45 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards Episode 45
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"For now, it's just my own thought, but won't everyone think so in the future? However, Roena is what concerns me."
"Lady Roena? Why do you think so? Lady Roena has always worried about the head housekeeper's health."
"Roena and Margo's bond is much deeper than we think. That's why she'll probably want to do anything Margo wishes. Even issues like a substitute. And Father cherishes Roena dearly."
"Yes, that's right. Lady Roena is behind the head housekeeper."
Marie nods her head. A small worry was etched on her face as she replied. I handed Marie the soup bowl. She pushed the plate aside and stood again, clasping her hands politely.
"Roena, yes, she's a kind girl to everyone. But can she really share her affection equally with everyone? This is what I lament. I wish Roena would think more of you all."
"That's right. I think so too."
"That's why I am looking forward to the person you will introduce. I hope it happens as soon as possible."
Seril entered the room and announced that the bath preparations were complete. With Marie's help, I got up from my seat. The bathtub was filled with steaming water.
As I submerged myself in the water sprinkled with jasmine, my headache seemed to lessen slightly. Everything that had been frozen felt like it was slowly thawing.
I closed my eyes, inhaling the sweet and exotic floral scent. I felt as if I might fall asleep, intoxicated by the sweetness.
After I woke up, Marie was once again strutting around the mansion, frequently conversing with the maids. She was exceptionally skilled at backbiting and sneering, making her perfect for such tasks.
Even if it was baseless gossip with no discernible source, once it passed Marie's lips, it naturally elicited a "Oh my, really?" She was timid, but she could be surprisingly clever when it came to her own interests. Like this time.
Perhaps Marie thought that to stay in this mansion for a long time, she needed to stick with me, and to do that, it was necessary to improve the bad rumors about me that were rampant in the mansion.
While the upper-tier maids, led by Margo, didn't associate with Marie, the maids who did menial tasks like laundry, cooking, or shopping were impressed by Marie's eloquent speeches and nodded in agreement.
They were delighted by the high-quality food, like the sweet chocolate pieces Marie had bought. At the same time, they boosted Marie's ego by saying things like, "Our lady likes me so much that she'll do anything for me."
Marie flaunted the favor I showed her, telling everyone they could be like her. She claimed that since the master of the mansion, my adoptive father, was infatuated with my mother, the allowance, jewelry, and clothes I received were in no way inferior to Roena's.
"Lady Sissae is frugal and doesn't indulge in extravagance, you see? And perhaps because she's been through difficult times, she understands people like us very well? Honestly, what has Lady Roena ever done for us? I can offer praise too. But look at our Lady Sissae. She not only praises but also generously gives rewards. Ever since I started serving our lady, my appearance has completely changed. To be honest, I disliked our lady at first, misunderstanding her, but as they say, you only truly know someone after experiencing them. There's no one as beautiful, kind, and elegant as our lady. And today, because I said I'd have tea time with you all, she even prepared such delicious food for us, didn't she?"
Since being summoned by Margo and subjected to a great humiliation, Marie's offensive had become very aggressive. She would fawn over me like a creature with a tail, but then bare her teeth and growl at those in opposing positions.
At night, while massaging my face, she would recount everything that had happened with the maids, word for word.
Then she would look at me with sparkling eyes, seeking praise, and would jump for joy when I patted her shoulder or held her hand. It was as if her whole body was saying, "I am loyal to you. So please favor me."
Seril also did his part. Though not as excessive as Marie, he also strived to prove his efforts in his own way.
He was quite proud of not having fallen out of Margo's favor yet and spoke in detail about the conversations he had regarding me.
As the head housekeeper, all Margo could do was scheme through her subordinates. However, with Marie by my side, and some of the errand girls siding with Marie, her plans rarely succeeded.
Several days had passed since Lavalliere left the mansion, but I was still basking in her afterglow. She had recommended quite a few reputable figures in high society as my tutors, which provided me with opportunities to build relationships with various influential people.
Those who were initially wary of me gradually opened up as the lessons progressed. They were very pleased with the aristocratic demeanor and mindset I possessed.
"Lady Sissae truly has a sincere attitude. It's been a long time since I've met a young lady with such a mindset."
The way they would smile and kiss my cheek as they left the room was enough to widen everyone's eyes. Though I didn't want to admit it, my wings, which had been like a chick's down, were slowly growing larger.
