52 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards Episode 52
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Chapter 6 The Dibenzel Family
Most people, when thinking of a 'pack,' would imagine a herd of animals clustered around their leader. One that bands together to hunt a common prey.
High society also has such packs. Something that is too secretive to be called a 'faction,' but in reality, when you think about it, is merely a simple gathering.
Secret glances, gestures, and coded movements; they check and mock each other, but when you come to your senses, their actions form a semicircle around one individual. So, what else can this be defined as!
Why am I suddenly mentioning packs? Because when I look at these people gathered here, staring at me, that word comes to mind.
The way they cast subtle looks of rejection at the appearance of a new person and exchange furtive glances.
This is the reception room within the Dibenzel estate.
Gathered here are the future sprouts who will soon dominate high society, led by Irene de Dibenzel.
And at the very end, jutting out like a rough stone, is me, Sissae de Bishvarts. In other words, they have gathered around the most outstanding beast, but the members themselves are not to be underestimated, so it was time to display a faint resistance and boast of my own excellence.
However, it wasn't an overt display of hostility. These were people Irene de Dibenzel had carefully chosen and befriended!
They were merely showing off their own elegance and testing me. It was quite natural for them to smile as if readily accepting an answer that suited them.
Setting aside the awkwardness of my origins, what matters is whether I possess the knowledge and refinement to associate with them, and that is not a particular problem for me.
I was the only one smiling at this amusing scene where an interrogation had turned into an inquiry. Regardless of their intentions, this situation, which merely served to showcase their knowledge, could not possibly have a magnanimous person able to maintain a composed smile.
Therefore, there is no need for me to elaborate. What is certain is that Irene de Dibenzel is satisfied.
She lightly tapped the edge of the sofa with her well-manicured fingernail. Then, with a rather cheerful voice, she drew everyone's attention. As if unaware of the tension from moments before.
"You haven't forgotten that a merchant from the East will be visiting here shortly with rare goods, have you? It might be nice to wait while having a cup of tea."
Everyone's heads bowed in agreement.
I can confidently say that nothing is as exclusive and exclusionary as the packs of high society. Nor is there any place where intrigue and betrayal cease more readily.
It is a world where they break the wings of wounded birds and sever the necks of beasts with torn flesh to gain their own advantage. A place sharper than any sword, that is high society.
Despite this, many were anxious to belong to it, wanting to prove themselves attractive and intelligent individuals.
For me, these packs were also one of the means to overcome my inferiority complex towards Roena.
Irene's pack was a gathering of future titans of high society. As my past self had clearly confirmed.
Some even referred to me as the 'Lady' who would succeed Madame de Lavalier! What was certain was that among those who had built such influence, no one hated Roena de Bishbalz as much as I did.
Therefore, her invitation could not have been more welcome. After all, due to my origins, I could not become the head of another pack. What difficulty is there in bowing low until my fangs grow?
The tea served by Irene de Dibenzel had a strong exotic aroma. The teacups were also unusual.
They were likely purchased from merchants from the East. The silver-white pottery with a subtle blue hue was quite charming and lovely.
Things that were prevalent when I debuted in high society were quietly stirring here, as if being born.
The admiring voices of the other young ladies chimed like bells. Each was engrossed in discovering the value of the teacups. Irene de Dibenzel, parting the small commotion, approached me.
"Lady Sissae, you are quite resilient. Your spirit."
The hand reaching out to me was warm, as if nothing had happened. I suppressed a smile that felt like it would burst, seeing the 'interest' in her eyes.
My composure upon seeing such precious teacups, despite having played in the countryside, must have caught her attention.
She was very curious whether it was due to my refinement or an innate shield. No, she would most desire the latter answer.
I added a gentle smile and spoke softly. Hoping that I would appear as an easy target to her eyes.
"Not at all. It's embarrassing to say, but my heart is so full I can barely stand it."
"But your response earlier was brave and well-done. Truly."
"It's something my aunt used to do when she was with the Bishvarts Family. So, it wasn't unfamiliar."
"Madame de Lavalier, you mean?"
"Yes."
"It must have been an immeasurably precious time."
"Yes, of course. It felt like a dream."
"Lady Sissae, you speak like a poet. 'Like a dream,' what a truly wonderful expression. I hope this moment feels the same to you. For there is nothing more beautiful than gaining a new friend."
Her words were enticing. Any ordinary young lady would have felt that way. After all, Irene de Dibenzel was calling me a 'friend.'
