The Bad Ending of an Otome

Elodie’s POV

Why me? 

Why this opponent? 

Why this moment?

Elodie had experienced the end countless times. 

She didn’t know if it was death or a near-death experience, but it was hell. 

Shivering in familiar despair, desperately pondered what she had done wrong. 

She forgot the reason when she woke up from the dream, but Elodie in the dream knew something. 

And it felt like dying from the injustice of it.

‘It should be fair,’ she begged, her eyes welling up with tears.

Like a maze has an exit, if she ended up like this because of her, he should have given her a chance too. 

Not even having the option to choose, it’s not fair…

‘Only that person is unique.’

Emilia stood out from those around her for reasons I couldn’t fathom; it was an instinctual sense of alienation. 

If one could see the color of a person’s soul while others were colorless, Emilia appeared to be a being of a different color.

‘It’s a little different today than in the dream…’

Edmund Gloucester clutched to me as fervently as he had in the dream, but his eyes were different: frantic as if converted to mere hunger.

Now…

It was fervent, but there was a sense of inflated heat as if intoxicated by something. 

Like a balloon swelling up. 

An emotion that can’t be guaranteed to end once it bursts. 

The attitudes of the Marchioness and Raretis were also like that. 

Still, in the dream, they treated me as closely as if the real Ophelia had truly returned. 

I truly thought they treated me like family.

‘It’s because of Emilia.’

Elodie couldn’t believe what she saw in her dreams was her future. 

Who would have guessed Cassio Brahamdorff, whom she had only seen once, would be so cruel to her? 

Edmund Gloucester, known to be a ‘not a bad person,’ leads her to ruin, despite his devotion to Elodie. 

Raretis Hope, the man admired by all, has always been indifferent to her.

It felt like I was lost in an infinite maze, and I could still hear Edmund Gloucester’s voice looking at me and yelling, ‘Ophelia!’

“…So, Elodie, what do you think?”

“Yes, what did you say?”

“What do you mean? Everyone’s just debuted, so we should avoid speaking of unpleasant things, but that…”

Lana’s expression was telling. 

Despite being a young girl who had just made her debut, she wore a smile reminiscent of a noblewoman gazing down on someone.

“It’s about Lady Emilia.”

“…”

Elodie’s smile hardened for a moment. 

It was a brief stiffness that no one noticed.

After misinterpreting Elodie’s silence, Lana and the other young ladies exchanged significant glances.

“Well, there was a partner by her side, I heard. How could Sir Edmund have slapped her cheek?”

“It’s obvious. Sir Edmund must have done it for Lady Elodie, right? It must have been Lady Emilia bad-mouthing Lady Elodie. She’s a woman whose intentions are really hard to grasp.”

“…”

Elodie’s lips twitched. 

What exactly should she say? 

Should she become enraged? 

On what basis…? 

Her thoughts were racing. 

Lana continued to speak spitefully, as if testing or mocking Elodie, to see if she would still join them after all of this.

“Didn’t Sir Edmund say anything to you, Lady Elodie?”

“…He didn’t.”

Despite Elodie’s uneasy voice, no one seemed to mind.

“Maybe he didn’t want to worry you. I knew it. After attending the funeral of Lady Ophelia and leaving, I wondered where she ended up. As expected, she appeared right beside Sir Cassio Brahamdorff.”

“I was really surprised. How did she manage to get Sir Cassio Brahamdorff as her cavalier?”

“Sir Cassio must have been fond of the deceased Lady Ophelia. She must have threatened them, saying, ‘Would it be okay if the only friend of the deceased Lady Ophelia was treated poorly and ignored by everyone?’ It’s so obvious. I wonder if the rumors about her stealing and selling the deceased Lady Ophelia’s belongings are true?”

“Otherwise, what would she have done to make a living? There must be a reason why she left the Marquis’s house. The newspapers seem quiet about it, probably because of Lord Cassio. He’ll be her cavalier until the season ends.”

“Ah… I wonder why she became the cavalier of such a woman. And Lady McGinty, too, rashly becomes the chaperone of such a person. I’m so disappointed. I used to respect Lady McGinty!”

“But you know, Sir Raretis was angry at the banquet without knowing the situation. Well, that’s just like him. He can’t stand injustice, no matter who it’s against…”

“Excuse me, everyone.”

Elodie managed to crack a smile.

“I don’t know the details. Lord Edmund wouldn’t tell me… But the one who had a hard time at the banquet was Lady Emilia…”

“How kind. You are too merciful, even to those who must have slandered you. Lady Elodie, surviving in high society won’t be easy for you.”

