Chapter 57
~Chapter 57~
At that one word, all eyes turned to Daphne with pitying expressions.
She looked as though she regretted speaking up, but words that had already left her mouth could not be taken back.
Her close friend Melody gently took Daphne’s hand and spoke.
「Then… how about going to that shop with me tomorrow? Okay?」
「I—I want to go too! My lavender toner is almost gone anyway!」
The friends nodded eagerly, watching Daphne’s reaction with bated breath.
It had been nearly ten months since Daphne had stopped going out. At this rate, it would soon be a full year. Everyone had been quietly worrying about her.
Tea parties or banquets might still overwhelm her, but a light shopping trip to the bustling streets should be manageable. That was what everyone cautiously—and desperately—hoped for.
Daphne let out a small sigh.
She really didn’t want to go out. But disappointing her caring friends felt even worse. And… she was curious about that toner said to help with sleep.
「…Okay. I’ll go.」
In that instant, her friends let out silent cheers of joy.
Seviol Street bustled with people as always.
Alongside Peyton Street, it was one of the main shopping districts for nobles, so crowds were to be expected. With year-end events and holidays approaching, it was also the season for stocking up on new clothes and accessories.
The carriage of House Ruth came to a stop right in front of the St. Clarissa Soap & Herb Shop. It didn’t attract much notice, but Daphne was still tense at the thought of stepping outside, cold sweat beading on her skin.
「It’ll be fine, Daphne. Our carriage will wait right here, so we’ll just buy what we need and head straight back.」
「Thank you, Melody.」
Daphne took a deep breath and carefully stepped down from the carriage with her friends.
A plain white hat and scarf covered half her face, but her famous silver hair would give her away to anyone looking closely.
Ding-a-ling.
The silver bell on the shop door chimed as they entered, and a clerk dressed in a nun-like uniform greeted them with a warm smile.
「May the Lord’s blessings be with you. Welcome.」
「We’re here to look at the lavender toner. Do you have any in stock?」
「Yes, a fresh shipment arrived from the convent two days ago. This way, please.」
While Melody spoke with the clerk, Daphne stood quietly at the back, surveying the shop.
Fortunately, there were no other customers at the moment. If they bought what they needed quickly, no one would find out she’d gone out.
But just then, a door behind the counter opened, and a young woman exuding noble poise emerged, chatting with another clerk.
「…We’ll put up the new poster design mid-month. Make sure it doesn’t leak ahead of time like last time.」
「We’re really looking forward to this poster too.」
The woman waved her hand modestly, a shy flush on her cheeks. It was unmistakably Harriet Listerwell, the model for the new poster.
The moment Daphne realized it, her body went rigid, and her friends panicked, awkwardly trying to shield her. Unfortunately, their movements only drew more attention, and Harriet’s gaze naturally settled on them.
「Lady Daphne Laurel?」
As Harriet called out to her, the others stepped awkwardly aside, unsure what to do, but strangely, Daphne regained her calm.
「Hello, Lady Harriet… Listerwell, right?」
「Yes. Nice to see you. I didn’t expect to run into you here.」
Daphne managed a faint smile.
But Harriet approached with genuine warmth, as if she knew nothing of the drama between Daphne, James, and Bella.
「I overheard you just now. Are you here for the lavender toner?」
「Ah… My friends wanted to buy some, so I tagged along to browse.」
「I use it myself, and I highly recommend it. It doesn’t just hydrate your skin—the scent is incredibly soothing. One deep breath, and your mind feels at peace.」
Melody, standing nearby, smiled awkwardly and cut in.
「Um—we should probably head back now. Right, girls?」
She leaned in to whisper to Daphne. 「Don’t push yourself.」
Harriet closely examined Daphne’s face, half-obscured by her hat and scarf.
Her once rosy cheeks were now pale and hollowed out, her eyes sunken. Her delicate features remained beautiful, but they had lost their spark, the former glow vanished.
