SMTD 04

Chapter 4 …

Cecile cleared her throat loudly.

Whether it was intentional or because they truly didn’t hear her, the noble ladies continued chatting among themselves, completely ignoring her voice. Undeterred, Cecile pushed her way through their elegant cluster and stood in the center.

“Oh my.”
“What on earth is she doing?”

The noble ladies raised their fans and stepped aside to avoid her. Some even pulled their skirts closer as if they didn’t want a single thread of fabric to touch Cecile. They weren’t openly shunning her, but their eyes brimmed with hostility toward her.

Cecile’s face flushed under their sharp gazes, but she couldn’t back down now.

‘I’ll make a fortune off that girl at least. I can’t live like this forever.’

The meager pocket money Elena brought home was nowhere near enough to satisfy Cecile’s greed.

She had brought Elena here with the clear intent of marrying her off to a wealthy family and securing a hefty sum in return. It had been quite the ordeal to cover up the swollen cheek from the slap she’d given Elena in a fit of excitement just a week ago.

Besides, if Elena married a rich husband, she too could live a comfortable life. She wouldn’t have to keep struggling with translations for scraps of money.

‘A noble should live like a noble. What kind of shabby sight is this?’

So she had dressed Elena in the smallest, lowest-cut dress they owned. Fortunately, Elena resembled Cecile in appearance and was strikingly beautiful. Her subtle aura drew the eyes of men, who began approaching her with interest.

Elena, overwhelmed, fled to the wall to avoid their gazes.

Cecile sighed as she watched Elena’s foolish behavior.

Honestly…

It wasn’t enough to set the table for her—she had to spoon-feed her too. Cecile found Elena infuriating. With no dowry to offer for Lea, their sickly younger daughter, at least their one decent-looking child turned out to be such a half-wit. It was deeply disappointing.

Everyone lived by the same rules. Pretending to be lofty only led to losing everything and ending up in the gutter. That was why Cecile had to take matters into her own hands.

She cleared her throat loudly once more.

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

The noble ladies fell silent and glanced at Cecile.

“That girl over there.”

Cecile pointed, and all eyes turned toward Elena.

She had an unusual aura about her—long, faded golden hair, blue eyes glistening as if wet. Though her frame looked slender, her figure had curves that filled out the dress nicely. Even the way she clutched her skirt evoked a protective instinct.

Her pale, almost ghostly expression, with eyes darting nervously, only made her stand out more.

She was, without a doubt, beautiful. There was something about her that tugged at people’s hearts.

“…She’s a pretty one.”

Cecile smiled triumphantly. Of course. Elena’s looks were inherited from her, after all.

“And she’s such a good girl, you wouldn’t believe it. She’s always thinking of her family, whether she’s sitting or standing. She can read, play the piano, and even work as a translator.”

Cecile rambled on, listing everything she could think of—skills Elena had learned long ago under her father’s instruction.

“It breaks my heart, truly, but she’s come of age. As her parent, I don’t want to let her go, but for the sake of her future, I must. If there’s a good man, I’d like to see her married.”

Her intentions made perfectly clear, Cecile scanned the noble ladies’ faces. Thankfully, they didn’t seem entirely disinterested. A few of them looked like they might be willing to act as matchmakers for her. She didn’t care if Elena became the second wife of a wealthy baron or the legal wife of a rich merchant—she’d heard some were looking.

And if not that, becoming a high-ranking noble’s mistress would be fine too.

As long as the position brought Cecile money.

Her eyes glinted greedily as she looked Elena up and down.

“I hope we can find a good match for our Elena. She’s not a girl with extravagant desires.”

The noble ladies understood her well enough. They caught on to exactly what Cecile wanted.

Elena bit down hard on her lip.

She had no desire to be dragged here and made into some kind of spectacle. But Cecile had wailed all morning about dying and suffering, and when she even brought up Lea, Elena couldn’t refuse. And so here she was, clutching the skirt of her dress.

The tight bodice Cecile had forced her into made her dizzy and breathless.

She wanted nothing more than to run away. The men approaching her with interest made her uncomfortable—she wanted to disappear.

She wasn’t oblivious to why Cecile had brought her here. Cecile sang the marriage tune day in and day out; this was inevitable. She was surely mingling among the noble ladies right now, trying to sell her off like livestock.

If not for Lea’s tiny hand clutching her skirt.

If not for the child’s labored breathing and determined eyes full of the will to live.

Elena squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again.

And then, her wandering gaze suddenly met someone else’s. Deep green eyes. Soft silver hair fell casually over the man’s forehead, and his lips were a pale shade of red, curved faintly upward.

He was strikingly handsome—so much so that she couldn’t help staring.

Even such a man was watching her like she was some kind of spectacle.

Elena’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly lowered her head.

She wanted to run away.

This was not her place.

