Chapter 11

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: A Letter to Madame de Châteauroux
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The most scandalous of her actions was mocking the Empress's homely face in front of everyone, pointing out that as a woman, she was several times less charming than herself. She acted so brazenly, exploiting the Emperor's infatuation with her.

But no one could call out Châteauroux for her insolence, because the Emperor would roar with laughter at his mistress's words and tease the Empress in kind.

The Emperor condoned or generously forgave most of Châteauroux's actions, even when she spread sordid scandals that tarnished the honor of nobles.

Châteauroux loved the gossip circulating in high society and was devoted to collecting it. It was joked that every rumor in the city flowed to her and then back out. And the stories she gathered were whispered directly into the Emperor's ear.

The Emperor would roar with laughter at the filthy rumors from his mistress's lips, rolling around on his bed. Then he would kiss her and not hesitate to say, "Oh, my lovely cat." No one had ever before recounted the nobles' scandals to the Emperor with such caricature as Châteauroux did.

Thus, the Emperor greatly enjoyed watching his vulgar mistress mock the prim and proper nobles. This was one of the many ways she held onto his favor.

***

Countless people sent letters to Marianne de Châteauroux. They sought to catch her eye by detailing strange tales they knew or the shameful secrets of rival nobles.

Marianne de Châteauroux was not a stingy woman, so she bestowed considerable rewards upon the authors of the letters she selected. Most rewards were gold or jewels. If one was lucky, they might even receive the title of 'Viscount,' however hollow it might be.

In a single day, hundreds of letters passed through the hands of palace servants to reach Marianne de Châteauroux.

Then, she would lie in a warm bath, listening to her maids read the letters, and set aside those with usable content.

Among them were secret erotic arts passed down from the Eastern Continent. If Marianne de Châteauroux discovered an interesting position she didn't know or a food that aroused desire, she would immediately try it and enjoy it with the Emperor.

A rumor circulated that Madame de Châteauroux had once covered her body in chocolate for the Emperor's pleasure.

It was said she felt the Emperor's tongue licking down her body so intensely that she let out moans loud enough for the entire palace to hear, spending half a day tumbling in bed.

People condemned her lewd habits, yet they deeply envied the Emperor's life of fulfilling his sexual fantasies with the beautiful Marianne de Châteauroux.

For not even the most famous courtesan in the capital was as beautiful or voluptuous as she. Marianne de Châteauroux was a femme fatale without peer, and at the same time, the perfect whore every man desired.

It was around this time that Madame built a private opera room for the Emperor. The Emperor loved gossip, but he was growing tired of hearing it in her unchanging voice, and Madame de Châteauroux's throat was strained from reading letters for him every day.

A clear voice, like a chirping bird, was one of the virtues a lady of society must possess, so Marianne de Châteauroux wanted her voice to always be perfect. Thus, she couldn't bear for it to become as horrid as scraping metal because of the Emperor.

So, she pestered the Emperor into building a private opera room in her antechamber and began staging performances based on the letters' contents.

The plays were of a very high standard, featuring talented opera singers she had invited. The flawless music flowing from the fingertips of the court orchestra was more than enough to please the Emperor's ears.

Above all, he must have been delighted by the fact that he could watch the opera comfortably, fondling Marianne de Châteauroux's breasts without any need for decorum.

Greatly satisfied with the performances that maximized the caricature of the nobility, the Emperor gave grand rewards not only to the actors but also to Marianne de Châteauroux. Through the opera room, she was granted a large castle in the southwestern part of the empire as a villa.

In the past, Marianne de Châteauroux's opera room was one of the rising topics of gossip in high society. People would list the names of the opera singers she invited and the workshops that decorated the room, criticizing her extravagance.

It was no secret that meters of silk embroidered with gold and silver thread were used to make the curtains that adorned the stage.

The fact that she had placed an aphrodisiac inside the 'Little Birdcage of Turdarium' (a wooden bird filled with various fragrances and hung in a cage like a real bird) which she had made for the Emperor was also a frequent topic of conversation.

The people of high society passionately monitored Marianne de Châteauroux's every move, pouring all their energy into vilifying her.

It was as if they gathered just to slander Madame de Châteauroux. The funny thing was, while they pointed fingers at her hedonistic affairs, calling them vulgar, they were desperate to be invited to her gatherings. Her parties were one of the most anticipated events in society.

That is why I, too, am now mentioning the opera room she will create in my letter.

In the past, when Madame de Châteauroux built her opera room, she went to great lengths to find a craftsman who could satisfy the Emperor's refined tastes. She was searching for new patterns and designs never seen before—dazzlingly splendid, yet befitting the palace's dignity.

Her pride as a woman who led the trends of high society made her standards impossibly high. So, Marianne de Châteauroux spent a great deal of time and effort interviewing people who flocked from all over and reviewing the nobles' recommendations, before finally discovering the artisan 'Benjamin Choiseul'.

