Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 7

Cecilia, lost in thought, had a particularly calm and composed expression.

Although it’s true that Cecilia was always quiet, she was usually reserved and subservient. Margaret often mocked her, saying she ‘walked like a servant.’

But today, Cecilia seemed unusually assertive.

“Somehow…”

‘Annoying.’

Spotting a perfect target to unleash her anger, Margaret stomped towards her and pushed Cecilia on the back without hesitation.

Usually, this would make Cecilia fall over or stumble awkwardly, bringing Margaret a sense of triumph from watching her.

However, today Cecilia did not fall. Instead, she asked Margaret,

“Did you think you’re the only one who hated the other until now?”

It was hard to believe such words came from the likes of her.

“Y, you, you…!”

While Margaret stuttered in shock, Cecilia approached her. The clear height difference, as much as their age gap, overwhelmed Margaret.

She had approached to enjoy seeing Cecilia look up to her, but now she was the one looking up.

“I hate you as well. So please, stay out of my sight.”

Even this would have been shocking, but Cecilia added with a smirk,

“Annoying.”

“…!”

It was clear that Cecilia was turning Margaret’s own words against her. Margaret clutched the back of her neck, gasping for air.

“How dare you speak to me like that? I am a legitimate daughter of this Count household!”

Cecilia laughed as if she found it amusing.

“Boasting about your noble birth while behaving worse than a street urchin, are you?”

“Aargh!”

The more physically inclined Margaret, at a loss for words, reached out to grab Cecilia’s hair. Cecilia quickly stepped back.

“Whoa!”

Margaret, losing her balance, toppled forward.

“Pfft.”

A scoff sounded from above Margaret’s head.

‘She’s mocking me…!’

Margaret glared furiously, but Cecilia remained unfazed.

“Technically, I’m also a child of this Count household. And even older than you.”

Count Lasphilla had acknowledged Cecilia, his illegitimate child, as his own. So, by official records, they were indeed sisters.

“You think you’re a legitimate child? Yet unknown origins? You lowlife!”

“…Lowlife?”

“Yeah, lowlife! Who doesn’t know about the dirty gypsy blood running through your veins?!”

“…”

Cecilia fell silent and just watched her. Caught off guard by the sudden quiet, Margaret’s eyes flickered.

‘Did I win?’

Unsure, she tensed up as Cecilia leaned towards her.

“Margaret, can you stand by those words you just said?”

By then, the sun was squarely overhead. Other people had started to pass by on the previously deserted garden path.

“Can you stand by them?”

“O, of course, I can!”

Margaret shouted loudly, not stopping at that but also trying to intimidate Cecilia.

“You… just wait. I’ll tell Father everything as soon as I go back inside!”

Cecilia crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

She had planned to let this go. Stirring trouble in the mansion where she had a weak standing wouldn’t do her any good.

But if Margaret was bringing up the issue herself, the story changed.

‘If she insists on digging her own grave, I might as well hand her the shovel…’

Cecilia decided to play along.

“Margaret, are you really going to tell on me? Can’t you just let it be?”

Typically, when told not to do something, one becomes more eager to do it.

As Cecilia pleaded, Margaret grew smug.

“It’s too late for regrets now!”

***

After the walk, Margaret immediately ran to her father’s study. The math test was long forgotten.

“Father! Father!”

Bursting into the room without any courtesy of announcing her arrival, Margaret called out to the Count with excitement.

“Father…!”

Her triumphant voice, however, died down as she saw the other person in the study.

“Ah, Margaret?”

Count Lasphilla’s second wife, Bernarda, looked up from the Count’s chest towards the door.

Margaret clenched her fists upon making eye contact with her.

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