Translator: Nox

63 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper

Shattered Glass Slipper Shards Episode 63

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But to use a knight of his caliber for such a thing was, even setting aside personal feelings, quite wrong. The Knight of Clear Hearing enduring the flirtations of a maid—what an absurd situation!

So, I wanted him, the Knight of Clear Hearing, Lustewin Halberd, to feel insulted and disgusted and leave of his own accord. There was no point of contact with him from the start, let alone a parallel line.

No, I would rather he insulted and ridiculed me like the other knights of the Bishvarts Family mansion. If he were that kind of person, I wouldn't have given him a second glance from the start.

Knowing that he was a precious jewel I couldn't dare to covet, I was greedy because I knew he was such a lovely person.

I was caught up in the vain delusion that his kindness would not turn away from me. Why is this person so perfect without a single flaw?

I took out a handkerchief and handed it to Sir Halberd. If other women knew that an accompanying knight, especially the Knight of Clear Hearing, couldn't even control his sweat, they would glare and gossip about it.

He stared at me blankly, as if he didn't understand the meaning of the handkerchief I offered. It was such a ridiculous sight that I wondered if such an expression could even come from his face.

Instead of telling him directly, I pointed to his forehead with my finger as an answer. Sir Halberd seemed to understand my action, as he took the handkerchief with a short exclamation.

The way he wiped his sweat was very cautious. It was as if the handkerchief was made of easily torn material, making it unavoidable.

"Thank you for your consideration."

"No, other people will gossip. There's nothing to thank me for."

I avoided his gratitude with a curt attitude. It was fortunate that the carriage was nearby. So, without even thinking of receiving his escort, I quickly entered as if fleeing. And I closed my eyes as if I was tired.

I felt a presence in front of me, but I pretended not to notice and tried to think about other things. I didn't have the confidence to handle what kind of expression he was looking at me with.

I had never been so grateful for Sir Halberd's taciturn and serious nature as I was at this moment. If he were a talkative chatterbox, I would have fainted from embarrassment. It was truly a relief.

The jewelry store was a little distance away from Madame Dobigné's clothing store. The carriage stopped when my back started to ache a little from the vibration, and I felt a headache coming on, perhaps because I was so on edge.

But I pretended to be nonchalant and received Sir Halberd's escort.

As Madame Dobigné confidently recommended, the store was full of women wearing fancy dresses. Including the accompanying knights and maids, there was literally no room to squeeze into the building.

I sighed inwardly at the forest of densely packed people. I didn't feel good thinking that I would face the gazes I had felt at Madame Dobigné's store again.

If it were the old me, I would have hummed and walked with my head held high as if I were the main character.

But now that I knew so deeply how unpleasant the gazes filled with curiosity were, and how much more harmful they were than knives, I wasn't happy with the current situation.

What good is it that so many people are looking at me and Sir Halberd?

However, despite this earnest wish, a small murmur that started from someone rippled roughly like a wave and quickly spread throughout the store.

The gazes that followed us like shadows as we walked were unpleasantly blatant.

The sounds heard over the fans mainly consisted of words like 'Halberd' and 'Roena'. It was only natural since some unknown girl had appeared with the Knight of Clear Hearing, the pride of the Bishvarts Family.

Now, all that was left was to recall that she was a commoner girl from a back alley with no roots, the daughter of a vulgar woman who seduced her adoptive father to enter the Count's family, and it would be perfect.

It would be nice if they added the words Madame de Lavalier, but for them, the important thing was only sensational rumors that suited their tastes.

Funnily enough, they showed the kindness of giving up their seats to watch me. So, I could walk comfortably.

But I wasn't just grateful. All the eyes visible above the fans were gleaming like hyenas trying to tear apart my every step, gesture, and tone.

Unfortunately, my gait, thoroughly trained by Madame Lavalliere, was impeccably perfect. This was a fact recognized by everyone from the many teachers who came to me to Madame Dobigné.

The angle of the head looking straight ahead, the shape of the fingers brushing against the hem of the dress, the straightness of the waist, and the rhythm of the gait.

No one among the people gathered here could do as much as I could.

So, isn't the surroundings quiet as if they had been splashed with cold water! There's no reason to find fault.

"Welcome. Which family's young lady are you?"

"I'm Sissae of the Bishvarts Family."

There must have been many people who were doubtful even though I was accompanied by Sir Halberd. Because the situation where rumors are true is rare.

But the introduction a moment ago gave them confidence in their thoughts. It was enough to wake up the long sleep of people who were intimidated by the perfect gait. In an instant, the store became noisy with murmurs.

