Cinderella Did Not Leave Her Shoe

‘I will call upon you again.’ Isaid as I kissed the back of Lady Fredericka’s hand and left the Castley home.

As soon as I boarded the carriage Iloosened my tie and top b.u.t.ton, and breathed out a heavy sigh of relief,

‘Ah~…I was so nervous.’ I said toXavier.

I had been more nervous in thatdrawing room that I had ever been on the battlefield. I had thought she wouldhave shouted at me, looked at me with eyes full of disdain like she was lookingat a disgusting bug. I thought I would be killed.

‘Lady Fredericka was ratheradorable, and she’s lovely too.’ I said to Zazie.

Xavier had been forced to come withme just in case I ended up being accused of indecency of some sort. Freed froma potentially tense situation, I was a bit more relaxed, therefore moreloquacious than usual.

‘She was acting. Didn’t younotice?’ Xavier replied. (Zuben: Dude stop ruining it) Xavier looked as thoughhe was shocked, ‘Maybe because of you, Young Master?’

I didn’t like his expression.

I sat up in shock, ‘Acting? Thatloveliness?’

My body sagged. How come?

‘She had no choice but to act thatway. Young master looked like you were headed for the guillotine, so shequickly conveyed her grat.i.tude. Apologising first was intentional. See howrelieved she was when you calmed down? Under normal circ.u.mstances, who wouldadmit that their lace underwear tore and fell off?’

Xavier’s insight! I cleared mythroat and made myself more comfortable in the carriage.

‘She was blushing from her earsdown to her neck. Although it didn’t show on her face, Lady Fredericka wasembarra.s.sed. She is still young. She could not fully hide her shyness.’ Headded with an evil sounding chuckle.

Xavier is a bad guy, I thought.

‘Hey? How did you notice that?’

‘Her hair was up.’

Indeed, Lady Fredericka’s hair hadbeen styled prettily into a loose knot off to the side. I am glad I didn’tnotice or I would not have been able to concentrate.

‘What kind of a cad would abandonsuch a beautiful lady? Doesn’t he have eyes in his head? Why did her loveaffair end so sadly?’

I sighed.

‘If you think you do not want tohand her to another, don’t worry.’ Xavier said.

I was struck by Xavier’s words. Truly,I did not want to let her meet another man. But she is a young lady and she hasjust had her fiancé break their engagement. She would be hurt.

She is beautiful and gentle.

She had attempted to cheer me up. Duringthe visit, her father had told funny stories and she had laughed heartily. Shehadn’t been scared rather she had been like a kitten studying me curiously.

‘Look into plays that the Societyladies like.’ I commanded.

‘Yes, young Master.’ Xavierreplied.

The door closed heavily behind theGeneral and his man, shortly after we heard the creak of carriage wheels.

We kept silent until the general’scarriage went out of view.

There was a hiccup.

Everyone burst out laughing.

I grimace at my own shamelessnessas the rest of my household were clutching their bellies laughing.

‘Oh Fredericka!’

‘“It’s was my favourite”! Hahaha!’

‘And that cute act?! You were likea little girl. Very cute!’

More laughter.

‘The general seemed pleased, so itturned out alright.’ Oliver said wiping tears from his eyes.

It was fine if he was pleased, butto the General, I must seem little more than a child.

‘Well, I just imitated Marie.’ Isaid with a smile as my maid

‘Wait? What?’ she asked confused.

‘Marie is the cutest person aroundme.’

Aside from that, he kissed my hand!Oh how exciting. But, it was only a greeting, it didn’t have any deeperconnotations.

But when he lifted my hands to hislips...so dashing so sophisticated! (Zuben: Someone has fallen hard)

Could I afford such a grown up manwho exuded such intense s.e.x appeal like 『buwaa』 (Zuben: Like buwaaa! Like a man standing in dry ice)

When I was with Eugene, it had beenso stiff. I have never experienced such a feeling before.

I never realised the back of myhand was so sensitive, I could still feel the sensation of General Volker’slips on my skin. It was strange and numb. I want to scream and run and hide. Ifeel agitated and restless.

There was a knock on the door.

Eugene? No. It was a messenger withthe formal request for the dissolution of the engagement from the Duke of Cajes.

How could he turn up without even aby-your-leave? Is it that they were more concerned about the consequences ofnot coming?

I suppose now that the engagementis cancelled they don’t need to keep up the pretence of politeness.