And Harriet knew exactly why.
‘Bella’s ruined another one.’
Most people saw Daphne merely as a pitiful girl abandoned by her lover.
But Harriet knew the truth.
It wasn’t James Cheslow who had first broken Daphne. It was Bella Listerwell.
James pursuing Bella first? Bella succumbing to his relentless courtship?
All lies. Utter nonsense.
James Cheslow had been all but engaged to Daphne. There had been no rumors, no hints of interest in another woman.
So if a man like that fell for Bella, it could only mean one thing: she had orchestrated it.
She wasn’t the type to helplessly give her heart to just anyone.
As Daphne turned to leave the shop, shielded by her friends, Harriet called out to her back.
「Better late than never, but congratulations on the broken engagement.」
Everyone whipped around to stare at her in disbelief. Even Daphne froze.
「…What did you just say?」
Melody looked ready to lunge at Harriet, her expression fierce with fury.
But Harriet didn’t bat an eye.
「James Cheslow, right? You should be grateful you didn’t end up married to such a shallow, blind fool. Call it divine grace.」
「Lady Harriet!」
「Of course, it wasn’t a pleasant ordeal. I get it. Daphne Laurel, you were the victim—of both James Cheslow and Bella Listerwell. So why are you the one hiding away like a criminal?」
Before Daphne could shake off the shock, Melody could hold back no longer and shoved Harriet roughly.
「You’re insane! Even with your spotless reputation, there are lines you don’t cross!」
「Well, my reputation has nowhere left to fall, so I’m just saying what others won’t.」
Harriet calmly brushed off her shoulders and straightened her posture.
「Daphne, the more you hide, the bolder Bella gets.」
「Don’t talk about that woman!」
As Melody bristled to explode again, Daphne raised a slender arm to stop her.
With her friends watching in surprise, Daphne took a step toward Harriet.
「You’re Bella’s cousin, aren’t you? Why say something like that?」
「Oh, haven’t you heard? I’m infamous as the spiteful cousin who only trashes Bella out of jealousy.」
Harriet glanced over Daphne’s friends.
「But does what I’m saying sound like trashing Bella?」
Silence blanketed the shop.
Harriet stepped closer to Daphne.
「All you lost was a worthless man who fell for cheap temptation. You still have your steadfast family, loyal friends, and your beauty. What’s there to wallow in sorrow over?」
「…He wasn’t worthless.」
「Then it’s time you realized that was your delusion.」
「No! James… he…!」
Tears welled in Daphne’s eyes.
Harriet sensed she needed to push just one step further—to pierce the exact truth Daphne couldn’t face on her own.
She drew close enough to meet Daphne’s gaze head-on.
「It wasn’t him who had value. It was your love. He was worthless, exactly as he seemed.」
At those words, Daphne’s tears burst forth, and she collapsed right there on the spot.
「Daphne!」
Her startled friends rushed to support her. Melody glared at Harriet, still shaking with rage.
「I see what you’re trying to do, but right now, even his name hurts her. Stop pretending you’re so wise.」
She helped Daphne to her feet and led her out of the shop.
In the aftermath of the storm, only Harriet and the two clerks remained in the hushed store.
「…Should we not have brought out the lavender toner?」
One of the clerks broke the silence with an unexpected remark.
Harriet let out an awkward chuckle and picked up the two bottles she’d set aside earlier.
「I’ll take these two.」
「Just two?」
「I’ll come back later and buy up the rest.」
Harriet winked, drawing a wry laugh from the clerk.
She gathered her things and left as if nothing had happened—but to Daphne and her friends, it was anything but nothing.
「…Sorry. I didn’t mean to drag you out like this.」
Melody apologized with a deep sigh.
The other friends were still seething.
「That woman’s the same as ever. As rude as can be…!」
「She acted like she was insulting Bella, but who knows—maybe they’re in on it together.」
