"I hate that woman so much, sister. She's like an evil fox," Martina said sourly.
Martina must hate Dorothea a lot if she used the expression "that woman". Since I was an only child, I was glad to have a younger sister. It was even better that she was someone that hated Dorothea just as much as I did.
I smiled at Martina indulgently. "Why?"
"I think she's just using you. She doesn't regard you as a true friend." Martina saw it right away. Dorothea didn't consider Maristella a true friend. Ever. "I hate it when you're being used. What are you getting from her? Don't socialize with that woman, sister. You're much prettier, smarter and nicer than Dorothea, so why are you hanging out with her? Do you want me to introduce you to my friends?"
Oh, you cute thing. My sister's thoughts were so wonderful that I smiled without even realizing it.
"Don't worry too much, Martina," I reassured her in a soft voice.
"But I am worried. You're so innocent. You can't sense evil."
"You really don't have to worry. Your big sister is not as good-natured as you think."
"Huh?" Martina tilted her head in confusion. She was so cute. I swallowed subconsciously and then explained it to her.
"I'm saying that I won't be beaten up as much as you think I will be."
"Oh…really?" Martina said in a dazed voice, and I nodded with a smile.
"Yes, Martina. So you don't have to worry too much."
"Ha, really." Martina took both my hands and looked at me with emotional eyes. "I'm so glad. I'm glad that you've come to your senses now!"
I smiled and left a small kiss on her forehead, and then she asked another question.
"But why did you suddenly change your mind? You used to hate me when I cursed her. You said a child shouldn't say that."
"…"
Maristella…were you really that naive and stupid? I was mute for a moment, before I cleared my throat. "Ah…w-well, I just thought about what you said before. And I think you were right."
"Really?"
"Yes. I won't lead a life of suffering anymore, Martina."
"Is that a promise?" She reached out her right pinky finger, and she was so precious that I thought I would go crazy. There wasn't a large age difference between the two of us, so how could she be so lovely and cute?
I hooked my pinky finger around hers with a happy smile. Only after we tapped our thumbs together did she release her pinky.
"Come on, sister," she said smilingly. "Let's go to dinner. Mother and Father have been waiting for you."
***
As far as I knew, families around the world rarely all sat together and ate. Not for any particular reason, but everyone just didn't. Of course, there were also family members that weren't on good enough terms with each other.
"Oh my, Marie's here."
"Marie, did you enjoy your tea party?"
Countess Bellafleur welcomed me as soon as I stepped into the dining room. I was embarrassed by the unexpected hospitality, but I straightened myself and pretended to be their daughter. In truth, their daughter had disappeared, and I was left in her place. It would be impossible to deceive these parents perfectly, but I at least had to try.
"I'm home, Mother, Father."
I didn't know if I was supposed to hug her or anything, but my first impression of Lady Bellafleur was that she was a very kindly woman. She had a face that seemed to glow with love and benevolence. I could tell who Maristella took after. Soybeans grew from soybeans, not red beans, after all.
"Come and have a seat, children. We're a little late for our meal today."
At the words of Countess Bellafleur, I hurried to sit on the left of Count Bellafleur, and Martina sat next to me. After a moment, servants brought dishes pouring into the dining room, including the appetizers. Eating this kind of extravagant meal was rare in Korea, and my eyes rounded at the sight. Maristella probably wouldn't shovel her food in like I would, so I had to suppress my appetite.
"Marie is eating well today."
I couldn't completely control myself, however, and the comment ended up appearing in the middle of the meal. Annoyed by Count Bellafleur's words, I smiled awkwardly and made up an excuse.
"Actually, I was pretty active earlier…see?"
"No, dear. What are you talking about?" Count Bellafleur said.
Countess Bellafleur offered a sympathetic smile. "We're just saying that we're happy to see you eat well. You usually don't like to eat."
"…"
I was struck dumb when I heard that. Maristella's body wasn't slim for no reason. She didn't like to eat. It was the first time I heard that such a person existed in the world. Fortunately, Maristella's current condition didn't seem to require a diet right away.
