Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 56
Guinevere looked at the girl who inherited Lilith’s passionate red hair and Adam’s cold eyes.
“If you can’t deny your lineage, it’s better to just flaunt it openly. If you hide it once, you’ll have to hide it for the rest of your life.”
“Then, Aunt, you mean to say that because I look similar to Miss Lilith… I should have a physique that suits it?”
“This time you make some sense.”
“…”
“Don’t like it?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“Good. Take better care of yourself. Looking at your gaunt figure makes me feel like it’s winter all year round.”
Sharp words, but not intended to wound. That’s just how she spoke naturally.
In front of Adam, she played the affectionate act, but Guinevere was naturally prickly and spontaneous from birth.
‘Now I can live without that tiresome mask for a while. At least that’s a relief.’
She twisted her lips in self-mockery and tapped on the teacup.
“You can go now. If you meet a maid on your way out, tell her to bring some fresh tea.”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
Cecilia responded obediently until the end.
***
In the end, Cecilia didn’t need to do anything.
As she stepped out of Guinevere’s room, a maid happened to be walking by with a tea set.
“Young Miss, what brings you here?”
“My aunt called me here.”
“Marchioness Rosencrantz… called you, Miss Cecilia?”
Suspicion crept into the maid’s eyes.
“Hannah Linfitt used to be my nanny.”
“Ah…”
The maid then nodded, understanding the whole story, without realizing her own fault in doubting her master’s daughter.
“Nothing has troubled you, Miss?”
“No, fortunately, she was kind enough to let it pass.”
Cecilia smiled sadly and caressed her forearm. The edge of her sleeve was slightly damp.
The maid did not pry further. From her actions alone, one could guess what had happened inside.
The bastard of Lasphilla often became a target for venting frustrations. It wasn’t a new occurrence, so pretending not to know was probably for the best.
“Is this tea for my aunt?”
“Yes, Miss.”
The maid’s eyes twitched for a moment. Cecilia smiled nonchalantly.
“You came at a good time. The tea got spilled, so I was about to ask for a fresh pot.”
“Ah, I see.”
The maid’s gaze drifted to Cecilia’s wet sleeve cuff, passing a fleeting look of sympathy.
“You’ve had a long day. Aren’t you hungry? It’s almost dinner time, and the new chef is quite talented.”
The maid’s voice turned noticeably kinder.
“Really? I’m looking forward to it.”
Cecilia responded warmly and then dismissed the maid.
As she left the annex, the gentle smile that had lingered on her lips slowly faded.
Her unfeeling expression turned towards the windows of the second-floor rooms.
The maid she had just encountered was assigned to the annex. Annex maids are not assigned to specific individuals.
And… all staff not specifically assigned were managed by the house’s mistress.
‘Somewhat expected.’
Bernarda had been quite quiet for a long time. She was similar to Guinevere in many ways, but had one advantage over her.
‘Patience.’
Bernada was a patient woman.
On the day Guinevere’s seemingly terminal illness showed signs of improvement, a maid from the annex came with tea.
A servant prioritizing the tea for Madam Rosencrantz, who was particularly despised right now…
“Tch.”
Cecilia clicked her tongue lightly.
‘If a child is harmed, the price must be paid on both sides.’
Guinevere was under the illusion that she had sinned only against Adam. However, she forgot that a child had two parents.
And, coincidentally, Bernarda was a woman who knew precisely when to crouch and when to pounce.
***
That night, Guinevere suddenly suffered from a high fever.
After being ill for three days, her black hair turned white at the roots, and her left eye never regained its sight.
But nobody pitied her, and nobody cared for her.
She was merely receiving her punishment.
It was natural to suffer after being poisoned, and natural for there to be aftereffects from the illness.
Only Guinevere herself knew the difference before and after.
The symptoms were different from the Palmasca poison. Someone had used a different poison on her.
However, she dared not search for the culprit.
As a sinner of Lasphilla, she had no right to demand any justice at the Coffret Manor.
