Chapter 57
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 57
With that one remark, all eyes turned toward her, filled with sympathy.
Daphne looked as if she regretted the slip of the tongue, but the words were already out; there was no taking them back.
Melody, her closest friend, reached out and gently took Daphne’s hand. “Don’t be like that. Why don’t you come with me to that shop tomorrow? Hmm?”
“M-me too! I was almost out of Lavender Toner anyway.”
Her friends nodded eagerly, watching for Daphne’s reaction. It had been nearly ten months since Daphne last set foot outside. They were all terrified she would reach the one-year mark in total seclusion.
Attending a tea party or a banquet might be too much for her, but they cautiously hoped that a light shopping trip to a bustling street wouldn't be so bad.
Daphne let out a soft sigh. She had no desire to go out, but she hated disappointing her friends—who were clearly worried sick—even more. Besides, she was genuinely curious about the toner that was rumored to help with sleep.
“Then… perhaps I will?”
In that instant, her friends let out a chorus of silent cheers.
* * *
Seviol Street was as crowded as ever.
It was only natural. Not only was it renowned as a premier shopping district for the nobility alongside Peyton Street, but it was also the season for tailoring new clothes and buying sundries in preparation for the New Year.
The Luce family carriage pulled up directly in front of Saint Clarissa Soap & Herb. While the carriage itself didn't attract much attention, Daphne was so overcome with nerves that a cold sweat broke out the moment she prepared to disembark.
“It’ll be fine, Daphne. Our carriage will wait right here. We’ll just buy what we need and come straight back.”
“Thank you, Melody.”
Daphne took a deep breath, then carefully stepped out of the carriage with her friends. She had wrapped a scarf over her plain white bonnet to obscure half her face, but her silver hair was far too famous. Anyone who looked closely would recognize her as Daphne Laurel in an instant.
Jingle.
A silver bell chimed as they entered. A shop assistant, dressed in a uniform reminiscent of a nun’s habit, approached and greeted them warmly.
“May the blessings of God be upon you. Welcome.”
“We’d like to see the Lavender Toner,” Melody said. “Do you have it in stock?”
“Yes. An additional shipment arrived from the Convent just the day before yesterday. Please, come this way.”
Daphne stood behind Melody as she spoke to the assistant, her eyes darting around the room. Fortunately, there were no other customers in the shop. If they moved quickly, she could be back in the safety of her home before anyone realized she had left.
But then, a woman who appeared to be a noble lady emerged from a door behind the counter, deep in conversation with another assistant.
“...It’s been decided that the new posters will go up starting mid-month. Please ensure they aren’t exposed prematurely like last time.”
“Yes, milady. I’m looking forward to this poster as well.”
The woman waved her hand dismissively as if embarrassed by the praise. It was Harriet Listerwell—the very subject of the posters.
Daphne froze. The mere mention of the Listerwell name made her stiffen. Her friends, sensing her distress, flusteredly tried to shield her from view. Of course, their frantic movements only drew Harriet’s attention.
“Miss Daphne Laurel?”
When Harriet acknowledged her, the group floundered, unsure of how to react. Surprisingly, it was Daphne who found her composure first.
“Hello. Miss Harriet… Listerwell, isn’t it?”
“Yes. It’s a pleasure. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Daphne managed a faint, fragile smile. Harriet approached her warmly, acting as if she were completely oblivious to the scandalous affair involving Daphne, James, and Bella.
“I overheard just now—are you here for the Lavender Toner?”
“Ah… my friends are buying some, so I thought I’d take a look as well.”
“I use it myself and highly recommend it,” Harriet said. “Not only is it moisturizing, but the scent is wonderful. It truly calms the mind.”
Melody, standing beside Daphne, interjected with a forced, awkward laugh. “W-we should probably head back for today. Right, girls?” She leaned in and whispered to Daphne, “Don’t push yourself.”
Harriet carefully examined Daphne’s face, which was half-hidden by the bonnet and scarf. Her once rosy cheeks were gaunt and pale, and her eyes were sunken. Her beautiful features remained, but the loss of vitality made her a shadow of her former self.
Harriet knew exactly what had caused this.
