Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 154
Christian was the perfect catalyst to ignite the competitive spirit among the men eyeing Caroline.
Several men acquainted with him even approached directly to request an introduction. The result was different from the past when she had been subtly overlooked for not being a capital noble.
Caroline treated them with the utmost courtesy one could afford a gentleman in a public setting.
In truth, she had no intention of marrying any of them.
‘I must at least meet a man better than Ulysses.’
Someone like Christian by her side, for instance…
Caroline was confident that he would soon propose to her.
“By the way, someone is missing. Didn’t you say your sister was coming with you this season?”
“Margaret?”
She suddenly remembered that she had left her sister behind. Margaret had been so excited for her first trip to the capital.
‘Though she’s just a child who will have to stay in an inner room.’
Bernarda would bring her even if Caroline didn’t. The combination of a child and an unmarried lady wasn’t worth much.
Caroline smiled and made an excuse.
“The carriage wheel fell off, so she’s delayed. She should be arriving soon…”
“No, not Margaret… that… who was it again?”
Christian laughed awkwardly and snapped his fingers as if he had just remembered.
“Oh, right! Cecilia! That young lady. I heard she’s making her debut at our mansion.”
“Oh, Ceci…”
Now that he mentioned it, Cecilia was nowhere to be seen. But it wasn’t surprising since, to her, both Cecilia and Margaret were just background characters.
‘Or maybe if she wore that fabric, she might draw attention instead?’
Caroline scoffed internally as she spoke.
“She has a separate chaperone today, so I’m not sure…”
Before Caroline could finish her sentence, the doorman’s loud voice rang out.
“Margaret Lasphilla, third daughter of the Lasphilla County, of the Coffret Manor!”
The main door opened, and a shimmering dress was briefly visible in the midday sunlight.
“Oh my…”
Christian murmured softly. Caroline also closed her mouth upon seeing her sister.
“My hair’s all over the place! What’s with the slow coachmen here?”
Margaret Lasphilla, or rather, Silverfish, entered with a scowl on her face.
* * *
Margaret’s shocking attire caused a stir in the hall. Caroline wished she could hide in a hole.
‘Is she blind?’
It was fine if her sister was just moderately unsightly, but being so severely unsightly was a problem.
After all, she was her older sister, and such a glaring flaw would reflect badly on Caroline as well.
‘Where’s Bernarda? Why didn’t she stop this mess?’
Her question was soon answered.
Countess Lasphilla had been busy mingling with her capital contacts since entering the hall. In a large party like today, she had no interest in whatever antics her stepdaughter might be up to.
Ultimately, cleaning up her sister’s mess fell to Caroline.
“You, follow me to the powder room, now.”
Caroline whispered in a troubled voice behind Margaret.
“Huh? Why?”
Margaret’s eyes sparkled.
‘Is she jealous of me?’
Even if she tried to threaten her to change her clothes, it would be useless. Caroline’s clothes wouldn’t fit her anyway!
Not thinking about what might happen in the powder room, Margaret trailed behind her sister.
Left alone, Christian, who had intended to ask Caroline for the first dance, sighed with disappointment.
“She’s acting high and mighty for someone who’s been dumped.”
Annoyed, he was about to grab a drink when the doorman announced the arrival of the last guest.
“Cecilia Lasphilla, second daughter of the Lasphilla County, of the Coffret Manor!”
The unfamiliar name caused a stir among the guests.
“Cecilia? Never heard of her.”
“Was there such a person in the Count’s family?”
“Have you forgotten already? She’s the second daughter. She’s debuting this time.”
“How would I know a lady who never shows up at big events? There are so many unmarried ladies in this kingdom!”
“By the way, I’ve heard a rumor about her background…”
Various conversations buzzed around. Among them, two drunk men made some indiscreet remarks.
“Isn’t she the child of a dancer? If she’s a dancer, isn’t she a foreigner? I wonder how exotic she looks.”
