96 - Pieces of the Broken Glass Slipper
Shattered Glass Slipper Shards 96
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Nevertheless, the reason I don't remind them of the fact that the Empress is on bad terms with Chatoul and has even secluded herself due to severe ridicule is because I know my mother will worry all night because of me. She would surely be swallowing back the rising tears all alone.
That's why I readily agreed. Sometimes, obedience in the form of silence is better than the fierce protest that every action embraces.
Isn't it better than revealing a truth that everyone knows but is quick to overlook, creating unnecessary worry?
This ridiculous puppet show barely came to an end near evening. I was the only one who maintained a nonchalant attitude while everyone else was satisfied.
Seeing this, my mother said it was because I was nervous, and Roena uttered insincere words, saying I should get plenty of rest.
Among the numerous dresses, the one unanimously chosen was a skirt with a color similar to the dress Roena had tailored. This was because someone's comment about creating the image of friendly sisters by only changing the jewelry pleased my mother and Roena.
I saw them off with a tired expression. My mother continued to nag me incessantly as she left the room, enough to make my ears hurt.
Her constant chatter was giving me a headache. I understand her concern, but her expression of it is too much.
"You must go to bed early tonight, okay? Don't be too nervous thinking about tomorrow. And what else is there?"
I kissed my mother on the cheek, replying that I understood. Then, I stopped Roena, who was trying to kiss my cheek, and said quietly.
"Roena, can you show me the invitation again? I was so moved that I want to read it again."
"Of course, it's not difficult. Here you go."
The texture of the paper that touched my fingertips is truly disgusting. It was filled with malice towards me in every corner, enough to give me goosebumps. In addition, Roena's face, believing this to be a genuine 'invitation,' is also nauseating.
I lightly pushed her face away with my finger as she tried to kiss my cheek again and smiled quietly.
"Thank you. Good night."
And without even hearing her reply, I immediately closed the door.
As my mother, Roena, and the maids they brought along receded like the tide, silence descended upon the room. Lost in that silence, I quietly scanned my surroundings.
Marie, Seril, and Blan were busily moving around, organizing clothes and accessories in various places. Only the clothes and accessories to be worn tomorrow were set aside.
"We need to choose the clothes again."
Their movements stop at my words. Seril, who was just about to put a dress in the closet, looks at me as if asking what I mean.
"Roena's dress is a new dress carefully made for tomorrow. It's the latest fashion. Mine isn't. But if we wear dresses of similar colors, what will other people think? Oh, it's terrible just thinking about it. So, we'll choose something else."
"The Madam will be disappointed."
I said to Marie as if I had heard something insignificant.
"It would be better than hearing rumors that I suffered the humiliation of having my clothes compared at the Imperial Palace."
Then, Seril quietly starts taking clothes out of the closet again. Blan had already appeared behind me, untying the ribbons and buttons of the dress.
Marie closed her mouth and avoided my gaze. I smiled faintly, watching her shoulders ripple.
The next day, as Marie had predicted, my mother made an openly disappointed expression as soon as she saw my dress. The way her expression changed with each step she took down the stairs was a spectacle worth seeing alone.
As soon as I came down the last step, my mother moved close to me and began to whisper in a low voice. Her face was smiling, but the voice that came out was quite serious.
"Why didn't you wear the clothes we all chose yesterday? You should have worn what you prepared in advance since you're entering the Imperial Palace. Roena will be very disappointed."
It was as if she was watching the stepdaughter's mood. I uttered a plausible lie.
"I accidentally dirtied the clothes. So, I had no choice but to wear other clothes. But it's as good as the dress we chose yesterday, so you don't have to worry."
But my mother didn't seem to believe me at all. She had been worried about my attitude towards Roena all along, so how could she not ask 'Really?' several times.
"Roena won't be upset about things like this. No, even if she is, she will overcome it very resiliently. Because there is something more important waiting for her."
As expected, Roena, who appeared a little late, was not at all interested in my dress. She seemed to be focused only on the fact that she was going to the Imperial Palace with me.
She expressed her apology for making everyone wait and naturally took my hand. Fortunately, I was wearing lace gloves.
We rode in the carriage sent by the Empress. This meant that she was treating the Bischwartz Young Lady with respect.
Of course, since one cannot use the Imperial Palace's property for a private gathering like tea time, another carriage was sent—the carriage belonged to the Empress's main family, the 'Kiran Dukedom'—but no one complained about this.
Most people seemed to be rather moved by the courtesy she was showing.
"Have a good time."
Roena and I kissed our mother on the cheek and got into the carriage. Perhaps because she was with her, Margo had also come out to see us off this time.
For a very brief moment, the face of the head maid, who met my gaze, was full of discomfort. It was in stark contrast to Marie, who was smiling broadly.
