TVWRL Chapter 14
I quickly pondered what kind of answer Grinia was hoping for.
Then, a brief sentence came to mind.
「Although she dreamed of a different life, Grinia had no choice but to marry.」
Following that, a sentence criticizing the limitations and discrimination within the empire was added.
So, it was clear that what Grinia wanted now was independence.
To live under her own name, not as the daughter of a Marquis or the wife of the Duke.
“Is what you desire, milady, to live in your own name?”
She seemed pleased with my answer and smiled brightly.
“Lady Adeline, it seems the rumors about you were not unfounded. I never thought someone would understand this thought.”
The Marquis of Beizen had vast territories and was also one of the prominent merchants in the empire.
‘Perhaps what Greenia, who is good at calculating, wants is the merchant group. In that case, what the first prince promised must be women’s social advancement and economic activity.’
The first prince, Ilias, was the only figure capable of reforming the empire. That’s why he was constantly plagued by threats to his life.
Every time the power of Ilias, the only counterbalance to the temple faction, weakened, the empire plunged deeper into darkness.
At this point, I found myself sinking into the swamp of the professional dilemmas faced by fortune tellers I had heard about in the past.
‘Oh God! Why do you test me like this?’
Good fortune tellers were supposed to provide more positive stories than negative ones. After all, what they sold to their clients was not just the future, but also hope.
They said that making people want to live was the ethical duty of a fortune teller.
Thus, they tried to express even the bad stories in the most favorable light.
‘What should I do?’
I was troubled because I already knew the future.
It was unreasonable to risk everything on Ilias, who could die at any moment.
So far, he had managed to survive despite the close calls, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he died at any time given his situation.
Furthermore, if her relationship with Ilias were to be exposed, it could stir up trouble even in the peaceful Marquis Beizen’s household.
But telling Grinia to live like this would only make her unhappy in its own way.
I found myself in a dilemma, unable to make a decision.
“It seems to be a difficult problem for Lady Adeline as well.”
Disappointment and bitterness were etched on her once-bright and confident face.
Seeing that expression tugged at my heart, and before I realized it, words slipped out.
“Follow the path your heart desires, milady. Knock, and the door will be opened. And remember, you’re someone who can create paths that don’t exist. Haven’t you already chosen to live the life you want, rather than the one that’s comfortable?”
Grinia turned around with a radiant expression I had never seen before.
Seeing her hopeful face lifted my spirits as well.
“Sigh… They say high hopes lead to great disappointments. By the way, it seems that Prince Ilias is moving more actively than I thought. I don’t know. Let’s think about the aftermath later. Tomorrow is another day, and there will be other solutions.”
I decided to head to a district filled with upscale restaurants to resolve Cordelia’s urgent matter.
To a restaurant that Cordelia’s husband’s mistress and stage actress Sophia frequented every day.
The reason I chose Sophia among many was that she was the most passionate fool.
Fortunately, I arrived before Sophia and was able to sit at her favorite window seat.
Sophia, who arrived late, seemed very upset that her seat had been taken away, and she vented her anger on the restaurant staff.
“How could you give away my seat! You know I come here often!”
“I’m sorry. Since you didn’t make a reservation as usual, we assumed you weren’t coming today. So, we gave your seat to another guest.”
“So, is it my fault for not making a reservation now? How can a person make a reservation every time? It’s something you can forget. If I hadn’t made a reservation, you should have thought it was strange and asked me. You need to consider the customers! That’s the right thing to do.”
I could no longer watch this nonsensical argument, so I stood up from my seat earlier than planned.
Every time I came to an expensive café or restaurant, it felt like I was encountering a difficult situation.
Of course, I felt sorry for comparing Paulian to Sophia.
“I’ll swap seats with you.”
At that, Sophia looked at me with a haughty expression.
She didn’t even respond to me and gestured arrogantly to the staff as if to hurry them to clear the table.
A staff member quickly cleared the table and moved me to the adjacent, thanked me.
“Lady Adeline, thank you.”
“It’s fine.”
This staff member was someone I knew, having come to me in the past saying he wanted to quit his job. Today, I could fully understand the pain he had endured dealing with difficult customers.
I felt somewhat sorry for having discouraged him from quitting back then.
When Sophia heard my name, her eyes widened, and she turned to me.
Someone like her, who loved gossip and was sensitive to trends, would certainly know about the buzz surrounding “Lady Adeline.”
Although Sophia was a commoner, she dreamed of a glamorous life and became an actress thanks to her fairly pretty appearance.
Despite her grand dreams, she mainly took on minor roles but managed to rise to lead roles with the support of Cordelia’s husband.
