Chapter 35

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on January 2, 2025

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Black.

The darkest of all colors, the color that inevitably appears when any color is continuously mixed.

Jeremiah loved that black.

Being black means nothing is visible, and that means even her flaws can be erased.

So she always adorned herself in black. For someone like her, who must be loved by men, there should be no blemish whatsoever…

“…It’s white.”

For her, who had lived such a life, the dress spread out before her was something that even evoked a sense of caution.

White is a color that symbolizes purity.

It is cleaner and more beautiful than anything else, but because it can be stained by anything, even a single mistake is not tolerated.

For someone like her, who must always play the role of perfection, it would be considered the most fatal meaning.

“Yes, it’s white.”

Yet, he was spreading out a white dress before her.

A dress so pure and chaste, gifted to her, of all people, whom he believed to be the farthest from such a thing.

“Personally, I thought it was the color that would suit you best.”

“Ah, no… Someone like me in white…”

“Oh dear, it seems you don’t like the gift I brought. Is it because it clashes with Angela’s color?”

“That’s not it…!”

Jeremiah, unsure of what to do, kept glancing at the dress.

No matter how many times she looked at it, she couldn’t shake the thought that it didn’t suit her, but his hands holding the dress didn’t waver even once.

Truly, sincerely…

As if he genuinely believed that this pure and beautiful dress would suit her, who was filled with ugliness.

“…Please turn around for a moment.”

How could she refuse a dress gifted with such sincerity?

When she finally accepted the dress from him, he politely turned his back to her.

“If you need any help, just call.”

“I-I can do it myself. So you absolutely must not turn around!”

“Haha, if that’s your command.”

Sebastian, who had turned his back to her, silently stared at the wall.

Feeling tense at his presence, Jeremiah quietly removed the clothes she was wearing and draped the dress he had gifted her over her body.

The pure white fabric slowly covering her skin. As her body gradually became enveloped in white, Jeremiah felt a sense of rejection rising through her.

The more she wore this clean dress, the more it felt like her existence was being erased.

She worried that her ugliness might stain this beautiful dress.

‘…Really.’

As such thoughts slowed her hands, an indescribable frustration began to rise in her chest.

‘Is it really okay?’

It couldn’t possibly suit her.

There’s no way such a dress could be allowed for someone as ugly as her.

“It’s okay.”

The butler, still with his back turned, gently coaxed her, who was being swept up in self-loathing.

Even without seeing her, her anxiety seemed to reach him.

As if understanding her feelings and trying to encourage her.

“You have the right to wear that dress.”

Even though it was just a simple statement, her anxiety was washed away, and calmness returned to her confused heart.

Because she trusted him.

If his words were not lies, then she believed she had the right to wear this dress.

“Are you done?”

“…Yes.”

A short silence followed her answer.

Only then did Sebastian turn his gaze from the wall and take in the sight of Jeremiah standing meekly before him.

A stark contrast to the darkness outside the window, pure white…

And yet, as if unable to believe it herself, her face flushed red.

“How… does it look?”

A nervous question followed.

The butler, who had been staring at her in a daze, quickly regained his composure and answered belatedly.

“…It suits you very well.”

It was a sincere compliment.

The dress he had prepared for her highlighted her individuality even more than he had imagined.

“Ugh, ugh…”

But perhaps because she couldn’t shake off the lingering doubts even with such praise?

Jeremiah, clutching the hem of the dress and looking around, had an even more stiff expression than before.

“I-I tried it on, but the design is much more burdensome than I thought. It feels like I’m wearing a wedding dress or something…”

“That’s an accurate assessment. I actually considered that aspect when purchasing the dress.”

“Sebastian!”

A wedding dress?

What kind of dress is he recommending to a lady who hasn’t even met her match yet?

“Haha, I apologize. Depending on the perspective, it could be quite embarrassing.”

Apologizing but with a mischievous smile, Sebastian.

As Jeremiah puffed her cheeks, thinking him teasing, he approached her and continued in a more serious tone.

“But… even after reconsidering, I think there’s no dress that suits you better than this one.”

“…Why?”

“Because you are someone worthy of being loved.”

