Perhaps since my rebirth into this world, I have been able to understand the meaning of the old saying more clearly than ever before: you can do hundreds of good deeds, and they will soon be forgotten, but if you slip up just once, that mistake will haunt you for the rest of your life.
This truth stuck in my mind, and every time I encountered similar situations, it reminded me of itself with renewed force.
This was also the case for me. Despite the fact that for three years I tried hard to improve my reputation — from avoiding public scandals to behaving impeccably at social events — in reality, high society's attitude toward me remained almost exactly the same.
People smiled at me, but their eyes said something completely different. They whispered behind my back, gave me sidelong glances, and at receptions I always remained "the one" whose name was associated with her less than pious past.
