75 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards 75
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Thanks to that, those who cried out, "Can love change that ice-like man like this?" began to overflow.
Women collapsing from jealousy increased one after another. It was only natural that I, who had completely melted him, would be transformed into a femme fatale.
As the situation became like this, my mother wanted to send a thank-you gift to Michael Ayres. It seemed she thought it was only right to do so, as he had been sending flowers for a long time.
The thank-you gift that my beautiful mother came up with after much deliberation was a handkerchief embroidered by hand.
My mother handed me silk cloth and the finest silk thread—even gold thread—along with the Ayres family crest, saying, "Men cherish items that contain a woman's heart." She said it with a flutter in her voice, like a young girl.
In truth, I hadn't been thinking about a thank-you gift. I had lightly thought that even if I did send one, I could just buy a few things from the store. That was the extent of the meaning the flowers he sent held for me.
However, my mother's eyes were filled with unspoken pressure, as if asking, "Can't you embroider it right away?" and even my stepfather subtly hoped for it, so I had no choice but to embroider.
No, it wasn't just those two. Everyone in the mansion wanted me to give him a handkerchief as a token of my affection.
Even Marie, who knew I was uncomfortable with him, went so far as to put an embroidery frame in my hands. What was so special about that handkerchief?
Because it was something I didn't want to do, I pretended to be sick for several days, not even looking at a single thread. But because my mother came in and out of my room several times a day to check on the progress of the embroidery, I had no choice but to reluctantly pick up the needle.
It was because I couldn't ignore your face, which was filled with joy each time the Ayres family crest slowly but surely emerged on the silk cloth. It was my mother's face, full of pride in me. How could I distort that expression?
It had been drizzling for the past few days, and the weather had finally cleared up yesterday and today. Being cooped up in my room in the gloomy weather made my body ache all over.
Marie, who was tidying up the bed, asked me,
"What will you be doing today, Miss?"
"I'm going to sit in the garden and embroider today."
"Shall I set up a place for you?"
"Yes, please. I'll be alone today, so call me when the place is ready."
"Yes, Miss."
Before long, Marie, who had finished preparing, called me. It was a day when the wind was quite chilly compared to the sunshine pouring down after the rain. I put on the thick shawl that Marie handed me and moved to a sunny spot in the garden.
In the past, I had done quite a bit of embroidery to make gifts for Sir Halberd, so my skills now surpassed Roena's in some areas.
Each time the Ayres family crest gradually took shape, my mother was amazed at how good I was with my hands, and Marie was very pleased that I had even surpassed Roena in embroidery. Seril, who had watched Roena closely, also looked at me anew, as if impressed by my skills.
So, this should be something I wouldn't be ashamed to show off anywhere. I let out a soft sigh as I looked at the embroidery, which only had Michael Ayres's initials left to be done. Once I decided to get it done quickly, it was already nearing completion.
I should make one for Marian while I'm at it, right?
Madame de Châteauroux continued to send me letters, as if she would not withdraw her affection for me even though I had not visited her for a long time, using illness as an excuse.
It was only natural that she would send me medicine that was good for my body and books to relieve my boredom. Interestingly, she kept me on edge by going back and forth between the innocent Marian and the femme fatale Chatoul in her handwritten letters.
The sharp arrogance that was revealed sporadically between the lines made me realize anew who I was dealing with.
The letter that arrived this time was from Marian, and she mentioned that she knew I was making a handkerchief for Sir Ayres and asked me to make one for her as well.
And she sent me the design she wanted, which wasn't difficult, so I thought I could make it quickly. So, I took up a quill and replied to Marian, saying that I would send it as soon as it was finished.
Then, a reply came again, this time bearing Madame de Châteauroux's handwriting. She asked in the letter when I would get better. No, to be exact, she was asking when I would be allowed to get up.
Madame de Châteauroux seemed to have finally realized that I was openly avoiding her. And that it wasn't of my own volition.
[I'm preparing a fun party. It's a masquerade, so it will be very fun. I'll prepare the dress and mask, so Sis only needs to show up in good health.]
Madame de Châteauroux often appeared at Masquerade parties, avoiding the Emperor's eyes, and mingled with other men. The old Emperor didn't seem to know at all that his concubine was playing with men other than him.
No, according to his perverted habits, he might be aware of it but leave it alone. That was the assessment of the Emperor's sex life within society.
In any case, even though her face was covered with a mask, the flamboyant dress that was pulled down so deeply that it was vulgar was her symbol, so there was no one who didn't know that Chatoul enjoyed lewd pleasures, but they were afraid of her and secretly whispered about it.
Madame de Châteauroux was inviting me to such a Masquerade.
What should I do? I stopped embroidering and pondered.
The Masquerade that Chatoul participated in was a very lewd party, but there was no other place where you could meet the people of society so frankly.
It was a place where you could easily hear the ugly truth revealed behind the facade of the aristocracy, with reason hidden behind a glamorous mask and only the true nature left.
