Chapter 50 - You Haven’t Always Been Like This (1/2)
Chapter 50 – You Haven’t Always Been Like This
Working in the service industry was a difficult profession, since one had to be kind enough to smile at even the worst of customers.
Madame Reavoir was momentarily rendered dumbstruck at the absurdity of Dorothea’s words, but she soon used her experience and spoke in a pacifying tone.
“Not at all, Lady Dorothea. Please forget about Lady Maristella’s dress. There is another dress that would look wonderful on you. It is truly beautiful. I worked very hard on it.”
“…Really?” Dorothea said, her interest suddenly diverted.
“Of course, Lady Dorothea. Would I lie to you about that?” Madam Reavoir said, smiling awkwardly, but remained by Dorothea’s side as if nothing were wrong.
Placated, Dorothea seemed to loosen up when she heard there was another beautiful dress that would look good on her. Whenever I looked at the other girl, I couldn’t tell whether to judge her as simple or naïve.
I watched Madame Reavoir move with Dorothea to another location, then noticed Countess Cornohen staring at me with widened eyes. I took in a deep breath. What was wrong with that old hag?
“Countess Cornohen,” I said with a half smile, and she looked at me haughtily as if there was nothing wrong with the fact that I caught her staring at me. “I suppose you have something to tell me,” I said.
“Not at all, Lady Maristella. Nothing,” she demurred. Somehow, I sensed something hidden beneath her tone. “That dress is beautiful. You must have wanted it so much that you couldn’t even yield it to your best friend.”
“I’m afraid it wouldn’t look good on Dorothea. Her red hair and this white dress wouldn’t go very well together.”
She cocked an eyebrow at me. “…I’m surprised that you are acting differently from what you promised.”
“Countess Cornohen, I believe I’m still fulfilling my promise,” I asserted.
“Then you should give that dress to my daughter.”
“If Dorothea were my true friend, she wouldn’t have asked me to do that in the first place. And even if she did, I would have been happy to hand it over to her. But only if she is my ‘true friend.’”
“What?”
“But Dorothea is no longer my ‘true friend’. Don’t you already know that? With the interest payment as a basis, I am Dorothea’s maid, as you wanted,” I said in a business-like tone.
“Lady Maristella, don’t you—!” Countess Cornohen began harshly.
“Don’t worry, Countess Cornohen. Dorothea is not here. I also have no intention in letting her know about our deal.”
I took a breath and continued.
“Please don’t make unreasonable demands from me. That will only work if you say it to someone who sincerely cares for Dorothea. I’m afraid I have been disappointed in her for too long to give in to her unreasonable requests.”
But the Countess was unrelenting. “If you keep doing this, I will be disappointed in you too. I won’t tolerate you spoiling Roth’s mood.”
“I think I have done enough,” I said with a shake of my head. “I didn’t even frown at her when I met her here. And I have been nice to her until the end.” I looked directly into Countess Cornohen’s eyes. “I wonder how much you’re going to demand from me. In my estimation, all the debt my family currently owes to the Cornohen family should be completely wiped out if you want your demands satisfied.”
“You are shameless,” Countess Cornohen said in bitter accusation.
“If I were to frown and say harsh things to Dorothea, that’s because she deserves it. But at least I didn’t do anything that could become an issue. If you ask Madame Reavoir in a moment, I think it’s a problem you can recognize.”
“Very well. Let’s say the dress was too much of a demand.” Countess Cornohen spoke as if she decided to no longer pursue the issue. “But from now on, I want you to give her whatever she wants. Shouldn’t I receive the proper payment for the interest?”