RotFK Ch. 79 Isn’t That The Stench Of A Rag? (1)
“You will do something for me in exchange for my secrecy.”
A frown crossed Stella’s face.
“First, you must explain how you know this. I need to know if you’ve already spread it to others.”
“If I did, wouldn’t you already know?”
Stella pursed her lips at Elena’s question. Her son was being raised by a nanny as an adoptive child. Until the biological father appeared in the future, this fact could not be revealed. Elena continued.
“I cannot explain how I came to know this because of the circumstances. But if you do me one favor, I’ll keep my silence until the end.”
Stella continued to look reluctant, but in the end it was a fight she was forced to lose.
“…What’s the favor?”
Elena slid some documents she brought with her towards Stella. They were a compilation of information about Helen. Stella slowly perused the papers as Elena spoke.
“Please spread a rumor based on the information here.”
“…?”
“For a long time, Lady Selby has been jealous of me. This time, she lost the title of Madonna at the ball and is bent towards revenge. She is good at lying. And…”
As Elena continued, Stella’s eyes grew bigger, and she spoke up in disbelief.
“You are asking me to spread false rumors?”
“Why do you think this is a false rumor?”
Stella lost her words for a moment. Elena continued, her expression cold.
“It doesn’t matter what’s true in society. After all, isn’t what’s important the story that remains in the end?”
Elena had no intention in explaining her misfortune in detail. Immoral people did not reveal the truth. In society, truth was made by the powerful.
It was the same now. Stella would never have been in her position if she revealed the truth, and it was also the reason why she was here before Elena. Elena had learned an important lesson as a female knight in her last life.
‘A man without power cannot change anything. The truth doesn’t always serve everyone.’
In her last life the Blaises were framed, and eventually her whole family was destroyed. She dreamt of revenge until her death, but she died before she could take Paveluc’s head. Her life did not go as she wished. In the end, anger and justice made no difference, and soon she realized there were other methods that were cleaner and more reliable.
Stella, who had held an impassive demeanor thus far, burst into laughter for the first time.
“Ho ho ho ho–“
Her sudden outburst caused Elena to look at her questioningly. Stella didn’t bother to restrain her mirth, and she soon continued in amusement.
“I thought you were too young, but you have a good understanding of how heartless society is. You’re right. What’s true doesn’t matter. It’s what we make that is real.”
“Then do we have a deal?”
After a small pause, Stella nodded.
“Alright, I’ll do you the favor. This is not too difficult for me.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s too early to thank me just yet. Just one warning. If you don’t keep your word and you reveal my secret, you will regret it.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Just like you did, My Lady, yes. You think you can order me around by digging up a secret? Let me make this clear–you can’t.”
Elena nodded in agreement. Stella’s present position was different from Elena’s, who was still a newcomer from the south. There could be only one deal. Elena knew the reality. If she tried to further blackmail Stella with this weakness, Stella would retaliate in a way that Elena wouldn’t expect.
“The Flower of Society” was a title that could only be earned if one was beautiful. Instead, Stella’s reputation as one of the most powerful women in society was a culmination of bitter power plays with other nobles. Such a woman could never be manipulated so easily. Stella had likely already done a thorough survey of Elena before she arrived here. From what Elena had heard in the future, the Countess was a formidable foe that could not easily be ignored.
‘In the last life…didn’t she kill herself?’
Elena stared at Stella sitting in front of her. The Stella today was a lady of dignity. She was brilliant and clever, and if there was a blemish in her life, it was that she met the wrong man. The father of her secret son was, in a word, a lowlife. He associated with gamblers, drunkards, and even drug users. There was no telling how such a highborn lady and such a lowly man got involved before marriage.
‘But…there’s something else shocking about it.’
When Stella hidden secret came to light, she admitted all her past sins and chose to commit suicide, fearing the gossip would harm the Viviana family.
It was a shocking decision. However, after her death, her husband Count Viviana was completely destroyed. He loved her with all his heart and could not be swayed by the facts. It was later that Stella’s hidden son grew up and staged a spectacular revenge against Count Viviana.
About Stella…
Although she chose to kill herself, she was truly loved by her husband and her hidden son. It was a tragic story in many ways, and later became a very popular love story in the social circles. It was the story of Count Viviana, a noble who loved his wife in a society where love marriages were rare, before losing her to suicide.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
Elena shook her head.
“…Nothing.”
It was unknown to Elena whether the story would be repeated in this life or if another story would unfold. But she was able to promise at least one thing.
“I will keep my word. If you do this one thing, I will never tell anyone about you.”
“I’ll trust you for now…Well, I’m not a very trusting person, either.”
Stella gave a wry smile. Maybe she would keep an eye on Elena in the future. Anyone who knew her secret couldn’t just be left alone.
‘I pray she doesn’t try to kill me.’
They acted courteous to each other now, but Stella could hire a hitman after she left this room. However, Elena was currently pressed for time and could not worry about it for now. Moreover, a hired killer could not touch the end of her hair. Elena spoke again, her expression calm.
“Now, let me explain in detail exactly what I want.”