What could be lighter than the tongues of people drunk on alcohol, drugs, and tobacco? And that's not all. It was also a place where you could meet the true 'woman' that Madame de Châteauroux had mentioned.
So, how could I not worry? If I was careful, it was a party with more to gain than lose.
Should I go? No, could I go? What could I do first if I went?
Unable to overcome my pounding heart, I gasped for breath and accidentally bumped the basket containing the thread.
One of the spools that came out of the overturned basket rolled far away. Before I could even get up to pick it up, it rolled and bumped into someone's foot, barely stopping.
I quietly muttered the name of 'someone'.
"Sir Halberd."
Lustewin Halberd was standing in that place, the same spot where I had faced him on the terrace in the past.
Ah. I barely swallowed the rising sigh. Why had I forgotten?
That this garden was the place where the former me was always waiting to meet Sir Halberd.
The fact that I had simply thought of it as a convenient place right outside my room, but that it was originally an unconscious expression of latent memory, was just sad.
The handsome knight, who seemed to have returned from the training grounds, was looking blankly at the spool that had rolled to his feet. And soon, he bent down and picked up the spool.
"May I bring it to you?"
The words that flowed out through my parted lips were more cautious and polite than usual. It was as if he was finding it difficult to face me.
"Yes, please do."
I tried to act nonchalant.
As soon as I finished speaking, Sir Halberd strode over and held out the spool, but strangely, his gaze was directed at the embroidery frame on my lap.
He frowned as if he knew what I was embroidering. He was a breathtakingly handsome man just to look at, so even his frowning was like a painting, but I was more uncomfortable with the fact that he was looking at the Ayres family crest.
So, I quickly turned the embroidery frame over. And I reached out and took the spool.
"Thank you. You've been a great help."
"I know that you are having difficulty moving due to your illness. So, shouldn't I help you? It's beautiful embroidery."
"Yes?"
"You won't see a work like this anywhere in the world."
Strangely, Lustewin Halberd's voice, unlike the words he was uttering, did not contain any joy about the praise.
It was creating a strange resonance, as if he had barely pulled out something that was being suppressed. In any case, he was praising my skills, so I had no choice but to give a humble response.
"You flatter me. Roena alone has more outstanding skills than I do. No, perhaps you already know. You must have the handkerchief she embroidered herself."
Yes, was it around this time? Roena, who was deeply immersed in the joy of embroidery, had prepared and gifted Sir Halberd's handkerchief in addition to my stepfather's.
Unable to bear it, I had shouted loudly, asking for a maid who was good at embroidery.
Ah, that's how I started embroidering. I gritted my teeth, determined to create embroidery that was as good as Roena's.
But the work that was completed even after poking holes in my hands was so poor that I couldn't bring myself to give it to him. The crooked lines felt like my ugly self.
Sir Halberd frowned as if he had heard something strange. Would it be a delusion if it felt like he was asking, 'What handkerchief?'
Perhaps he hasn't finished the handkerchief yet? I hurriedly continued speaking.
"I heard rumors in the past that Roena was preparing Sir Halberd's handkerchief. Was it around the time she was embroidering my father's handkerchief? So, I thought she would have finished it by now and given it to you as a gift."
"I've never heard of it."
"Then you'll be receiving it soon. Congratulations."
Despite my congratulations, he didn't seem very happy. Even though the beautiful girl that everyone loved was making a handkerchief for him, he didn't have any particular reaction.
Rather, he seemed to want to continue talking about the embroidery that I had turned over.
"I understand that the embroidery you are doing now is a thank-you gift for Sir Ayres."
"Yes. It's a reward for sending flowers, worrying about my health."
"You are embroidering by hand because he was concerned about your health?"
"Yes. Sir Halberd, is there any problem with that?"
Lustewin Halberd suddenly made an anxious expression, like someone being chased by something, and bit his lip tightly.
He ran his hand over his forehead, then suddenly sighed, swallowed hard, and finally met my gaze.
Sir Halberd's face was flushed red, like someone about to say something very embarrassing.
"At the hunting grounds... I mean, at the hunting grounds, I..."
"The hunting grounds? Are you talking about the hunting grounds you went to with Dibenzel?"
"Yes. Do you remember?"
"Yes. Of course, I remember. You saved my life."
"...So, please make one for me as a thank-you gift."
What on earth was he trying to say? I carefully called his name. Lustewin Halberd was very flustered, unlike his usual self.
"Sir Halberd? Please tell me again. I don't understand what you're saying."
"So, what I want to say is... I know it's a cowardly and petty thing to say, but please make one for me too. As compensation for helping you, please make a handkerchief for me too."
"A handkerchief... you mean?"
"Yes. A handkerchief embroidered by you, Miss."
Was he being serious? Or was my hearing going crazy? I stared into Lustewin Halberd's eyes as if I couldn't believe it.
