53 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards, Episode 53
==========
After the shopping spree, which was like a storm, the ladies, regaining their senses, had the servants they brought from home carry out the items they had purchased to the outside of the drawing-room.
As I had only brought one knight and one maid, I had only bought small trinkets. Glances of pity and sympathy were showered upon me, who had barely managed to pick out the cheapest and smallest trinket among so many items.
I knew what those gazes meant, so I barely managed to swallow the laughter that threatened to burst out. I simply had no interest, but they were completely misunderstanding.
The day before coming to the ducal mansion, my adoptive father said he would send more servants and maids with me. However, I politely refused. They were still clearly Roena's people.
Instead, I gratefully accepted the large sum of money he gave me. It was a perfect decision to insist like a child and choose a knight close to the lower ranks and a maid named 'Blan,' who was under the watchful eye of the head maid, Margo.
In the peculiar situation where the butler was uncomfortable and Margo was sneering, I had to suppress my urge to burst into laughter as the carriage slowly moved.
Margo, that cunning old fox, wouldn't report this to my adoptive father. The butler would also remain silent unless it was a major issue.
Blan, who had lost weight rapidly from doing menial tasks, looked very shabby compared to the maids of the other ladies. Her dry hair and pale, gaunt cheeks made her look like someone who had been starving for days.
As everyone's gaze turned to Blan, who stood silently behind me, I raised my teacup to cover my lips.
"Is Lady Roena doing well?"
It was around then that Princess Irene mentioned 'Roena.' I found Irene de Dibenzel, who uttered her name at such a perfect moment, to be both commendable and admirable.
It was a situation that anyone would find odd: the stepsister of a lady famous for her kindness appearing in such a shabby state.
"Yes. As always."
I replied in a flat tone. I had learned from the past Roena how much pity an emotionless voice could evoke, so I used it skillfully.
When I said I was leaving the mansion at the invitation of Irene de Dibenzel, Roena looked at me with a pale face.
There could be nothing more dreadful than a meeting between someone who hates you and your stepsister. The intelligent girl quickly realized I was going to join Irene's group.
"A few days from now, there's a tea party hosted by my friend. Will you come with me?"
She said to me with pleading eyes, her face flushed red as if she were about to cry. Her ridiculous scheme, suggesting that Lady Dibenzel would understand if I said I was sick, was laughable.
If someone told me I could only attend either Dibenzel's gathering or Roena's, I would choose the former without hesitation.
This was not out of contempt for Roena. It was because their natures were vastly different.
If Dibenzel's gatherings were for socializing, Roena's gatherings were merely for camaraderie. It was a group of insignificant people of similar standing meeting to drink tea and chat.
It was only interesting because 'Roena' was there; otherwise, there was nothing else. If I had to find something, it would be the existence of her fanatics.
Of course, there was the advantage that the knights and young lords brought by her friends were splendid—Dibenzel's gatherings were for ladies only—but they were all captivated by Roena's beauty and gentle disposition. There was nothing to gain for me.
In any case, the very thought of being placed among a group that worships her is disgusting.
Is it arrogance stemming from the confidence that I too must be adored? Or is it something else? If the former, it's chilling, and if the latter, well, can it be called sinister?
Above all, I am not sure if they, filled only with affection for Roena, can humbly accept a thorn like me.
"Roena, even cheap tea can be judged differently depending on the teacup it's served in. Trivial chatter can be had anywhere, can't it?"
Was she hurt by my words? Her eyes widened. Her slightly furrowed brows and the tip of her nose, red as if filled with water, spoke of her emotions.
She wants to cry. Don't go. A faint plea escaped her slightly parted lips.
"No."
I twisted my lips into a petulant expression. I was slightly annoyed by her unreasonable demand, like a child throwing a tantrum.
"Wherever I go is my decision. More importantly, I don't think I need to refuse Lady Dibenzel's kindness by lying for your sake."
"But if you go there...!!"
I quickly cut off her protesting words. I knew exactly what she was going to say. She would say that I would surely get hurt there, so I should stay with her.
Her pretense of acting as if all this was for my sake made me feel nauseous.
"I'm fine."
"Sissae."
"I said I'm fine. Really. I'm not bothered."
"Listen to me. I'm worried about you."
"I'm worried about you too."
"Why?"
"Why? I'm the one who should be asking why! With such beautiful eyes, you keep looking only at others' flaws. You shouldn't do that. Oh, of course, I know you had some unpleasant experiences with other ladies last time. But there's no guarantee everyone is like that. Gossiping about others is not ladylike. Roena, you are a kind girl, aren't you?"
