KFBRV - Chapter 63




“I had expected it would take a long time because of a single seed of a medicinal herb that was hard to obtain, but the farmer I had agreed to deal with came by early this morning and sold the seed.”

“This is crazy! What the hell is this?”

The Countess's head was spinning.

'What should we do? Mrs. Becker, we haven't found any other evidence, let alone a confession?'

Then stay in the mansion? That was impossible. If the Countess misses today, she will never have another chance to meet the Empress.

'I had so much fun with the Salon exhibition, I can't miss the Empress's line. I have to be invited to the Salon exhibition again...!'

At that moment, an idea flashed through the Countess's mind.

'There was a complaint, so the kid certainly stole. It's not like we're framing someone for a crime they didn't commit. We just have to create evidence, right?'

“Dolly!”

The headmaid was originally supposed to accompany the ball today. She was supposed to accompany the Countess and watch over Odette.

“Come here and listen to me.”

The Countess whispered something into Dolly's ear, the maid waiting beside the carriage.

The Countess has decided to leave the head maid behind today.

“Yes, now that everything is ready, coachman, let’s go quickly!”

Odette's dress was no longer a big deal. If the Count and Ferdinand came back and stopped her from going to the ball, that would be a big problem.

It's annoying that Ferdinand's being so arrogant and prideful about the doll topic. But if she thinks about it, what's so cute about a son who blocks his mother's life, that he should be the one to tame the doll?

When that son of a bitch comes back he'll stop me from going to the ball.

'If we don't leave quickly, we might not be able to meet the Empress.'

The Empress only attends the ball's ceremonial ceremonies briefly and afterward spends time in the drawing room with her close friends.

'I guess the Empress is really upset. She even gave me a handwritten invitation to the salon, but I missed it because I was sick.'

From that day on, the Empress never responded to any letters she sent.

There may not be another chance to appease the Empress.

The thought that the Count was still running towards her made her feel even more anxious.

“Get in, Paula... You too, Odette!”

If Odette had been sufficiently refined in the Countess's eyes, and thus had the potential to enhance her reputation, she would probably have taken the extra time to have her dress changed.

No matter how bad the relationship with Ferdinand was, they were on the same boat when it came to pretending to be a fake Purifier. The fate of the family depends on Odette's bad reputation.

'Ugh. I sound like some seaside country bumpkin.'

But in the Countess's eyes, Odette's dress was not a dress that would raise her reputation, but rather a dress that would ruin it.

So, there is no need to go through the trouble of changing it yourself.

“Coach, let’s go now!”

At the Countess's shout, the carriage started to move.

***

“Countess Albrecht, the young lady of Count Albrecht is entering the ballroom!”

A brief silence fell over the banquet hall, which had been bustling with the servant's shouts. Those who had been chattering stopped talking for a moment.

Only the sound of the orchestra filled the spacious hall.

All the guests' eyes were focused on the door.

Even the Empress's close friend, Countess Lilienthal, turned her gaze towards the entrance for a moment.

That was the power of the name Odette Lina von Albrecht.

From newspapers to gossip, everyone called her a 'villain', but her status as the only Purifier and her beauty always attracted admiration and envy.

Yes. Odette had no unattractive features on her face or her gestures. She somehow managed to capture people's attention.

'Then what should I do? My eyesight is a mess.'

A short cut of gray hair cut unconventionally short. The middle-aged woman clicked her tongue as if she was disappointed.

The Countess Lilienthal was once the daughter of Count Lilienthal, the Crown Princess's chief maid, and a symbol of high taste and sophistication.

She has spent her entire life setting the trends in the palace.

Now that she's older, she's stepped back from being a trendsetter, but she still has a negative reaction to cheap, childish clothes being the trendsetters.

And just as much, she hated Odette's pernicious influence. Bright, even childishly colored dresses, grotesquely shiny lace. Do you make such things popular?

'It's going to be the same today too.'

The Countess, who was already feeling suffocated and about to turn away, opened her mouth wide as soon as the door opened.

“...This is it! This is it!”

She abandoned her old dignity and gave herself up to the frivolous admiration of her youthful days when she was leading the trends.

If I were really young, I would have twirled the cane I was holding roughly.

She soon realized where she was and coughed loudly, but there was no need to feel embarrassed.

Most of the noble ladies and young ladies, known for their high level of culture and discernment, were as surprised as she was.

The Countess's brain had long since recognized Countess Albrecht walking in front of Odette as a foreign body.

All she could see was Odette crossing the hall alone.

Of course, Paula was a foreign substance no 2.

Pure white clothes are old-fashioned. It's been 60 years since young ladies who just debuted in high society started wearing colorful clothes.

In the middle of everyone's dresses, which were all bold in color - green, red, purple - the pure white chemise dress was truly groundbreaking.

How simple and aesthetic is the hair braided into a bundle? And how neat is the pearl adorning the side of the ear?

Instead of wearing flashy accessories, why not finish off your look with some light blue flower decorations on your wrists and hair?

'A simple dress you might see in the local society of the Meursault beach.'

The overall impression is reminiscent of a clumsy society. A naive young lady you would see on a beach lined with noble villas.

But the details made up for any tackiness. Some of the accessories were surprisingly top-notch, and the lacework was clearly embroidered by the best in the empire.

The expensive, high-quality items, located in an unobtrusive place, were creating a sophisticated look.

'But more than anything, I like that break.'

Countess Lilienthal was the only female noblewoman in the room wearing a trouser suit. She approached Odette with the aforementioned expression on her face.

She couldn't stand it, she wanted to talk to her quickly.

***

“Young Lady Albrecht.”

Odette looked back to where the voice came from.

'Count Lilienthal?'

And then there was the surprise. She was a rare female heir to a title in the Barceha Empire.

When the current Empress was the Crown Princess, she was the one who dominated the culture of the imperial palace.

No, you can't say it's the culture of the palace. Because she was the one who set the fashion trends of the empire.

This woman was the first to create the concept of women's riding breeches and women's trouser suits and was the first to wear them to formal occasions. This woman was also the first to create women's trench coats.

'This person is speaking to me so affectionately?'

She's never talked to anyone in her past life.

Among the ladies of high standing, it was widely said that 'Odette was a poisonous mushroom to the ladies of high society.'

It is colorful but deadly and harmful and is also contagious by spreading its spores.

On the other hand, this woman is treated as a living legend.

“Countess Lilienthal.”

While thinking about this and that, Odette first bent her knees and greeted her.

Although they pretended not to notice, Odette could feel that most of the people in this place were listening intently to the conversation between her and the Countess.


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