IDSFTV 19

Chapter 19

If it was Marquis Carlisle, then in the original story, he was an important character.

And not in a good way.

‘That Marquis Carlisle is the father of that red-haired lady?’

When the ladies called her Bri, it felt like I had heard it somewhere.

I thought it was just a common name because even among the maids, there was someone called that. But who would have thought Bri was actually Britannia Carlisle, the daughter of Marquis Carlisle?

When I realized this shocking fact, I stared at Britannia as if I had witnessed something rare.

She, of course, didn’t care that a maid was watching her. She just touched her beautiful earrings.

‘Idiot. She’s completely Britannia Carlisle! How didn’t I notice?’

Her face, which looked prim but pretty, clearly had something wicked in it. Her rose-colored lips, curled up elegantly, were attractive but also sly, like a snake.

Especially that red hair!

In the original, the one symbolizing red hair wasn’t the mistress of Lord Willinger, but Britannia.

I had completely forgotten, because as an extra I only played around on the edges of the story.

This novel’s center was not this borderland Iraze Castle.

“Wasn’t that shabby mine a gold mine? When will they be able to extract rough stones in large amounts?”

“Well, I don’t know yet. And even if our family invested a lot, in the end, it belongs to the imperial family. So, it’s basically the Archduke’s.”

Britannia smiled meaningfully at Sevilla as she spoke.

If it was imperial property, then it meant it belonged to the highest power, Shiraz Ludkayev.

“Since it’s a project the Archduke is putting his heart into, Sevilla, you’ll get gems far more beautiful than this.”

Sevilla, who wasn’t interested in jewels, only smiled faintly and turned her gaze away.

Since she came to this castle, she had been a quiet young lady, as if invisible.

“They say there’s a bird singing with a heavenly voice at the Pino residence these days, right, Gemma?”

At Sevilla’s question, the lady shyly nodded with a smile.

Even though it wasn’t her own praise, her cheeks turned peach-colored.

Her first impression had been lovely, but compared to the other young ladies, she barely had any presence.

Only now did I really look at her.

‘Gemma, right? Gemma… Pino residence… the name Pino isn’t unfamiliar…’

It wasn’t as clear in my memory as Carlisle, but the name Pino had definitely appeared several times in the novel.

I regretted skipping so many parts of the novel without reading carefully.

I paid closer attention to their conversation.

“My father brought it from the East, and its feathers are so beautiful. Every morning its chirping sounds like a heavenly song. When I return to the capital, I’ll show it to everyone.”

Gemma’s eyes shone warmly like black tea, as if the bird was right before her.

“No matter how pretty a bird is, so what? Unless it flies around sprinkling gold dust.”

Britannia laughed mockingly.

Gemma’s happy face suddenly sank.

And Britannia also seemed annoyed.

It looked like she was upset that Sevilla cared more about some bird than her sapphire earrings.

She seemed to feel her pride was hurt because Sevilla paid more attention to Gemma.

‘Of course, that nasty Carlisle blood runs in her veins. Like father, like daughter.’

I secretly rolled my eyes at Britannia.

Sevilla, noticing the awkward air, quickly spoke with a bright smile.

“When we return to the capital, let’s all go to the Pino residence together. Until I see that heavenly bird with my own eyes, I won’t be able to sleep.”

Gemma finally smiled gently and nodded.

But Britannia spoke again, her tone sharper than before.

“Isn’t it about time the Pino family expanded their business? Their ancestors were better than ours, but why has the Pino Count become so small in this generation?”

This time, even Sevilla gave Britannia a scolding look.

Another lady tapped Britannia’s elbow lightly with her fan.

But even at such an insult, Gemma did not get angry. She quietly defended her father, Count Pino.

“My father is very careful, so he doesn’t touch dangerous business until he’s sure. If there’s a big loss, it will harm the servants who work for our family’s livelihood.”

“Oh my. That sounds like you’re saying our family has no sense of responsibility.”

Britannia snapped. Gemma answered calmly, with a gentle face.

“That’s not what I mean. It’s just, the Marquis is very aggressive in expanding business. People’s characters differ, so each family has their own way.”

Though her voice wasn’t loud, she spoke clearly.

At some point, I realized I was silently cheering her on.

It felt like watching my own child bravely stand against a strong opponent.

It wasn’t the refreshing cider-like retort that could crush Britannia’s nose flat, but Gemma still didn’t just stay quiet. She was courageous.

While cheering for Gemma, I suddenly realized her identity, as if struck by lightning.

Like the Carlisle family, there was a noble family that did business, was careful, and treated their servants like family.

Among the respected characters in the original, one was Count Pino.

Gemma was Count Pino’s only daughter.

Just like when I recognized Britannia, I now looked at Gemma with new eyes.

Seeing two important noble daughters together made me feel strange.

Meeting characters from the novel in reality was amazing, but also suffocating.

‘That such a kind, lovely lady will become miserable…’

I pitied Gemma.

The Pino family and Carlisle family had been rivals for generations.

Both families were involved in commerce and trade, linked by marriage to the imperial family, and were great noble houses representing the capital.

Later, they too followed the trend and ended up under Shiraz’s rule.

When Marquis Carlisle expanded recklessly into usury and business, the difference between the two houses widened.

More than anything, Carlisle stuck shamelessly close to Archduke Shiraz.

When the Pino family, who valued loyalty, hesitated between the imperial family and the Archduke, the Carlisle family actively supported Shiraz.

From then, the gap in power widened.

Carlisle continued scheming, slandering the Pino family to monopolize business in the capital.

Count Pino, despite being a model noble who did many good deeds, was caught in Carlisle’s web.

In the end, Count Pino died unjustly, and his wealth and businesses all went to the Carlisle family.

The story of these two families’ bad blood was mentioned several times in the novel.

Because they were key to the original’s ending.

Looking at the two ladies, unaware of their future, left me bitter.

‘Why must Count Pino fall victim to someone as vile as Marquis Carlisle?’

It was all part of the foreshadowing for Shiraz’s tragic end, but still… Couldn’t the story where good people unfairly suffered change?

‘No, that would change the whole story completely.’

Thinking too deeply made my head ache.

What could I do, stuck between such giant families?

‘Get a grip. I can barely save myself, let alone anyone else.’

I turned my gaze from Gemma, as if to accept fate.

The only consolation was that in the latter part of the original, Carlisle’s evil deeds were revealed and the Pino family’s name cleared.

‘But if the Count dies and the family perishes, what’s the use? Ugh.’

Gemma’s fate was the cruelest—watching her father executed, then being enslaved with her family.

While I was lost in thought, whispers reached my ears again.

“If this mine development succeeds, the Archduke’s trust in Marquis Carlisle will grow deeper. Then maybe Britannia will truly become the Archduke’s wife?”

At those words, Britannia’s cheeks flushed.

“Stop it. Such jokes are rude to the Archduke.”

Even as she said stop, the corners of her lips twitched upward.

“No one in the empire can match Marquis Carlisle’s loyalty to the Archduke. Surely, the position of Archduchess will be yours.”

The lady squeezed Britannia’s hand and gave her a knowing look.

As if saying: You’ll be the Archduchess anyway.

But as far as I knew, Britannia would never become Archduchess.

‘What on earth is so good about a cold-blooded man like Shiraz?’

I couldn’t understand, but if it was only about power and looks, then yes, many ladies would line up.

Britannia already smiled confidently, as if she were the Archduchess.

“Enough of this boring talk. Let’s plan the upcoming party.”

Sevilla clapped her hands.