TVWRL Chapter 54
“Miss Adeline, the next customer is here.”
I woke from my thoughts at Sarah’s voice.
“Welcome.”
As I greeted the guest, a smile unconsciously appeared on my face.
‘You’ve finally arrived.’
The person who had come to see me was none other than the Duchess of Crothos.
This was a rare opportunity.
I had been planning to meet the duchess anyway, as I needed to charm her before entering the palace.
‘How grateful I am that you came all this way.’
Usually, I would respond with a friendly smile, but I had to approach the Duchess of Crothos differently.
This was the only way that would resonate with a woman who had lived like a cherished flower in a greenhouse all her life.
‘You’re the first person to be like this to me.’
I acted as dignified as possible. Of course, I also needed to showcase my abilities to assert my dominance.
‘Wait a minute. What could be the reason the duchess sought me out? Has something happened in the Crothos family around this time? Or is there some incident in high society?’
I recalled the original work.
‘Art forgery? No, that happens later. The socialite bullying incident? That’s still a ways off.’
The Duchess of Crothos sat with an arrogant expression.
Though she had come seeking me, she carried herself with the haughtiness befitting someone from the Crothos family, which held power greater than the imperial family.
‘There’s nothing happening in high society right now. That means it’s a family matter.’
The only issue concerning the Crothos family, the most prestigious family in the empire, was the remarriage of the young duke.
The young duke had been alone for a long time after the death of his first wife. It wasn’t solely because he couldn’t forget her, given that it had been a political marriage.
Moreover, due to the influence of the Crothos family, many nobles were eager to propose marriages to establish a connection with him.
There were times when the duke and duchess happily calculated which family would be most beneficial to ally with among the numerous proposals they received.
However, the young duke remained unmoved despite their coaxing and pleading, and soon five years had passed.
As a result, unfavorable rumors began to circulate about the young duke. The duchess was growing increasingly anxious.
I also faced her with a rather arrogant expression.
“You’ve come regarding the young duke’s marriage prospects, haven’t you?”
She seemed slightly surprised but quickly changed her expression. It appeared she thought I had guessed correctly since it was a matter already in the open.
At this point, I decided to throw out a bait to pique her interest.
“The young duke has a woman.”
“Huh? What did you just say?”
‘Who does she think she is, talking to me like that? What a rude old woman.’
I wanted to curse at her, but I held back for now. The day would come when she would speak formally to me. I would make sure of it.
The duchess glared at me with narrowed eyes.
‘Why is she glaring at me? I’m not even the hidden woman. How ignorant can she be?’
But I pretended not to notice and rubbed the crystal orb. I infused it with divine power more frequently than usual, causing sparks to fly.
The duchess watched the crystal orb with interest. I took my time to maximize her curiosity. She needed to feel a burning desire to know, which would heighten her focus.
After a prolonged silence, the duchess pressed me.
“If you don’t speak properly, there will be consequences.”
“And what if I do speak properly?”
“What?”
“Madam, the calculations must be precise, don’t you think? If there’s a penalty for speaking incorrectly, there should be a reward for speaking correctly.”
The duchess made a look of disbelief.
“You’re quite bold.”
I raised one corner of my mouth, watching her intently. It was a signal for her to state the reward.
“I will give you what you desire.”
After hearing the desired response, I relaxed my expression.
Moments later, I withdrew my hand from the crystal orb and recited the fortune.
“There is a very old lover. It’s a first love encountered before he got married. When the young duke married, they parted ways and went their separate paths. After losing their respective spouses, they met again. Fate cannot be defied. Perhaps they couldn’t forget each other and longed for one another even during their marriages.”
“What? Are you saying this correctly? A woman who was once married?”
The duchess exclaimed in shock, and I was internally astonished as well.
‘Isn’t her son also got married? Why is she getting angry about this? Shouldn’t she be asking who that woman is first?’
It was surprising that the point of contention in her son’s lengthy story was about remarriage.
Once again, I realized that the Crothos Duchy and their values were completely incompatible with mine.
“What’s wrong with my son that he’s meeting such a woman? He can choose from any noble daughter from a good family.”
“That’s what is called a fate bestowed by heaven. Even if they parted, it was a destined connection that brought them together again.”
The duchess fanned herself. I could see the heat rising from deep within her.
What if she got angry before I finished my story? I was worried she might collapse from stress.
Finally, the duchess managed to calm herself and spoke again.
