~Chapter 19~
“Upon receiving your earnest petition, I have pondered deeply. Your family’s passion and dedication to hosting the first ball of this social season were evident.
However, I must retract the hosting rights for the first ball that I had granted you.
As Empress, I must discern between desire and capability, and I regret that I failed to do so.
Hosting a grand ball requires experience and ability, which may be too difficult for you at this time.
Had I left it in your hands due to my negligence, how disappointed you would be when faced with an unsatisfactory event.
To prevent such misfortune, I advise that you gain more experience by attending another’s first ball before hosting your own.
When you do host, I promise my attendance in response to your passion and dedication.”
“What… what is this!”
Unable to believe what she had just heard, Madam Kim Sium lunged at the messenger and snatched the letter.
She reread it, but the words remained the same.
‘That Empress bitch, writing such a long letter just to take back what she gave. Ha!’
Her face twisted in disbelief, and the messenger shifted uncomfortably.
Ignoring him, Kim Sium delegated his farewell to her eldest son and stormed off.
Then she spotted her second son, Sungmin, glancing at the imperial carriage before retreating towards the back of the mansion.
She called out,
“My son~ you’re so busy these days, you don’t even spend time with your mother?”
“Just trying to adapt to this world.”
“Adapt? What adaptation? If you have money, you adapt. If not, you can’t.”
‘Oh my, did I really just say that to my own child?’
Realising her blunt words, she forced a smile and softened her tone.
“Sungmin, come talk with me for a bit.”
“……”
Without replying, he followed her to her room.
On her table lay the noble register that the maids had just brought.
“Here, take a look at this for me.”
“Yes.”
He sat down expressionlessly and opened it. His quiet question followed.
“What exactly am I looking for?”
“A girl old enough to marry but without parents. You know… someone like Dain in this world?”
“……”
His fingertips trembled slightly as he turned the pages.
Standing before her mirror, Kim Sium asked,
“Sungmin, how does this dress look on me? Does it suit me?”
He glanced up briefly.
“It suits you.”
“……”
Her eyes narrowed as if doubting his sincerity. Sungmin smiled faintly and repeated,
“Truly, it does.”
Seeing even that fleeting expression return to his face, she felt relieved and sat opposite him, showing him the portraits of young noble ladies.
“Look closely. Beyond my conditions, is there anyone you find appealing?”
“Shouldn’t hyung be looking? Even if I did…”
“Why only Byungmin? You need to look too. You need to get married as well.”
His hand froze mid-page turn.
Kim Sium had a hawk’s eye for her son’s emotional shifts.
The more he tried to hide it, the clearer it became to her.
The large window cast an orange glow through her room as the sun set, illuminating Sungmin’s violet eyes staring at her – though his mind was elsewhere.
‘Who is he thinking of?’
She asked sternly,
“Is it because you’re thinking of her?”
“Who?”
“Her. The manager.”
“It’s not.”
‘Of course it is. I know you’ve been looking for another transmigrator like her.’
Her voice hardened.
“Stop looking for her.”
“……”
“I said stop. Honestly, other than being a little cuter than Dain, what did she even have going for her?”
She randomly pointed to a name in the register.
“Look here. There are countless noble girls waiting for our family’s hand. Why cling to the past? I’m glad it ended. I never liked either of them. This is proof we’ve been given a second life to live happier!”
“I will live happily, just as you say. But marriage—”
“My son~”
Seeing his expression harden, she cooed and cupped his cheeks warmly.
“I know what scares you. You’re afraid of meeting another girl like Dain, aren’t you? But life isn’t always lucky. Sometimes you step in shit. Is that your fault? Mommy will find you the perfect match this time so you won’t suffer again, okay?”
“……”
He remained silent, but as always, Kim Sium took it as consent.
His beautiful face, framed by ashen hair that shimmered like spring breezes and his mysterious violet eyes, reminded her of her late husband.
That stunning husband had left only debts behind despite his beauty.
“Ha…”
The thought of debt made her scowl and scratch at her scalp in irritation.
‘No, don’t frown. Wrinkles won’t do.’
Half her plans to debut her sons at the first ball were ruined, and the Count’s daughter she thought perfect for marriage now seemed out of reach.
But wrinkles on her youthful new face were unacceptable.
She gazed at Sungmin, deep in thought.
With his looks and considerate personality, just marrying well would solve everything.
She hummed softly,
“My son~ your new clothes arrived. Try them on. Oh, and…”
She asked something she’d been wondering about for days.
“If you act as a debutante’s chaperone… do they usually marry into that family?”
“Chaperones help noble girls debut safely and find good husbands. They show gratitude to the chaperone, but it’s unrelated to marriage.”
“Oh, really?”
So she’d misunderstood.
‘Then it’s fine if Sungmin marries that Count’s daughter!’
She searched through the scattered portraits for the McCurry girl’s but couldn’t find it.
Feigning casualness, she said,
“Sungmin, there’s a girl I’ve been eyeing.”
“……”
“She’s the daughter of the McCurry Count. So beautiful, she stole my heart immediately.”
“…I see.”
He replied weakly.
Kim Sium leaned in closer with a conspiratorial smile.
The next morning at the villa, Riden woke to the gentle aroma of tea.
She had breakfast in her room with Corel, nibbling on bread she fed to her.
‘If I have to pay a penalty for breaking the marriage contract… how much will it be?’
She hoped Glenn’s lawyer would say “Penalty? There isn’t one,” but she needed to prepare for any outcome.
‘Useful information…’
Not only did she remember what the novel’s heroine used, but as the book cover designer, she had also received ‘cover guide sheets’ from the author, giving her extra insights.
For instance, the author based parts of the Duchess’ character on Madame Donimaks of France, one of the world’s top three jewelry collectors.
Thus, the Duchess spared no expense in collecting captivating jewels, and the heroine once gained her favor by gifting her a necklace she had been searching for.
That necklace was part of Donimaks’ real-life collection, and the author specifically requested it be illustrated on Volume 1’s cover.
‘Originally, that necklace wouldn’t reach the Eastern Empire until much later… but what if I didn’t have to wait?’
Until now, Riden had thought only some parts of Donimaks’ collection were incorporated into the Duchess’ character.
‘But what if all of Donimaks’ collection exists in this novel world?’
If her theory was correct, the bracelet Henji wore yesterday, though never mentioned in the novel, was indeed from Donimaks’ collection – and a very famous one at that.
‘If the Duchess is destined to own all of Donimaks’ real-life collection, paying the penalty might be easier than I thought.’
