50 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards Episode 50
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“It’s about the head maid’s business, and they say she’s been caught trying to steal things a few times before… that she has a bad habit of stealing. Everyone knows that.”
“Really? Seril, do you know anything about Blan?”
I subtly asked Seril, who was handing me a teacup.
“She didn’t talk much, but I know she was quite disliked by the head maid. That’s why everyone didn’t try to get along well with her.”
“But is she really that bad with her hands?”
Seeing how skillfully she stole the key, she seemed quite adept at that sort of thing, but I asked casually, pretending to know nothing.
I thought that if she confirmed it, I could subtly hint that Blan was the culprit in this incident. But the answer that came back was unexpected. Seril hesitated for a moment and answered cautiously in a hesitant voice.
“Um, but it’s not certain. No one has seen Blan steal anything. When they said she was caught, she was just standing in front of an open jewelry box; she didn’t actually touch it or steal it.”
Marie was quick to pick up on that, continuing the conversation naturally. Perhaps she was very excited, as she spoke incessantly in a higher-pitched voice.
“Oh, come to think of it, she was accused of being a thief because she had Sanya’s pearl pin, wasn’t she? She claimed she picked it up, but Sanya strongly insisted she had never dropped it. Then they had a big argument, and it almost escalated into a physical fight before the head maid took Sanya’s side and it ended. Come to think of it, the head maid seems to dislike Blan a lot. Don’t you think so, Seril?”
Instead of answering, Seril bowed her head sideways to express her opinion. Her slightly lowered eyelashes trembled as if she was afraid to reveal her true feelings. Her lips, pressed tightly together, had turned pale. Loyalty to the head maid and fear of me were weighing on her.
It felt unpleasant somehow. I thought to myself, gently rubbing my lips with my fingers, which felt like they were twisting. What an idiot. At the same time, I was angry at her indecisive attitude.
In some ways, Seril was more lacking than Marie. She sometimes seemed to forget who she was standing in front of. Otherwise, she wouldn’t act like this.
If the fear from that time was deeply ingrained in her bones, shouldn’t she at least wag her tail at me when she’s in front of me! But Seril’s conscience seemed stronger than I expected.
Feeling deflated, I waved my hand to indicate I had no further intention of conversing. After all, Marie could spin an interesting enough story even with this much, so it was better not to let her babble any more.
Nothing stimulates everyone’s imagination like something uncertain. Moreover, women can become fearless adventurers when it comes to gossip.
How admirable they are, bravely advancing towards unknown rumors shrouded in mist! Even a man could not be more valiant.
So, I pretended not to see Marie, who was whimpering while watching me nervously. She was looking at me with anxious eyes. Her furrowed brows and pouting lips made her look like a sulking child.
“I should go to bed early. I’m very sleepy.”
But it was only for a moment; as soon as I said I wanted to go to bed, they immediately tidied up the bedroom and its surroundings. I let Seril help me change into my pajamas. Then I lay down on the bed. With a simple gesture, I dismissed Marie and Seril and closed my eyes.
Suddenly, I felt like laughing when I thought about where Marie would go after leaving the room.
Ah, cute Marie. Poor Marie. Foolish Marie. She would gather the maids who followed her and passionately discuss all sorts of gossip about Blan. And she would bring all the gathered information straight to me. With that thought, I let out a soft yawn and tried to fall asleep.
Should I meet Mlang tomorrow?
As soon as morning came, Marie, who practically ran to me, kept fidgeting with her lips while attending to me. She seemed like someone at the end of her patience, wanting to say something but forced to hold back, acting hastily.
Her eyes were excessively shiny, as if she wanted to quickly share something she had learned. But she wouldn’t open her mouth until I allowed it. What a commendable maid!
With her help, I changed my clothes and tied my hair. I arranged my hair with a pin studded with pearls and moistened my lips with lukewarm water. The now quite cool breeze swept in through the wide-open terrace. I smiled, feeling the breeze caress my cheeks.
“The weather is so nice.”
“Yes. It seems the heat has subsided.”
“Shall we go for a walk in the garden?”
“That’s a good idea.”
“Before that, I should listen to what you have to say.”
Marie lowered her eyes and looked shy. This foolish young lady didn’t seem to realize how much her own tongue was embarrassing her. She seemed proud of the fact that she could freely roll others’ misfortunes around in her mouth, showing no other guilt.
The reason the head maid had included Marie in her group in the past was precisely because she committed such vulgar acts without hesitation more than anyone else. It was for the same reason that I found Marie endearing.