"Sissae, please don't misunderstand. I'm not trying to gossip or criticize them. I just want you to act with discernment, thinking about any potential situations."
Roena, caught off guard, revealed her subtle inner thoughts as I criticized her moral perspective. Her true feelings slipped out.
Another name for it was 'anxiety.' Although she had received tutelage from Madame de Lavalier, it was only for a few months, and while she was receiving continuous instruction from others, it was impossible to confirm how it was progressing.
If one could easily acquire aristocratic manners and cultivation through short-term lessons, why would one study etiquette from childhood!
However, I do not fail to understand her attitude. Who would send their stepsister to build camaraderie with someone who seems to dislike them? I would have done the same.
But her pride prevented her from articulating these reasons. Thus, she makes the mistake of making excuses and then revealing another true intention.
"In what way am I lacking in discernment? Are you referring to my enjoyment of the invitation from the Duchess's daughter? If so, I think you are mistaken, Roena. Do you think I would act in a way unbecoming of the Bishvarts name? Surely not. I, who received my aunt's teachings, would not show such behavior. You truly have no trust in me at all. Or am I that unreliable? Is this all you have to show for your supposed interest?"
Roena, though a kind girl, sometimes displayed an aristocratic trait of judging others, as if looking down on them.
However, if this were a consistent attitude, it could be considered character, but since it is not, it can only be seen as hypocrisy.
"No. Please don't think that. It's really not."
"Then, please don't try to stop me from accepting Miss Dibenzel's invitation and leaving. Believe that I will do well there."
At the same time, I lowered my head and whispered in Roena's ear.
"By the way, there's a rumor that the lost key was actually in its original place and you made a mistake. Is that true? If so, what about the maid who was wrongly accused and suffered?"
Roena's eyes wavered.
Ah, so Blan had indeed checked the key's original place. It was quite detestable how she pretended to know nothing.
In any case, she wouldn't be able to stop me any longer. I patted her shoulder lightly, then turned and left. Perhaps my last words would continue to fall like fierce raindrops in her mind. It was also why I used Marie to spread the rumor.
Doubt is a good thing. I have never seen anything that dilutes and destroys human relationships like it. No matter how strong a person is, if they start doubting, they become as listless as a sick person.
So I wanted her to doubt her maids. And I wanted her to cling more to Margo. I wanted her to be manipulated by the whims of that old fox. To become Roena Bishvarts, who is only kinder than I saw her in the past.
A few days later, before leaving for the Dibenzel estate, I met Mlang and had her steal the key again.
Margo's attention was focused on Blan, so she surely wouldn't have expected Mlang, the maid who strokes Roena's hair, to bring it back to me.
According to Mlang, the naive Roena found the key at the bottom of the jewelry box and blamed herself for not having found it sooner. She was relieved that there was no thief in her home.
And with a bright smile, she put the key back in the jewelry box. This was an act to instill the belief, 'I did not suspect you. I never will.' Mlang bowed her head, saying it was easier to bring it back.
"I'm sorry for asking you to do something difficult."
"No, Miss. I am truly happy to be of help."
Mlang, who did not take Roena's side in the past, is trustworthy to me now. Moreover, Mlang did not express any doubt when I asked her to bring the key. Instead, she accepted it as if such a mission were natural.
Perhaps that's why? I realized that Mlang would keep silent about this until her death and would always help me. This was evident just by looking at her eyes, which were filled with admiration for me.
Now, the key has returned to me, and Blan, suspected of being the culprit, has come with me to the Dibenzel mansion.
So, who are Roena and Margo suspecting? Since all the maids know Roena has the key, can she announce that the key has disappeared again? Is Roena really doing well?
The taste of the tea as it goes down my throat is very sweet. I raised my head and smiled at Princess Irene.
"She is doing very well. Thank you for your concern. Roena would have been very happy if she had heard it."
At my words, everyone's expression contorted strangely. At the same time, someone let out a low sigh, "Oh, my heavens." Their gazes all seemed to say, 'How can such a person exist?'
"And you, my lady? Are you alright?"
I gave a faint smile. I knew that this smile now conveyed more meaning to them than a few words.
Let them think whatever they want. Ah, it's fortunate that this group possesses the virtue of 'pity and compassion.'
This emotion offsets the disadvantage of my low birth, so they will feel less resistance towards me in the future.
In fact, there is no more lowly situation that satisfies their joy than bringing along a lady inferior to themselves. Though they may not realize it now.
In any case, I will soon feel how intoxicating this sensation is. Perhaps, drunk on superiority, they will want me even more. Very slowly, like dye seeping into fabric.
