Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 253

While the rest of the Lasphilla family packed their belongings to return to the Coffret Manor, Caroline began unpacking hers.

“I’ll stay in the capital a bit longer before returning. I haven’t met with all my friends here yet, and they’d be upset if I left without seeing them.”

Most of Caroline’s friends were from the central region. It was unlikely she had any close enough connections in the capital for anyone to feel genuinely disappointed if they didn’t meet her.

Yet, Bernarda didn’t try to stop her.

“Alright, you’re an adult now. We left in such a hurry that we couldn’t inspect the townhouse properly. It works out well that you’ll be here to handle it.”

“Yes, I’ll take care of things before returning.”

Margaret looked at Caroline, baffled by her desire to stay in the capital.

“Why would you want to stay in this boring place? I want to leave as soon as possible!”

“Well, that’s because you don’t have any friends in Mannheim.”

Margaret slumped her shoulders.

Cecilia, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, began counting days on her fingers. A faint smile spread across her lips.

***

At the same time.

The Lasphilla estate was in an uproar.

“Say that again. Who? Who is Ceci rumored to be involved with?”

“Well, not exactly involved, but… she’s caught up in some unpleasant rumors…”

“That is being involved!”

Lilith shouted, her anger making her stagger backward. She collapsed into an armchair as though fainting.

“Oh, my head…”

“Shall I fetch some medicine?”

“No, just leave me alone. I can’t think straight with you here.”

She waved off the maid and dismissed her. Then she reached for a glass of liquor on the table. The moment the nagger left for the capital, Lilith had been drinking like it was water.

Even now, she was mildly intoxicated.

“How could she do this? How could she…!”

The glass in her hand flew into the wall, shattering with a loud crash. Lilith’s voice trembled as she began to cry. The carpet, now stained with shards and liquor, seemed to mirror the state of her heart.

“Ceci, how could you…”

A wave of betrayal that defied explanation washed over her.

She had thought Cecilia would live a life different from hers. She’d marry into a wealthy noble family and proudly take her place as the lady of the house.

“Do you want to live like me?”

As a mistress. With your name scrawled in a forgotten corner of the servants’ registry, rather than among the owners of the household.

“Like me…”

Lilith bit down on the emotions surging up, tasting the artificial bitterness of her makeup.

“No. What’s wrong with me?”

She gripped the armrests of the chair tightly, her teeth grinding in frustration.

“I’m rich too. I eat whatever I want, buy whatever I want, and do whatever I want…”

Tears dripped onto the carpet, adding a fresh stain in its center. She stared blankly at the spreading wet patch for a long, long time.

In that stain, she saw her daughter’s face. A shattering sound echoed in her mind, as though glass were breaking. She suddenly snapped back to reality, as if emerging from a drunken haze.

“No, this isn’t the time for this. I… I have to do something!”

Until now, Cecilia had always borne the burden of Lilith’s mistakes. Cecilia rarely made mistakes of her own.

This was new territory for Lilith. She had no idea what to do. But she knew she had to act.

Because she was Cecilia’s mother.

She had to protect her.

Even if she didn’t know how. Even if she didn’t know the way.

‘I cannot be the one to let go of your hand. Even if you let go, I will hold on tightly. I can’t let go over something like this.’

They had to endure it together.

“First… the Count! I need to go to the Count…”

Lilith fumbled over her words, trying to form a plan. Her vocabulary wasn’t strong enough to support her emotions, so her thoughts never developed beyond vague intentions.

‘I’ll have to apologize, right?’

The Count must be furious with Cecilia. He must be lying in wait for her, ready to unleash his wrath. He might beat her within an inch of her life or send her to the monastery.

“No, no…”

Cecilia had unjustly suffered beatings from the Count as a child. It had been because of Lilith.

Every time Lilith made a mistake, the punishment would fall on Cecilia. When she realized this, long after the fact, she had cried and begged endlessly.

She had pleaded for him to punish her instead, claiming all the blame.

But instead of beating her, the Count dragged her to the bed. Lilith had thrown herself even more fervently into her role after that.

Even so, every time she made another mistake, the Count would summon Cecilia. He no longer beat her unfairly, but the memory still weighed heavily on Lilith.