Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 8

Margaret and Caroline’s mother died due to lingering complications from childbirth, succumbing to eclampsia (seizures induced by complications in pregnancy).

Before even Count Lasphilla’s mourning period ended properly, he remarried the young Bernarda. The urgent need for a lady to bear an heir was the given reason.

“What sort of disrespectful behavior is this?”

The Count scolded Margaret sternly.

“Uh…”

Margaret’s face flushed with wounded pride. Being reprimanded in front of that woman!

‘That witch-like woman! That vile woman! A thief who stole our father!’

Margaret detested Bernarda. Even though Bernarda was the officially recognized as the lady of the house, it made no difference to her.

In the young Margaret’s eyes, Bernarda was nothing more than a thief who had usurped her deceased mother’s place.

‘What does Father find so satisfactory in a woman of such modest origin? Is it because she bore him a son?’

Bernarda had given birth to a late heir, Nathan, in her only pregnancy. Margaret knew her father regarded her half-brother Nathan as a significant achievement. The thought twisted her insides in anger.

Margaret felt robbed of the affection she rightfully deserved from her father by Bernarda and Nathan.

However, openly confronting a woman of higher rank was not feasible. Margaret’s anger inevitably redirected to the easiest target.

“Father, I’m sorry! But I was so insulted, I couldn’t bear it.”

“Insulted?”

Margaret recounted her encounter with Cecilia on the walk, glossing over her own faults.

According to her, she had neither pushed Cecilia first nor provoked her.

“Sister just saw me the suddenly pushed me! She said that she had always hated seeing me! I just went to greet her!”

“Really?”

Count Lasphilla did not entirely believe her. He knew Cecilia’s reserved nature. It’s more probable that Margaret had initiated the altercation.

“Oh, that’s awful, dear.”

Bernarda agreed with the Count but cleverly sided with Margaret.

Typically, Margaret would have resented Bernarda’s intervention, but this time she accepted it.

“Yes, how could she do this to her younger sister? Father, please scold her!”

“Hmm.”

The Count rubbed his forehead, weary.

Considering past events, it was clear Margaret had started the quarrel.

But it also seemed true that Cecilia had spoken harshly to Margaret.

What to do…

“That’s not all, you know?”

Feeling her father’s response was too mild, Margaret quickly added more.

“She said I’m not the legitimate daughter of the Lasphilla house, calling me a ‘half-breed lowlife’!”

The lie slipped out effortlessly, causing the Count to stand up abruptly.

“What did you say?”

“She said I’m not the legitimate daughter of the Lasphilla house…”

Anger flared on the Count’s face. Muttering ‘How dare she…’, he shouted for someone to bring Cecilia.

***

Upon returning to the mansion, Cecilia was immediately summoned to the study.

There, she found Margaret with a triumphant expression, the furious Count Lasphilla, and Bernarda. Cecilia was a bit confused about why her stepmother was here.

“Good morning. Did you both have a peaceful night?”

Though the reason for her early summons was clear, Cecilia calmly greeted them.

“It wouldn’t even be enough if you drop to your knees now and beg, yet what kind of attitude is this!”

Surprisingly, Bernarda was the first to scold, not the Count.

Having risen from a baron’s daughter to a countess, Bernarda was adept at reading the situation and anticipating who would come out on top.

It seemed she had already decided where to align herself in this situation.

“Yes, kneel down now!”

Margaret eagerly chimed in. The two, usually at odds, coincidentally agreed in such moments.

“Father, why must I kneel?”

Cecilia stood her ground. The Count’s face turned red like a volcano about to erupt.

Bang!

He slammed his oak cane on the floor and shouted,

“How dare you! You’ve insulted our family, yet now you’re feigning ignorance?!”

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