Chapter 2:
The Tattered Lady and the Glass Slippers
I WILL BRING YOU MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER IN THE stead of her late sister.
That was the message my father had sent the count on the morning of the day we departed. He’d had someone on a fast horse deliver it, but the journey by carriage only took four days. In other words, there had barely been any time between the message reaching the count and our own arrival.
Predictably, this led to a quarrel erupting at the gate of the Granado estate when we arrived.
“My messenger arrived two days ago, didn’t he?! Our arrival may be somewhat sudden, but we’ve given you proper notice!” my father screamed.
“Our lord was away and was only able to read your message this morning. He has yet to make up his mind on the matter.” The gatekeeper’s tone was gentle as he tried to calm my father down. “If you could please remain at an inn tonight while he—”
“Does that mean you’ll let us into the castle tomorrow? Can you make me that promise?” my father pressed.
“N-no, I’m just a gatekeeper. I just ask that you give us time to—”
“And what if we can’t come in tomorrow either because of you? What will you do about it? Between the carriage, the coachman, and our lodging expenses on the way here, this trip will have cost me five thousand eiros! Add to that the worth of my time, and we’re well over a hundred thousand! You’d better be ready to pay me back!”
“M-m-me?! Why?!”
I was watching this ridiculous argument unfold from the window of the carriage and lamenting how indecent my father was acting. I’d been instructed to stay put, but even if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to bear the embarrassment of showing my face.
Still, I understood why my father was being so insistent. The more time he gave the count to think things through, the higher the likelihood of us getting turned away at the gate grew. He had to force his way in and leave me here before the count could say no. I imagined my father hoped the count would feel bad about tossing me out and might spend a night with me out of pity without having a good look at my face.
Regardless, I felt bad for the young gatekeeper. He seemed to be about the same age as me, and I could see on his face that he was torn between his duties and the outlandish claims my father was making. I wanted to do something to help him. After all, this was all my fault—were I not so ugly, there’d have been no need for any of this. Perhaps I could calm my father down and convince him to stay at an inn for the day.
I was looking for a chance to intervene when a woman spoke up. “What in the world is going on, Thomas?”
“M-Miss Mio! Welcome back!” the gatekeeper exclaimed.
I took a look at the newcomer from the window. I thought a member of the count’s family was coming home from the gatekeeper’s polite tone, but the woman was wearing typical maid attire: a long black dress with a white apron on top. She appeared to be about twenty, and her chestnut-colored hair was done up in braids.
The gatekeeper was about to explain the situation to her when my father interrupted him to introduce himself. When she heard the name “Chandelan,” the maid—Mio, I heard the gatekeeper say—frowned.
“Ah… Lord Chandelan. Allow me to offer my condolences. I’d intended to visit you shortly. May I inquire about the reason behind your visit?”
“I’ve brought my youngest daughter so she could meet the count,” he explained.
“As a substitute for your late elder daughter, you mean,” Mio replied after a pause, her eyes full of disdain.
Shame washed over me. I wanted nothing more than to run away, but I couldn’t. All I could do was curl up inside the carriage.
Unlike me, the count’s maid carried herself with pride. My father did not seem to intimidate her in the slightest. “Our lord indeed saw your message this morning. He swiftly penned his refusal and ordered me to send it at once. In fact, I was just on my way back from the dispatch house. It’s a shame that you arrived before the reply reached you, but that does not change his answer.”
“But we’ve made a long journey to come here. I would at least ask that the count allows us to rest in the castle before we depart,” my father insisted.
But the maid did not budge. “In that case, we shall cover the charge for an inn in the city. Please be on your way, Lord Chandelan.”
“Th-that won’t do! At least one night! We’ll get nowhere like this! Let me see the count!”
“I’m asking you to leave.”
“Shut up! A mere servant has no right to talk to me like this!” my father screamed, trying to grab the maid’s shoulder.
Oh, no!
I jumped out of the carriage and rushed over in a hurry. I have to stop him!
However, the maid dodged and slapped my father’s hand away. Before I could understand what was happening, he was on the ground, groaning as the maid pushed his face against the stone pavement.
“Please leave, Lord Chandelan,” she said, her expression as neutral as before. “Or else I’ll have to call the guards.”
“Urgh… You damned woman… You won’t get away with this… I swear I’ll—”
“Feel free to curse me as much as you like, but I will not allow you to set foot in the castle. I’d also appreciate it if you’d lower your voice. Our lord is grieving.”
“I-I’m so sorry!” I pleaded, getting down on my hands and knees next to my father and looking up at the maid. “I apologize. My father’s behavior was terribly out of line. Please forgive him.”
All I could do was apologize on his behalf and press my forehead to the ground, but it seemed to have been sufficient, as she finally let go of my father. However, he seemed eager to complain some more, so I stood back up and got in front of him. Thankfully, I was taller than he was when I straightened my posture, so I could act as a wall between the two of them. “I’m truly sorry,” I said once more with a bow.
When I lifted my head, I noticed the maid was staring at me. Her blue eyes were wide open as she studied me from head to toe.
Huh?
“Y-you… You are Lady Marie?”
“Yes, that is correct. I’m the second daughter of House Chandelan.”
“The second… So, you are the younger sister of the late Lady Anastasia?”
“Indeed. I’m sorry. I’m aware I look nothing like my sister…”
The maid let out a strangled scream before ordering the gatekeeper to call the lord at once. She too ran back toward the castle, then returned and bowed to me while lifting the hem of her skirt off the ground. “It’s a pleasure to welcome you, Lady Marie. Please come in. Our lord is anticipating your arrival.”
I had no idea what was happening, but we’d finally been granted entry.
My father’s mood improved instantly, and he triumphantly stepped into the garden. “Good grief! We had a little hiccup, but I’m relieved you finally understood us. Don’t worry, I’m not mad,” he told the maid, his tone just as overbearing as it always was. “My best clothes are dirty, but that’s nothing a good wash can’t—”
“Lady Marie, is your dress dirty?” the maid asked me, interrupting my father. “I’ll have another one brought out for you to wear.”
I shook my head, flustered. “P-please, don’t concern yourself with me. It’s just a little dust; I can pat it away. Besides, I’ve brought changes of clothes.”
“I’m a baron, and no true nobleman makes a fuss just because a servant makes a few blunders,” my father carried on. “In the past, I’ve had to deal with a maid throwing the contents of a vase at me, you know? I was kind enough to let her get away with a two-year salary cut. Although I suppose it’s the first time I’ve been pinned to the ground, and—”
The maid once again interrupted my father, “Lady Marie, I apologize for the late introduction. My name is Mio.”
“O-oh. N-nice to meet you.”
“While I’m merely a maid, I’ve served the duke all my life, and I’ve been allowed to serve as grand chamberlain for the count’s estate. I assist Lord Kyros and ensure his safety.”
“His safety? That’s impressive. You’re so strong despite your small frame, Miss Mio.”
“Please address me simply as Mio, my lady.”
My father guffawed. “Mio, huh? You’ve got a surprisingly cute name!”