Count Bellafleur turned to his wife. "Oh, honey, what happened to that trip you were going to take with Countess Cornohen?"
I looked on in confusion. Oh, was this story in the novel? As far as I could recall, there was no such conversation, but it was not that surprising as Maristella's story was rarely covered in the novel. Regardless of the circumstances, however, I panicked when something unfamiliar unfolded before me.
"Ah, well, I did meet with Countess Cornohen earlier and talked to her. Count Cornohen's business is busy these days…quite a lot, recently."
"Really?"
"He's always busy. They're blatantly looking down at us," Martina casually interrupted, and the atmosphere at the table suddenly dropped. I shifted awkwardly. I knew Martina was very outspoken from my very first interaction with her, but I didn't expect her to express her mind in front of her parents as well.
I snuck a glance at the Countess' face. She didn't look very happy.
"Martina." The first person to break the silence was Count Bellafleur. He stared at Martina from beneath his stern eyebrows. "You shouldn't speak like that to an adult."
"I know, Father," Martina said, looking as sulky as ever. "But it's true. Count Cornohen runs a huge business, and it's true that he ignores us because he's making money."
"…"
Count Bellafleur didn't say anything—not because he was angry, but because he couldn't refute a truth. There was even the fact that the Bellafleurs and the Cornohens seemed acquainted enough to plan a trip, and so he was careful to speak up. I thought only Maristella and Dorothea were close, but it would be troublesome if the relationship extended to my parents' generations. There was a lot to consider.
Countess Bellafleur decided to fill in on her husband's silence. "Even so, it is unladylike to speak back to an adult like that."
However, Martina continued speaking in the most unladylike way. "Mother, Father, aren't you angry? It feels like our whole family is being played by them! Mother and Father must feel it too. They're looking down on us!"
"Martina, it is unbecoming of a noble to raise your voice at the table. Consider what you're doing in front of your father."
"What about sister? If anyone didn't know any better, people would think that Maristella was a maid instead of your daughter!"
"Martina!" Count Bellafleur yelled, and Martina jumped from her seat. She glared resentfully at her parents, then stood up from the table and stormed out of the dining room without another word.
I was taken aback by the sudden ugliness of the mood, but I couldn't go after Martina right away. "Are you alright…?" I carefully asked the Countess.
"Why wouldn't I be alright, Marie? Don't worry."
"I'll go and talk to her. She wouldn't say that with bad intentions."
"We know, Marie," Countess Bellafleur said with a darkened face. "But Martina isn't wrong. However, speaking behind someone's back is undignified as a noble. Then we would be the same as those people. Is it necessary to defile our mouths like so?"
"…"
Countess Bellafleur was a good woman—no, I should say upright and incorruptible. I didn't know how to react, so I just smiled awkwardly.
Then, Countess Bellafleur turned the topic of conversation towards me. "I'm worried about you. It's well-known in the capital that you're close to Lady Dorothea. But sometimes I'm worried that you're influenced by us and act like Lady Dorothea's maid."
"Ah…"
"It's true that we don't speak badly of the Cornohens, but that's simply because we don't want the relationship to get complicated and for us to be gossiped about, Marie."
"But what we're saying is, you don't have to socialize with Lady Dorothea if you don't want to, Marie. There is no reason for you to be conscious of us."
I almost choked up for a moment, as that was a worry I would also share if I were a parent. I swallowed down the hot emotions in my throat and shook my head.
"It's not like that, Mother, Father. Don't worry. I'm not Dorothea's maid, and I have no intention of being that in the future."
"Alright, Marie."
"We believe in you, too. You are a smart child, so you have your own thoughts. I think we were worried for nothing," Countess Bellafleur said with a gentle smile.
Count Bellafleur leaned in a spoke in a low, anxious voice. "Could you go and comfort Martina? I will have to apologize to her myself later, but…I think it would be better if you go first."
I nodded happily. "Of course, Father. I will do that."