A Smile to Last a Lifetime
Perhaps having played the refined role of queen for two years had turned endurance into a habit.
Even though that brief, fleeting chapter—when she had stubbornly held her ground in ill-fitting clothes, enduring with painful effort—occupied only the smallest sliver of her life, it had left its mark.
A position where she could neither lash out in anger nor reveal her true feelings. A position where she always had to remain conscious of every eye and ear around her. What had she been like before ascending to the role of queen? If someone insulted her, she repaid them double. If they ignored her, she crushed them with force.
High status, large stature, or great wealth—none of it mattered. If provoked, she bit back without fail. She knew that staying quiet only invited further disregard and contempt.
“Stay out of it. Just watch. Do not intervene under any circumstances.”
Her wish to avoid creating unnecessary conflict if possible had not changed. Yet if she simply endured, Adela’s blatant harassment would only grow more persistent and vicious. She could bear it alone, but she refused to let it spill over and harm Mathias.
Countless gazes converged on her as she dragged her lame leg forward with Mathias’s support.
Amid the stares wondering what she intended to do, Odeliana laughed—a sound like a sigh.
There were so many servants working in this place. Was feeding one child truly that difficult?
She tightened her grip on the butter knife. Then she strode without hesitation toward her target.
“Is something the matter, miss?”
Odeliana pushed Mathias aside and accepted the cane in his place. After ordering him to remain quiet, she approached Adela, leaning on the cane. Adela’s eyes flicked briefly to the knife in her hand, but once she recognized it as a butter knife meant for spreading on bread, her wariness vanished.
“Shall I butter some bread for you?”
“No.”
“Then what business brings you out of your room in such discomfort?”
“It seems the servants’ education here is in utter shambles.”
Adela offered a gentle smile.
“That can hardly be true. Every servant here has received specialized training since childhood. They are exceptional talents, among the finest even in Leveln.”
“Then the problem must be that the person responsible for setting an example is a fraud and a fool.”
“Setting an example? Surely you are not referring to me?”
“You certainly catch on quickly when the insult is aimed at you. It seems your mind works rather fast in that regard.”
Adela’s face twisted. She soon exhaled a low sigh, then spoke in the soft, polite tone one might use to soothe a child.
“Miss, if there is any flaw in me… could it not be the result of having served a lowly master for so long? Is it not natural for servants to resemble their masters? There is a saying, after all, that a master keeps servants befitting their station. To insult me is no different from insulting yourself.”
Adela shrugged, laughing. She appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the situation.
How amusing. Tormenting others with clear malice was nothing more than fleeting entertainment to this woman.
“Haha.”
Odeliana laughed with her. She should have disposed of this piece of trash long ago. Regretting that she had not listened to Mathias, she swung the hand gripping the butter knife.
The blunt blade began at the corner of Adela’s smiling mouth and carved all the way to her ear. Had it been sharp, the cut would have been clean; because it was dull, the flesh tore raggedly, leaving an uneven wound.
Even so, when driven by murderous intent, its destructive power was considerable. Blood began gushing from the mangled gash.
“You look good smiling. Smile for the rest of your life.”
“Kyaaaak!”
The suddenness of it sent Adela screaming backward. She clutched her bleeding face, blinking blankly. The moment she saw the vivid red blood on her hands, her face drained of all color.
Her facial muscles convulsed, trembling violently, and another scream tore from her throat. She stared up at Odeliana with a stupefied expression, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Odeliana regarded her with icy calm.
“In this world, there are exactly three kinds of people one must avoid. The wealthy, those of higher status than oneself, and finally—the insane.”
“……”
“It seems you forgot that I am not in my right mind. Look. Look at what has become of you for treating the woman you called a crazy bitch this way.”
Adela, feeling as though her mouth would never close again, scrambled desperately for a mirror. When she faced her reflection, she collapsed once more with a shriek. The wound, torn horribly from the corner of her mouth to her ear, bled without end—an obscene sight.
“Y-you’re crazy! You’ve gone mad!”
“Yes, I’m mad. So would a madwoman be considered sane?”
“H-how dare you—do you truly believe you will get away with this? Such a horrific act—!”
“You have done horrific things to me for decades and yet you still live openly. Why should I be any different?”
“……”
“And ‘how dare you’? I believe that is an expression I should be using. How dare a mere servant attempt to stand above her master? No matter what you do, you are still nothing but a servant.”
Odeliana snorted and thrust the knife before Adela’s face.
“Whether you were my mother’s friend or anything else, in the end you are a hired maid. I am your master. That is a reality that will not change even if you die and come back to life.”
“……Aah, aaaaaaaaaaaagh!”
Adela’s whole body shook. But the sight of her blood-soaked hands seemed to ignite her fury; veins bulged in her neck as she screamed at the top of her lungs.
“I will tell everyone what happened today!”
“That’s an excellent idea. While we’re at it, let me finally see my parents’ illustrious faces. Their own child has carved up a servant’s face—surely they won’t remain hidden after that?”
“……”
“Thanks to you, I’ll finally meet the parents I’ve been longing to see.”
“Y-you crazy bitch! Crazy bitch!”
“How could I not go mad with the likes of you before me? Go ahead and run your mouth. Tell them the mad princess has ruined your face. Show that ragged mess to as many people as possible.”
In any case, she would not be able to speak a word. Her so-called parents would never allow Adela to spread what had happened.
A prestigious, powerful house had secretly concealed the birth of a lame princess—and one suffering from insanity, no less? If the existence of a daughter bearing the disability known as “God’s curse” within the noble Gruisevald bloodline were revealed, it would be an indelible shame upon the family. What a scandal. Naturally, the servant who had dared tarnish the family name with reckless gossip would not escape punishment.
“……”
“I won’t waste more words. I came today only to teach a lesson, so I will stop here. Even if you are slow-witted, you must understand what I am saying.”
Odeliana turned from Adela and surveyed the room. The servants stood frozen, faces white with terror.
“You would do well to mind your behavior. Today ends with a mark upon your face. Next time, I will go for the throat.”
Odeliana hurled the butter knife she had been pressing to Adela’s face across the room.
The moment she turned, her eyes met Mathias’s. He had been leaning against the wall, watching. He made a show of hugging his shoulders as if frightened.
“Master, your disciple is scared.”
His tall, handsome face showed no fear whatsoever. He hunched his shoulders, trembling theatrically, yet a playful smile curved his lips. To tease his master even now.
“You look far more delighted than scared.”
“It was an unexpected spectacle. Quite interesting.”
Mathias stepped close and wiped the blood from her hand. The crimson smeared thickly across his long fingers. He did not seem to mind the filth. Supporting her, he spoke in a calm, level voice.
“Was it necessary to dirty your own hands?”
“You already wish to stain yours with dirty blood, don’t you?”
“It is better than letting it stain yours, Master.”
“There is no need for you to involve yourself in such matters. Here, I am your protector. Therefore, I will handle it.”
“……”
“If you had done it, my parents would certainly have held you accountable. But if it is me, the result is different. What difference does it make if the already mad daughter ruins one person’s face?”
“Had it been me, I would not have stopped at merely tearing her mouth. Master, you are truly merciful.”
The wound would soon become a scar. Living normally would be difficult from now on. She would become an object of avoidance for everyone.
She needed to learn the weight of bearing a scar. She needed to learn that if one commits a sin against another, the price must always be paid in full.
“I gave her ample opportunity to correct herself.”
It was Adela who had kicked that chance away. She had simply received her just deserts.
Didn’t I tell you before? That nothing would change.
If nothing would change, then she would force it to change.
That was all.