Chapter 4

Cecile cleared her throat loudly.

Whether it was intentional or whether they truly did not hear, she stubbornly wedged herself among the noblewomen who did not even pretend to have heard her voice.

“Oh my.”

“Really, what is she doing?”

The noblewomen raised their fans and stepped away from Cecile.

There were even noblewomen who pulled at the hems of their skirts as if they did not want to touch Cecile in the slightest.

They did not openly avoid her, but they were filled with hostility toward Cecile.

Cecile’s face reddened under the noblewomen’s sharp gazes, but she could not give up this place.

‘I have to sell off that girl and take my share. I can’t live like this forever, can I?’

The small change Elena earned could not satisfy Cecile’s greed.

She had brought Elena with the intention of sending her to a wealthy household and securing a solid share for herself.

How much trouble she had gone to in order to cover up the swelling on the cheek she had struck in a fit of excitement a week ago.

Besides, if Elena met a wealthy husband, she too could live a comfortable life.

She would no longer have to struggle doing translation work.

‘If you’re a noble, you should live like a noble. What kind of sight is this?’

So she had chosen the smallest and most low-cut dress among the clothes they had and dressed Elena in it.

It was fortunate that Elena resembled her and had an outstanding appearance.

Men were taking interest in the peculiar air she gave off and approaching Elena.

But flustered Elena had fled to the wall to avoid them.

Cecile, watching Elena’s behavior with a glance, let out a sigh.

‘Honestly.’

It was not enough to set the table for her; now it seemed she had to spoon-feed her.

Elena was unsatisfactory.

Leana was in no position even to receive a dowry, and the one daughter who was at least intact was such a halfwit.

From Cecile’s standpoint, it was truly regrettable.

Everyone lives the same way.

If you acted high and mighty, you could instead lose everything and end up rolling on the floor.

That was why Cecile stepped forward.

Cecile cleared her throat loudly once again.

“Actually, I brought my eldest daughter. Her name is Elena.”

The noblewomen fell silent and glanced at Cecile.

“That’s her.”

At Cecile’s pointing, the noblewomen’s gazes turned to Elena.

She was a woman who gave off a peculiar atmosphere.

A woman with long, faded golden hair and blue eyes glistening with moisture.

She seemed thin, but had curves, so her figure in the dress was not bad, and even the way she clutched at her clothes stirred a protective instinct.

The sight of her pale to the point of pitifulness, only rolling her eyes, drew even more attention.

She certainly had a pretty face.

She also possessed something that stimulated people’s hearts.

“…She is a pretty child.”

Cecile smiled in triumph.

That’s right.

Elena’s looks took after Cecile and were well-formed.

“And you have no idea how good Elena is. Whether sitting or standing, that child thinks of nothing but her family. She can read books, she can play the piano. And she can translate, too.”

Cecile rattled on whatever came to mind.

They were things her father had personally kept her close and taught while he was alive.

“It truly pains my heart, but that child has now reached marriageable age. As a parent, I do not wish to send Elena away, but for the sake of the child’s life, it cannot be helped. If there is a good man, I intend to marry her to him.”

Having clearly stated her intention, Cecile looked over the noblewomen.

Fortunately, they did not seem entirely uninterested.

It seemed there might be a few who would act as matchmakers for Elena on Cecile’s behalf.

It did not matter if Elena became the second wife of a wealthy baron; she had heard a rich merchant was looking for a wife, and that position would do as well.

If not that, then even the position of a high noble’s mistress did not matter.

As long as it was a position that could bring her money!

Cecile swept her greedy eyes over Elena.

“A good match had better appear for our Elena. Our child does not have such great ambitions.”

The noblewomen understood well enough what Cecile was saying.

And what it was Cecile wanted.

* * *

Elena bit her lip hard.

She had not the slightest desire to be dragged to a place like this and play the clown.

But she could not turn away from Cecile, who had been making a deathly fuss since morning, saying she would die, and because Cecile even brought up Leana, it had ended up like this.

