Chapter 15: Foolish Noblewoman [3]

Chapter 15

Lady Evermere’s lips parted, but nothing emerged. The answer had simply deserted her, leaving her standing in the middle of the street as though stripped of all the confidence she had carried only moments before. Around them, whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire racing through dry grass, noblewomen exchanging sharp glances over jeweled fans while merchants pretended not to stare and servants slowed their steps just enough to hear every word.

Sigrid found the entire scene rather amusing. Only moments ago Lady Evermere had stood before her with the full certainty of someone convinced of her own superiority, yet now she looked as though a single careless breath might shatter what remained of her composure.

"Tell me, Lady Evermere," Sigrid repeated, her voice smooth and merciless, "do you know why assumptions are dangerous?"

The effect was immediate and absolute. Lady Evermere’s knees buckled as though the strength had been cut from them, and gasps erupted through the street when she stumbled backward and collapsed in a most undignified manner upon the ground. The whispers that followed grew louder almost instantly, no longer restrained by politeness or hesitation, spreading through the crowd in open speculation that Sigrid heard as clearly as if it were spoken directly to her.

"Debt?" someone murmured.

"House Evermere?" another voice followed.

"I always suspected something was off."

"That gown alone must have cost a fortune."

"What if it is true?"

Not once did pity touch Sigrid’s expression. Lady Evermere had brought this upon herself entirely. Had she possessed even the smallest sense to keep walking, none of this would have happened. Had she possessed the discipline to hold her tongue rather than speak in arrogance, none of this would have happened. Had she possessed even a fragment of humility, she would not now be trembling on the ground as though the world itself had turned against her.

Instead, she had chosen pride, and pride now returned the favor without mercy.

Maria’s voice rang sharply through the boutique, cutting through the growing noise like a blade through cloth as she called out, "Sister." Sigrid turned slowly at the sound, her gaze shifting toward Maria, who she forgot had been standing near her throughout the confrontation. The moment Lady Alice fell, Maria immediately bent down, moving to support her with quick concern. Her expression had shifted now, no longer gentle, but unsettled and troubled, as though what she was witnessing had crossed a line she had not expected to see.

Without hesitation Maria moved forward and knelt beside Lady Evermere, gathering the trembling noblewoman into her arms while attendants hurried after her in alarm. "Lady Alice," Maria said softly as she helped her sit upright, her voice carrying concern and familiarity that suggested a bond already formed long before this moment, "are you hurt, my lady?"

Lady Alice.

So that was her name.

Maria’s gaze lifted toward Sigrid, and there was something there that did not belong, something close to disappointment mixed with concern that bordered on accusation. "Sister," Maria said, her voice quieter now but no less firm, "how could you do such a thing?"

Sigrid looked at her without expression, neither anger nor surprise coloring her features, only a calm stillness that made the silence between them feel heavier than any raised voice could have achieved.

Maria continued before she could be interrupted, her tone soft but unwavering as she spoke as though delivering judgment already formed. "Whatever disagreement existed between you, there was no need to expose something so personal in front of so many people. Lady Alice is my friend, and you have humiliated her before the entire capital."

For the first time since Maria’s arrival, something shifted in Sigrid’s expression, it was no longer neutral but she now looked at Maria with an almost distant irritation, not because of the accusation itself, but because Maria had stepped into a conclusion without ever standing at the beginning of the road that led there.

Predictable, Sigrid thought, and yet still exhausting.

Lady Alice’s voice trembled as she clung to Maria, tears already gathering in her eyes. "I cannot believe she is truly your sister, Lady Maria," she whispered brokenly, her words spilling out in desperation, "you were right about her, she is cruel, she is exactly as everyone says she is."

The street fell silent in an instant.

Sigrid’s gaze sharpened slightly.

Maria froze only for a heartbeat but Sigrid saw it, and so did several others nearby.