Countess Betty abruptly cut in. 

Of course, anyone with a sound mind would consider being careful with their remarks here, in the Marquis’s garden, where Ophelia and Emilia grew up together.

It might be different if the Marquis’s house and Lady Emilia had a bad relationship, but there’s still the issue of public face. 

It’s not always a good idea to criticize someone who was once like family. 

Furthermore, whether someone is slapped or struck by lightning, chaperones should exercise caution with their comments.

Sophisticated ladies of high society may laugh and enjoy whatever happens while preserving their etiquette, while young girls are treated differently. 

They don’t know how to balance gossip and slander, so conversations can quickly get heated. 

The fragile Marchioness may have invited Elodie in the hope that she would meet people her age and effectively adjust to high society…

“That’s right. If it weren’t for Lady Emilia, Lord Cassio would have been on Lady Elodie’s side.”

Why? 

Because they are all prominent ‘Ophelia’ fans? 

Elodie’s mouth became too dry. 

Everyone seemed to be assigning her an unsaid position.

“Do you know how much Lady Caroline wanted to have Lord Cassio Brahamdorff as her cavalier? I could understand if he’s too busy guarding Lady Elodie to spend time with other ladies. But to choose someone of such unknown origins and lowly background…”

Cassio Brahamdorff had never been anyone’s cavalier, despite various allegations. 

‘Kind-hearted Lord Cassio meant to become someone’s cavalier this time, but Emilia cunningly took him away,’ everyone said as if it were true.

Countess Betty and Lady Lana were agreeably talking. 

Lord Edmund had to apologize, which was unfortunate. 

He had to have done it for Lady Elodie’s sake. 

It was bold of those who committed the first error not to apologize. 

They said, ‘If they had any conscience, they should bow before Elodie and beg forgiveness.’ 

Then it occurred.

Crash!

A loud noise pierced the air. 

Elodie swiftly switched her gaze to a maid who had spilled a platter of miniature muffins. 

Dorothy, the maid, had a plump face despite being an adult, kind brown eyes, and was a seasoned servant of the Marquis’s house. 

Her shocked expression was pallid and tight.

The ladies looked to see what had happened but quickly lost interest when they saw it was nothing serious. 

Dorothy, on the other hand, stood paralyzed, unable to clean up the mess or apologize, which irritated everyone.

“Oh my, what’s that?”

“Don’t the servants of the Marquis’s house know how to apologize for their mistakes?”

“Of course not. She must have been just nervous. Right, Lady Elodie?”

Elodie abruptly jumped up and clasped Dorothy’s hand in hers. 

It was freezing outside.

“Dorothy? Are you okay?”

“…Miss.”

Dorothy’s quivering hand pushed Elodie’s hand away gently. 

Elodie felt a sinking sensation in her chest. 

Dorothy was well-known for her generous heart.

“I, I, I was going to pick up the plate, no, to help someone else…”

“You seem unwell. Go inside.”

“Lady Emilia…”

Elodie’s eyes widened at the hearing of that name. 

Dorothy boldly spoke the name that even the Marchioness and Sir Raretis hesitated to announce.

“She’s not a bad person.”

There was complete silence all around. 

In particular, Lady Lana and Countess Betty displayed signs of discomfort as they chatted and laughed.

Their words were all speculative. 

The reality was somewhat different. 

They spoke recklessly at a tea party about their families, even though chaperones suggested caution owing to entangled familial links.

The comments of a Marquis’s maid would be more credible than reports from other houses’ women who knew nothing. 

These ladies, on the other hand, were exceedingly proud. 

They crowded around Lady Elodie at first because she was lovely and polite, listening to everyone.

If she had a true Ophelia personality, she would not have allowed her pride to be undermined and would not have stayed. 

Lady Elodie was treated like a daughter by the Marchioness, and if she became an adopted daughter and married Sir Raretis, she would be the following Marchioness Windrose. 

She could afford to be generous to Ophelia’s replacement.

Lady Elodie’s beauty was not anything to be envied. 

Even though she was deficient in manners and culture after moving from the countryside, her kind and careful demeanor made up for it.

Emilia, on the other hand, was a different story. 

The departed Ophelia’s sole ‘ever’ acknowledged friend. 

Even though she was not of low enough social standing to be kept in the mansion just to accompany Ophelia. 

Some women went to the Marquis’s mansion with high hopes of becoming ‘that’ Ophelia’s friend. 

