Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Tea Party (5)
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"My goodness, such rudeness. I couldn't believe my ears."
"It's because she still can't let go even after marriage."
People whispered while stealing glances at Rose. There was also an intention to curry her favor.
"……."
Rose simply sipped her tea calmly, as if wondering what all the fuss was about. Her noble features showed not the slightest ripple.
Cordelia was beginning to feel like her seat was a bed of thorns.
She wanted to press Rose for answers too.
Did His Excellency truly love her? Was it even possible for that man to love anyone?
But she held back again and again, thinking of her father's face and her family.
No, truthfully, it was because she didn't want to expose her ugly self, brimming with jealousy.
"Excuse me for a moment……."
Pretending to head to the washroom, she stood up. She made her way to the door, struggling not to stagger.
But the instant she opened it and stepped into the corridor.
"…Ah."
Cordelia ended up face-to-face with the one person she absolutely did not want to meet there.
Dane Schmichael was standing right there.
She realized at once that the clothes he wore were in a matching shade to his wife's.
"Don't announce that I've arrived."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
He quietly instructed the servant. Then, leaning against the wall, he began peering into the room through the slightly ajar door.
"……."
Dane showed no reaction even after spotting her. A fleeting glance was all.
To him right now, Cordelia was no different from any other servant standing in the corridor.
"…Greetings to Duke Schmichael."
Cordelia barely managed the greeting, suppressing her trembling voice.
A nod.
Dane merely tilted his head slightly without a word. Then he resumed observing the room—or more precisely, Rose seated at its center.
As always, his face was coldly icy. But now, someone else reflected on that glossy surface.
That alone was unbearable for Cordelia.
"How can you be so heartless? I was once Your Excellency's wife, after all."
She summoned courage unlike any before and spoke up.
She knew it was pointless. But perhaps because this might be her last chance, she acted recklessly.
"Did that mean nothing to Your Excellency? No, you must have wanted me gone instead."
Swish.
Dane, who had been silently staring ahead, finally turned his gaze to Cordelia.
It was the attitude of someone responding only because he knew she'd leave once he answered—not because he wanted to talk.
"Do you want an honest answer?"
"……."
Cordelia simply fell silent. She knew full well how cruel his honesty could be; she couldn't bring herself to hear it.
"You chose. I observed. That's all."
She wished he'd at least lash out in anger. But no—she was merely a nuisance to him.
The realization that none of her words or actions could affect him in the slightest.
I am nothing to him.
That drove Cordelia mad.
"You think I'm foolish, don't you? How could Your Excellency possibly understand these feelings?"
Cordelia spoke as her vision grew hazy.
"Please, I hope a day comes when Your Excellency feels even half of what I'm feeling."
Dane's eyes shifted subtly, darkening as if sensing some distant future.
Instead of dismissing it as nonsense,
"It might."
He replied curtly.
"Ah……."
Even though it was the first time he'd ever agreed with her, Cordelia felt only despair.
Because she understood exactly what his answer meant.
Something she could never achieve. Changing him—someone had already succeeded, and he was embracing that change willingly.
"Aah……."
The bridge of Cordelia's nose burned hot. Tears finally trailed down her cheeks.
"Sob……."
She could no longer hold back and began to sob.
The servants in the corridor watched her with anxious faces. She knew it was unladylike, yet she couldn't stop.
"Remember this."
Dane stepped toward her. It was the glide of a predator.
"The reason you can cry like this before me now,"
His blue eyes gleamed so fiercely they almost appeared white.
"is thanks to your siblings."
"…Pardon?"
Cordelia didn't comprehend his words at first.
But the next moment,
"Give my regards to your father."
At his loaded words, her heart plummeted. Goosebumps erupted across her skin.
"What did you just…?"
Step.
Dane brushed past her and entered the room.
His receding figure brimmed with murderous intent. Blood seemed to waft from him as he walked away.
"……Ah."
Cordelia staggered and nearly collapsed. A servant from the Holland count's household caught her from behind.
"Miss, are you alright?"
"…The carriage."
Cordelia barely managed in a voice on the verge of breaking.
"Take me to the carriage."