The store owner also seemed very embarrassed by my introduction. Because I, a person of humble origin, had set foot in a high-class store that only famous people with high social standing frequented.

That's why he can't continue speaking and is just rolling his eyes. Wondering how to get me out. Perhaps if Sir Halberd hadn't been there, he would have kicked me out of the store for some reason. Just like he did to me in the past.

I spoke slightly faster with an excited expression, as if I didn't know anything.

"Madame Dobigné said that the only place to buy jewelry that matches your dresses is here, but I guess that's not the case?"

"Jewelry that matches Madame Dobigné's dresses?"

The store owner's eyes widened as he was very surprised. Where did the troubled attitude from a moment ago go? He was staring at me with a very interested expression.

"Yes. Madame Dobigné was the one who introduced me to this store a little while ago. Did I come to the wrong place?"

"No, how could there be such rudeness? Please forgive my impoliteness."

Did he judge that a young lady with the family name, especially one with Sir Halberd, couldn't be lying?

He brought a copper plate with various designs drawn on it with a very quick movement and handed it to me. They were all fancy ones with jewels all over them.

"They're all beautiful, but unfortunately, they don't match the dress I discussed with Madame Dobigné. I'd like a design that's simpler and more elegant, and that can accentuate the neckline."

If it were the old me, I would have gone crazy and bought all of this. Because I thought expensive jewelry was what revealed my position.

But to me now, jewelry is just an additional accessory that enhances my appearance. It was possible because I had worn so much jewelry in the past, and I had suffered countless embarrassments because of it.

Funnily enough, the people around me were very surprised to see me calmly ordering only what I would wear without being swayed by the jewelry.

They must have been expecting a fool who was indulging in extravagant luxury, completely immersed in things that didn't suit her status. In fact, who could expect reason, restraint, and frugality from a humble commoner girl?

I calmly chose the simplest and most elegant necklace, as if I didn't care about the gazes. And I quickly paid the price as if I had no regrets for any more jewelry than this.

The store owner tried to show me more things with a changed look, but I politely refused.

"Please send it to the Bishvarts Family mansion by the day after tomorrow."

Quickly buying things you like without hesitation was also one of the decisiveness that a lady could show.

I left the store with the eyes of the people on me, just like when I first entered the store. While receiving the polite greetings of the store owner who was seeing me off.

"Let's go back to the mansion now."

I said to Seril, who looked quite tired, and Sir Halberd, who looked more comfortable than before. I had to buy more feathers for the hat, shoes, gloves, and ribbons, but I couldn't bring myself to take him around any longer.

Seril's face was full of color at my words, and she went to call the carriage. Her face looked very happy as she walked quickly with hurried steps.

Well, she must have been quite tired since she had received as many gazes from people as I had at the jewelry store we had just stopped by.

It must have been the same for Sir Halberd, but he was still guarding his surroundings with the same appearance as at the beginning, as if he wasn't tired. That's why I was very surprised that he opened his mouth and spoke.

"Lady Roena used to call people to the mansion. No matter what she bought."

I turned my head and looked at him. Sir Halberd was staring at me with a strange expression that I couldn't describe, as if he was confused.

"It's to prevent any possible incidents. But why does the young lady……!!"

It's to prove my position. Just like displaying products to promote them, I just went to them myself to show off my value as Sissae of the Bishvarts Family.

Even though it was a situation where I could be kicked out at the door and be embarrassed. It's a gamble that would be successful if even one person gathered there could think, 'That girl Sissae isn't so bad? She's quite aristocratic?'

But I can't explain all of this to him one by one. It's not worth it, and I'm still a little uncomfortable with him seeing me as a snobbish person.

"Why are you curious about that? Are you worried that it might be a disgrace to the Bishvarts Family?"

"That's not it. I'm……."

I quickly cut him off. It was an action I could take because I guessed what he was going to say.

"I told you that you don't have to say that you're my knight. Because no one thinks that way."

He couldn't have felt good about these words. Because I was constantly refuting his words and not accepting them.

But what can I do? It's not like he can come completely to my side just because he becomes my knight. So, it was better to maintain a cold attitude and keep my distance from him.

"I'm sorry that you had a difficult time today because of me. But I clearly told you to go back, and you were the one who refused."

Sir Halberd moved his lips as if he was going to refute something. But as always, I was first.

I said in a cold tone, 'Don't interfere in my affairs.' Whatever shame and humiliation I suffer, it's a situation I can handle. It has nothing to do with him at all.

A little later, the carriage that Seril had gone to pick up arrived. This time, I did not refuse his touch and entered the carriage with his help.