Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 197
Margaret pursed her lips and mumbled.
“I never liked his sly face much…”
Caroline laughed.
‘Oh, Margaret. You’re spewing nonsense out of jealousy for your sister, aren’t you? How presumptuous.’
It was always the eldest sister’s duty to discipline an impolite younger sibling.
“My dear Maggie.”
Caroline started, using her little sister’s nickname.
“Don’t even think about wearing silver again. You’re lucky you’re young. If yesterday had been your debutante, you’d have been the laughingstock for life.”
“…!”
Margaret snorted and stomped her foot. Caroline shook her head.
“Where did you inherit such an easily excitable temperament?”
It was baffling that such a fiery foal was born between their mother and father.
“I didn’t wear it because I wanted to! That servant stole my fabric! I had no choice but to wear it!”
“I’m tired of your lies. How could Cecilia possibly steal your fabric?”
Margaret had a habit of twisting things to suit her narrative. Caroline had been on the receiving end of it many times.
Of course, Caroline’s reputation was far better than Margaret’s, so no one ever took Margaret’s words seriously.
“It’s true! That girl manipulated me into giving her my fabric!”
Caroline waved her hand dismissively, as if bored, but then suddenly furrowed her brows.
“Come to think of it, that fabric…”
She had momentarily forgotten about Margaret’s shocking silver evening gown. The fabric of Margaret’s dress was very similar to the silver satin she had recommended to Cecilia.
Cecilia hadn’t used any silver satin in her dress on the day of the party, which ruined Caroline’s plan and allowed Cecilia to steal the spotlight in the early part of the event.
The owner of the ridiculous dress wasn’t Cecilia, but her younger sister, Margaret.
Could this all just be a coincidence?
“Maggie, are you telling the truth?”
“I told you, it’s true! She took it from me!”
“No, be honest. Did she take it, or did you take it?”
“Of course she took it! My fabric looked prettier to her, and she wanted it. She spouted nonsense about how my fabric was the latest trend in the capital and snatched it away from me like a little thief!”
Margaret was a liar skilled in self-defense. Where did the truth end and the lies begin in her story?
Seeing that Caroline was listening intently, Margaret eagerly continued.
“She pushed me, hit me, and snatched the fabric! Look, like this! Like this…”
“How?”
Margaret mimicked pulling on her dress, dramatically reenacting the scene.
“No! That fabric is mine!”
She chopped her hand in the air and cackled wickedly.
“Oh-ho-ho, Margaret! Do you think someone like you can take on a gypsy’s daughter like me?”
She flapped her dress in both hands, then pretended to grab something from the air.
“Oh no, the fabric is flying through the air! No, it can’t be…!”
“…”
“That’s what happened.”
“…Is that so?”
Watching Margaret’s elaborate performance, Caroline gradually lost interest.
‘I’m a fool for even listening to her.’
Cecilia getting into a fight with Margaret? Impossible.
Lately, Cecilia’s actions had been annoying, but this lie was beyond belief.
“Enough. I don’t need to hear any more.”
“Sister! I’m telling the truth!”
“Fine, fine. Next time, wear what I give you.”
“Are you saying I should wear your hand-me-downs now?”
Even Margaret’s irritated tone felt tiresome. That girl always twisted everything. Caroline looked at her with pity, wondering what she was lacking to be so paranoid.
“I’m saying I’ll go to the boutique with you.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
“Really? You promise? You’ll take me to the boutique?”
“I already said yes.”
“Don’t forget, okay?”
Margaret held out her pinky.
“What is this?”
“Pinky promise!”
Caroline felt her patience wearing thin. Why had she even bothered showing interest? She should have just brushed it off instead of asking.
Reluctantly, she linked her pinky with Margaret’s. Margaret smiled widely, her chubby cheeks rising.
“Now, if you break your promise, your pinky will snap.”
“Oh, how frightening.”
“It’s true. The Witch of Honesty will come in the night and snap your finger.”
If there really was a Witch of Honesty, wouldn’t she sew your mouth shut first? Caroline grumbled inwardly, half-listening to Margaret’s nonsense.
Just then, a servant approached them.
“A letter has arrived for the eldest young lady.”
“To me?”
Caroline quickly pulled away her pinky from Margaret, eyes sparkling.
