Chapter 66
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards 66
“May I look forward to the next time?”
Only a step away from Chatoul’s room, Sir Ayres, who had been silent for a while, opened his mouth. His voice seemed as calm as usual.
“But if I dare say my thoughts are correct, you intend to refuse this as well, Bischwartz Young Lady.”
A shadow darkens his eyes. The sorrow of a handsome man with delicate features as if carved was enough to stir a woman’s heart.
It was quite pitiful, enough to evoke sympathy. Therefore, even knowing that I shouldn’t give him any leeway, I ended up uttering foolish words that gave him hope. So foolishly.
“How can I prevent coincidence? Then, I hope you return safely.”
Perhaps my answer sounded very pleasing, a smile appeared on his face. It was so fleeting that it was hard to believe he was the man who had just stimulated my sympathy with his melancholic voice.
In fact, it was ridiculous that a man like him was so affected by my words, but his fatally beautiful face more than compensated for it. It was no wonder that the women around him groaned and only looked at him.
Sir Ayres kissed the back of my hand with a polite attitude. And he greeted me with a voice full of joy.
“I hope to see you again, Bischwartz Young Lady.”
As he did in the Dibenzel Family, he had excellent decisiveness to step back without hesitation when needed.
Therefore, I was very pleased with his disappearing back. Now it was time to focus on Madame de Châteauroux.
As soon as the message that I had arrived was sent, the door opened immediately. I was led by a maid into the room. Perhaps because it was where the Emperor’s favorite concubine resided, each piece of furniture was extremely luxurious.
Madame de Châteauroux was sitting quietly on a sofa in the center of the room. Her rose-tinted cheeks were so fresh that her face could be mistaken for a well-made doll.
However, her fair, almost transparent skin, the blonde hair flowing softly over it, her plump, red-painted lips, and her voluptuously exposed large breasts made it difficult to see her as a noble lady steeped in refinement. What was certain was that she had a body and appearance that would drive men crazy.
As rumored, she seemed to be relying solely on the Emperor’s favor, as she did not get up even when she saw me. She simply blinked her long eyelashes and yawned slowly.
Even though I greeted her with courtesy, she didn’t even say a word to tell me to sit down. She stretched her arms out once like a cat stretching, then buried herself in the back of the sofa and wiggled her feet.
Even though the maids standing next to her were looking at us with pale faces, Chatoul’s expression was calm.
A preemptive strike? Or was she trying to test my patience? Either way, what was certain was that if I imitated a proud young lady here, I would be kicked out of the room without even saying a word.
Unless it was someone else with the Bishvarts Family name, I, with my humble origins, wouldn’t be able to protest even if she kicked me out. No, it would be fortunate if it didn’t become a point of contention and be ridiculed by everyone.
So, I stood there with my back straight as if nothing was wrong. As if I didn’t feel any humiliation, like that.
How many minutes had passed? Chatoul, as if talking to herself, spoke. The sound was very loud, as if she wanted me to hear it.
“Why aren’t you angry? Shouldn’t you be trembling with displeasure? Above all, I don’t understand why your expression is so calm. Don’t you think so?”
Chatoul finally met my gaze. I gave a fresh smile and replied in a concise voice to her attitude of straightening her posture.
“May I ask why you think so?”
“I get very angry when I see ridiculous people who value their pride with old-fashioned things like etiquette, things that don’t seem like they’ll make money even if you sell them. People like you, Young Lady. Oh my, I was expecting a lively girl befitting her age, but what is all this?”
So, she was expecting me to be excited about the new environment and indulge in luxury and extravagance, the me before I returned? A complete fool, that is. Is that why she approached me in the past?
I smiled slyly at the disappointment that appeared in Chatoul’s eyes. The sight of her pouting her lips with a look of complete deflation was so lovely that it would make the hearts of many men flutter. I could understand why the Emperor was so infatuated with her.
“Sit down.”
She pointed to one side of the sofa with her chin. As she stared at me, her gaze was directed at the clothes and accessories I was wearing.
Her slow and persistent gaze seemed to be calculating how much value they had rather than checking if the other person’s attire was inappropriate.
After a while, she smiled knowingly and ran her finger over her lips. At the same time, she let out a nasal exclamation, her coquetry seemed to flow out easily even if it wasn’t a man.
“I really like your dress. It’s so beautiful, it doesn’t seem like you bought it from just anywhere. I thought you’d be wearing something like a nun’s habit, but it’s quite unexpected, isn’t it?”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Is that all you have to say?”
“Yes?”
“No, usually after saying thank you for the compliment, you’d say my dress is prettier or something like that. Sweet words to make me feel good. Well, never mind. I’ve heard it so much that it’s not even new anymore.”
