was that Valerian was extremely upset.
The child was deeply dissatisfied that I had left him behind and gone far away.
When at the mansion, Lian wouldn't play much, claiming I was working in the study, but suddenly vanishing for a long time made him wail loudly.
To the still young Lian, a fortnight must have felt more endless than counting to a hundred.
Thus, for a few days, I set aside work to play with Lian.
I read him fairy tales until he napped, and shared snacks while chatting.
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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