Elena clutched at her dress.

The waist Cecile had forcibly cinched was stifling and dizzying.

She wanted to escape this place quickly and run away.

The men approaching her with expressions of interest were distressing, and all she wanted was to hide.

It was not that she did not know with what intention Cecile had brought her here.

Since Cecile sang the song of marriage every single day, it was only too obvious.

Cecile would be mingling among the noblewomen, working to sell her off.

If not for Leana’s small hand clutching the hem of her skirt, saying she did not want her to go.

If not for that child, who had gasped for breath and collapsed.

If not for that child’s eyes, filled with a desire to live.

Elena squeezed her eyes shut and opened them.

Elena’s eyes, which had been wandering aimlessly, suddenly collided with someone else’s.

They were eyes holding a deep green.

Bright silver hair was lightly disheveled over the man’s forehead, and the lips that drew a faint curve were red.

He was a man handsome enough to steal one’s gaze.

Even such a man was looking at her as if she were a spectacle.

Elena blushed and quickly bowed her head.

She wanted to run away.

This place was not hers.

* * *

In the end, Cecile grabbed Elena, who could not bear the humiliation and was trying to run away.

She seized her wrist roughly and muttered coldly, asking what she thought she was doing.

Cecile pulled Elena, who staggered before the stairs.

Elena shook her head from side to side.

“No, Mother…! This isn’t right. Please let me go!”

“Are you going to humiliate me like this? What are you going to do, Elena? Are you going to leave Leana like that? Must I really see that girl thrown out onto the cold floor?”

It was a malicious whisper.

Cecile, holding Elena’s leash, smiled brightly.

Clear tears fell with a plop down the cheek of Elena, who was staring blankly at Cecile.

“If you’ve come to a social gathering, you should dance, Elena.”

Cecile pushed Elena’s back.

The men who had been waiting for her rushed toward her.

At least, that was how Elena felt.

As Cecile pushed her, Elena took a man’s hand and stepped onto the floor.

He was a man who reeked of garlic.

She did not know what state of mind she had been in while dancing hand in hand with the man.

Elena’s feet moved as if they had lost their way.

When she raised her head, the only thing she could see was the man’s chin.

“It is an honor to have the first dance of such a beautiful lady, Elena. I hear you are looking for a match? I am a man who does not ask for much. I may be a little old, but if she is a healthy woman who can bear children, I am willing to support her family as well. A son to continue the family line is all I need.”

Elena turned pale.

Elena, who had listened without a word as the man opened his garlic-smelling mouth and rattled on, stepped backward the moment the music stopped.

Only then could Elena see the man’s face.

A little old?

The man looked ten years older than her father would have been!

‘Mother has clearly gone mad!’

Elena swallowed.

Cecile caught Elena again as she tried to flee.

“Why do you have that face? Child, how long are you going to pretend to be so lofty?”

Cecile furrowed her brow.

“A man like that is more than you deserve! Do you have money to bring as a dowry, or do you have no family to support?”

“I don’t have to get married, Mother. I can support us. Mother…”

“How long do you think we can live on such pennies!”

Cecile let out a hollow laugh.

Having driven Elena against the wall as if penning in a sheep, Cecile spoke coldly.

“With that, it’s barely enough for your sister’s medicine. Are you doing this because you want to see that child die in the end?”

She knew Cecile was not saying such things out of affection for Leana.

Cecile was a person for whom cosmetics to put on her own face were more precious than Leana’s medicine money.

But it was also true.

“When will another banquet like this be held in this countryside! Today is the chance!”

Since it was obvious Elena would refuse to come and run away if she knew, Cecile had kept everything secret until now.

Even while taking the dresses they had to be altered and bringing back shoes in smaller sizes.

The cosmetics Cecile had bought at a high price had also been applied to Elena’s face.

In a way, Cecile had made a kind of investment in Elena.

And Cecile intended to receive that value in full.

With a face on the verge of tears, Elena was dragged along by Cecile.