3 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards Episode 3
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Disgusting time, rippling with waves of emotion, was passing. My adoptive father looked at me with surprise, perhaps because my perfect noble dining etiquette was unexpected.
Compared to my mother, who was a bit clumsy in choosing forks and knives according to the food, I was enjoying the meal so splendidly that I didn't need anyone's advice.
“Where did you learn that separately?”
I lied without changing my expression.
“I learned it by reading books. Um, was there any improper behavior?”
“You mean you can read?”
“Yes. I like reading books.”
My mother asked me with a surprised expression.
“Sissae, since when have you been able to read?”
I deliberately put on a sad expression and bowed my head deeply. Muttering as if I had committed a great sin, so as to gain everyone's sympathy.
“...I'm sorry I didn't tell you beforehand, Mother. I learned the letters by watching over your shoulder.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“It wasn't in the cards. I didn't want to see you hurt or troubled because of me. I'm sorry for deceiving you.”
My adoptive father stroked his chin with his finger, as if intrigued, and asked me.
“How much can you read?”
“I can read most books. Unless they are rare editions mixed with ancient languages.”
Shock appeared in my adoptive father's eyes. He looked at me as if I were a 'genius'.
After all, it's an achievement that cannot be accomplished with ordinary talent to learn letters and read books on one's own without a teacher, so he couldn't help but be surprised.
Of course, in reality, I am a dullard who cannot even dare to look at the 'g' of genius. But I can't say, 'I learned it in my previous life,' can I? It's better to let them misunderstand on their own.
“That's amazing. But it would be better to learn properly, what do you think?”
I smiled brightly, as if I were very happy about his words.
“Yes. I want to.”
Then Roena interjected with a cheerful voice.
“Can I help?”
My face felt like it was about to crumple. I clenched my fists and barely suppressed the intense emotions that were rapidly rising.
Roena had a very good reputation among people. Her gentle tone and flawless smile made others have a good impression of her. Sometimes she even received high praise, saying that if an angel were to descend, it would be like Roena. And most people who said that thought Roena was good.
The me from before also thought she was kind sometimes. This was because some of her actions contained an incomprehensible 'goodness'.
The problem was that this 'goodness' of hers, when peeled back a layer, remained only within her own level of understanding.
I still haven't forgotten. The gaze she gave me with a look of bewilderment during our first tea time, seeing me unable to do as she did.
She probably looked at me with pity, but Roena didn't know how much pain such actions inflicted on the other person.
Roena truly didn't realize how ridiculous her actions could appear from a third-party perspective, even if they were acts of goodwill towards herself.
Ah, the pure white goodness of an imbecile!
Her gaze, which measured the world by her own standards, was enough to wound everyone, yet it possessed a strange power to slander those who couldn't accept her favors purely.
For example, the peculiar phenomenon where the person who didn't understand her kindness ended up being the narrow-minded one. I, too, was a victim of such goodwill.
Roena completely failed to understand that because I was a newcomer to noble society, I couldn't easily do things like she did. Without realizing that she was special.
It was always me who suffered from her malice, which was close to being utterly idiotic.
The genius, who understood everything, could never understand the common person and always stuck out like a sore thumb. It was like something unpleasant that disrupted everyone's order.
That's why I wanted to become a 'nail'. I tried to become a hammer and chip away at her admirable parts to make her the same as everyone else. But I ended up exhausted and fell apart.
Therefore, let's no longer force the word 'understanding' upon her. It is merely a painful endeavor for both of us. It will be impossible until she moves beyond thinking from her own standards.
This is still the case.
I barely suppressed the churning disgust and tried to refuse in a gentle voice.
“I appreciate the favor, but may I decline?”
“Why?”
I smiled sweetly at Roena, who looked at me with a pitying expression, and said.
“Because it will clearly be difficult for both of us.”
If we started learning in the same place, the past would surely repeat itself. That hellish time of being compared to her face-to-face. I was not yet ready to face that again.
Roena, with a look of disbelief, quickly retorted.
“You don't know that.”
“But you don't know how to teach others, do you? This isn't an easy task.”
“Then, couldn't you learn while helping Sissae?”
“Roena, do I have to be honest with you? I am telling you no right now.”
Roena looked visibly flustered. It was understandable, as she had been called an angel every time she offered a favor. When had she ever received such a direct refusal?
“I really want to help Sissae. Can't I still? Are you perhaps distrusting me?”
“It's not that. I just want to prevent something that might happen. Because my lack of intelligence will surely make you sad and frustrated. No, it might even make you angry. Then, people will point fingers and say, 'The wicked stepsister came and upset the young lady.' I don't have the confidence to endure such treatment.”
