Elena had read quite a few fashion-related books before. After all, in the future, the internet is so developed that people are constantly receiving information, making it easy to find topics of interest.
She didn't immediately pull out these materials, mainly because she didn't yet have enough influence to back her opinions. She wasn't a socialite or a royal, and had no standing in the fashion world. If she were to send her ideas to a magazine, it wouldn't easily catch attention.
Now, however, she had *Helen* and the paper dolls that were all the rage in Lunton, and she could use these achievements to boost her credibility. Yes, she was ready to shift into becoming a columnist. Even though *Ladies Monthly* didn't have a dedicated column yet, she could change that.
So, in order to become a fashion columnist, she needed to create a fashion column.
Currently, the only real columnists seemed to be the "Dear Aunt" type, where readers would send anonymous letters, sharing their thoughts and dilemmas, and the columnist would offer advice, publishing their responses in a special Q\&A section. While these "Dear Aunts" appeared to be experienced, wise older women, the truth was that sometimes, it was the result of a collaborative effort.
Given how effective this model was, why not create a column that answered fashion-related questions? People might have concerns about clothing combinations or fabric choices, especially those newly wealthy individuals suddenly entering the middle class. To avoid feeling out of place in their new status, they would naturally seek guidance from someone experienced.
Although Elena couldn't yet claim to be an expert, she could certainly ask others in the club for advice. Vera, in particular, would surely offer valuable insight.
After finishing the letter she intended to send to the magazine, Elena unfolded a sheet of cream-colored paper and began writing the second part of *Helen*.
In the future, readers were less willing to see the protagonist suffer. If the main character was wronged in the first chapter and didn't retaliate by the second, readers wouldn't accept it. Even if they pushed through the story, it would be with the hope that the protagonist would fight back soon. Therefore, the plot of "true and false daughters" in future novels was very straightforward, with the fake daughter's schemes being exposed and quickly met with retribution— it was all about satisfying the reader's craving for a swift, sweet revenge.
However, the emotional triggers were similar, but to cater to the current taste in novels, Elena needed to slow down the pacing, as the threshold for readers' emotional endurance wasn't very high. So, in the new chapter, Elena made Helen suffer in more intricate ways, including but not limited to...
"Let's start with an engaged fiancé," she wrote excitedly. Much like ancient China, Lunton's upper society had a custom of betrothing children before they were even born. Of course, this engagement was meant for Helen, as she was the true noble daughter.
However, the fiancé had already developed a deep bond with the fake daughter. After learning of the true and false daughter affair, it was he who suggested that they not reveal the secret to high society, or he would cancel the engagement. The Viktor family had long been financially troubled, and they needed to preserve this marriage contract. Therefore, what awaited Helen wasn't her return to her original position but rather a move as a distant relative of the Viktor family.
Helen didn't know any of this. She was filled with joy at the thought of having a family again, and with high hopes, she learned how to make small pastries that her parents loved. What she didn't know was that these pastries were the fake daughter's favorite, and her parents only liked them because they loved the fake daughter.
Yes, despite her expectations and hopes for the future, readers knew that it would all be meaningless.
"So tragic, poor Helen," Elena wiped away her imaginary crocodile tears, letting the newly written words dry for a moment. Then, she decided to consult Vera and her new friend Grace to get their feedback before making any changes or adjustments.
To be honest, even though Elena had lived in the club for a while, she was so busy with writing and sketching that she barely had time to get to know the club itself. The places she spent the most time were the writing room, the art studio, and her own room. Even her meals were usually brought to her by the same group of maids.
The food at the club was definitely on par with its environment. The ingredients came directly from the manor every day, reducing the chances of food fraud. The chefs were excellent, and the menus were based on the available ingredients of the day. Unless special dishes were pre-ordered, they would cost extra.
Elena's favorite was the crowberry jam with halibut, followed by the rum pudding in the evening. However, she always felt the pudding was a bit too sweet, so she would spend a little extra money to ask the chef to reduce the sugar.
Walking along the corridor, she heard the pleasant sound of a piano coming from the music room, so she decided to go over and take a look.
The walls of the music room were decorated with light brown diamond-patterned wallpaper, and each wall displayed a few exquisite oil paintings depicting outdoor landscapes and aristocratic portraits. In the center of the room was a wooden piano, its body carved with intricate patterns. Beside it on the table was a harp, surrounded by a circle of pink sofas of various sizes. Behind them was a fireplace with a small fire burning.