Perhaps because it was owned by 'Kiran,' which is one of the three dukedoms in the Empire, the inside of the carriage was very elegant and comfortable. Even though we were speeding down the main street, I could hardly feel any discomfort.
It was especially nice that the interior was spacious enough that the hem of each other's dresses wouldn't be stepped on when we sat facing each other.
The small mirror inside was also a unique feature that could not be seen in ordinary carriages.
While heading to the Imperial Palace, Roena made constant efforts to talk to me several times. I declined, using the excuse that I was dizzy from the tension.
Fortunately, although she would normally have shown an openly disappointed attitude, she was trying to act quite mature today.
After a little time passed, the carriage quickly passed through the main gate of the Imperial Palace. As I raised my head, seeing the familiar scenery, the well-groomed garden trees passed by quickly beyond the window. The horse's head was turned towards the Empress's palace.
"Just watch me and follow along. Don't be nervous, just trust me."
Roena says. The way she speaks with her chin slightly raised looks just like her aunt. Especially the way she straightens her back and meets my gaze is a behavior that Madame de Lavalier often shows.
Instead of answering, I stared at her. The Roena before my eyes, with her previous self nowhere to be found, was the very product of excellent and elegant education that the etiquette teacher had praised to the point of exhaustion.
That was the her that I couldn't stand back then. Her eyes, sparkling with confidence, fully capture my expressionless face looking at her. A gentle smile with a smooth curve was softly placed on Roena's lips.
"I'll get off first. After I get off, watch and follow me. Got it?"
A moment later, the carriage stops and the door opens. Roena, who got off with the escort of the coachman, stood very naturally in front of the maids who came to greet us.
"Welcome, Bischwartz Young Lady."
Standing in the group of maids was a gray-haired old woman. It was Mrs. Harriet, the Empress's closest aide and the head of the Imperial Palace maids.
She was known to have entered the Imperial Palace after catching the eye of the former Empress—that is, the current Emperor's mother—as the mistress of the Harriet County, which had now fallen and disappeared.
As an accomplished figure who had risen to the position of head maid through constant effort, she was deeply trusted by the current Empress for her strong sense of responsibility and control.
In addition, she was exerting considerable influence in social circles and was being evaluated as an important figure. She was said to be coordinating the relationship between the noble ladies and the Empress quite well by making full use of her position.
The fact that such a woman was sent out to greet the young ladies of a mere County, who had not even debuted in social circles, would be significant in any sense.
"Are you Mrs. Harriet? Nice to meet you. I am Roena of the Bishvarts Family."
"Nice to meet you. I am Sissae of the Bishvarts Family."
I greeted her, following Roena's actions as she had said. Mrs. Harriet looked at us with deeply wrinkled eyes and then smiled brightly.
"She is waiting. Please follow me."
Before returning, I had never visited the Empress's palace even once. This was because Empress Kiran despised and scorned me like other women.
So, I was the only one who did not receive the tea time invitation that should have been received even as a formality—a gathering held every year at the Empress's palace to celebrate social debut—and was subjected to intentional isolation.
If one of the young ladies who entered society on the same day had not talked about the tea time hosted by the Empress, I would not have even known that such a gathering existed.
It was the day I first learned what the word 'humiliation' felt like. Perhaps I am the only young lady from a County or higher who debuted in society and has not faced the Empress with a fan.
Foolishly, in the past, I believed that I would be able to talk to her someday. So, I asked an etiquette teacher to diligently learn the etiquette of the Imperial Palace.
I thought that if I could exchange words even once—even if it was a light-hearted chat—the gazes of the noble ladies looking at me might change.
It was a futile wish that was never fulfilled until I died. Anyway, to enter the Empress's palace in this way, one can never know what will happen in life.
Since it was where the Empress resided, things like the paintings and decorations lined up in the hallway were so different from Chatoul's palace.
The elegant, sophisticated, and even antique interior design had a subtle dignity. The attire of the maids passing through the hallway was also close to the standard itself. Their silent footsteps, as if gliding, were so quiet that it seemed as if they were floating.
As a result, the sound of shoes heavily pressing down on the hallway carpet sounded strangely jarring, and I naturally became more conscious of my gait. This was the same for Roena as well.
As we approached the room, a maid who came to greet us bowed to Mrs. Harriet and us. And after knocking lightly, she immediately informs them of our arrival.
Whether Roena and I were the last guests, as soon as the door opened, gazes poured down like rain. They were all familiar faces, women who could be said to be on the Empress's side.
As if they had coordinated, they all fanned themselves and covered their mouths. However, with the keenly moving eyes and the tip of the tongue passing over the lower teeth, whispering in sounds like '-da,' it was impossible not to know how secretly they were sharing their opinions.
They were sitting gracefully like swans floating on the water, but beneath them, the struggles of all sorts were fiercely raging. And at the center of it was the Empress.