In the end, unable to endure the humiliation any longer, Elena tried to flee—but Cecile caught her. Grabbing her wrist harshly, Cecile hissed coldly, “What do you think you’re doing?” and yanked her back as she stumbled toward the stairs.

Elena shook her head frantically.

“I don’t want this, Mother…! Please, let me go!”

“Are you trying to embarrass me? What are you planning, Elena? Are you going to just leave Lea like that? Do you want to see her thrown out into the cold?”

Her whisper was cruel.

Cecile smiled sweetly as she held the leash around Elena’s neck. A single transparent tear rolled down Elena’s cheek as she stared at her mother blankly.

“When you come to a social gathering, you dance, Elena.”

Cecile shoved her forward. The men waiting eagerly surged toward her—or at least, that’s how it felt to Elena.

She was pushed onto the dance floor, forced to take the hand of a man who reeked of garlic.

She had no idea how she managed to dance with him. Her feet moved without direction, and when she lifted her head, all she could see was the man’s chin.

“It’s an honor to have the first dance with such a beautiful lady, Elena. I hear you’re seeking a match? I’m not a demanding man. I may be a little older, but I’m willing to support my wife’s family if she’s healthy enough to bear children. All I need is a son to continue the family line.”

Elena went pale.

She listened silently as he spoke through his garlic breath, but the moment the music stopped, she stepped back.

Only then did she get a clear look at his face.

A little older?

He looked at least ten years older than her father!

Mother’s lost her mind.

She swallowed hard. Cecile caught her again before she could escape.

“What’s with that face? How long are you going to act all high and mighty?”

Cecile frowned.

“A man like that is more than you deserve! Do you have money for a dowry? Do you have no family to support?”

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

“How long do you think we can live off that pocket change!”

Cecile let out a sharp laugh. She cornered Elena against the wall like a trapped lamb and said coldly,

“With that little, you can’t even afford your sister’s medicine. Do you really want to watch her die?”

Elena knew Cecile wasn’t saying it out of love for Lea. Cecile valued her cosmetics more than Lea’s medicine. But that didn’t make it any less true.

“Who knows when we’ll have another gathering like this in this countryside! Today’s your chance!”

She had kept everything a secret from Elena, knowing she would refuse and run if she found out. She had altered their old dresses, adjusted the shoes, and even applied her expensive cosmetics to Elena’s face.

This was Cecile’s “investment.”

And she fully intended to collect on it.

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

Chapter 4

Cecile cleared her throat loudly.

Whether it was intentional or because they truly didn’t hear her, the noble ladies continued chatting among themselves, completely ignoring her voice. Undeterred, Cecile pushed her way through their elegant cluster and stood in the center.

“Oh my.”
“What on earth is she doing?”

The noble ladies raised their fans and stepped aside to avoid her. Some even pulled their skirts closer as if they didn’t want a single thread of fabric to touch Cecile. They weren’t openly shunning her, but their eyes brimmed with hostility toward her.

Cecile’s face flushed under their sharp gazes, but she couldn’t back down now.

‘I’ll make a fortune off that girl at least. I can’t live like this forever.’

The meager pocket money Elena brought home was nowhere near enough to satisfy Cecile’s greed.

She had brought Elena here with the clear intent of marrying her off to a wealthy family and securing a hefty sum in return. It had been quite the ordeal to cover up the swollen cheek from the slap she’d given Elena in a fit of excitement just a week ago.

Besides, if Elena married a rich husband, she too could live a comfortable life. She wouldn’t have to keep struggling with translations for scraps of money.

‘A noble should live like a noble. What kind of shabby sight is this?’

So she had dressed Elena in the smallest, lowest-cut dress they owned. Fortunately, Elena resembled Cecile in appearance and was strikingly beautiful. Her subtle aura drew the eyes of men, who began approaching her with interest.

Elena, overwhelmed, fled to the wall to avoid their gazes.

Cecile sighed as she watched Elena’s foolish behavior.

Honestly…

It wasn’t enough to set the table for her—she had to spoon-feed her too. Cecile found Elena infuriating. With no dowry to offer for Lea, their sickly younger daughter, at least their one decent-looking child turned out to be such a half-wit. It was deeply disappointing.

Everyone lived by the same rules. Pretending to be lofty only led to losing everything and ending up in the gutter. That was why Cecile had to take matters into her own hands.

She cleared her throat loudly once more.

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

The noble ladies fell silent and glanced at Cecile.

“That girl over there.”

Cecile pointed, and all eyes turned toward Elena.

She had an unusual aura about her—long, faded golden hair, blue eyes glistening as if wet. Though her frame looked slender, her figure had curves that filled out the dress nicely. Even the way she clutched her skirt evoked a protective instinct.

Her pale, almost ghostly expression, with eyes darting nervously, only made her stand out more.

