Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 20
“Of course, I do. Hmm, let me see…”
He straightened his bent back with a groan, then rummaged through a cupboard to pull out a dust-covered medicine pouch.
“Though no one has ever bought the antidote before.”
“Then I shall be the first to do the honors.”
Cecilia replied playfully, slipping the medicine into her pocket bag.
“Is that all?”
“No, there’s one more thing.”
She said, as if she had been waiting.
“I suppose I can get a dose of Poena’s Tears for free?”
Poena’s Tears. The name of a cheap sleeping potion.
“Poena’s Tears?”
Gilbert repeated, pursing his lips.
“It’s not much use. Why don’t you buy something better?”
“I don’t need anything better. That will do. As you said, it’s not effective, so it won’t be a big loss to throw in one, right?”
Gilbert snorted loudly, pulling at his philtrum.
“Rich folk are the worst. You’ve really taken to nobility, haven’t you?”
“Unfortunately, not even a single silk thread in this dress is mine.”
Most of the money Cecilia used was recorded in ledgers, so she didn’t have much cash to use freely. She had to save wherever possible.
“Hmm. Well, Palmasca isn’t cheap… and since you’ve boosted my sales for the week, I’ll throw it in just this once.”
Cecilia responded with a smile to the old man’s grudging offer.
As she paid and turned to leave, Gilbert muttered to himself behind her back.
“I thought she was the spitting image of her mother, but she’s nothing like her.”
Cecilia pretended not to hear and pushed open the side door.
***
Upon exiting, Dane, who had been leaning against the wall, hurried over.
“How much did you pay?”
“108 Lis.”
“Wow, grandpa’s ruthless. Putting such a price on family.”
“That’s why it was expensive. Did I used to eat a lot here when I was little?”
“I heard what you bought. Normally it’s around 90 Lis… Here, I’ll give you back 18 Lis.”
“It’s fine.”
Instead of taking the money back, Cecilia handed him a 10 Lis coin.
“Instead, do me a favor.”
“A favor?”
“Yes. Escort me to the main boulevard. I can’t walk through these back alleys looking like this.”
“You were bold coming in, but now you’re scared to leave?”
Cecilia replied seriously to his teasing.
“Well, I saw you were here when I came in.”
“Ah?”
“You’re the boss of this alley, aren’t you?”
“…”
“So now you’ll be my knight escort.”
“…”
“Right?”
Dane turned his head and coughed. His ears were a bit red.
“Fine, I’ll escort you. And…”
“Yes?”
“I don’t need the money.”
Cecilia smiled silently.
***
Returning to the commercial street where the dress shops were, the first thing Cecilia noticed was a pale Mary.
Cecilia approached her slowly.
“What are you doing here?”
Mary, her face a mess from tears, jumped as if she’d seen a ghost, then collapsed on the floor.
“My, my lady…!”
Cecilia extended her hand.
“What kind of spectacle is this on the street? Get up.”
Mary stood up abruptly, her eyes wide as she asked,
“Where on earth have you been?”
“I got caught up watching a parade in the town…”
Her nonchalant response seemed almost infuriatingly calm.
“I won’t let this go so easily.”
“Oh?”
Cecilia brought her finger to her lips.
“And if you don’t?”
“I’ll have to tell Master. You left the permitted areas without permission.”
Count Lasphilla was extremely cautious about Cecilia being exposed outside. Thus, her movements were limited to certain shops and streets within the estate.
The dress shop they visited was one such place, favored by the Lasphilla family, a place where they turned a blind eye to the family’s indiscretions.
“I’m curious what His Lordship would say,” Mary said threateningly.
“I’m curious about that myself.”
Cecilia lowered her hand, revealing a stern expression.
“The new attendant failing to do her job properly, getting distracted by frivolous luxuries on her first day, losing track of her charge.”
“Th, that’s…!”
“To even mention that with your own mouth?”
This time she lifted her chin and covered her mouth with the back of her hand, snorting in a showy manner.
“Sure, go ahead! One should only dig their own grave so far.”