I brought my hands to my cheeks as if moved, shaking my head from side to side. It was a somewhat frivolous gesture, but there was no better way to express my excitement.
"Do you think of me that way?"
"If you truly think of me."
"Oh, of course. I always will. I promise."
"Then, from this moment on, we are friends. I truly feel I made the right decision inviting Lady Sissae."
Irene de Dibenzel said, her eyes sparkling. The satisfied smile on my lips was a feast of disbelief, a complex mix of maturity and immaturity.
I was certain that my future self would become her 'delight,' and I bowed my head once more. A smile, not fully concealed, spread deeply across the gently rippling tea.
When the promised time arrived and the Eastern merchant visited the Dibenzel mansion, the young ladies were all seated on the sofa with prim expressions.
It seemed their excitement at seeing new goods could not overcome their decorum. They all subtly cast glances, as if they had no greed but an unavoidable attraction for intellectual fulfillment. Despite their unpredictable demeanor, the merchant laid out his wares with great affability.
His natural way of introducing the goods, as if he had experienced such situations many times, showed the demeanor of a seasoned master.
He skillfully drew attention by displaying items favored by young ladies: jewelry, silks, teacups, perfumes, and cosmetics.
There was no other time when the merchant's voice, introducing his wares in a somewhat hesitant tone, sounded as sweet as a bird's song.
When the powder contained in the white, transparent porcelain was shyly revealed, it was natural that the young ladies' fanning became more rapid.
"Lady Sissae, what do you like?"
After declaring us friends, Irene did not leave my side. I occupied her right side, as I had long ago.
The young ladies respected Irene's attitude and ignored all this absurdity, as if the test to enter their circle was over.
It was a courage worthy of applause. For even for women of high society, suppressing their own dissatisfaction for the sake of the pack's peace was not an easy act.
It was more unstable yet more deeply rooted than any bond I had ever witnessed.
I did not appear flustered by the sudden elevation in status. I accepted it as natural, given that Princess Irene had done so.
Irene seemed to like my attitude very much. Perhaps that was why? She led the conversation with a more relaxed expression, making efforts to show a favorable attitude by complimenting my dress and hair ornaments.
This was also why she gave me priority by asking what I liked among the Eastern merchant's goods.
I subtly observed the reactions of the other young ladies. Two or so showed subtly trembling eyes, despite their smiling lips.
One was fanning herself continuously, unable to hide her blushing cheeks. So, I decided to take a step back. After all, I could not live forever by clinging to the favor of the leader.
"Everything is so beautiful that I find it hard to make a decision. Therefore, please give me time to be prudent. For instance, so that I may make thoughtful considerations by learning from the excellent knowledge and insight of the other young ladies."
Irene de Dibenzel's excellence lay in her willingness to grant such requests. She respected my words and asked the other young ladies for their understanding.
She politely conveyed that it meant an added chore of educating a newcomer whose standards were far below theirs.
My position within this pack was, inevitably, that of a young lady who needed to be looked after, yet was not disliked.
I bowed my head towards the young ladies who, though pleased to show off their knowledge, wore regretful smiles due to the eyes of others.
"Oh, we sincerely hope we can live up to Lady Bishvarts' expectations."
One young lady said cheerfully, in a slightly excited voice—as suppressed as she could manage by her own standards.
Then, as if a floodgate had opened, words poured out from all around. Princess Irene, fanning herself gently, watched it all quietly.
The items presented by the Eastern merchant were all high-quality goods, currently very popular in high society.
Without the power of the Dibenzel family, he would not have brought such wares.
For me, who had blindly collected things immediately after my debut, or rather, after my adoptive father's death, they were familiar and evoked no emotion. However, Irene de Dibenzel's attitude, choosing items without a trace of hesitation, was unexpected.
With a calm demeanor, she selected silks, jewelry, and hat trimmings for her debut dress. Her careful selection, seeking advice from other young ladies, was novel, like discovering another facet of the princess.
The excitement that had been in the invitation had vanished; she was the most mature of all the girls present.
Most of the young ladies present were scheduled to debut alongside Irene. They were different from other young ladies who were thrown into the battlefield of high society with no connections.
Because they were gathered together, it was clear that no one would dare to reach out carelessly. The name Dibenzel carried great weight. Everyone would be watching their steps.
Come to think of it, by the time I debuted, Irene's pack had already reached a stage of universal admiration.
How did this beautiful lady achieve such a position with such skill? Was it her meticulousness in hiding her true intentions? Or her excellent wit and eloquence in creating a common enemy?