The magnificent decorative style later known as the 'Choiseul technique' was thus discovered by Madame de Châteauroux.

*I have never seen patterns as beautiful and original as those on the furniture of the artisan named Benjamin Choiseul. His furniture, combining the mysterious culture of the Eastern Continent, is both splendid and exceedingly elegant. I dare say, his skill will not disappoint you, Madame.*

*Benjamin Choiseul works at the 'Red Bird' workshop on the main street. Should you summon the artisan to the palace and meet him, you may be surprised to find he is a younger man than you expect. But his skill is genuine.*

*I hope that you, Madame Marianne de Châteauroux, will show the magnanimity to discover a young artisan with a promising future.*

*I earnestly hope that you will heed my loyal words. (Omitted)*

If this letter properly reaches Marianne de Châteauroux's hands, I might get a chance to enter the palace and meet her.

If that happens, I plan to do my utmost to win her favor and, at the same time, ask her to choose my 'chaperone' (a guardian for a young woman entering society).

I am certain that Madame will not refuse my request. On the contrary, she will be overjoyed and strive to find a suitable person for me.

Many have asked her to be their 'chaperone' before, but they were all riffraff aiming to debut in society; none were high-ranking nobles. Only a renowned 'Lady' of society can choose a chaperone for a noble's daughter, and it is considered a great honor.

No one was mad enough to present a whore at an important event tied to their honor. Although she is the Emperor's favored mistress, her low birth means she could never become a true, respected Lady.

Therefore, if my prediction is correct, Châteauroux will gladly accept the request of someone in my position—a Count's daughter, albeit an adopted one.

In the past, Madame de Châteauroux showed great interest in me. It was because I was the only person who openly displayed hostility toward Roena Vischwartz, who was renowned in high society.

So, whenever she saw me, she would offer a few pleasantries and try to continue the conversation. Strangely enough, Madame was surprisingly gentle with me.

But back then, I had no interest in Marianne de Châteauroux. I was afraid of the scornful looks from people who would say that those of low birth were flocking together. So I did my best to keep my distance from her.

Looking back now, my past behavior was nothing but the whining of someone well-fed. At the time, I was already a laughingstock to many for being a lady of commoner origin.

Adding Madame de Châteauroux on top of that would have made little difference. So why was I so afraid back then, repeating such foolish actions?

So now that I've returned, I intend to approach her. For someone like me who needs a powerful backer, there is no thicker lifeline than Madame de Châteauroux. The fine-sounding name of 'honor' was nothing before power.

Because choosing the future that is Marianne de Châteauroux is better than the honor of the name Cisse de Vischwartz.

After finishing the last sentence, I signed my name and stopped writing.

I reread the letter, meticulously checking for any awkward sentences or words that might offend her. This was, after all, the lifeline that would make my future rosy.

While I was doing so, Marie, seemingly finished with her preparations for our outing, came in with a dress and a hat. I changed clothes with Marie's help. I tied a white ribbon as a belt and put on a pendant made from a miniature portrait. With quite a deft touch, Marie pulled at the edges of the puff sleeves to make them fuller.

Everything I am now wearing and using was sent in advance by my stepfather so that I would have no trouble living in the Vischwartz household.

So that I wouldn't feel intimidated, he sent a craftsman to make me dresses and shoes befitting the latest fashion. There were dozens of them, each one exquisitely beautiful, lavishly adorned with pearls, flounces, ribbons, and jewels.

Some were even more ornate and expensive than Roena's. It was enough to make the maids whisper, "He must be completely bewitched by that woman."

This silk dress had a voluminous ruffled collar at the nape, which fully emphasized my ample bosom. The wide neckline added a touch of innocence to its allure, and for me, whose body was mature for my age, no other dress could have suited me better.

I lightly placed a hat decorated with fresh flowers and feathers on my head and slipped on a pair of blue satin shoes studded with pearls.

“Let's go, Marie. Guide me to the general store.”

Marie's gaze flickered nervously toward the cupboard. She seemed very worried about leaving Seril behind.

“At this rate, she won't be getting up anytime soon, even if she wakes. If you're that anxious, why don't you lock the door on your way out? We're having dinner in the hall, so no one will come into my room. So stop hesitating and move your heavy, pig-like bottom.”

She only started moving after I kicked her foot with my shoe. I put on a silk coat embroidered with flowers and a pair of gloves before following her.

We first stopped by the butler to inform him we were going out. The butler said with a placid expression, "Please be back by dinner."

And he assigned a knight to me. He was a young man, just over twenty, with an impressive, well-groomed mustache.

I watched with a calm expression as the knight introduced himself with a flourish. His name didn't ring a bell, which suggested he wasn't a particularly skilled man.

But regardless of his skill, I was now a lady of the Vischwartz family, accompanied by a knight as an escort, and I boarded the carriage with a dignified stride.