Bella has utterly ruined yet another person.
Others might only see Daphne as a pathetic woman abandoned by her lover, but Harriet knew better. The one who had truly destroyed her was Bella Listerwell—James Cheslow was merely the tool.
James seduced Bella first? Bella reluctantly gave her heart to his persistent courtship? All utter nonsense. James Cheslow was a man whose marriage to Daphne was practically a settled matter; there had never been a whisper of him looking at other women.
If such a man had fallen for Bella, it was because Bella intended for him to. Bella was not a woman who ever gave her heart ‘reluctantly.’
As Daphne turned to leave under the overprotective gaze of her friends, Harriet spoke to her back.
“It’s late, but congratulations on your broken engagement.”
The world seemed to stop. Everyone, including Daphne, turned to stare at Harriet with incredulous eyes.
“What did you just say?” Melody’s voice was low and menacing, as if she were seconds away from lunging at Harriet.
But Harriet didn't flinch.
“James Cheslow, was it? Breaking off an engagement with such a shallow man—one with such poor judgment—before the wedding was a blessing from Yawar.”
“Miss Harriet!”
“Of course, the process wasn’t pleasant. I know that. Miss Daphne is a victim of James Cheslow and Bella Listerwell. But why is the victim hiding away like a criminal?”
While Daphne was still reeling from the shock, Melody stepped forward and shoved Harriet hard.
“Have you lost your mind? I don’t care how irredeemable your reputation is, there is a line you do not cross!”
“As you know, my reputation can’t possibly fall any lower,” Harriet replied, brushing off her shoulder and lifting her chin. “So I’m speaking on her behalf.”
Harriet looked past Melody, locking eyes with Daphne. “Miss Daphne, the more you hide, the more brazen Bella will become.”
“I told you not to even mention that woman’s name!”
Just as Melody was about to explode again, Daphne raised a slender arm to stop her. While her friends watched in shock, Daphne took a trembling step toward Harriet.
“Aren’t you Miss Bella’s cousin? Why are you saying these things to me?”
“Oh, haven’t you heard? I’m famous for being jealous and envious of my cousin. I’m always badmouthing her.” Harriet looked around at Daphne’s friends. “But do you truly think I’m just ‘badmouthing’ Bella right now?”
The shop fell into a heavy silence. Harriet stepped closer to Daphne.
“The only thing that disappeared from your life was one insignificant man who succumbed to vulgar temptation. You still have a powerful family, loving relatives, your beauty, and friends who care for you. What is there to regret so much that you’ve allowed yourself to be consumed by sadness?”
“He… he wasn’t an insignificant man.”
“And shouldn’t you have realized by now that such a thought was a delusion?”
“No! James was… he was…!”
Tears welled in Daphne’s eyes. Harriet realized she needed to pierce the very heart of the pain. She stepped directly into Daphne’s space, staring straight into her tear-filled eyes.
“What wasn’t insignificant was your love. That man? He was nothing.”
At those words, the dam finally broke. Daphne burst into a fit of sobbing and collapsed on the spot.
“Daphne!”
Her friends scrambled to catch her. Melody turned back to Harriet, her eyes burning with fury.
“I understand what you’re trying to do, but Daphne is in so much pain that even hearing his name hurts. Don’t you dare act so superior!”
With that, they helped Daphne up and hurried out of the shop.
Only Harriet and the shop assistant remained in the sudden, ringing silence.
“The Lavender Toner… I suppose I brought it out for nothing,” the assistant remarked dryly.
Harriet smiled awkwardly and picked up the two bottles the assistant had set on the counter. “I’ll take these two.”
“Only two?”
“Those ladies from earlier,” Harriet said with a wink. “They’ll probably be back for more later.”
The assistant let out a hollow laugh.
Harriet collected her items and left as if nothing had happened, but the whirlwind she left behind continued to swirl.
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have suggested coming here,” Melody sighed deeply as they reached the carriage.
The other friends were already venting their outrage.
“They said she’d changed, but she’s exactly the same! There’s a limit to how rude a person can be!”
“She claimed to be badmouthing ‘that woman,’ but what if they’re actually in cahoots? What if this was all a trap?”