Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 113
Suddenly, her expression changed. Madame ClĂ©onâor rather, Mrs. ClĂ©on. Although she had faintly felt it before, she seemed to perceive that natural title as if it were a derogatory one.
‘Why? Missus or Madame is a sufficiently formal term to address a servant.’
Because she’s unmarried? If that were the case, she would have mentioned it beforehand.
She showed a deep aversion not so much to ‘Madame’ as to her own surname, ‘ClĂ©on’.
Perhaps she’s dissatisfied with her gypsy origins, or because of her origins, she’s using a pseudonym.
Having finished her thoughts, Cecilia took a step towards her and spoke.
“Madame ClĂ©on.”
Again, a brief emotion flickered across her face.
“Louise ClĂ©on.”
This time, she openly showed displeasure.
“Miss, I am well aware that I am below you, but if I am not receiving the proper treatment as your teacher…”
“Do you not realize your current situation?”
Louise’s mouth closed.
“Look where you are. What you’ve done here.”
Cecilia turned the lantern, illuminating the roomâdrawers, cabinets, even the bed. Quite a mess she had made.
“I could call someone right now, or scream.”
“Would that really benefit you, Miss?”
Louise countered.
“There’s a lost item. I suspected Miss Lilith had taken it but kept quiet. I didn’t want to cause unnecessary commotion.”
“If this isn’t a commotion, what is?”
“Personal search.”
“Ah, a search.”
Cecilia exaggeratedly opened her mouth and rolled her eyes, and Louise gave a bitter smile.
“I was just looking for my belongings and intended to put everything back as it was. Then Miss Lilith wouldn’t have to be reproached for a moment of temptation, and it would preserve your honor as well, Miss Cecilia.”
“How thoughtful of you, Madame ClĂ©on.”
Cecilia said, holding back a laugh. She talks well despite being so blatantly shameless. But it was a pathetic excuse without needing to chew on.
“Unfortunately, I don’t need such consideration. I’m calling someone.”
“You’re calling someone? To this Garnet Room?”
Louise’s neck was still stiff. She had more to say.
“Have you forgotten what day it is?”
“What day is it… I’m bad with dates.”
Louise smiled triumphantly.
“It’s the day your fiancĂ© first visited.”
“Ah, right. I forgot.”
Cecilia responded nonchalantly.
“But what does that have to do with this right now?”
“On the day your fiancĂ© visits, is there a need to cause a disturbance in the Garnet Room?”
Louise said.
“Even if the room is cleaned, traces of people don’t disappear overnight. If so many belongings remain in a room that should have been empty for a long time, your fiancĂ© might naturally infer there was another guest, and it’s only a matter of time before Miss Lilith’s presence is discovered.”
“…”
“Is this really what the Count wishes for?”
If Cecilia causes a fuss, it’s not just herself that would suffer.
Louise replaced the rest of her words with a menacing look. If you don’t want to meet your end, just nod and keep your mouth shut, she implied.
‘Impressively shameless. That alone is commendable.’
Cecilia inwardly revised her assessment of the woman slightly higher and, as if intimidated by her audacity, meekly nodded like a timid girl crushed by her spirit.
“Y-You’re threatening me now, arenât youâŠ?”
Cecilia spoke with a crestfallen expression, causing Louise to droop her eyebrows.
“I regret that you’ve so misunderstood my concern.”
Regret. Cecilia almost burst into as loud a laughter as a scream at that word.
Louise was still smiling, standing there as if someone had pulled her lips up with strings, a bit of tension in her smile. It was the ease of someone who believed she held the upper hand.
No, the ease of someone who was mistaken in believing so.
Cecilia said with a trembling voice,
“Then⊠please tell me what item you were looking for. I can help you look for it⊔
“It’s a ring that I cherish.”
“A ringâŠ?”
“Yes. The engagement ring my lover gave me.”
“You claim that Miss Lilith stole such an important item? I can’t believe it. Miss Lilith owns several pieces of jewelry, why would she⊔
“I don’t know why she did it either. But human greed is endless⊠and Miss Lilith is particularly faithful to her desires.”
Louise subtly criticized Lilith’s frivolous situation. It was like a thief denouncing another thief.
But Cecilia was not angry. Pretending to be sorry, she spoke with tears in her eyes,
“I didn’t know Miss Lilith would covet even a servantâs belongings⊔
She added an apology,
To make sure she was completely reassured.
Relief flickered in her eyes. She probably thought,
‘What a fool.’
That misconception was a welcome one for Cecilia.
