Episode 45. Bend and go on for a long, long time
The garden at Bianca Manor. The afternoon sunlight streamed in through the windows. Refreshments were laid out on the table: small cakes, cookies, and various kinds of tea. Noble ladies and young ladies took their seats one by one. There were about fifteen of them. They were influential figures in high society.
Martha entered with Bianca and Lily. The garden fell silent in an instant. All eyes were fixed on Martha. She was wearing a burgundy dress. It was the one she had chosen at Madame Ellis. The deep, rich color harmonized with her golden hair, and her waistline was perfectly defined. Moreover, even her standing posture was flawless.
Whispering began to be heard from one side. That troublemaker Princess the one who broke off her engagement. They heard she had an enormous debt. One lady among them chattered loudly, oblivious to the situation.
"How can she show her face here?"
Martha thought to herself as she listened. It's sick and sick. But it's not like it's a lie. So what? As long as I'm confident, that's all that matters.
Martha was reassuring herself not to forget the purpose of her visit today. However, a different story began to emerge among the other ladies.
"I heard she was the first to dance with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"If she is a Princess of the Valois ducal family, couldn't she be a candidate for Crown Princess?"
"She isn't a candidate; isn't she already the number one contender? She is also the Imperial Palace's top retainer."
The moment those words were spoken, the ladies' attitudes began to change. One lady approached Martha. Another followed behind her. One by one, they began to gather around Martha.
Watching this, Martha thought to herself. Crown Princess? Are they crazy? They probably don't realize that it's absolutely impossible. Well, at least having them gather isn't bad.
Bianca clenched her fist as she watched the scene. It has begun. Martha addressed the gathered ladies. To the older ladies, she showed the utmost respect, as if imperial etiquette were second nature to her. The angle at which she held her teacup, the timing of her greeting, the brief pause before speaking. The ladies were surprised.
Their reaction was that she seemed like a completely different person from the Serena of the past. She naturally matched the conversation with a young lady her own age. Trending dress designs, popular books and performances, and even the hottest café in the Empire.
Lily followed the conversation naturally beside Martha, matching the mood. Lily was doing quite well, too. However, there was a woman in the midst of it all. It was Countess Eleonore Hartmann. She was a plump woman in her early fifties.
The Hartmann family had a long-standing relationship with the Duke of Kreuz. She was a close confidant whom Empress Isadora had kept close since her days as Crown Princess, and she served as the Empress's mouth and ears in high society. She was a woman with deep roots in the social scene, known to everyone. She was notorious for her sharp tongue and for speaking her mind without hesitation.
Even before her regression, she had repeatedly rebuked Serena and publicly humiliated her. She was also the one who most actively spread rumors about how much of a scoundrel the Princess of Valois was, eventually driving her out of society.
That very Countess Hartmann approached Martha, looking at her. Martha was overcome with anger at the memories of the past. If it weren't for her age, she'd want to punch her.
Martha smiled and greeted the Countess. Countess Hartmann was smiling as well. However, that smile was not warm at all.
"It's been a long time, Princess. To think you've set foot in a place like this."
"Madam Hartmann, it's been a while."
"I heard the Princess of Valois has changed a lot. Is that true? It feels a bit awkward seeing someone so famous in high society suddenly showing up at a gathering like this."
Martha looked at the lady Countess Hartmann. The Empress's closest confidant. The very name Serena used to spend days and nights in a sea of tears after returning from a palace banquet before her regression. Facing her up close, Martha almost grabbed her by the hair without realizing it. The most common character in high society. I know. Someone who enjoys stabbing with words. Someone who gets even more excited when the other person gets flustered or gets angry. She's testing me right now. And she'll report this to the Empress. What kind of person the Princess of Valois was.
Martha looked at Countess Hartmann as she took a sip of tea. Her expression did not waver; rather, it was gentle.
"If you don't change, you just grow old. Doesn't changing a little make you feel more vibrant and alive?"
Countess Hartmann said with a smile.
"That is what people say. But I think a little differently. I would rather be broken than bent. Isn't living with conviction also a way of doing things?"
These were the words of someone well-worn out in high society. They were imbued with pride in not having changed her ways. And by twisting the idea that Martha had changed, they carried the nuance that she had changed without conviction.
As Martha listened, she looked down at her teacup for a moment. Then she spoke.
"Being broken and being bent are different."
Countess Hartmann looked at Martha.
"If you break, you snap in two. What is broken never grows back together. But bending is different. What is bent can be straightened out again, and if necessary, you can bend it even more. Why bother thinking about breaking? You should bend and go on for a long, long time. I intend to go on for a long time."
Countess Hartmann remained silent. Martha continued.
"Countess, what you said that you would rather break than bend is a wonderful sentiment. However, that elegance also scares me a little. What happens after you break? A broken tree doesn't grow back."
Martha said, taking another sip of tea.