Lady Alice seemed to realize too late what she had said, her face draining of color as she hurried to correct herself, but Maria recovered first, her composure returning quickly as she attempted to smooth the moment. "Lady Alice, that is not what I meant," Maria said gently, though the strain beneath her words was now visible, "Sigrid is not cruel, she is simply misunderstood."

Lady Alice shook her head tearfully, gripping Maria’s sleeve. "Of course you would defend her, Lady Maria, you are too kind for your own good."

Maria hesitated, then answered with quiet certainty, "She is family."

The word lingered in the air like something fragile and uncertain, sincere enough to be believed yet hollow enough to wound, and Sigrid felt something cold settle in her chest that had nothing to do with the crowd or the spectacle before her.

A slow breath left her lips, and with it came the quiet realization that Maria had spoken about her after all, not necessarily with malice, not necessarily with intent, but she had spoken, and that alone was enough. I mean she should have expected it, people wouldn’t start calling her crazy out of nowhere. Someone must have planted the seed.

Sigrid’s voice broke through the moment, low and steady as she addressed Lady Alice directly. "Have you no shame?"

Lady Alice flinched violently at the sound of her voice, as though the word itself carried weight enough to strike her. Sigrid did not move closer, did not raise her tone, but continued with a clarity that made every syllable land cleanly in the silence. "You collided with me and demanded an apology that was never owed to you. You insulted me because you believed I stood beneath your notice. You chose to humiliate a stranger in public because you assumed there would be no consequence."

Lady Alice lowered her head, trembling, but Sigrid’s expression did not soften.

"You sought to diminish me," Sigrid continued calmly, "and now that your assumptions have collapsed, you attempt to recast yourself as the wronged party. Tell me, by what logic does that become virtue?"

Lady Alice said nothing. Shame had finally arrived, though far too late to protect her from what had already been done.

Sigrid then turned her attention fully to Maria. "And you," she said quietly, her voice colder now, "you arrived without knowledge of what had occurred, without witnessing the beginning, without hearing a single word that led here, yet you immediately placed yourself against me and beside her."

Maria opened her mouth. "Sister, I only wished to—"

"Help?" Sigrid interrupted, the faintest trace of something unreadable in her tone. "That is always what you wish, is it not?"

Maria fell silent.

Sigrid studied her for a long moment, and in that silence she found herself recalling how many times she had seen this before, the worried expression, the trembling concern, the desperate need to rescue everyone around her, a performance so familiar it felt painful to watch knowing it was all an act. It had once seemed admirable, back when Sigrid had been foolish and unaware to see Maria’s true colors until her Execution.

The thought surfaced unexpectedly as she remembered countless occasions when Maria had looked exactly like this, gentle, fragile, concerned, the sort of woman men wished to protect, the sort of woman who made others feel cruel for opposing her. Perhaps that was why Ragnar had always preferred her company, perhaps helplessness was more appealing than strength, maybe thats why he refused to believe Sigrid but side with Maria and the thought irritated Sigrid more than it should have.

"I have no desire to continue this farce," Sigrid said at last, turning away from them both as though the matter had already been concluded in her mind. "Come, Lilith."

Lilith followed without hesitation, relief evident in her posture.

As they moved toward the carriage, Maria called after her, her voice breaking slightly despite her attempt to maintain composure. "Sister, please wait."

Sigrid did not slow.

At the carriage door, she paused only long enough to speak once more, not turning back as she addressed Lady Alice. "You should be grateful I no longer care about the apology you still owe me."

Then she stepped inside with lilith following and she door closed.

Silence returned at last, though it did not last long, for Maria’s voice soon carried through the street again as she called after the carriage.

The carriage man looked uncertain. "Your Grace, Lady Maria is—"

"Move," she said coldly, and when hesitation lingered she added without hesitation, "or you will be seeking new employment by morning."

The carriage lurched forward immediately, wheels rolling over stone as the distance widened between them and the crowd. Only when Maria’s voice faded entirely did Sigrid finally lean back into the seat, her expression easing slightly as exhaustion replaced the sharpness that had carried her through the confrontation.