~Chapter 16~
The lively atmosphere froze in an instant.
As everyone fell silent, Riden couldn’t help but turn her gaze towards the direction they were all staring.
Half-hidden behind Marick stood a woman with beautifully styled, voluminous crimson hair.
‘Huh? Who is she?’
Surely, she must also be a character from the novel.
While Riden racked her memory, the woman who had passionately scolded her about her clothes pulled her behind.
“Miss Riden, please stand behind me.”
Confused, Riden hid behind Serawang and whispered,
“Why? What’s going on?”
Instead of Serawang, the shoemaker Minolo answered, leaning in with a grave expression and whispering almost inaudibly:
“If you stand next to someone drowning in their own delusions, their stray sparks might burn your fluffy chick feathers. Stay back.”
“Eh? My feathers will… burn?”
‘These people… what are they even saying…’
She wanted to question their strange words, but seeing how serious their faces had become, she decided to stay quiet and do as told.
Besides, her curiosity about the newly arrived woman only grew.
From behind the four designers, she peeked.
The woman beamed brightly at Marick.
“Master Marick? It is you, isn’t it? How long has it been!”
She stepped closer with a delighted expression, thrilled to see how much he had grown.
“Um…”
Marick stepped back, his brows furrowed as he tried to recall her name. Finally, recognition flickered across his face.
“Henji? Right, it was Baron Dolomy who was appointed villa manager. You’ve become quite the adult since I last saw you.”
“Oh my, why phrase it so difficultly when you simply mean I’ve become pretty, Master Marick. Hoho.”
‘Henji Dolomy!’
Recognition dawned on Riden.
In the novel, Henji was another villainess, with puffed crimson hair, roaming high society with arrogance. Obsessed with Ethan, she even schemed against the heroine.
She had once hired a strange man to be caught alone with the heroine at night, hoping to tarnish her reputation and make Ethan lose interest.
Reading that part had pained Riden’s heart so deeply.
‘I never expected to meet her here…’
Though unplanned, she knew Henji was a character she would inevitably face.
While Riden was aware of her villainous deeds in the original plot, the situation had already deviated from the novel. Who knew what unpredictable schemes Henji might try now?
Especially since she was the type to use petty, tiresome tricks against her targets.
‘Is there a way to uproot this evil before it grows…’
She was lost in thought when her eyes fell on Henji’s wrist.
‘Huh?’
‘That bracelet… why is it here?’
While Riden stared, Henji continued speaking flirtatiously to Marick.
“Of course, it would cause misunderstandings to compliment your brother’s fiancée, wouldn’t it? You’ve always been so serious, Master Marick, so befitting of Ethan’s older brother. But…”
Henji suddenly shifted her body to the side, her eyes finding Riden standing behind the designers.
“Who’s this… ah, are you another expected guest? A skin therapist? Or a hair stylist? You’re younger than I thought.”
“…”
‘How should I respond…’
Remaining silent to observe reactions, Riden watched as Henji clapped her hands with satisfaction.
“Well then, shall we begin?”
Marick, utterly clueless, tilted his head.
“Begin what?”
“Yes!”
“What do you mean?”
“The grand first step to introduce the future Duchess to high society, of course!”
‘So that’s what this is about…’
Riden quickly assessed the situation.
‘She just dug her own grave.’
She discreetly looked at Marick.
“Uh…”
Marick, at a loss for words, glanced back at the designers. Seeing their equally troubled expressions, he finally understood.
“Pfft.”
A small laugh escaped him, growing into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.
‘Brothers really are the same.’
Riden remembered Ethan laughing in disbelief when she told him her husband had cheated, forcing her into the woods that night.
Marick and Ethan — both brothers lacked any restraint in showing open amusement at others.
“Ahaha, ahahaha… oh… so that’s what you thought? Henji, you’ve always been a bit eccentric. Now it’s all coming back to me.”
He wiped tears from his eyes.
“Whatever Mother wrote in her letter… ah, it’s her fault. I apologise, Henji.”
“Pardon?”
Henji looked bewildered as Marick’s next words cut into her like a blade.
“That’s not yours.”
“…”
“It belongs to Lady McCurry, standing behind you.”
“Stop joking around…”
Marick turned slightly, gesturing for Riden to step forward.
“She’ll be staying here for a while, so I should introduce you. Lady?”
While Marick and Henji exchanged words, Riden stepped forward, her expression innocent, a faint smile on her lips.
“I am Riden McCurry, daughter of Count McCurry. Though I may not be worthy to become part of the Duke’s family, I have lived as a noble my whole life, with etiquette ingrained deeply. I forgot for a moment that this is the outskirts, and thought you would naturally recognise me. That was my fault.”
She was telling Henji: I understand you’re an ignorant country girl newly raised to nobility; I’ll forgive your lack of etiquette.
“W-what did you say…?”
Henji’s eyes blazed with rage.
“Haha, oh my.”
Marick chuckled, placing his hands together.
“Lady McCurry’s manner of speech is so similar to mine. It already feels like she’s family, hahaha.”
He turned to Henji, a grin spreading across his face.
“Future Duchess? And who said that!”
“I will handle this. Please return to your work.”
Henji’s sharp retort was cut off as Marick forcibly led her out, her angry cries echoing through the drawing room.
Bang. The door slammed shut, leaving silence behind.
‘Hah… when did I start sweating so much… I hope I didn’t look nervous…’
She wiped the cold sweat from her brow with the back of her hand.
Riden wanted to live differently from her past life, where she could never say what she meant.
But changing overnight was hard. Her entire body tensed up while mimicking those confident romance novel heroines who spoke their minds.
‘Still… I did it. At least I didn’t look weak.’
As she secretly felt satisfied, dabbing her forehead with her damp hand, a soft silk handkerchief touched her skin. It was Serawang.
Serawang gently tapped her forehead.
“Lady McCurry, stay still. I’ll wipe for you.”
Twiffany also approached, fanning Riden with a folding fan.
“Oh dear, you’re sweating so much.”
From a step away, Phil added,
“Shouldn’t we let her sit on the sofa rather than standing like this?”
Guiding Riden to the sofa, the designers whispered among themselves.
“A debutante preparation is all about stamina… I wonder if she’ll manage.”
“The Duchess really chose the perfect nickname.”
“This isn’t the time to chat. I need to sketch before the inspiration fades. When was the last time I felt this thrill?”
“Same here. My heart was racing earlier!”
Samantha had promised them appropriate rewards if they satisfied the ‘chick.’
But at that moment, their minds weren’t on rewards. They were completely immersed in their creative excitement to turn the inspiration they just received into masterpieces.
It had been so long since they felt such stimulation.
“…”
Watching them, Riden realised who they were.
‘Designers…’
Hearing them use words like “muse” and “inspiration” reminded her of her university classmates, and she smiled faintly.
‘The Duchess’ designers… they’ll probably spend lavishly to make these clothes.’
She pictured her upcoming debutante dress.
‘How much would it cost to buy?’
She had no intention of shamelessly keeping the dress after breaking off her engagement. She planned to buy it properly.
‘It’ll be extremely expensive… sigh.’
If she didn’t find a way to earn money soon, she might end up selling the Count’s estate in the capital.
She shook her head, imagining the astronomical price.
‘Still, if not now, when would I ever wear such clothes?’
Since she decided to buy it, she would enjoy it properly.
‘And that bracelet…’
Perhaps that might become a source of money too.
Marick, who had just escorted Henji out of the drawing room, was sending a message to his mother.
[Please bring plenty of tonics to restore energy when you come. She is so delicate, walking like a newborn chick. Also, there was an amusing incident today. The villa manager’s daughter…]