As soon as I finished speaking, my mother let out a sigh that was close to a lament and sniffled. Imagining it, her face, covered by her hands, turned pale. My adoptive father said sternly with a resolute expression.
“Who dares to say such a thing! Do not imagine things that have not happened to make yourself sad.”
“It's not imagination,”
I muttered. But it was loud enough for everyone to hear, so all eyes turned to me.
“What makes you think it's true? Has someone offended you? Sissae, as your father, I swear that no one in this castle will dare to disgrace you.”
“You can tell just by the attitude of the maid who attends to me.”
My throat felt dry for a moment, so I paused and drank a glass of cold water. Everyone was watching my mouth. Believing that a certain tension had built up, I calmly continued.
“People who don't even greet me and the cold water used for morning face washing bring to mind one thought. That the people in the mansion do not welcome me. If washing one's face with cold water in the morning is common, please forgive my ignorance.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes, I swear to God.”
As soon as I finished speaking, my adoptive father slammed the table and stood up, shouting towards the door.
“Margo! Where is the head maid?!”
Perhaps unable to believe what was happening in his own home, my adoptive father struggled to control his ragged breathing. He seemed unable to bear the thought that his adopted daughter had been disrespected by a maid from her first day.
He was especially ashamed to look at my mother, perhaps because he couldn't look at her properly. He must have whispered words of love, promising to make her happy.
My mother's face was pale, and she looked dazed as if she might faint. She couldn't even imagine the humiliation her daughter had suffered, pressing her hand to her chest and repeating only, 'Oh my god.'
“Goodness. Sissae, are you alright? Why on earth did something like that happen? I can't believe it.”
“Roena, I don't lie. Are you saying you don't believe me?”
“No, Sissae, it's not that…”
I realized Roena wanted to defend Margo. It was understandable, as Margo was like a nanny who had been with her since childhood. After the previous Countess died, she also served as a mother figure.
So, she must have found it unbearable to think that the maid, who had always been on her side and cared for her kindly, was involved in such an unfortunate incident.
However, Margo was only kind to Roena; to my mother and me, she was a nightmare. This cunning fox, fearing I would take what belonged to Roena, used the maids who followed her to torment us.
She openly defied my mother's authority, disrupted the internal system, and used cunning methods to ruin important events held in the Countess's name. Not to mention how she tormented me by comparing me to Roena.
Because of her, my mother and I could not receive the respect of others.
Therefore, I could not stand by and watch Roena defend Margo in front of me. I deliberately turned my head away, showing an attitude of not wanting to talk. As if I were angry about her actions.
Margo arrived in the hall sooner than expected. This stern old woman, upon arriving in the hall, only paid her respects politely to Roena and my adoptive father. She ignored my mother and me. Anger surged within me at her behavior, but I suppressed it. The main event wasn't this.
My adoptive father, barely acknowledging Margo's greeting, got straight to the point.
“Head maid, did you assign a maid to Sissae's quarters?”
“Yes. What is the matter?”
“What is the matter? Is that a question you should be asking me now? A single maid insulted my daughter. How could such a thing happen in my house!”
“Insult? This is the first I've heard of it, Master.”
“She brought cold water in a dirty brass basin for my daughter's morning wash! Do you know how great the insult was that child received?! How could you think of assigning a maid who doesn't even know the basic manual to a Countess's daughter! Isn't this a disregard for me!”
Margo's face turned pale at my adoptive father's scolding. She trembled slightly, perhaps afraid of his outburst.
Margo surely never imagined she would be interrogated for such a thing.
What would a mere commoner like me know about the morning wash for a noble lady? It's such a normal, everyday thing that wouldn't even make it into gossip.
So, she must have thought that if everyone just kept quiet, she wouldn't be found out.
Then Roena stood up abruptly and defended Margo.
“Father, please listen to Margo. There must have been some mistake! She has been leading the maids excellently without a single error until now. Isn't that right?”
As if I had been waiting, I opened my mouth and chimed in with Roena's words.
“I agree with that. How could the person in charge of the maids assign a maid who doesn't know the basic manual to me? However, there is one thing that is a bit puzzling.”
“What is it?”
My adoptive father asked. Instead of answering him, I asked Roena.
“May I ask how many years the head maid has worked here?”
“Margo has been the head maid since I was born.”
“Oh, then that's even more puzzling.”
“What are you trying to say?”
I took my gaze off Roena, looked at my adoptive father, and opened my mouth.
