Chapter 68

Translator: Nox

Shattered Glass Slipper Shards 68

As I came out of my adoptive father’s room, Marie approached me with hurried steps, as if she had been waiting. Then, she quietly opened her mouth as if whispering. She wore a very urgent and anxious expression.

“My lady, the head maid took Blan away. But before Blan was taken, she came to me and asked me to tell you to save her. She said she wouldn’t stand still if you turned a blind eye. What on earth is going on?”

“Calm down. Catch your breath and tell me again. What did Blan say?”

At my question, Marie spoke again with a pale face.

“She said to save her. That she wouldn’t stand still if you turned a blind eye. That’s what she said.”

“Did she say that in front of everyone?”

“No, she suddenly came to me and told only me. No one else heard her words except me.”

“Can you swear to that?”

“Yes, of course. But, my lady, is that what’s important?”

I erased the fleeting smile that came to my mind by rubbing it with my thumb and said emphatically.

“Of course, it is. Very important.”

Has Margo finally drawn her sword? If so, what evidence did she have to take Blan?

Before telling Marie to lead the way, I thought I should visit Roena first.

Because such interesting things should be watched together. The more spectators there are, the more enjoyable the viewing will be. Especially if the one presiding over the play is an old fox!

Roena seemed very pleased and surprised by my visit. Since returning to the age of 16, I had never visited her room even once.

“I was bored, so this is perfect.”

She smiled brightly and slightly pushed aside the embroidery frame on the sofa.

Around this time, Roena often enjoyed completing embroidery and sharing it with those around her. Of course, she sometimes gave it to me as a gift, but I tore it all to shreds.

Anyway, she was famous for her skillful hands and embroidery, so the embroidery, which seemed close to completion, looked quite plausible. It looked like the family crest.

When Roena saw my gaze directed at the embroidery frame, she smiled shyly and said,

“It’s a handkerchief. I’m going to give it to Father as a gift.”

“He’ll like it.”

“I hope so. I’m not very good with my hands.”

Not good with your hands? Then what about other people who are worse than you?

In the past, she would embroider the latest trends on her old dresses and alter them to look almost new. It was possible because she was so skilled.

The skirt hem, where small flowers bloomed prettily and charmingly, was often more beautiful than the clothes I wore.

Was that why? Even though she had fallen into being a maid, her clothes were always neat and clean.

The handkerchief that Sir Halberd had cherished in the past was also her work.

Everyone liked the things she embroidered, but the person who used them most often and boasted about them to those around him was my adoptive father.

Whenever Roena gave him a new handkerchief, he would wipe his sweat with it - even though there was no sweat on his forehead - and subtly show off her embroidery skills. The same was true when embroidering his belt or engraving the family crest on his cloak.

So, people could admire Roena’s skillful hands even before she debuted in society, and they praised her as a beauty who was good at everything.

Roena, who was beautiful, had plenty of family wealth, and possessed all the intelligence and heart of a young lady, was the perfect girl that everyone wanted.

With that being the case, what is this humility?

In fact, if someone other than me were here, they would have praised her humility and extolled her talent - which is what Roena wanted - but unfortunately, I had no intention of doing so at all. Nor will I in the future.

“Come to think of it, this part seems a little raised. How about practicing more before giving it to him?”

Roena looked at me with wide eyes at my answer. She was very embarrassed and didn’t know what to do with her face flushed red. I looked at her with a calm voice and continued to speak.

“Why? Was there something you wanted to hear?”

Roena is an innocent girl, but like other young ladies, she was educated in the etiquette and rhetoric of noble families. Therefore, she had the talent to make the other person say what she wanted to hear, and she knew how to subtly force them.

Therefore, the innocence she possesses should be different from that of a country girl.

“Ah, no. It’s not like that.”

Roena seemed to realize that I had different values from other people, and that they would never please her ears.

So, she offered me tea and tried to get away from the topic of ‘humility’ she had shown a little while ago, and wanted to bring up a more relatable topic and chat like sisters.

But unfortunately, all the topics Roena brought up were only applicable to herself. She still didn’t seem to know why I hated or despised her. That was a very desirable thing.

I listened to her story with a bored expression. Roena seemed happy to see me after a long time and chattered like the women in the marketplace. All she talked about was tea parties, embroidery, and the outpouring of her difficult feelings for the past few days.

However, very cleverly, she did not complain about Miss Dibenzel or Madame de Châteauroux.

She was innocent but perceptive, and she fully demonstrated those feelings in situations where something unfavorable was likely to happen to her.

I interrupted Roena’s story - which was very rude - when I thought I had dragged on for a certain amount of time.

