Ch#299
Fragment of the Broken Glass Slipper Side Story 5 Episode 6
Cisse said in a cold voice, mocking her.
'Treat me as you treat her? Even while sniffling?'
'Did I do something wrong?'
At Roena's words, Cisse snorted as if incredulous. And she glared at her without hiding her disgusted expression.
'If you cry and tell him to go, who would leave? Please stop crying every time something happens? It's disgusting enough to make me sick!'
Roena couldn't understand why her tears were being criticized. Because everyone loved her tears.
Some called Roena's tears pearls and exalted them. It was admiration for her pure expression of emotions.
So Roena wasn't ashamed of sniffling in front of Sir Halberd.
After all, what was wrong with expressing her regret toward him with tears? Wasn't it better than people who smiled to her face but got angry behind her back?
Her ability to learn knowledge was the same. Roena knew well that Cisse was being compared to her.
But that was unavoidable too. Wasn't it natural for her, born a noble lady, to excel over Cisse?
Mago clearly resolved Roena's such worries.
'That's Miss Cisse's fate. Once she entered the countess family, she inevitably gets compared to an elegant lady like you. What can be done when you're too perfect, miss? Honestly, even you feel frustrated watching Miss Cisse, don't you? Isn't that right?'
'Honestly, yes. I don't understand why she keeps fumbling when it's so simple. But I hold back because I don't want to upset my sister.'
'Well done. But help her occasionally. She needs your help, miss. Of course, don't help from the start. She might get upset. Watch for a while, and step in only when it really seems impossible.'
'Is that okay?'
'Of course. Who would refuse your help, miss?'
Roena had never seen a woman as wise and thoughtful as Mago. She always listened to the deep inner worries Roena couldn't share even with her father as if they were her own.
After losing her mother at a very young age, the person Roena relied on most wasn't her father, but Mago.
She loved Roena more than anyone and did anything for her. Sometimes acting as a benevolent grandmother, sometimes as a mother, she enveloped her.
So Roena was able to heal her wounds from Cisse to some extent.
The relationship between Cisse and Roena worsened over time. No, it grew vicious.
Roena remained the same as usual, but Cisse's hatred grew even stronger.
She couldn't hide her anger every time she faced Roena. She mocked Roena without regard for onlookers. She was like a snake with venom fully risen.
Roena, flustered, tried to resolve the conflict through dialogue somehow, but it was like reciting scriptures to a cow's ear.
Instead, Cisse flew into a rage, claiming Roena looked down on her, terrifying Roena. With all sorts of harsh words and sharpening her nails, it was impossible not to be startled.
Roena didn't know what aspect of herself provoked Cisse. Cisse called her 'pretentious,' but in her eyes, Cisse was just jealous of her.
Moreover, whenever she seemed about to say even a word, Cisse would snap 'shut up' first, making smooth conversation impossible.
Yet strangely, Roena didn't hate Cisse. Rather, the more Cisse rejected her, the greater her longing for Cisse grew.
It was odd. To yearn for someone who hated her.
Roena feared Cisse's ferocious personality, but was glad that she looked at her wholly. Others might call it strange, but only Cisse seemed to pierce through Roena herself purely.
So Roena wanted to get close to Cisse. She wished Cisse didn't misunderstand her.
But their relationship was like parallel lines, with almost no chance of communication.
Acting as usual got her called pretentious, and yielding to avoid those words led to Cisse raging that she was being ignored, making dialogue impossible.
'Do I disgust her that much?'
After encountering Cisse, Roena was always depressed. Shadows heavily draped her beautiful face.
Roena was restless at Cisse's eyes that didn't look upon her kindly.
She smiled so amiably at others, so why was she so vicious only to her? It was incomprehensible; she just felt sad.
Once, to avoid seeming pretentious as Cisse said, she indirectly refused someone else's request.
Her heart pounded and she was scared at trying refusal for the first time in her life, but she endured because she wanted to show she was trying to change. Her desire to see Cisse smile was greater.
But Cisse didn't smile. She scattered cold frost over her face and mocked Roena. Like a wounded beast, her whole body bristled as she growled lowly.
'Finally revealing your filthy true nature. You've always been that kind of bitch.'
Her deeply sunken eyes were filled with envy and jealousy. And fear was mixed in.
Roena felt surprise at her expression. A strange thrill captured Roena.
Is this it? This is it? Sister fears my change? Then she can't hate me. Really?
'Don't hate me, Cisse. I want to get along with you.'
'Just disappear.'
'I like you, sister. Why won't you smile at me? Please look at me. I'll fix anything you want. So don't hate me, okay?'
'Really? What to do then. I hate you so much. Even if I die, I won't smile at you. Why don't you go to hell?'
Even so, if I change, will you smile at me?
Roena asked. But no answer came. For the first time, Roena saw Cisse fleeing as if avoiding her. The situation had reversed.
Mago worried about Roena's behavior. She thought Roena was too unilaterally clinging to Cisse.
'She's so fierce and cold, yet you like her that much? Miss, you and Miss Cisse can no longer be bound in the category of sisters. What's so good about someone who hates and hurts you? This old woman can't understand at all.'
'Don't say that, Mago. Sister Cisse is just poor at expressing herself. Or maybe, as she says, I'm really doing something wrong.'
'Oh, miss, that's not true. You're truly kind and gentle lady. Don't you believe my words?'
'But......'
Roena paused for a moment, swallowed once, then continued.
'If I'm truly kind and gentle, why doesn't everyone praise me? Especially Sister Cisse.'
'It's because of jealousy. You're such a remarkable person that everyone either admires or envies you.'
'I don't know, Mago. Is it really?'
Perhaps she instinctively sensed crisis in Cisse's hatred toward her. So for the first time, Roena contradicted Mago.
Mago felt a strange sadness at the miss who was no longer a child and held her words. And waited for Roena to make the right decision. The beautiful and intelligent Roena was Mago's everything.
A few days later, Roena, having sorted her thoughts, opened her mouth toward Mago like a declaration.
'I'm not a child anymore. Right?'
'Of course, you're a proper lady.'
'I'll learn to hold back tears. I won't cling to praise. I can't act like a child anymore.'
'Oh, my lovely miss. Don't dismiss your past days as mere whims. This old woman is too sad.'
'I know. But I've already seen it.'
She murmured, the Cisse who wavered at my appearance.
'She finally showed a gap to me. If I change, if I don't show the same as before, Cisse might smile at me. Like she does to others.'
Roena herself didn't know why she clung to Cisse so much.
She just yearned for all her actions. She didn't desire praise like others; she just wanted her to smile kindly. She wished she'd call her name 'Roena' in a soft voice.
Just once would be enough. She wouldn't ask for more, please.
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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