TFCF 09

Chapter 09 ….

Lady Rose never imagined that Helen would openly defy her.

Her eldest daughter had always been the perfect daughter…

Before speaking, Helen gestured for the servants to leave.

Once the attendants had vacated the drawing room, Helen spoke firmly to Lady Rose.

“Eyla will take that class. What’s wrong with Eyla?”

“My goodness.”

Lady Rose glanced back and forth between her daughters before speaking.

“What kind of girl wears her hair that short? And think about it— the Solarune family is famous for its blond hair. If a girl like her goes out claiming to be a Solarune, won’t everyone be disappointed? She’s neither smart nor pretty. What good will it do to put her in there?”

Helen flushed red as though she herself had been attacked.

She pushed Eyla behind her skirt protectively and snapped,

“Why does it matter if she’s smart or pretty, or what others think? And do you think everyone thinks like you, Mother?”

Lady Rose’s eyes widened.

“Helen, surely you don’t actually believe that nonsense about people valuing what’s inside more than the outside? Heavens, of course not. Not that inner qualities don’t matter— but if the outside isn’t beautiful, no one will care enough to look within.”

Helen felt suffocated by her mother’s unyielding attitude.

With this woman, words never got through.

Lady Rose let out a sigh and began pulling off her silk gloves.

“Well, fine. Let’s say you’re right. Then is Eyla’s inner self so extraordinarily beautiful compared to others? I don’t see it that way.”

Her scornful gaze swept over Eyla, making the girl flinch.

“Mother! Stop it!”

“Helen, don’t raise your voice. That’s vulgar.”

You’re the one who raised your voice and caused a scene in the first place!

Helen swallowed the retort that rose to her lips.

Just then, Eyla spoke up.

“Mother, if my hair bothers you, we can say I cut it short because of a fever. That it’s only grown this much now.”

Both Lady Rose and Helen turned to her in surprise.

Neither had expected Eyla to speak up here.

Clutching Helen’s skirt, Eyla looked up at her sister, then smiled faintly before turning to her mother.

“Everyone knows I’ve been sick, so they’ll understand.”

Lady Rose often used Eyla’s frailty as an excuse to leave her at home whenever the family attended social functions.

Because of that, Eyla had never once been to a family gathering.

“Hah.”

Lady Rose let out a sharp, derisive laugh.

“My eldest looks down on me, so now even that child dares speak to me so freely.”

“Mother, please stop. It’s troubling if you try to overturn my decisions.”

Helen’s voice hardened.

“As head of house, I ask you to respect my position.”

When Helen invoked her authority as the family head, Lady Rose’s lips trembled.

From her innocent emerald eyes, pearl-like tears began to roll down.

“Ah…”

She covered her mouth with her hand and spoke in a broken voice.

“I don’t know why you insist on making me out to be the villain. Fine, it’s easy for others to say pretty words. Anyone can flatter. But I’m your mother. I’m only giving you advice because a mother can.”

She fumbled for a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes.

“Because she’s a child of the Solarune family, people will say she’s pretty. But in truth, she’s not. Eyla will live her life at a disadvantage.”

“Mother, that’s enough. I understand your beliefs, but the world doesn’t only see things the way you do.”

Helen cut her off and added,

“Eyla will attend that class. I’ve already arranged it, she cannot be absent.”

“Send Leo instead. He’ll do well.”

“I said Eyla. The sage has already agreed.”

“…Fine. Do as you wish. I suppose I’m the only one left who cares for the honor of the Solarune family. Ever since your father died, you all think honor is just outdated nonsense.”

Lady Rose trembled as she spoke.

Helen bit her lip.

She wanted to say that the honor of the Solarune family had nothing to do with hair color, but there was no point in continuing to clash like this.

She didn’t want to prolong this fruitless conversation.

Helen turned to Eyla with a gentle smile.

“Eyla, go back to your room first.”

Eyla hesitated.

Her mother stood stiff and unyielding, not even sparing her a glance.

After looking at her mother’s hardened profile, Eyla bowed slightly and left the room.

In the hall, Lady Poppy was waiting with a worried face.

“My lady…”

Eyla smiled and said,

“It’s fine. I just don’t want Helen-sister to end up quarreling with Mother because of me.”

“It’s not your fault, my lady. Come, head upstairs. I’ll bring you a cup of cocoa.”

“Thank you.”

Eyla said, then went upstairs.

Her small shoulders drooped as she trudged up the steps.

What’s wrong with our young lady? She’s nothing but adorable!

Lady Poppy glanced once toward the drawing room, snorted, and headed for the kitchen.

Fish Ornament

Lady Rose kept dabbing at her eyes as she complained.

“Truly, it’s all because of that girl. Even sweet Helen is being led astray…”

“Don’t worry, Rose. I’ll take care of it. I’ll put Helen in her place, all right?”

The soft, soothing voice belonged to her brother, Rodent.

Baron Rodent Balan.

Alexander Solarune had delighted in granting his wife every wish, and so had hired many from Rodent’s side of the family.

Now that Alexander was dead, the situation had grown so tense that it was causing rifts with the old vassals.

Rose turned to her brother.

“You’ll deal with Helen? How?”

“You needn’t worry. In truth, isn’t it you who should be running the Solarune family now, not Helen? An elder graciously yields, yet the child shows no manners.”

Rodent clicked his tongue, then gently gripped his sister’s shoulders.

“Your brother will handle everything. You needn’t worry, understand?”

“Yes.”

Rose nodded, sniffling.

“When Alec was alive, I could have anything I wanted, but the moment he died, they began disregarding me. And now they’re dragging Solarune honor through the mud…”

She muttered to herself,

“I must contact Paracel at once. That boy will understand my heart.”

“Paracel? Is there any need to?”

Rodent lightly tried to dissuade her, but Rose fell into her own thoughts instead of answering.

He went on,

“The academy term should still be in session. No need to involve the children. Let the adults of the family take this matter in hand.”

“Yes, yes, you’re right.”

Rose answered half-heartedly but resolved to summon her second son, Paracel, and have him scold Helen.

Fish Ornament

After Lady Rose’s tantrum, Helen only grew more determined to support Eyla’s lessons with the sage.

“Have a pile of dresses made. You’ll wear a different one each time. Never let yourself be cowed.”

“Sister, it’s not like it’s the Imperial Ball…”

“If the crown prince is there, then it is the Imperial Ball. Don’t you dare wear the same dress twice.”

Even Lady Poppy agreed with Helen.

From that day on, the sewing-room maids worked tirelessly, producing dress after dress for Eyla.

There was an unwritten rule for the Imperial Ball: no one could attend twice in the same gown.

If anyone dared appear in the same dress a second time, they would be utterly ruined in society.

An outrageously wasteful condition— and yet, that very extravagance made the Imperial Ball all the more coveted.

Meanwhile, Eyla was so busy helping Helen that she hardly had a moment to breathe.

Whenever Helen asked about anything related to Solarune, Eyla answered swiftly and accurately. Thanks to her, Helen’s paperwork speed nearly tripled.

And then—

Paracel returned.