KFBRV Ch 63
- Feb 8
- 5 min read
[Servant] "I expected it to take a long time because the seeds for those rare herbs were so difficult to find, but the farmer we were supposed to trade with came early this morning and sold them to us."
[Sasha] "This is driving me crazy! What kind of sudden disaster is this?"
She clutched her throbbing head.
What should I do? I haven't gotten a confession out of Mrs. Becker, let alone found any other evidence.
Should she stay at the mansion? Absolutely not. If she missed today, she might never get another chance to meet the Empress.
I gained so much from my salon exhibition piece; I can't afford to lose my connection with the Empress. I must get invited to the salon again...!
Just then, a brilliant idea flashed through her mind.
Since there was a whistleblowing letter, it's certain she stole something. It's not like I'm framing her for a crime she didn't commit—I just need to manufacture the evidence, right?
[Sasha] "Dolly!"
Originally, the head maid was supposed to accompany them to the ball today, serving as the Countess' attendant and keeping a watchful eye on Odette.
[Sasha] "Come here and lend me your ear."
She whispered something to Dolly, who was waiting by the carriage. She had decided to leave the head maid behind.
[Sasha] "Alright, everything is ready. Coachman, let's depart immediately!"
Odette's dress was no longer a significant concern. The real problem would be if the Count and Ferdinand returned and stopped her from going to the ball.
It was insolent for a mere doll to develop an ego and act so arrogantly. But come to think of it, why should she bother taming the doll herself when her son—who blocked his mother's life at every turn—was hardly any better?
That ungrateful son would surely stop her from attending the ball once he returned.
If we don't leave now, I might miss the Empress.
The Empress would only attend the formal ceremony of the ball briefly before retiring to the drawing room to spend time with her close circle.
She seems to be holding quite a grudge. She sent a handwritten invitation to the salon, and I skipped it, claiming I was sick.
Since that day, the Empress hadn't replied to a single one of her letters. This might be her last chance to appease her.
The thought of the Count rushing toward the mansion at this very moment made her even more desperate.
[Sasha] "Get in, Paula. Odette, you too!"
If Odette had looked stylish enough in her eyes—enough to potentially raise their reputation—she might have forced her to change, even if it took more time. No matter how bad her relationship with Ferdinand had become, they were in the same boat when it came to the Fake Purifier act. The family's fate hung in the balance of Odette's terrible reputation.
Pft. She looks like some seaside bumpkin.
However, in her eyes, Odette's dress was guaranteed to ruin her reputation, not raise it. So there was no need for her to go through the trouble of changing it.
[Sasha] "Coachman, leave at once!"
At her shout, the carriage began to roll.
[Announcer] "The Countess von Albrecht and the daughter of Count Albrecht are entering the ballroom!"
A brief silence fell over the banquet hall, which had been buzzing with the announcer's declaration. People stopped their chatter instantly. Only the music of the orchestra filled the vast hall.
The guests' gazes converged on the door in unison. Even Countess Lilienthal, the Empress' closest friend, turned her eyes toward the entrance for a moment.
Such was the power held by the name Odette Lina von Albrecht.
From newspapers to gossip rags, everyone labeled her a "villainess," yet her status as the only Purifier and her undeniable beauty always placed her at the center of admiration and envy.
Yes. There wasn't a single angle of Odette—from her face to her movements—that wasn't beautiful. She captivated people's eyes no matter what.
But what's the point? Her taste is atrocious.
A middle-aged woman with shockingly short white hair clicked her tongue in disappointment. Lilienthal had once been the daughter of a Count, the head lady-in-waiting to the Crown Princess, and a symbol of high taste and sophistication.
She had spent her life leading the fashion trends of the Imperial Palace. Although she had stepped back from setting trends due to her age, she still held a strong aversion to vulgar and childish clothes, leading the fashion world.
And for that reason, she detested Odette's harmful influence. Dresses in colors so bright they were childish, lace that glittered to a grotesque degree. How could she make such things trendy?
She'll be wearing something obvious again today.
Feeling stifled already, she was about to look away when the doors opened. Her jaw dropped.
[Lilienthal] "...This is it! This is the one!"
Abandoning her long-held dignity, she exclaimed frivolously, just as she had in her youth when she led the trends. If she were truly young again, she would have swirled her cane around wildly in excitement.
Realizing her position, she cleared her throat—Ahem, ahem—but there was no need to be embarrassed. Most of the noblewomen and young ladies known for their high culture and discerning eyes were just as shocked as she was.
For her, the Countess von Albrecht walking in front of Odette had long been registered as "Foreign Object No. 1." She saw nothing but Odette crossing the hall alone.
Of course, Paula was "Foreign Object No. 2."
White clothes were considered tacky. Under that tenet, even debutantes entering society had worn colored dresses for the past sixty years. Dark green, crimson, purple. In the midst of everyone wearing dresses with such heavy presence, a pure white chemise dress was nothing short of unconventional.
And how simple yet aesthetic was her single braided plait? What about the neatness of the pearls adorning her ears?
Instead of dangling heavy accessories, she finished the look with pale blue floral ornaments on her wrist and at the end of her hair.
A modest dress, one might only see in the local society of Meursault Beach.
The overall impression evoked a clumsy social scene. Like a naive young lady one might encounter at a seaside resort lined with noble villas.
But the details canceled out any tackiness completely. Some of the accessories were surprisingly high-end, and the lace decoration was clearly embroidered by the empire's finest artisan. Expensive, high-quality items placed in subtle areas created a sophisticated edge.
But above all, I love that rebelliousness.
Lilienthal was the only noblewoman in the room wearing a pantsuit. With a flushed face, she approached Odette. She couldn't bear to wait any longer to speak with her.
[Lilienthal] "Lady Albrecht."
She turned toward the voice.
Countess Lilienthal?
She was genuinely surprised. This woman was one of the rare individuals in the Barzeha Empire to inherit a title as a female. Back when the current Empress was still the Crown Princess, this woman had dictated the culture of the Imperial Palace.
No, not just the palace culture—she had dictated the fashion trends of the entire empire. She was the one who created the concept of women's riding breeches and pantsuits, wearing them to official events for the first time. She was also the creator of the women's trench coat.
This person is speaking to me so kindly?
In her past life, they had never exchanged a single word.
Among reputable noblewomen, the saying "Odette is like a poisonous mushroom to the young ladies of society" was common knowledge. Flashy but lethally harmful, and possessing a contagion that spreads her spores everywhere. In contrast, Lilienthal was treated as a living legend.
[Odette] "Countess Lilienthal."
Despite her racing thoughts, she curtsied.
Though they pretended otherwise, she could feel that most of the people in the room had pricked up their ears to listen to her conversation with the Countess.
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