My adoptive father was greatly pleased by this. He was proud that I diligently followed the scheduled education without displaying any vulgarity associated with my status.
It was understandable, as he had remarried against everyone's advice due to his affection for my mother, but it must have been quite a burden to bring a widow with a daughter only a year younger than Roena.
That must be why he impudently asked Lavalliere for help and spared no expense in supporting me.
Fortunately, I have splendidly met your expectations. Enough not to bring shame to the name Bischvarts. This directly translates to an issue of trust, and I gained a certain conviction that my credibility would deepen. It was like a solid shield that Margo could not dare to covet.
My adoptive father often called me to talk. His words were usually about everyday matters like whether I was comfortable, but it wasn't unpleasant.
My adoptive father was looking out for me in his own way. The jewels and allowances he sent each time were proof of that. As if to show off, they captured everyone's attention and were sent to my room every morning.
He meticulously filled in even the most unexpected details, as if to make me equal to what Roena possessed.
Marie seemed to be convinced that she could follow me because of this. The same applied to those who followed her; they had no doubt that I would stand on equal footing with Roena.
"The head housekeeper complains every day. She says the Count's family fortune will dwindle at this rate. But the butler doesn't bat an eye. He says the Bishvarts Family won't collapse from this much. Besides, other noble ladies have these kinds of items, so what's the problem?"
Jewels aside, due to the rapidly changing trends in high society, dresses that were once tailored quickly became outdated.
I passed them on to Marie, and she used them to demonstrate my generosity. Even scraps of ribbon, lace, or silk sashes from discarded clothes sold for a good price in the market.
In extreme cases, people would buy clothes actually worn by noble ladies and have actresses wear them.
Therefore, when noblewomen's maids wanted to earn a temporary income, they would sell handkerchiefs, ribbons, or powder made from crushed pearls that they received from the young ladies they served.
Since nothing used by noble young ladies was trivial, most of it was of great help.
The maid Marie brought also benefited financially in the same way. As soon as she saw me, she prostrated herself on the floor and exclaimed, "Thank you," her flushed eyes showing clear tear tracks, which I found puzzling.
What's more, she looked familiar, so I asked Marie, who said she was the maid in charge of Roena's hair. She added that she had been threatened by thugs due to her father's gambling debts, but Marie's help had allowed her to put out the immediate fire.
Her name was Mlang, a girl with striking prominent cheekbones and wide, slanted eyes. I heard one of her ancestors came from the East Continent.
Perhaps inheriting a lot of their blood, her physique and appearance were somewhat difficult for an Imperial citizen to look at.
Her hair was like that. It was a deep navy blue when it caught the light, and it was braided long to the side and then coiled up, looking very unique at first glance. It was secured tightly with a small piece of fabric, resembling the Eastern Continent people I had seen in prints.
Marie called Mlang a maid with nimble fingers. She added that she had a great talent for styling hair, her aesthetic sense surpassing that of other girls.
She claimed Mlang was the best at creating hairstyles that matched dresses. According to her, even without ribbon ties, Mlang could quickly create stylish looks using readily available wildflowers or even her own hair.
She said that simply by twisting and braiding, she could create elegant and beautiful hairstyles. One of her proudest techniques was how to secure her hair high up without using chalk powder.
All it took was a small pearl pin, only the size of a finger joint, yet it shaped her hair more beautifully than young ladies who used all sorts of jeweled pins. It was Mlang's unique ability, which even imperial maids could not dare to imitate.
It was then that I realized who she was. Mlang was a maid serving Roena, but she was the only girl not belonging to their group. She seemed to float like a ghost.
Despite her striking appearance, her quiet demeanor, as if she were present yet absent, made her actions difficult to notice.
Above all, Mlang did not like to step forward and point fingers at others, and rather than trying to please Margo, she focused on doing her assigned tasks. Chatting with others about someone was a difficult task for Mlang.
Therefore, as soon as her work was done, she would retreat to her room and sleep early, or play by twisting threads to make hair ties. Or she would diligently write letters to her family in the Eastern Continent's language.
Because of this, she didn't get along well with everyone, especially being distant with Margo's group. They lacked common topics of conversation. For her, Roena was merely a lady to serve, not someone she had to protect with all her heart or treat with affection.
Therefore, even when other maids spoke of Roena in praise, she did not chime in or join the conversation.