"A bent tree lives a long time. It sways when the wind blows, and bends when a storm comes. But it doesn't fall over because it has roots. I think that is the stronger side."
The garden fell silent. Countess Hartmann looked at Martha. Something passed through her eyes. Was she flustered, or was she weighing her options?
She tried to retort, but there was nothing to say. It wasn't wrong. On the contrary, it was correct. Yet, that correct statement was quietly overturning what she had believed her entire life. She must have been fuming inside, thinking, 'That young girl is talking back so sharply.'
Countess Hartmann spoke slowly while sipping her tea.
"So the rumors that the Princess of Valois has changed were true."
Martha said.
"Seeing it for yourself is more accurate than hearing rumors."
Bianca thought to herself as she drank her tea beside her. This is Serena's true inner strength. She wrapped up the verbal attacks with conversation. And she did it without a single false statement. However, there were moments of Martha's characteristic looseness in between. She picked up a cookie with her hand and ate it. The ladies were momentarily taken aback. But when Martha naturally offered one to the lady next to her, saying, "This is really delicious. Try some," the atmosphere actually lightened.
The lady took a bite with a smile. The lady next to her took one too. Before long, the atmosphere at the table had become a little lighter. Bianca watched this and thought. She had already commanded the atmosphere without even trying to look perfect. That is typical of Serena.
It was a moment when the mood had softened considerably. The conversation with Countess Hartmann had concluded, and the entire garden had fallen silent for a brief moment before coming back to life.
The sound of tea sipping could be heard here and there. The ladies began to chat amongst themselves. Martha was also having a light conversation with the lady sitting next to her. Just then, a lady sitting nearby sniffed slightly and said.
"Oh, what is this scent? I thought I smelled it subtly for a while."
She looked at Martha, then at Bianca, then at Lily. She glanced back and forth between the three, exchanging slight glances.
"I think it is coming from all three of you. It is such a lovely scent. What brand is it?"
Hearing those words, Martha thought to herself. Here he has come, here he has come; the God of Wealth has descended. Martha slowly set down her tea and said,
"Actually, I sprayed some in the carriage before coming here today."
The lady spoke with sparkling eyes.
"Where is this perfume from? It smells like a scent I've never smelled before. Is it trending in the Imperial Palace?"
Martha asked.
"It hasn't been released to the market yet. It's still in the sample stage."
The ladies in the garden pricked up their ears. The people who had been chatting began to turn their gaze toward Martha. The phrase 'not yet on the market' drew everyone's attention. Something precious, something others did not possess, and something that only they could obtain. These were the three things noble ladies cherished.
Martha gestured to Lily to bring her bag, and from it, she took out small bottles. She had packed them in advance before disembarking from the carriage. They were samples of herbal perfumes processed by the Viscount Muller estate. Lavender, rosemary, and thyme scents. They were contained in small, pretty glass bottles. Labels were attached to the lids.
Marta handed one to each lady, saying, "I'm giving them to you as a gift. They are quite precious since they haven't been officially released yet."
The ladies took them and opened the lids. Exclamations of delight erupted from all around.
"Oh my, what a scent! It is so good."
"It's lavender, but how can it be this subtle? It's not harsh at all."
"Where does this come from? Is it supplied to the Imperial Palace?"
Martha asked.
"It is made from herbs grown directly on the estate of the Duke of Valois. Not a single chemical is added; everything comes from nature. We are also preparing to supply the Imperial Palace. However, since the perfume business is just beginning, it hasn't been released to the general public yet."
More ladies began to gather. Ladies who had been sitting elsewhere earlier moved over to Martha one by one. The area around her started to bustle. Martha pointed to the products one by one and said.
"This is a lavender scent, and this is rosemary. Rosemary has a fresher and more vibrant feel, while lavender has a subtle and calming feel. There is also talk that spraying it in the bedroom helps with sleep. In fact, the scent of lavender has a calming effect on the nerves."
One lady lightly sprayed the lavender perfume on her wrist and said.
"Oh, it feels even better sprayed on the wrist."
Martha said.
"That's right. The scent really comes alive when it comes into contact with body temperature. So, it's best to spray it on your wrists or neck."
Said another lady as she sniffed the rosemary perfume.
"This one feels a bit heavier. It would be good to spray before bed."
Martha leaned forward toward the lady and said.
"If you happen to be planning for a second child, you can also apply a little behind your ears before going to sleep."
Bianca and the other ladies blushed. Amidst them, some tried to hold back their laughter but soon burst out laughing. Then, everyone began to laugh and chat comfortably.
"They say rosemary is good for concentration. It would be nice to keep it in your study. And this is a thyme scent; it has a unique flavor that pairs well with food, so it's good to keep in the kitchen. We're also planning to release herb salt, which is effective at removing gamey odors from meat. In particular, if you sprinkle it on meat before grilling, the gamey smell completely disappears, and a lovely herbal scent wafts out. I tried it myself, and it really makes a difference."
