Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 33
“Nothing much.”
“Nothing, huh. But you came from…”
“Oh, I mistook it for my room, that’s all.”
It was an excuse that would not have convinced anyone else, but it worked on Lilith.
“If Sir Nigel had seen you, he wouldn’t have let it slide. Be careful.”
“Yes, Miss Lilith.”
“…Was dinner okay?”
She seemed curious about the family dinner she couldn’t attend.
“There was turkey.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I finally got to enjoy eating a legs… It was delicious.”
This was a lie. She hardly touched the turkey, too busy walking on eggshells around the other people around the table.
Why she resorted to such a hollow lie in a rush, even Cecilia couldn’t understand.
“It’s good that you ate well. You shouldn’t gain weight, though.”
Lilith idly fiddled with a doorknob, seemingly needing to get back to her room to avoid suspicion. Cecilia felt impatient.
“Miss Lilith, if you don’t have anything else to say…”
“Did Madam Rosencrantz say anything to you?”
Ah, that was what she really wanted to ask.
Cecilia smiled faintly.
“No, she didn’t say anything today.”
Another lie.
“Always be careful around her. She’s the Count’s most cherished sister, so mind your actions…”
“Miss Lilith, it’s late. Shouldn’t you get some sleep for your skin?”
“…”
Lilith looked like she wanted to say something more but didn’t, perhaps due to recent concerns.
She had been downcast lately. Probably for another week or so. Given that Guinevere was always snapping at Lilith, it might be better for her not to show up.
“Good night then, Miss Lilith.”
Cecilia nodded and entered her own room. Soon after, the door of the Garnet Room closed as well.
Sigh…
Once inside, Cecilia let out a long sigh and looked at the pendant in her hand.
Click…
As she opened the pendant’s front, a faded photograph was revealed.
A young noblewoman holding a little boy.
The child, about Nathan’s age, was blissfully unaware of the future tragedies, beaming innocently.
‘This cute little kid turns into a snarling dog later on?’
She muttered to herself.
“Such a poor upbringing…”
How could one with such good lineage grow up so poorly?
She put down the pendant with a bitter smile and gazed out the window.
The plump figure of a woman hurrying in from the annex caught her eye.
Even from a hundred meters away, it was clearly Hannah Linfitt.
Hannah Linfitt with her greedy desires and lack of brains.
It seemed the cake Cecilia had given to Mary had done its job perfectly.
‘I knew you’d do it, Mary.’
The cheap wholemeal cake had been laced with a laxative.
Mary Swinn, greedy yet vain, wouldn’t share an expensive cake with her friend Dana, so Cecilia had sprinkled the drug on one side only.
Poor Dana. But thanks to this, she was spared from Guinevere’s schemes in this life. Otherwise, the role now falling to Hannah would have been Dana’s.
***
“Huff, huff.”
Hannah panted heavily, recalling what happened just ten minutes ago.
‘But you have to help me too.’
The woman had said so, in a voice as melodious as a songbird, movements graceful as a swan.
Put poison in Mary Swinn’s lotion!
Poison? …No, this isn’t poison.
She took out a small bottle from her bosom, the green liquid inside sloshing.
Right, this isn’t poison. It’s a fragrance oil, specially prepared for Nathan’s hardworking nanny…
Hannah believed it wholeheartedly. She truly thought it was beneficial oil.
So she readily agreed to the request.
“…Right.”
This was all due to my kindness.
Because I’m kind-hearted. Naive.
‘I did nothing wrong.’
With this firm resolution, Hannah tightly gripped the bottle and went upstairs.
Unlike the crowded servants’ bedrooms in the basement and attic, the nanny’s room was right next to the young masters’ rooms.
However, Mary never felt her bedroom to be a relaxing space, fearing the children might barge in at any moment. So she often lingered late in the servants’ dining room after supper.
It was deep into the night—a quiet hour. No one around, the surroundings silent. Just quickly go in, do the task, and leave as if nothing happened.