She was, without a doubt, beautiful. There was something about her that tugged at people’s hearts.

“…She’s a pretty one.”

Cecile smiled triumphantly. Of course. Elena’s looks were inherited from her, after all.

“And she’s such a good girl, you wouldn’t believe it. She’s always thinking of her family, whether she’s sitting or standing. She can read, play the piano, and even work as a translator.”

Cecile rambled on, listing everything she could think of—skills Elena had learned long ago under her father’s instruction.

“It breaks my heart, truly, but she’s come of age. As her parent, I don’t want to let her go, but for the sake of her future, I must. If there’s a good man, I’d like to see her married.”

Her intentions made perfectly clear, Cecile scanned the noble ladies’ faces. Thankfully, they didn’t seem entirely disinterested. A few of them looked like they might be willing to act as matchmakers for her. She didn’t care if Elena became the second wife of a wealthy baron or the legal wife of a rich merchant—she’d heard some were looking.

And if not that, becoming a high-ranking noble’s mistress would be fine too.

As long as the position brought Cecile money.

Her eyes glinted greedily as she looked Elena up and down.

“I hope we can find a good match for our Elena. She’s not a girl with extravagant desires.”

The noble ladies understood her well enough. They caught on to exactly what Cecile wanted.

Elena bit down hard on her lip.

She had no desire to be dragged here and made into some kind of spectacle. But Cecile had wailed all morning about dying and suffering, and when she even brought up Lea, Elena couldn’t refuse. And so here she was, clutching the skirt of her dress.

The tight bodice Cecile had forced her into made her dizzy and breathless.

She wanted nothing more than to run away. The men approaching her with interest made her uncomfortable—she wanted to disappear.

She wasn’t oblivious to why Cecile had brought her here. Cecile sang the marriage tune day in and day out; this was inevitable. She was surely mingling among the noble ladies right now, trying to sell her off like livestock.

If not for Lea’s tiny hand clutching her skirt.

If not for the child’s labored breathing and determined eyes full of the will to live.

Elena squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again.

And then, her wandering gaze suddenly met someone else’s. Deep green eyes. Soft silver hair fell casually over the man’s forehead, and his lips were a pale shade of red, curved faintly upward.

He was strikingly handsome—so much so that she couldn’t help staring.

Even such a man was watching her like she was some kind of spectacle.

Elena’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly lowered her head.

She wanted to run away.

This was not her place.

In the end, unable to endure the humiliation any longer, Elena tried to flee—but Cecile caught her. Grabbing her wrist harshly, Cecile hissed coldly, “What do you think you’re doing?” and yanked her back as she stumbled toward the stairs.

Elena shook her head frantically.

“I don’t want this, Mother…! Please, let me go!”

“Are you trying to embarrass me? What are you planning, Elena? Are you going to just leave Lea like that? Do you want to see her thrown out into the cold?”

Her whisper was cruel.

Cecile smiled sweetly as she held the leash around Elena’s neck. A single transparent tear rolled down Elena’s cheek as she stared at her mother blankly.

“When you come to a social gathering, you dance, Elena.”

Cecile shoved her forward. The men waiting eagerly surged toward her—or at least, that’s how it felt to Elena.

She was pushed onto the dance floor, forced to take the hand of a man who reeked of garlic.

She had no idea how she managed to dance with him. Her feet moved without direction, and when she lifted her head, all she could see was the man’s chin.

“It’s an honor to have the first dance with such a beautiful lady, Elena. I hear you’re seeking a match? I’m not a demanding man. I may be a little older, but I’m willing to support my wife’s family if she’s healthy enough to bear children. All I need is a son to continue the family line.”

Elena went pale.

She listened silently as he spoke through his garlic breath, but the moment the music stopped, she stepped back.

Only then did she get a clear look at his face.

A little older?

He looked at least ten years older than her father!

Mother’s lost her mind.

She swallowed hard. Cecile caught her again before she could escape.

“What’s with that face? How long are you going to act all high and mighty?”

Cecile frowned.

“A man like that is more than you deserve! Do you have money for a dowry? Do you have no family to support?”

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

“How long do you think we can live off that pocket change!”

Cecile let out a sharp laugh. She cornered Elena against the wall like a trapped lamb and said coldly,

“With that little, you can’t even afford your sister’s medicine. Do you really want to watch her die?”

Elena knew Cecile wasn’t saying it out of love for Lea. Cecile valued her cosmetics more than Lea’s medicine. But that didn’t make it any less true.

“Who knows when we’ll have another gathering like this in this countryside! Today’s your chance!”

She had kept everything a secret from Elena, knowing she would refuse and run if she found out. She had altered their old dresses, adjusted the shoes, and even applied her expensive cosmetics to Elena’s face.

This was Cecile’s “investment.”

And she fully intended to collect on it.

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