Chatoul tapped the teacup brought by the maid with her finger with a nonchalant expression. Her face, stained with boredom, didn’t look happy.
Although she was famous as a courtesan who warmed the Emperor’s bed, the woman in front of me seemed like a wild cat tamed by the large hand of the Imperial Palace, wanting to find something stimulating that would awaken her instincts.
That’s probably why she called me. A girl from the back alleys suddenly rising in status and wearing dresses that don’t suit her, how ridiculous is that?
She probably wanted to call me to the Imperial Palace and compare me to her position, feeling superiority, pity, or even emotions close to sympathy. Because there’s nothing more fun than the combination of a stupid courtesan and a foolish young lady. Even putting aside the matter of Chouasel as an addition.
Anyway, what was certain was that the invitation from Bauden could not have been written by her own hand. Although we met two years earlier than before, Chatoul now was a much more immature and willful woman than she was then.
“But thanks to you, I was praised by His Majesty for finding someone quite useful. I’m grateful for that. I don’t know what’s so great about it, but it’s enough that His Majesty likes it. I like pretty and flashy things though.”
“No, just the fact that I have satisfied the Madame’s heart is enough to make me feel grateful.”
“Oh my, Madame. I really hate that. It makes me look too old.”
Certainly, Marianne de Châteauroux was young and beautiful enough to be seen as the Emperor’s daughter. Her fresh skin, as if she was just about to bloom, and her well-groomed and toned body were too good to be called ‘Madame.’
But there was no other title to call her. She had received the title of ‘Marquise,’ but everyone knew that it was only close to ‘honor.’
Therefore, to others, she was just Madame de Châteauroux, Marianne Châteauroux. A pitiful courtesan who might disappear at any time if the Emperor’s favor waned.
“Call me Marian.”
She uttered her name in a sulky tone. Not Marianne, but ‘Marian.’ Probably her real name, even though she was openly saying she didn’t like me in front of me, it seemed like she was thinking of trying a proper reconnaissance since she had called me to the palace.
I quietly followed her name in a gentle voice.
“Yes, Marian-nim.”
“No, just Marian. That’s enough. Now, have some of the refreshments here. I’m tired of this kind of thing now. If I eat too much, my figure will be ruined.”
There were dozens of desserts on the table just by counting the number of items. Cakes with plenty of whipped cream, pies with fruit, and plump puddings were basic, and there were also plenty of fruits of kinds that were not commonly seen.
I uttered a word of thanks and lifted the teacup. Certainly, because it was something presented to the Imperial Palace, the quality was better than the tea that could be tasted at the Count’s estate. Even the Dibenzel Family wouldn’t be able to taste tea of this quality.
“When did you enter the Bishvarts Family?”
“It hasn’t been many months.”
“Really? But you’ve already become so old-fashioned? Did you learn it while being whipped?”
“No, it doesn’t have such a strict family tradition. It’s just that I had an overwhelming desire to learn.”
“I just found it boring and sleepy. His Majesty also said that I just need to stay pretty like this. But those were empty words too. Girls, can you step back for a moment?”
At Chatoul’s gesture, the maids moved in unison and disappeared. Their skills in getting out were quite good, as if they had been well-trained.
Marian yawned incessantly until the last maid left, then leaned on the end of the sofa in a slanted posture, resting her chin on her hand. As a result, one of her full breasts was crushed to the point where it was see-through, but she didn’t seem to care.
“His Majesty seems to think that Young Lady will be a good conversational partner for me. So, he must have had someone write such a letter. Actually, I don’t have any particular thoughts. It was true that I was a little lonely, but it’s better than being with those morons who emphasize etiquette and things like that. So, if you came hoping for something, give up. His Majesty said that he should consider giving titles to my people now. Or do you need gossip to share with others? Then should I pull my breasts out a little more here?”
“Excuse me, Marian. If I had rushed in excitedly, my visit would have ended today.”
Perhaps my words were unexpected, Chatoul looked at me with wide eyes. I continued with a soft smile. Recalling the memories of when I lived in the back alleys.
Marian was known to have started working as a prostitute at the age of 18. There were no records left of what she did before that.
In fact, to others, her life was meaningful when she was a prostitute. Only then could she create gossip that could be digested into high society based on this. So, who would want to know the pitiful past of a prostitute?
So, I also didn’t know why she started this job. Whether she started as the daughter of a prostitute and received guests, or whether she was sold off due to debt, I only lightly speculated based on the memories of the past that most prostitutes in the capital had. Therefore, it was difficult to be sure whether the memories of childhood flowing from my mouth now would be an emotional stimulus for her.
I was just trying to form a consensus by reminding her of my origins.
