Chapter 55
The Fallen Macaron
The girl, hiding her face with her hands, seemed at a loss and was extremely reluctant to reveal herself. When Lady Marie whispered something in her ear, the girl lowered her hands weakly and lifted her head. A resigned expression was cast over her face.
It was understandable. Many healers had come and gone, yet not a single one had been able to cure her skin. Lady Julia had suffered from severe allergic reactions all this time, making makeup utterly impossible. The marks, scattered across her face like burn scars, had deepened into lasting blemishes over the years.
Since I had already tested the regenerative power of Macaron’s medicines before coming here, I could quickly make a judgment.
“Time will be needed, but it will get better. Don’t worry.”
At that moment, faint hope glimmered in the eyes of Lady Julia and Lady Marie. Yet neither seemed able to fully believe.
I applied the medicine Macaron had given me on her birthday to Julia’s face, which was offered with a look of resignation. Foam bubbled softly over her skin. After repeated applications and rinses, her original complexion began to show through. Compared to before, her scars had diminished noticeably.
“You must apply this morning and evening for three months. Then your skin will return to its natural state.”
Lady Julia received the medicine without much expectation. But when Lady Marie, carrying tea, saw her daughter’s face, her eyes filled with tears.
“How is Julia’s face…?”
Unable to finish her words, she looked as if she might break down. Julia, startled, grabbed a mirror. Seeing her changed reflection, she could only stare, lips parted in disbelief. Covering her face with trembling hands, her eyes reddened as if she couldn’t believe it.
“After three months… I’ll really return to how I was before?”
“Of course.”
Perhaps it finally sank in that this was real—tears welled up at the corners of her eyes. Lady Marie embraced her weeping daughter and dabbed her own tears with a handkerchief. Even without seeing all her suffering firsthand, I could feel it keenly.
I had worried they might be disappointed since the results were only at the level of “improvement.” But they believed much faster than I had expected. Lady Marie clutched my hands tightly and wept for a long time.
“Thank you, truly… thank you so much.”
Julia was no different, bowing her head repeatedly, she and her mother offering thanks again and again.
“It was His Highness who made this possible.”
“For my sake, His Highness… even asked this of you?”
Lady Marie’s voice was hoarse with gratitude as she once more broke into tears.
Though Macaron was known as a genius in pharmaceuticals, he had never directly involved himself in such personal matters. Until now, he had lived carefully concealing his existence.
After crying bitterly for a long while, Lady Marie finally lifted her flushed face. She asked after my well-being, repeating how glad she was.
“When I first learned you were at His Highness’s estate, I can’t tell you how shocked I was. Now I know you’re truly a good person, but at first…”
She hesitated, watching me, clearly about to mention the unpleasant rumors about Macaron.
“That’s right. The worst, wasn’t it? They called him a monster.”
I said it so matter-of-factly that she looked startled instead. Encouraging her to speak freely, Lady Marie fussed over me for some time, asking if I was comfortable, worrying over this and that.
“Honestly, the man who marries you is blessed beyond measure. So pretty, so talented, you have everything, everything… Forgive me. You’re so pretty I lose my train of thought. So, pretty, talented, everything…”
She turned her head for a moment, then as if her memory had returned, continued:
“Oh, I forgot one thing. You also have the most beautiful Coral. His Highness must have saved a nation in a past life! Well, he’s saved us often enough in this life, too. That must be why he gained a wife like you.”
To hear words that sounded like something from the president of a fan club—spoken with such sincerity—struck something deep in me. Maybe I was a better person than I thought.
Most of all, I was deeply moved by the way she spoke so proudly of Coral, which so many others had dismissed as a “weakness.” I had acted indifferent when Evelyn compared me at the banquet, but it had weighed heavily on my heart. Every word from Lady Marie pierced me and lifted me. My lowered self-esteem returned to its rightful place.
After much effort to stop her endless thanks, I was finally able to reveal the true purpose of my visit.
“Truly, I’ve done nothing yet. What matters begins now.”
“…What? Could it be…?”