Perhaps by now, Margo’s commotion would have reached its peak, and Blan, shuddering with injustice, would be wagging her cunning tongue and satisfying the head maid’s heart.

“Roena, I heard a very interesting story on my way to you.”

“An interesting story?”

“I heard that the head maid used her authority to take a maid away. Do you know about it?”

“Oh, Margo is not a person who recklessly wields the authority she has. I’ve never seen a woman as sincere, faithful, and considerate as her.”

I twisted my lips at Roena’s denial and said in a cynical tone.

“Well, I can’t agree with the word considerate? Considering the shame I’ve tasted since coming to this mansion. If I were Margo, I would have sent me a kinder and more considerate maid. But she didn’t. Well, it’s all in the past.”

Roena carefully defended Margo in a small voice.

“How can I not know how you felt at that time? I would have been so upset if it were me. But, Sissae, I’m telling you again, I think there was a misunderstanding. Maybe the story was conveyed incorrectly.”

“If you say so, I guess I have to think so. But Margo is only too kind to you. I can say with certainty that she definitely hates me.”

“Please, Sissae. Why do you think so? It breaks my heart to hear you say that. Margo hates you, I don’t know how you can think that.”

I deliberately whined like a child.

“She never listens to me. She always looks at me with her eyes raised like this, as if I’m playing some trick.”

Roena seemed amused by my gesture - a ridiculous gesture of stretching my eyes long with my fingers - and burst out laughing.

It was probably the loudest laugh she had laughed since meeting me. Ah, how disgusting. I continued with certainty.

“Anyway, it’s certain that Margo hates me.”

Roena stops laughing and calls me with a troubled expression.

“Sissae, please.”

“Otherwise, what’s the reason for taking the child who accompanied me when I visited the Dibenzel Family this time?”

“Th, that’s……”

Roena glances behind me. I turned my head following her gaze.

A small jewelry box with gold leaf was placed on the dressing table with delicately embossed lilies. It must be the one with the key.

“You knew why, didn’t you.”

I pouted and said as if muttering. Roena bites her lip with a pale expression. It’s a habit that comes out when she’s embarrassed.

Judging from the fact that she was looking at the jewelry box containing the key, she seemed to think that Blan was the culprit who stole the key, just like Margo.

So, even though she put it back, the reason she took her away must be a warning to everyone, especially to Marie, who is rampant with me on her back.

So, should I act like a child? It would be fun to make her uncomfortable like a naive person who doesn’t know anything.

The initial intention of trying to coax her and take her away was long gone.

I wanted the audience who would be watching this ridiculous play to look at the stage with a more miserable expression.

Was that why? The capricious, fierce, and childish Sissae who throws a tantrum when things don’t go her way. The past me was slowly raising her head.

“I like Blan, but I don’t know what to do if Margo does this. She’s making such a fuss over nothing, what can I do?”

“Still, Sissae, Margo is not a woman who makes a big deal out of nothing. We need to respect the work Margo is doing as head maid.”

“That’s enough.”

I stomped my foot loudly. And I looked at the embarrassed Roena and got up from my seat. She was restless, surprised by the cold gaze I was sending her.

“You never think of me, neither last time nor this time. You’re just saying Sissae, Sissae. Well, a woman of humble origin dares to act as the eldest daughter of the Bishvarts Family, it’s an impossible dream.”

“Sissae!!”

Roena screams my name and reaches out her hand. I deliberately slapped her hand hard so that it would make a sound.

The feeling on the palm of my hand is quite tingling, and the back of her hand may be swollen red. Roena was holding the back of her hand and tearing up. I said with a sneer.

“I’m going to Margo now. I’m planning to watch her very responsible actions worthy of the name of head maid. I’m also going to hear the story of why she specifically took Blan, who accompanied me, out of so many people.”

I narrowed my eyes and stared at her face. It was fun to watch her face changing every moment, and it was funny to see her cowering like a coward and turning her gaze to the jewelry box.

Above all, her shaking eyes made me have one conviction. She, who knew that there was a key in the jewelry box but condoned Margo taking Blan, is now feeling guilty.

So, as if tempting her, I slowly licked my lips with my tongue and whispered.

“Let’s go and see it together. Show me the head maid that you love and trust so much. Make me understand. No, you can just stand there. Aren’t you curious?”

It’s funny. Guilt only comes out when someone stabs you. I couldn’t understand why the emotions that wouldn’t have mattered if they hadn’t been mentioned were coming out so nakedly in such a pathetic way.

Is she trying to find rationality in her decision only when Margo, who has finished her work, comes back and tells her everything in detail?