The messenger sat proudly in theproffered chair, and narrowed his fox-like eyes at me. He told us his name wasGarde.

‘Lady Fredericka, please sign thisdoc.u.ment right away.’ He said, while his words were polite, his tone was rude.He unfurled a paper that had been tied with a grey ribbon.

‘I will read it,’ Father saidtaking the doc.u.ment.

The written agreement to end themarriage contract.

I held my breath as Father read it.For a time there was only silence.

‘I have a question.’

‘Is there any room for questions?’ themessenger asked arrogantly with a raised eyebrow.

Why did the Duke send this person?

My Mother was sitting beside with afixed smile on her face, yet her hand held me gripping my arm tighter andtighter. I tried to keep the discomfort from my expression.

‘It says here “Accepting FrederickaCastley’s error…” what error does that specifically refer to?’ my father asked.

What error? What have I done thatwas a disgrace towards Eugene and the Cajes family?

‘Think of it as an error in thedoc.u.ment if you do not understand.’ The messenger replied.

My tried to hold down my temper;how could I understand if you don’t explain?

‘In other words, this agreement istrying to say that the Castley family is at fault. Is it?’ my father asked themessenger.

This may have been the plan fromthe start.

The messenger shifted in his seat,and uncrossed his long legs. He took a sip of his tea and returned the cup tothe saucer with a loud clatter.

‘Eugene went to the ball last nightwith another woman and told my daughter in front of a lot of people, that thewoman with him was his destined love and he wanted to break the engagement. Iam afraid there was been a mistake. How do you like this?’

‘Where you there?’ the messengerasked, ‘Is there any evidence? You are trying to malign my master.’ The mansaid with a derisive laugh.

There were many witnesses, theother attendees, the orchestra, the servants.

‘Do you think I cannot protect mydaughter?’ My father said his jaw tense. The messenger merely looked amused.

‘I will delete that line. We agreeto cancel the marriage contract between ourselves and the Cajes family.’

Oliver presented a pen, and fathercrossed out the offending line before signing.

‘We formally acknowledge thecancellation of engagement between Fredericka Castley and Eugene Cajes. I hopewe never cross paths in the future.’

The messenger took the doc.u.ment,and left out house laughing loudly.

‘I’m sorry, Father,’ I said afterthe odious man left. I wish I was a better woman.  (Zuben: Girl, how is it your fault thatfamily is full of shysters?)

I should have been able to avoidthis.

‘Heh heh, that messenger, I’m surehe’ll be crowing that he got the better of the Castleys.’ Father said withoutanger.

Good, Father isn’t daunted.

People will talk. The misfortune ofothers is like nectar to bees for Society.

Hopefully our business will notlose customers because of this.

The duke was obviously trying tomanipulate the story to Eugene’s benefit, and place the responsibility of thebreak up on me.

The acquisitioning party shouldhave the higher hand. It’s like telling your enemy, ‘this is my weakness.’(Zuben: This is gobbledegook, but nothing came up better)

I gave them goods and they taught meweakness.

We are the losing party. When thestory comes out, my family and I would become “pitiful”.

We couldn’t even ask for asettlement even if we wanted to.

n.o.bles are troublesome.

Would I be able to go see the playwith General Volker?

It looks like it would beimpossible.

In the background, Motherrepeatedly cursed the messenger’s name.

I rubbed my sore arm as I listened.

This is rather unfortunate.

I’m sorry.

9 Volker: A Fox Borrowing the Power of a Tiger

A cup of fragrant tea sat beforeme.

There was a man sitting on theother side of the table wiping his sweat with a handkerchief.

His behaviour was very suspicious.

I wondered if he was like this withLady Fredericka, and became anxious.

♢

When we returned from the Castleyresidence, there was a man waiting for me. He shouted at my carriage in arather embarra.s.sing manner as we pa.s.sed through the gate.

I looked at Xavier; the personseemed to be a messenger from the Duke Cajes residence.

He had waited all afternoon, hesaid, because of my absence, time had been wasted. What should he do if he wasscolded by the Duke? He cried, while looking angry.

When Xavier and I did not sayanything, he fell silent. I wondered if he noticed his own rudeness. He gavehis name and said he had important matters to discuss from the Duke, so a maiddirected him to a drawing room.

Xavier had an appalled expressionas the man walked away.

‘Do you think he is really from theDuke? It is rather unbelievable,’

‘Lack of talented manpower…?’

