Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 49
“Ha…!”
Guinevere was momentarily at a loss for words. For a moment, all she could do was stare blankly at the woman, but soon enough, she let out a cynical laugh through her teeth.
“All this, for just that.”
Lilith clasped her fists neatly under her knees. Holding the lace of her skirt tightly, she stuttered,
“A chaperone is like a noble ladyâs guardian, right? I heard that a good chaperone ensures youâre not disregarded when you debut in high society. At parties, they can easily introduce you to valuable connections…”
“…”
Indeed, this wench always acted like she had a screw loose in her head whenever it came to her daughter.
But nevertheless, Guinevere was on borrowed time. It was palpably clear that her life’s wick was barely flickering.
“Bring me some paper.”
Guinevere demanded.
“I’ll write the certificate right now.”
Lilith quickly produced the prepared paper and pen. Despite her trembling hands, Guinevere’s writing was elegant.
Lilith, being illiterate, couldn’t understand the writing, but Guinevere didn’t know that. She had never lived among those who couldn’t read, so she never considered the possibility.
Guinevere stamped the corner of the certificate and used a melted candle to press the Rosencrantz seal.
“Is this sufficient?”
Only after receiving the certificate did Lilith pull out a small bottle from her pocket.
“Here’s the antidote.”
“If this is fake, I will curse you and your daughter even in death.”
Saying so, Guinevere swallowed the antidote. There was no immediate changeâwhether she lived or died, the medicine would show its effect soon.
Facing death, Guinevere was desperate.
Lilith observed the noblewomanâs desire for life and honor from the corner of her eye.
Her gaze, attitude, tone, and even her contempt-laden voice.
This woman had once been Lilith’s dream. An unattainable dream.
“…”
This was the first time she had ever had such a long conversation with her. Maybe it would be the first and last.
Lilith had always wanted to talk to Guinevere, independent of Ceciliaâs request, driven solely by her own desires.
Was it remnants of an old fondness? Her mouth moved on its own.
“Pardon me.”
“Hmm?”
“How can I live like you?”
“âŚAre you mocking me?”
Guinevere laughed incredulously.
“I’m serious. I don’t want to be trapped like this forever. I, I want to be a Countess. But you… you achieved what I want.”
“Youâve gone mad, havenât you? What nonsense.”
Guinevere laughed with a gaunt neck. Then abruptly, her laughter stopped.
“Itâs simple.”
Her piercing blue eyes, inherited by Ulysses, looked straight at Lilith.
“Donât dream of living like this.”
She pulled Lilithâs collar with her fingertips. The two enchanting women faced each other.
“Desire more. Crave, crave, and crave again. Live like a broken vessel, never satisfied, no matter how much you pour in. Make every semblance love seem trivial.”
“…”
“That’s all you need to do.”
Lilith’s eyes wavered in confusion.
“But… I love the Count…”
“Adam?”
Guinevere cackled with a metallic tone.
“Thatâs why I dislike you.”
Her piercing gaze shot at Lilith.
“Adamâs mistress. Wrecking a home and living happily â your existence is so contemptible. It’s annoying how you can still harbor pure emotions after living like that.”
…And envious.
“The lives we chose have already been doomed any chances at happiness. So, might as well desire.”
Lilith nodded involuntarily.
Guinevereâs words were somewhat cryptic, and Lilith couldnât fully grasp their meaning. Only the admonition to desire remained etched in her mind.
Desire.
In that, she was second to none.
As Lilith nodded absently, Guinevere laughed, as if certain about something.
âLilith Dust. This isnât your scheme, is it?â
â…!â
âYou couldnât have orchestrated this. I know you better than you think. Weâre somewhat alike. Youâre not the type to engage in such cunning. If that were possible, Evelyn would have died before seeing her second child.â
Evelyn was the name of the late Countess Lasphilla.
Back then, Lilith lived with Evelyn, plotting all sorts of schemes. But ultimately, Evelyn died during childbirth. Lilith hadnât been involved in any of it.
But this time was different. How many had been duped by this single event?
It wasnât a plan Lilith could have concocted. It would have required the foresight of a prophet to know and adapt to every small variable to barely succeed.
But Lilith, this simple and timid wench? There was no way that she could have pulled off such a feat alone.