Leaning back on the sofa, I gazed at Marie. It was a silent permission, indicating I was ready to listen and she could talk to her heart’s content without hesitation. Marie then opened her mouth and began to chatter noisily.
“It might be Blan who stole Lady Roena’s key, my lady. There was a girl who saw Blan lurking in Lady Roena’s room the day the key went missing. She ran away in a hurry as soon as their eyes met, so it must be true. After all, if it wasn’t Blan, who else would do such a thing? I knew that arrogant girl would cause big trouble someday. From the day she first started serving Lady Roena, she acted so high and mighty. She didn’t do what she was told as a newcomer, just did her own work and slipped away, and she always talked back. She was truly unpleasant in many ways. As everyone says, that girl should be kicked out of the mansion.”
“Blan doesn’t listen to you well, does she?”
I said to her, biting back a laugh that threatened to burst out. Her suddenly flushed face and wide-open eyes, as if caught off guard, told me everything.
Since I started helping her gather maids under her, Marie had started acting like Margo. She meddled in others’ affairs and acted superior, threatened those who didn’t listen to her, and even ostracized them.
The maids who had their financial difficulties resolved through Marie had no choice but to obey the words of this little tyrant. Although I found it annoying, she wasn’t as stingy as Margo.
But Blan was different. She knew that without me, Marie couldn’t bully others, and she accurately saw through her vulgar nature.
Although she received financial help, she seemed to think that expressing gratitude by agreeing with me was enough, and that the real gratitude was owed to me. Marie expressed her displeasure about this.
“I want to be closer, but she keeps her distance, acting like she’s so great. I’m not the only one who thinks so.”
“So, what do you plan to do?”
“Huh?”
“Have you thought about what you’re going to do?”
If Marie was becoming like Margo, she would surely have devised a brilliant punishment for Blan. Marie wouldn’t let the shameless person who only took help without joining the group off the hook! No, it might even be happening already. If the suspicion that Blan stole the key had solidified into certainty.
“No, not really. Um… is it okay?”
“What?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
“Have you said everything you wanted to say?”
“Yes.”
“Good, then bring me my hat.”
I put on the hat Marie brought and tied the ribbon neatly under my chin. I put on my gloves and shoes, then tidied my hair again.
“Let’s go to the garden and see the flowers. They will be truly beautiful.”
“Yes.”
Today was a day off from lessons, so it was fine to rest all day. Therefore, I thought it would be good to look at the flowers in the garden, have tea time there, and then finish the day by reading a book lightly.
However, a letter handed to me by a servant who came to see me forced me to change my plans to go to the garden. The eagle seal clearly stamped on the red wax that sealed the letter was the symbol of the Dibenzel family. Irene de Dibenzel, it must have been from her. I lightly praised the servant who brought the letter promptly and then opened it with a paper knife.
To my dear Lady Sissae.
Someone once said that life is a series of enjoyable adventures. Of course, as a modest lady, one should not utter the word adventure, but I believe it is sometimes necessary to enjoy such pleasures.
Oh, of course, it’s not an action that would tarnish your honor, so don’t worry. I just wanted to deliver the pleasant news that an Eastern merchant will be visiting the Dibenzel family. What could be more exciting for us than seeing beautiful foreign objects? I would say there is nothing. So, I want to share this joy with you. What do you think?
Before that, there will be a small tea party. I want to introduce my dear friends to you. They are all people who will be captivated by your elegance. I guarantee it.
I will be waiting for your happy reply.
Looking forward to meeting you,
Irene de Dibenzel.
I felt like laughing. An invitation to the Dibenzel mansion! Irene de Dibenzel inviting me to her mansion!! And to a tea party she is hosting.
I said in a cheerful voice to Marie, who was looking at me with a bewildered expression as I suddenly burst into laughter.
“Marie, I need to go to the general store. Tell the butler to prepare for an outing.”
After all, I couldn’t send a reply to Irene de Dibenzel on any old stationery.
With the butler’s help, a carriage, coachman, and knight were prepared in no time. I nodded to the butler who saw me off outside the door and got into the carriage.
The knight who would escort me was a man with a sharp impression, but contrary to his fierce appearance, his escort was very delicate and gentle. However, he was taciturn, ending his introduction by stating his name. I rather liked that demeanor, finding it trustworthy.
The carriage carrying me moved towards the bustling streets. I intended to revisit the general store called ‘Angel’s Breath’.