They departed utterly humiliated.

It was incredible. 

Why? 

What have they lacked? 

Of course, anything may be inadequate in comparison to Ophelia. 

They were willing to admit it. 

If Ophelia shone brightly, aloof and alone, they may think, ‘Yes, that’s Ophelia,’ and discount their shortcomings.

But Emilia was there. 

Except for growing up with Ophelia since childhood, she had nothing noteworthy. 

Her appearance was plain and quiet, and it was widely known that she was sold off to the Marquis’s house, so what did they lack compared to Emilia?

As a result, they expected Elodie to join them in denouncing Emilia. 

They reasoned that if Elodie, who resembled Ophelia’s embodiment, chastised her, it would appear as if Ophelia herself was confirming their position.

“Yes, Emilia was bad. She cunningly deceived Ophelia’s eyes. See, the truth is beginning to come out now. No gentleman would slap someone’s face without a reason, right? She must have done something to deserve it. Unladylike behavior. To think she stayed by Ophelia’s side with such a character. She must have influenced Lady Ophelia badly. Poor Ophelia…” Countess Betty, who was the most familiar with the Marquis’s residence situation, broke the pause.

“Who is that girl again?… Ah, I think I’ve seen her face. After all, how much would a maid know about the complex affairs of nobles, especially something that happened at a ball? Ladies, let’s generously forgive the maid’s mistake. Lady Elodie must be feeling embarrassed.”

“Well, okay. Lady Elodie seems to dislike speaking rashly even in clear situations.”

Their statements had a concealed meaning, a gesture requesting indirect assistance. 

Elodie was overcome with feelings, similar to wrath. 

Dorothy was not Elodie’s committed maid, but they got along fine. 

It would be prudent to end here. 

After all, a maid directly contradicting the guests’ speech was troublesome. 

It was better for everyone if something went away. 

Dorothy, her lips trembling, retorted anyhow.

“You ladies are mistaken. Lady Emilia is a good person.”

Lady Lana’s gaze narrowed.

“Come on, how would a maid who stayed at the Marquis’s house over two years ago know what she’s like now? Is this how the Marquis’s house manages its servants?”

“Lady Lana, it’s not like that…”

“Tell us, Lady Elodie. You’re like a daughter to the Marchioness, aren’t you? You can’t say you can’t reprimand a servant’s impudence, right? Are you going to insult us, who came here to be friends with a lady like you?”

“It’s not an insult, Lady Lana…”

“Rumors don’t lie. At least, there are no rumors without any basis. We might still be young, but we are already debutantes, proper ladies. Should we be looked down upon by a maid who does odd jobs?”

“Right, Lady Elodie. We understand you’re kind, but this insults us, your guests. If this goes unpunished, it will tarnish your honor.”

Elodie couldn’t think of anything to say. 

Were they implying that she punish Dorothy? 

Dorothy deserved to be punished because she had confronted the formal guests to the Marquis’s house. 

But even so…

“You can say whatever you want. Our, our ladies weren’t like that.”

Dorothy’s pale face began to brighten.

“Don’t just say anything without knowing… Stop it. The two of them were happy together. Lady Emilia would not speak ill of others without reason…!”

Countess Betty abruptly rose, splashing lukewarm tea on Dorothy’s head. 

Elodie was taken aback. 

Countess Betty’s auburn eyes, which she had always believed were compassionate, were now frigid.

“So you insult your mistress like this?”

Her tone was cold. 

It didn’t appear to be the same lady who had been pleasant to Elodie.

“When a superior shows mercy and offers a chance to correct a mistake, you should be grateful and humble. Did you think you wouldn’t be punished for insulting the honor of Lady Elodie, whom the Marchioness cherishes like her own daughter, and our honor with your rash words?”

“Countess Betty, please don’t…”

“If we let this pass, people will continue to disrespect Lady Elodie in the future. As a friend, I cannot bear to see that happen.”

Everyone’s gaze was fixed on Elodie. 

She felt like she was caught in a thorny web. 

Reaching out to get away would just have you pricked by the thorns.

“Think carefully, Lady Elodie. We are here at the formal invitation of the Marchioness and Lady Elodie. Even if we made a mistake, it should be addressed by our host, Lady Elodie, not insulted by such a lowly servant. If you don’t administer appropriate punishment, it will undermine our dignity.”

It was a warning. 

A threat, indeed. 

They were demanding retribution. 

Elodie’s hands trembled.

“Lo, lock Dorothy in the storeroom for two days…”