The ladies exclaimed in amazement.
"Oh my, really? You use it for cooking too?"
"Are perfumes and ingredients coming out together? That's fascinating."
Marta said.
"And the Duke of Valois is currently developing a hot spring, and they will be using herbal bath additives there as well. Just imagine this scent wafting through the warm water. A hot spring filled with the fragrance of lavender. On top of that, high-quality herbal bath additives made by the Viscount Muller family will be added. It's good for the skin, and the scent is wonderful."
Bianca leaned close beside Martha and whispered.
"Serena, can you see the money? Stop it."
Martha looked at Bianca. Bianca looked into Martha's eyes and said.
"Seriously. I can hear the sound of gold coins falling from my eyes right now. I can't tell if this is a tea party or a merchant caravan event."
Martha glanced at the ladies for a moment, then looked at Bianca. Then, pretending not to hear Bianca, she looked back at the ladies and said.
"...I'll invite you first when the hot springs open. It's a hot spring filled with the scent of herbs."
"Since it is a hot spring directly operated by the Duke of Valois, I can guarantee the quality."
The ladies' faces lit up.
"Oh, I really want to go."
"The Duke of Valois's hot spring... I'm looking forward to it."
"You mustn't forget to invite me."
Martha thought to herself. What a gold mine, a gold mine. Bianca sighed as she drank her tea. Lily stood beside her, trying to suppress a laugh. Countess Hartmann watched the scene from a distance, then quietly slipped the sample perfume placed in front of her into her bosom.
It was near the end of the tea party. The ladies began to pack up their seats one by one. Bianca saw them off, exchanging greetings with each of them. Countess Hartmann also bowed as she left. Her expression was slightly different from when she first entered. It was a look that seemed to have changed in some way.
Standing beside Martha, Bianca said.
"You were perfect today, very Serena-like."
Martha replied.
"I even ate the cookies with my hands."
Bianca let out a chuckle.
"That was better. Rather than sitting stiffly."
"The ladies felt more at ease from that moment on, too."
Martha looked at Bianca.
"You did well today, Bianca."
Bianca said, slightly averting her gaze.
"As for me, well..."
"The Princess did it all."
Martha chuckled. Just then, there was a sound at the entrance of Bianca's mansion. It was Edward, who had come to pick up Martha. He had arrived just as the tea party was ending. He stopped as he stepped inside. There stood Martha, wearing a burgundy dress. Edward stared intently at Martha. Then, his gaze stopped at Bianca standing beside her. Bianca was also wearing an elegant, light cream-colored dress today.
Edward looked at Martha and said.
"The dress suits you well."
He had said it while looking at Martha, but his eyes seemed strange. They weren't fixed on her. He pretended to look at Martha while glancing at Bianca. Once. And then once. And again. Bianca took out a notebook, trying not to look at Edward. She pretended to write something in it. But the notebook was held upside down.
Edward glanced again. Lily watched the scene and covered her mouth. Martha thought to herself as she watched. 'You two are really having fun together.'
"Brother's eyes..."
"It's high."
Edward looked at Martha.
"I just said it suits you well."
Martha said.
"Why are you looking at Bianca while talking about my dress?"
Edward froze. Bianca clutched her notebook tightly. Realizing belatedly that she was holding it upside down, she quickly straightened it. Lily lowered her head to suppress her laughter.
As Martha walked toward the carriage, she said.
"Let's go, brother."
Edward looked at Martha, then at Bianca, then quickly followed her. Bianca looked into her notebook as if trying not to watch Edward leave. But the notebook was upside down again. Lily smiled quietly as she watched.
Inside the carriage. Edward said nothing. He stood with his arms crossed, looking out the window. He crossed his arms as if trying to act nonchalant, but his shoulders were slightly stiff.
Martha looked out the window and said.
"Bianca's dress was pretty, too."
"Why didn't you tell her she was pretty?"
Edward said.
"Just because."
Martha let out a small chuckle. Edward looked at Martha.
"Why are you laughing?"
Martha said.
"Nothing."
Edward looked out the window. Martha looked out the window and thought. Those two, they make a nice picture. I just can't bring myself to call Bianca 'sister-in-law.' It's funny and cute that my brother doesn't know his own feelings.
The carriage sped along. The evening sunlight streamed in through the window. It was a warm, reddish light
[Lucy's Secret Shock Journal Episode 45]
There was a tea party at Miss Bianca's mansion today.
The Princess made her first proper appearance in high society. Eating pastries with her hands. And selling perfume as well.
Just as Miss Bianca said, it felt like I could hear the sound of gold coins falling from her eyes.
I don't know what Countess Hartmann will report to Her Majesty the Empress. The Princess didn't seem afraid of that.
On the contrary, she was even more confident.
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