Yes, in a very serious tone.

After saying that, the butler expressed a simple wish for her.

“I hope you will be loved by more people than you are now.”

-Thump, thump.

Her heart raced.

Not out of shame, but with a fierce, clear heat.

Feeling such a pulse, the butler, who had been staring at her standing dumbfounded, led her to the dressing table placed in one corner of the room.

“Since you’re wearing the dress, it might be good to try some makeup. I’ll help you with that. This way…”

“Ah, yes.”

Swept up by the atmosphere.

As she sat at the dressing table, he applied the cosmetics he had bought from the market to her face.

With great care.

With a touch as soft as the herbal scent of the cosmetics, yet with a very skilled hand.

“You’re… more skilled than I thought.”

“I have four older sisters, after all. They would often borrow my hands to groom themselves when needed.”

Come to think of it, he had mentioned having sisters before.

When the topic came up, Jeremiah carefully asked him a question that had just occurred to her.

“Were you… close with your sisters?”

“I wouldn’t say we were close. Being the youngest, I was often treated carelessly, and there were difficulties in dealing with their tastes and moral aspects.”

A bitter expression appeared on his face as he applied the makeup.

Whether it was because of the unpleasant memories or because even such memories evoked nostalgia.

“You have siblings too, don’t you?”

“…Just three younger brothers. I wouldn’t say we’re close.”

She didn’t want to talk about her family.

Drawing a line, she made a gloomy expression, and he gently stroked her face and spoke in a light tone.

“Looking at it this way, we seem to have more in common than I thought.”

“In… common?”

“Four sisters for me and three brothers for you… Both of us weren’t in the best positions in our families, either.”

Yes, it wasn’t a very pleasant story.

Yet, a smile appeared on his lips because, at this moment, he had found an unexpected common ground with the person before him.

“Knowing that, I feel a bit closer to you.”

Though both were in positions of neglect, perhaps it was precisely because of that that they could understand each other.

Leaving such thoughts behind, he continued to style her hair, and Jeremiah silently accepted his touch, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

Yes, there was still room for her and him to grow closer. That fact made her feel a little happy.

“…The makeup is done. Take a look in the mirror.”

After finishing the makeup and stepping back, Jeremiah looked at her reflection in the mirror before her.

The makeup perfectly concealed her sharp features, and her hair, intertwined with his, highlighted her charm even more.

Perhaps more than when she was groomed in her family, her individuality stood out.

Feeling a sense of unfamiliarity from this, Jeremiah felt a sudden wave of anxiety wash over her quiet heart.

“I… don’t know. If this look suits me.”

How could she have confidence?

No matter how clean the dress or how much makeup covered her face, the crowd would surely try to expose her ugliness.

“I’m scared. Of showing this look… to other people.”

Rather, she feared that this grooming might give them more to criticize.

Sebastian firmly grasped Jeremiah’s trembling shoulders, overwhelmed by such anxiety, and whispered in her ear.

“You must endure that fear and move forward to achieve your revenge.”

“…Revenge?”

“Yes, revenge.”

Revenge. The only reason she had to live after her downfall.

It was the reason she had summoned him, but when faced with those who were the targets of her revenge, she could only tremble in fear.

How could she, in this state, possibly achieve revenge…?

“Everyone there will surely try to oppress you. They will all try to drive you away more fiercely and cruelly than ever.”

To her, who was worried, he whispered his thoughts in a low voice.

“But if you endure and withstand that sadism, and maintain this appearance with dignity… they will be utterly bewildered by the reality that doesn’t go as they expected.”

Violence and curses are not the only ways.

Just by not breaking, just by maintaining your appearance, you can achieve revenge.

“Really…”

It might be a very small step, but compared to cowering in fear, it would allow you to walk a little further.

If you don’t collapse. You might even seize the opportunity for greater revenge…

“It might be possible.”

Yes, unlike before, she wouldn’t collapse so easily now.

Unlike when she was pushed to ruin by them, now she had an ally who would never leave her side.

****

And then, the day of the ball arrived.

“We’re here.”

Stepping out of the carriage first, I let out a small exclamation at the sight before me.