Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 85
Louise Cléon was a servant. She could not freely enter empty rooms or walk through corridors where the masters roam.
It would be too difficult to bury it in the ground. Unlike Cecilia, who can move freely within the Coffret Manor, her movements were restricted.
If a governess searching for a secluded spot in the woods would raise suspicion, then…
Cecilia soon smiled.
She may never fully understand the gentle intentions of Evelyn Lasphilla, but she could see right through the schemes of a conspirator.
* * *
The next day, after finishing dance practice, Cecilia asked Louise about the difficult moves.
Louise was indifferent but did not outright ignore Cecilia’s questions. Cecilia tilted her head in faux confusion at the lackluster responses and sighed as if wishing the ground would swallow her up.
“Ah, I must really be lacking. No matter how much I hear it, I don’t understand what it means to balance on the back heel of my left foot. I feel like I’m going to fall…”
“With consistent practice, you’ll understand. Practice is the only answer to everything.”
It was as if she implied Cecilia was too lazy to understand her properly. Caroline quietly twitched her lips.
“Ahem.”
Caroline soon pressed her lips tightly and coughed as if nothing had happened.
Cecilia clasped her hands together cheerfully.
“Then I should practice even more!”
She then turned to Caroline, who had been holding back her laughter, and asked,
“Sister, could you help me with my practice after class?”
“Me?”
Caroline internally scoffed.
‘Help you? Do you think I’ve gone mad?’
But on second thought, it wasn’t a bad proposition. She could step on Cecilia’s feet to her heart’s content without Louise watching.
Making such a request while unaware that she had intentionally stepped on her feet all this while. Was this girl an idiot?
“Of course. Come to my room after.”
Caroline hid her mocking heart and smiled gently as usual.
“Really? Thank you, Sister!”
Cecilia was overjoyed, bearing blue bruises on her feet.
* * *
During the practice time alone with Caroline, Cecilia’s feet were destined to be trampled on like gum on the sidewalk, according to Caroline’s plan.
But the moment Caroline timidly stepped on her foot just once.
“Ah!”
Cecilia screamed and collapsed.
“Wh, what’s wrong, Ceci?”
Cecilia clutched her foot that Caroline had stepped on. Blood seeped out and dripped to the floor.
“Ah…!”
Caroline covered her mouth and gasped.
This was a disaster. She had caused a problem.
‘I didn’t think I stepped hard enough to draw blood?’
But ultimately, Cecilia bled the moment Caroline stepped on her foot. The circumstances were clear without needing to see them.
“It, it, it was an accident!”
Caroline stuttered in panic. She was full of intent to torment Cecilia but hadn’t thought at all about how to handle an accident.
‘What do I do? How should I…’
Flustered, Cecilia gave her a strained smile and said,
“It’s okay, Sister… I’ll go get treated and come back.”
Saying so, Cecilia limped away, and Caroline watched her go with a blank stare.
Moments later, a dizzying thought crossed Caroline’s mind that had been frozen in shock.
‘Cecilia got injured while practicing with me!’
And she had been stepping on that girl’s foot all this time. Surely, there would be numerous bruises on the girl’s instep.
If people were to see that.
‘They might think I’m a wicked older sister!’
Caroline was momentarily afraid. She also felt unjustly treated.
‘I never intended for it to come to this. I’m not that wicked.’
I don’t want to appear so malicious…!
“Wait a moment!”
Caroline stopped her younger sister.
Cecilia, puzzled, turned to look at Caroline, her forehead sweaty with pain.
“W-W-Wait!”
She shouldn’t go out. If others saw, it wouldn’t be good.
She was filled with the thought that she had to keep Cecilia inside her room by any means.
And the solution that came to her was very much like Caroline.
“Since I made the mistake, I’ll treat you myself!”
“…You’re going to treat me?”
“Yes, you’re hurt, so just rest here. I’ll bring the medicine and bandages right away…”
Despite Caroline’s clumsy excuse, Cecilia smiled brightly.
“Sister is going to look after my wound… I’m so touched.”