Xavier went to check details withthe house keeper. I handed my coat to my footman, and walk unhurriedly to thereception room.

♢

It seemed in the mean time, heremembered his position. The recent abominable manners were put aside, and themessenger was wiping his sweat nervously. He gave a nervous smile as heaccepted tea from the maid.

It just seemed unlikely that thisperson was a messenger from the Duke.

Something felt off.

He was behaving like a commonerconfused by the sudden acquisition of power they were not accustomed to.

He began by saying using theWestern army as security detail last night was a waste of troops, and I shouldhave thought of my position as a general. As he continued, his tone got morearrogant.

When he finally concluded, I wasannoyed, ‘I was asked to a.s.sure security last night by the West General as afavour. It was a last minute thing. I do not understand what the Duke’s concernis.’

But the timing…it is probablyrelated to Lady Fredericka, that the Duke would come to see the securityofficer for the ball last night. (Zuben: I know it’s a plot contrivance, butwhy did they need security anyway?)

As I spoke, the messenger drank histea casually.

‘Last night, Eugene the heir to theDuke of Cajes broke his engagement with Fredericka.’

I raise a brow, ‘So I’ve heard.’ Ireplied.

He leaned over and said in a conspiratorytone, ‘Actually, the engagement was a conspiracy by the Viscount Castley. TheGeneral may not know this, but Fredericka is a spend thrift. A wasteful woman.She spent the Duke’s money without end, claiming it was for her bridaltrousseau.’

Hmm…

‘The nouveau riche Castleys are avulgar clan.  She goes about wear gaudy jinglyjangly jewellery about showing off their so called wealth. Isn’t it all a lie?’

Hmm… (Zuben: Indeed)

‘She was the one who tempted LordEugene in the first place, showing off her chest with low cut dresses. And hewas tempted enough to propose!’

Hmm…

‘Eugene is young, so who couldblame him? He was deceived by her ample charms. The only thing good about thatgirl are her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Hahahah’

I growled but he didn’t notice.

‘But Lord Eugene eventually becamewise to her fox like ways. There was numerous evidence of her true commonbehaviour. So finally he broke off the engagement yesterday. But that sly foxgirl played the pitiful victim.’

The messenger’s face was flush withexcitement as he recounted this tale. He took a sip of tea to calm down.

‘So what are you trying to tellme?’ I asked. The only evidence of my rage was my hands gripping the armreststightly.

‘Well, the duke wants the truth ofthe matter to be known, since you may have received a biased report from theguards at the party, so as not to be embarra.s.sed later.’

The messenger said with a smile.

‘It was strange in the first placefor a duke’s son to marry a viscount’s daughter. Their family status is toodifferent. It’s like the stars compared to stones. Besides, they only boughttheir t.i.tle with gold in the turmoil of the last great war. Such low bloodpeople should not mix with a Duke’s n.o.ble blood.’

‘That girl is a vulgar woman, likea prost.i.tute that invites men in the back streets.’

I shot out of my chair,

‘I will not listen to any more ofthis for I fear my ears will rot!’

The messenger jumped at the tone ofmy voice.

‘Er, yes! That’s right, that girlis…’ it seems the messenger was taking my words at his convenience. He wasrubbing his hands together like a little housefly, laughing. So I pulled out mysword and held it against the messenger’s pale cheek.

He squealed. (Zuben: Squeal piggysqueal)

‘Shut up, you cretin!’ I growled,‘I will not listen to you malign that woman any longer.’

The messenger sputtered, he beganretreating, keeping his eyes on the shiny blade,

‘Why are you attacking me sosuddenly? I am a messenger of the duke! Can such a thing be forgiven?!’

‘Be quiet, or I will sew that mouthclosed so that lies may not pa.s.s from your lips.’

The messenger paled. His mouthgaped open like a fish.

‘I believe what I see with my owneyes and Lady Fredericka is not the kind of woman you are maligning her to be!’

The messenger scrambled out of thereception room, stumbling on all fours.

‘Weren’t you too patient?’ Xavier saidas he entered the reception room.

‘I was about to choke from anger.’

I took a deep breath and exhaled.

‘Aren’t you worried about the Houseof Lords?’

I did not spend a lot of time incourt due to military duties. I had to patiently listen to confirm that Cajeshad definitely cancelled the engagement with Fredericka.

I was nearly dizzy with theridiculousness of the whole situation.

‘I do not care about the Lords.’

Xavier gave a small laugh as hepacked up the tea things.

♢