Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 140
“Unless she can immediately order clothes at a high price from a capital atelier, she won’t even be able to step over our mansion’s threshold.”
“That’s such a useless effort.”
“I had no choice. Ignoring her completely wasn’t an option because of the recommendation letter that was sent.”
Guinevere Rosencrantz had recommended the illegitimate child of Lasphilla. Though known publicly as a follower of Viscountess Lope’s daughter, Marchioness Rosencrantz wasn’t from a family beneath the Lope Viscountcy.
The two were in a symbiotic relationship. Marchioness Rosencrantz wanted connections to the Pierce Dukedom through the Lope Viscountcy, and the Duke desired the geographical advantages the Rosencrantz family controlled.
Viscount Lope hoped to use the Rosencrantz port as a stopover for trade with the Sutton Archipelago. Although the port was royal property, its management was the responsibility of the landowner, the Rosencrantz family.
Ignoring the high taxes on the special products from the Sutton Archipelago was also one of the Rosencrantz family’s privileges.
Helena didn’t understand a thing about stopovers and tariffs. She only vividly remembered her husband’s sigh-laden voice.
“Stay close to Marchioness Rosencrantz. That way, at least the annex will remain. If you become best friends, she might even buy you jewelry. Well, not that it’ll last a day.”
Just by appearing with Guinevere, bundles of money would roll in, so Helena had no reason to refuse.
Such a valuable cash cow… no, such a precious connection’s introduction couldn’t be ignored outright. Hence, Helena had set a very discreet trap.
She had made the entrance condition to the party something that Cecilia Lasphilla could never meet in a short time.
“Do you think my dress is ready?” Helena added a rhythm to her words.
Her steps were light as she stood up.
‘An embroidered forget-me-not dress? Even I didn’t have something like that. There’s no way that girl could have prepared it!’
***
As Cecilia unpacked, she laid out a blue dress. It was something she had tailored a long time ago but never had the chance to wear.
“Mary, do you think this will still fit?”
“If we let it out a bit, it should be fine… Why do you ask?”
“Just… I might need to wear it soon.”
She had the dress made just in case.
She had been thoroughly humiliated by Viscountess Lope in her past life.
Although the timing was different, people’s tactics usually remained the same. The tricks that troubled her in her past life would likely be used again.
“But looking at this dress again, the embroidery is quite unique. What flower is it?”
Cecilia replied casually.
“Hmm… Let’s see. Forget-me-not?”
***
‘Was forget-me-not embroidery a trend in the Lasphilla territory?’
Helena couldn’t take her eyes off Cecilia, who approached wearing a bright blue dress. It was a flawless outfit, perfectly suitable for entering the Lope household.
“Cecilia Lasphilla from the Coffret Manor greets the illustrious lady of the Lope Viscountcy, Viscountess Helena Lope.”
Helena pursed her lips, forcing a smile.
“Welcome, Miss Cecilia.”
She then gestured towards the table where the tea party was in full swing.
“Let me guide you to a seat… Hmm, the seats are all…”
Of course, there were no seats left!
Since she never expected Cecilia to attend, the table was already full.
“Oh… Ohohoho… Did our butler make a mistake? Hmm, why don’t you stand here for a moment?”
It was impolite to keep an invited guest standing. Mary, standing next to Cecilia, huffed heavily in shame and anger.
“Miss, let me go and teach them a lesson…!”
“Mary, just stay put.”
Cecilia patted her maid’s hand and whispered.
“We’re not staying long anyway. No need to make a fuss.”
“…”
More often than not, it felt like this young lady knew her too well despite the years they had spent together. Mary lowered her head and stepped back.
In the meantime, the group at the tea party, noticing Cecilia standing alone, started whispering behind their fans.
“Who is that young lady? I’ve never seen her before. Do any of you know her?”
“She’s new to me too. Which family’s young lady could she be to have such a beautiful face?”
“I wish she’d come over and introduce herself. I’d love to get to know her. She must be from a noble family…”
“She’s the illegitimate child of Lasphilla.”
With one sentence from Casey Heens, the room fell silent.