Vera was sitting at the piano, playing a popular waltz.
Middle-class families often arranged for their daughters to learn the piano as a way to showcase their social status, as leisure activities were seen as symbols of social standing. Because of this, the piano was given a special meaning, representing leisure and culture.
Elena had also learned the piano with a family tutor. Her family even had a simple piano in the living room. When they invited guests over for a dinner party, her sister would often play to entertain them, and the guests would dance to the music, since there were no music players available; people had to play their own music.
"Why are you here?" Vera asked as she finished playing a piece and stretched her fingers.
"I've written a section of *Helen*," Elena handed over the manuscript, "I'd love to hear your feedback. Would you like to take a look?"
"Of course," Vera eagerly accepted the paper and began reading.
Elena, feeling a bit bored, sat down on the piano bench and casually started playing Beethoven's *Moonlight Sonata*.
She had learned the piano as a child, and because of the "Moonlight" murder case in *Detective Conan*, she had become especially fond of this piece. She had practiced it later on. *Moonlight Sonata* wasn't its original title; its full name was *Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2*. It had three movements, but most people were familiar with the first one.
The technique was difficult, primarily due to the large variations in dynamics, fast finger movements, and complex harmonies. It was easy to play poorly and create noise, making it hard to express the right emotions. The entire piece had a melancholy, solemn, and quiet tone, and it was even featured in a Chinese literature textbook.
Fortunately, after much practice, Elena had mastered the piece. As her fingers lightly touched the keys, the soft melody began to rise from the intersection of the notes. Moonlight streamed through the large window, casting soft shadows on the room. It was as if the music emerged from a distant, unreachable part of the soul, carrying with it an atmosphere of quiet sadness and solemn tranquility. Some notes were deep and heavy, exuding endless sorrow, while others were contemplative, echoing continuously with a sense of foreboding.
When she finished the piece, Vera was in tears.
Elena: ????
That's a bit much, right? Really, it's not that serious.
She felt uneasy.
"Helen, she's so pitiful," Vera wiped away her tears, sniffing, and handed the manuscript back, choking up, "Why are you doing this to her? I can't even imagine how devastated she'll be when she finds out her biological parents don't want her. Also, why play such a sad piece while I'm reading this?"
Elena wasn't sure which question to address first, so she decided to skip the first one. "I just... well, every time I play the piano, I habitually play this piece, like a warm-up."
"It's really moving," Vera had regained her composure, "I feel both peaceful and sorrowful. I was already upset reading this, and then you're playing this sad music on top of it. I guess you must have practiced it for a long time. I mean, my music teacher is a famous musician, and you play better than I do. How long have you been learning it?"
If only considering this life, it had only been two years, but adding up all the years of practice, it had been more than ten, so that comparison wasn't fair. Elena could only deflect, "I'm just particularly familiar with this piece."
"If you played this at a dinner party, everyone would be stunned," Vera couldn't help but exclaim, "The way you transition from very soft to very loud notes is rare. People like freer rhythms and softer touches."
Elena wasn't planning to play *Moonlight Sonata* at a dinner party or ball. Those social occasions were better suited to lively dance music. No one would want to hear a rather melancholic piece at a social event.
She shifted the topic, "What do you think of *Helen*?"
Vera shot her a harsh look. "You're being way too harsh on her. Even though I know it's realistic—aristocrats are indeed this hypocritical—couldn't you be a bit kinder to her?"
"She'll get better," Elena promised, "She'll have a good ending. She'll become stronger and stop relying on her parents' love, and she'll end up with a better marriage partner... why are you looking at me like that?"
Vera glared at her. "The kind of good ending I'm imagining is that her parents will deeply regret their actions and kick that fake daughter out, then they'll cherish their real daughter. Not..."
That was indeed an issue. In modern times, it was quite normal for the real daughter to "cut ties" with her biased parents, but here, people's values had not yet evolved that far. They still highly valued family, and admired the virtue of acknowledging one's mistakes.
Elena wasn't the type to think, "I will go, no matter the cost," so if the ending she had in mind didn't meet the readers' expectations of a happy ending, then she would change it.
"Fine," she said, yielding. "Her parents will kick the fake daughter out and love their real daughter even more."
"I just hope that day doesn't come too late," Vera sighed, "Given your previous actions, it's hard not to worry about it."