Although she didn’t have any hits or major works, she was still active as a lead actress.
Ignoring her completely as I moved to a new seat, I sensed Sophia approaching me.
“I think I was rude. If you’re here alone, how about having a meal together? Of course, I’ll pay.”
“It’s okay.”
“We both have no companions, and it’s fate that we met like this, so let’s eat together.”
I refused again, but Sophia didn’t give up.
Amid the back-and-forth, I raised my value to the maximum and reluctantly agreed.
So, we sat facing each other at the same table and exchanged greetings.
The most expensive course meal in the restaurant began to arrive.
As we ate, I maintained a politeness that I didn’t truly feel.
“I really can’t accept this. I’ll pay for my own meal. I can’t impose on someone I’ve just met.”
“No, I’m delighted to treat Lady Adeline to a meal.”
“I’m truly honored to dine with the greatest actress.”
At my compliment, she smiled brightly.
“Oh my! You know me?”
“I’ve seen your performance before.”
Despite her enthusiastic expression, Sophia spoke with humility.
“I’m not quite the greatest yet.”
“That’s because something is holding you back. Once you remove what’s hindering you, you’ll soar as the greatest actress.”
“Huh? What do you mean? Something is hindering me?”
“I can see someone with stronger energy is blocking you.”
“Is that true?”
Sophia leaned closer to the table, her expression one of surprise.
Seeing that she was focused on my words, I paused for a moment before continuing.
“Oh dear, it seems your lover is not alone.”
Sophia was hiding her affair to maintain her actress image.
Cordelia’s husband also had several mistresses and often changed them, so she didn’t want to reveal the affair.
‘More trash next to trash.’
If I had to define their relationship, it would be like this..
Sophia’s eyes wavered, perhaps in shock, but she quickly forced a smile.
“How could that be? So, is the person blocking me his wife? Should I get rid of that woman?”
I closed my eyes and pretended to look into the future for a moment. At this point, I felt more like a con artist than a fortune-teller.
However, what was important to me and what I had to protect was not the person who took something from someone else, but the person who was taken from.
Slowly opening my eyes, I put on a serious expression.
“There are several, not just the wife.”
“What? What do you mean? I thought there was only one wife.”
“There are several other women besides Sophia for the man.”
“What?!”
I could see Sophia’s grip on her fork tightening in anger and surprise.
“You could be abandoned at any moment if you don’t secure a solid position.”
Instead of answering, Sophia bit her lip tightly.
“Don’t let that person go. He’s someone who can give you a lifetime of wealth and fame.”
In that moment, joy filled Sophia’s eyes.
“Is there a way?”
“Of course. He values legal relationships. Plus, if he’s a noble who values honor, he won’t easily divorce twice. It would also be difficult to get permission from the royal family and the temple. If you succeed in marrying him, he’ll be yours forever.”
Sophia didn’t hide her expression of calculating eagerly.
I decided to drive the wedge further.
“Lovers can change, but wives cannot. And this is only possible when his feelings for you are at their peak.”
Sophia’s gaze turned to me.
“Right now. It will be dangerous if you wait too long. He is always attracted to something new.”
After finishing my words, I elegantly wiped my mouth and took my wallet out of my bag.
“Lady Adeline, I would like to consider today’s meal as a token of appreciation for your wise words. I’ve also heard that one should not receive the will of the gods without offering something in return.”
This was a rumor that I had spread, as they don’t seem to understand the concept of payment.
I nodded slightly in agreement.
Sophia looked at me with eyes burning with determination.
“I will come to see you soon.”
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Returning home, I sank into the bathtub to relax the tension that had built up throughout the day. Afterward, I put on a soft bathrobe and enjoyed a glass of sweet wine.
“Ah! I feel like I can finally breathe.”
Although my job relied on memory, every moment was a challenge, and I couldn’t let my guard down. Whether in books or outside of them, making money was never easy.
Moreover, my work involved changing people’s destinies depending on choices they made. The people who came to see me were just minor characters in the book, but I still worried that my actions might drastically alter the original story.
So, every moment at work felt like walking on thin ice.
But still, it was enjoyable, especially when I saw the smiles of the characters I loved.
“Perhaps Sophia will come tomorrow?”
After finishing my wine, I headed to the bedroom and lay down.
I felt so drowsy that I thought I would sleep well again tonight.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
The next day, the atmosphere on the way to the shop was chaotic.
As I got closer to the shop, the noise grew louder than usual, which puzzled me, but I didn’t pay it much mind. I thought it was none of my business.
But what was going on?!
There was a long line in front of the store.