Lady Marie’s hand flew to cover her mouth as her gaze drifted toward my small bag of belongings.
“At this debutante, I’ll make you more beautiful than anyone.”
Julia’s face fell at once.
“My skin… it doesn’t accept makeup.”
“….”
“I’ve never even considered attending a debutante. But thank you for caring.”
Her polite refusal was mature beyond her years. Watching her, I thought her admirable. But she seemed to think my silence was awkwardness and quickly added with a joking smile:
“My face won’t change much even with makeup. I should have taken after Mother, but instead I look like Father.”
Lady Marie nodded and exaggerated the joke.
“She should have looked like me, really. Ha ha.”
But not being able to wear makeup meant not being able to attend the debutante. Less than two weeks remained, yet the medicine needed three months. Hence the gray gloom never left their faces.
Still, I spoke firmly:
“Don’t worry. The products I’ve prepared are different.”
“…?”
“They’re designed to bring maximum effect with minimal irritation.”
“…!”
Julia and Lady Marie still looked doubtful, but their eyes were fixed on the products. After Macaron’s earlier medicine had shown effect, their hopes had grown. Now it was time to show results.
I applied creams and colors from products tested countless times. While I was confident they suited all skin types, I was still anxious about how Julia’s skin might react. My heart raced with every layer. Hours passed, but not a single sign of irritation appeared. Julia’s face glowed bright and clear.
Though this was only the test phase, Lady Marie and Julia had cried so much their eyes were swollen.
“It’s only the beginning. If you cry already, how will we continue?”
Scolded gently, Julia quickly stopped crying. Once her swollen eyes subsided, I began the real makeup. I had already analyzed her features thoroughly: her slim oval face would be rounded into the currently fashionable shape, deep blue hues for her eyelids, and precise contouring at her nose. As I layered on the shades, her beauty shone.
The products, enhanced with natural botanical ingredients, created makeup with minimal irritation. The so-called “Kimos” makeup.
Once finished, I swiftly crafted a changer. When I handed her the mirror, Julia stared in silence at her reflection—before breaking down in tears again. Lady Marie, also crying, led her away.
While I waited, trays of desserts were carried in, and soon Lady Marie returned, her eyes still red.
“I’ll repay this kindness no matter what.”
“The kindness is mine.”
“No, truly… if you ever need anything, please tell me. Anything.”
She emphasized her gratitude by bringing me more desserts again and again.
“You still love sweets, don’t you?”
Had she seen me sneaking them at Moon Knight?
“How did you know?”
“I know everything you like.”
Smiling brightly, her keen eye amazed me. Every dessert matched my tastes perfectly—cookies shaped like stars, crispy tarts dripping with chocolate, breads oozing with cream. One tray after another emptied as we chatted about everything we’d missed before.
Lady Marie was far more cheerful and genuine than when I’d first met her. When she heard that Schubill had come again, she grew furious as if it were her own matter.
“That bastard should be rolled in bread, spread with jam, then split apart and torn to pieces!”
Her fierce words felt as though she were possessed by me. I had never imagined Lady Marie capable of such language. It was oddly jarring, so different from her elegant demeanor. Then, fanning herself, she added:
“See, I’m still refined, that’s why I cursed only this much. Otherwise… oh ho ho.”
She thanked me again and again, and as I prepared to leave, she tried to keep me for more tea and sweets. Strangely, no matter how full I felt, my appetite returned at the sight of desserts. Surely I wasn’t the only one.
As we emptied another tray with lively chatter, someone suddenly rushed to Lady Marie, whispering urgently. Her face turned pale at once—something had gone wrong with her merchant guild.
“What’s happened…?”
But then—
“His Highness Macaron has collapsed. He’s been carried back to the estate immediately…”
“…What? What are you saying…?”
Macaron had collapsed? The world tilted, my head spun. He had been perfectly fine—why now?
‘Could it be a monster attack again?’
Impossible. The barrier, built with so much manpower, couldn’t have broken so easily.
Then, a chilling scene from the book flashed across my mind.
Could it be… was that event happening now?
