Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 11
Cecilia reassured her with a calm tone.
“Don’t worry. Father doesn’t waste his emotions on such trivial matters concerning the lower staff.”
“Don’t speak as if you know him so well. In this world, I am the one who knows the Count best, Ceci.”
Lilith’s certainty about her favored status with Count Lasphilla was both her pride and dignity.
Indeed, Count Lasphilla probably wouldn’t bat an eyelid regardless of where Hannah worked, but Cecilia agreed with Lilith without argument.
“Yes, Miss Lilith, you are right. You know Father best.”
“That’s right. So, when making such important decisions, you should consult me first.”
Cecilia’s lips curled into a wry smile.
“I’m sorry. Mrs. Linfitt was too overbearing this morning when she hit me. I couldn’t bear it anymore.”
“What…? Who dared to lay a hand on whom?”
Lilith’s voice was even more agitated than when she called for Cecilia.
“A mere maid daring to raise her hand to a young lady of House Lasphilla? She must be mad!”
Lilith was the only one in the mansion who sincerely considered Cecilia a young lady of the Lasphilla family.
“Don’t be so distressed. The matter has already been dealt with.”
“If I had known, I would have given her a piece of my mind! Ceci, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Because it’s all too clear how you would have reacted, Mother.
The last thing the count wanted was for his mistress to raise her voice and make her presence known in this house.
“…”
Cecilia responded with a silent smile.
“I will make sure to inform the Count about this matter.”
“Yes, please do, Miss Lilith.”
After all, Count Lasphilla would likely not give her words a second thought. Maybe if she mentioned it when he was in a good mood in bed, he might nod in agreement. But that would be all.
The aristocratic world would rarely ever be affected by mere mistresses. Rather, the noblemen did not want that.
Once out of the bedroom, they preferred to appear dignified and rational. Foolishly being swayed by a mistress’s words would only bring disgrace.
That Cecilia, her daughter, was not in an orphanage but living in the mansion and that Lilith was a guest of the manor instead of languishing away on the streets was already a great favor.
No one else would offer such luxuries outside the bedchamber to a low-born mistress.
In some ways, Lilith was a rather resourceful woman. But her thirst for more made her seem inadequate.
“Miss Lilith, it would be better for you to go back to your room and cool off.”
Cecilia whispered quietly to Lilith, who was nervously biting her well-manicured nails.
“The walls have ears.”
“Right now, are you trying to lecture your Moth…!”
‘Mother.’
That word made Cecilia’s lips twitch. She quickly suppressed the surge of emotions.
“Please refrain from such talk,” Cecilia answered with a smile. “My mother passed away years ago.”
“…!”
Lilith’s eyes wavered. Cecilia struggled not to look at her.
It’s almost too much. Time to end this conversation quickly.
“Father would be quite displeased to see us occupying the center of the hall like this.”
“…”
The mention of the Count’s disapproval was like a spell that could make the stubborn Lilith compliant.
Even as she glared sharply at Cecilia, the way Lilith walked towards the guest room on the second floor showed compliance.
“I know the Count well enough. He wouldn’t scold me for something like this.”
Cecilia chose not to counter Lilith’s parting words, a sign of her last vestige of pride.
‘If this ends quietly, it’s a relief. It’s best not to draw Father’s irritable attention.’
Just when she felt relieved, a yawn echoed from somewhere.
Cecilia followed the sound and looked towards the hallway opposite the first floor. There, rubbing her green eyes, the spitting image of the former Countess, was Lasphilla’s first daughter approaching.
“Oh, Ceci. What brings you out so early?”
Caroline noticed Cecilia and smiled gently, a stark contrast to Margaret’s attitude.
However, this kindness was all a façade.
Cecilia remembered Caroline in the courtroom, loudly condemning her, those harsh words still ringing in her ears.
But at nineteen, Caroline was still a kind and caring older sister— outwardly, at least.
“Good morning, sister.”
“Yes, good morning. Is Father in his study?”
Caroline, without fail, greeted their father every morning.
The eldest daughter of Lasphilla was just that kind of girl: well-behaved and absolutely obedient to her parents, dreaming of being a devoted wife to her future husband.
Cecilia simply nodded.
“Thank you.”
She smiled, briefly touching Cecilia’s shoulder before entering the study.
Cecilia fell into thought.
‘Did Caroline not hear Mother’s yelling?’
If she had, she wouldn’t stay silent, always eager to earn Father’s praise.
‘Time will tell.’
Right now, there wasn’t much Cecilia could do against them.
She had to constantly remind herself of this fact.
If she let emotions and desires lead, she’d end up living a life no different from her mother’s, or worse, back in a convent as a widow.