An ominous blood-red shadow was closing in on her vision.
Just a few minutes earlier.
The tea party was winding down.
'Phew.'
Rose let out an inward sigh of relief.
Sitting ramrod straight had left her prickling with aches. She'd been more tense than usual, too.
'I somehow got through it.'
She hadn't expected Viscountess Edvard to attack so aggressively. Those eyes quivering with jealousy and regret lingered in her mind.
Even in her past life, Viscountess Edvard had treated her that way.
The only difference was that back then, Rose had only shed tears without retort—now, she'd perfectly crushed her.
"It's about time to wrap up. Shall we mingle and exchange greetings freely for a moment?"
Countess Holland said, surveying the room. People rose in small groups and began greeting those at other tables.
"Duchess Schmichael, do you remember me by chance? We studied together at the Academy once."
"Is Duke Schmichael well? Would it be alright to send some marten pelts we caught recently to your estate?"
People greeted Rose or sought to make themselves known to her, even a little.
Who could have imagined that she—a wallflower mere months ago—would now stand at the pinnacle of power?
The realization struck her anew, but she handled it with composed grace, betraying nothing.
"Sister!"
And then the expected uninvited guest arrived.
"Rose sister!"
It was Daisy Vicander boldly approaching the table.
'She came after all.'
She had openly told Sonya about attending Countess Holland's tea party, so it was only a matter of time before word reached Daisy.
Rose had been certain Daisy would show up here. And her prediction proved exactly right.
"Lady Daisy."
Countess Holland, who had stood vigil by Rose's side throughout, blocked her.
"This isn't a private space. Use the proper address."
"Ah……."
Daisy's face clouded over at the firm rebuke. Then she stared pleadingly at Rose for help.
"……."
Rose gazed silently at Daisy with serene features. Of course, she had no intention of helping.
Unable to withstand Rose's silence and the crowd's prickling stares, Daisy finally spoke.
"Duchess… Schmichael."
Rose nodded wordlessly. Daisy's face twisted as if her pride stung,
"How can you not contact us even once…? Father and Mother waited so much…."
She whined pitifully. It was obvious she'd nearly slipped into familiar speech from habit, only correcting herself upon noticing the onlookers.
"Did they?"
Rose paid no mind to Daisy's hurt reaction.
'Will you keep getting pushed around helplessly? Or fight back?'
Recalling Dane's words, she replied calmly.
"If it mattered that much, they could have reached out first."
The idea of them waiting for her contact was laughable.
The Vicander family in her past life had shown zero interest in Rose. Whether she lived or died in Schmichael Castle, they hadn't cared.
"…Th-that's why I came here? Even if you left the family, we're sisters, right?"
Daisy smiled awkwardly. Then her eyes trembled as they roved over Rose's dress.
"By the way, Sis… Duchess, you still favor such lavish dresses."
It was one of her stepmother and Daisy's cruel tactics.
They dressed Rose in gaudy but cheap knockoffs devoid of substance, while Daisy wore elegant gowns of fine fabric.
Ensuring Rose's shabby look stood out all the more when the sisters stood together.
"Extravagance refers to buying costly things beyond one's station."
Rose tilted her chin up slightly, looking down at Daisy.
"The word doesn't exist in Schmichael."
It was an arrogant declaration.
Yet Rose uttered it without hesitation—and without fear of repercussions.
"Lady Daisy, mind your manners with the Duchess."
"Sisters or not, that's too much."
As expected, no one blamed Rose; they reproved Daisy instead.
"My, that's not at all what I'd heard? Rumors do get exaggerated."
"It seems Lady Daisy needs etiquette lessons. I see now how tolerant Duchess Schmichael has been."
Gazes were gathering by the moment. But the mood was worlds apart from before.
The tea parties Rose could attend in the past had been few, mostly under her stepmother's heavy influence.
Everyone there sided with Daisy, condemning Rose. Not anymore.
"No, why is everyone…?"
Daisy glanced around in a fluster. She looked utterly embarrassed that no one took her side.
Watching, Rose reflected.
'Power truly is wonderful.'
Dane had been right.
'Insulting the wife is tantamount to insulting me.'