“Who is this fated connection? Which noble family’s daughter is it?”
I made a slightly awkward expression and avoided her gaze.
“What’s the matter? Why are you acting like this? Can’t you speak quickly? Do you want to see me die from frustration?”
“She’s from the Crothos Duchy.”
“The duchy? Is it a noble daughter from a vassal family?”
“No, she’s a commoner who farms land she rents.”
The duchess dropped the fan she was holding.
I felt a sense of satisfaction, having dealt a proper blow to the Crothos family, who had looked down on me as a commoner.
What would Empress Sierra think if she knew this? I already felt exhilarated.
‘Thank you, young duke. I’ll help you achieve love in return.’
I drove a wedge into the duchess’s heart like a stubborn nail.
“It seems they were both punished by fate for their wrong relationship, and they lost their spouses. If it happens again, it won’t be their spouses they lose this time.”
“That’s impossible. My son wouldn’t do that.”
The duchess shot up, glaring at me as if she wanted to devour me.
“If this isn’t true, I won’t let you off. I’ll ensure you can never do business again, so be aware of that.”
“Feel free to verify it yourself. Ah! Your son might run away, so move discreetly.”
She didn’t show any gratitude for my last piece of advice and left.
With the Duchess of Crothos visiting today, I had almost completed the preparations needed before the marriage.
I had known it, but the duchess was even more dreadful in person. My resolve not to be defeated by such people flared up once more.
Now, before me lay the second act of my life—(contract) marriage.
I, on the path to becoming a wealthy tycoon who lives a long and healthy life, and Ilias, on the path to becoming emperor.
All that remained was to run with all our might to seize the future we desired.
It was a day not long before the wedding.
Cordelia and Lady Hyacinth hosted a party to celebrate my marriage. It was akin to a bridal shower from the old world.
The venue was Cordelia’s house, where she lived after her divorce. The surprising fact was that commoner friends, including Nancy, also attended the party.
These friends had developed a relationship where they greeted each other whenever they met in the shopping district after coordinating during Cordelia’s divorce trial.
As Cordelia attended several hobby meetings hosted by Nancy, they became quite close.
While being friends with me, it seemed that Cordelia and Hyacinth no longer placed much importance on social status.
‘In a world where a commoner like me can become a princess, what does it matter?’
Since it was the last party before the wedding and entering the palace, drinks were prepared this time, unlike usual.
My friends presented me with gifts, and I opened them right there. When ordinary items like handkerchiefs, bags, hats, and perfumes appeared, everyone took it in stride.
However, when I opened Lady Hyacinth’s gift, everyone let out sounds that were either screams or cheers.
“Eek!”
“Wow!”
“Oh my!”
It was a sexy underwear set made of lace that Hyacinth had brought from a trading country. Hyacinth said seriously and suggestively,
“You can’t find this in the Empire. Wear it on your wedding night. If the prince likes it and wants more, just let me know. I’ll get you some.”
Such a shocking design could never come from a Confucian Empire.
I was so embarrassed that I didn’t know what to do. It was a design I had never worn even in my previous life, and just looking at it made me feel shy. Naturally, it showed no signs of being functional at all.
‘Thank you for your kindness, but I won’t be wearing this. I won’t be spending the night with the prince. When I find someone truly special later on, I’ll definitely wear it then.’
After checking the gifts, we began our meal. As everyone’s glasses were filled with wine, Cordelia stood up.
She locked eyes with me and smiled slightly.
“Thank you for giving us a new life. Everyone here sincerely wishes for Adeline’s happiness. May our friend Adeline always be happy.”
The friends gathered around the table sent their heartfelt wishes to me, and I responded with a smile.
We clinked our glasses together and drank.
Initially, our relationship had started because I wanted to create my own people, knowing the characters from the original story, but before I knew it, we had become true friends. I felt a mix of gratitude and sorrow for the friends present here, and my heart swelled.
“Thank you. I’ll do my best.”
I conveyed my sincerity to them as well.
We spent the night eating, drinking, and chatting, enjoying our time together.
Although I had enjoyed parties before, it was my first time having such a relaxed gathering with close friends, and everyone seemed to love it. There were even suggestions to have such gatherings more often.
As dawn broke, most had fallen asleep, and I said goodbye to Cordelia before leaving the house.
However, as I stepped outside, I noticed a royal carriage. Just as I wondered if it was for my protection, Ilias emerged from the carriage. I was taken aback and approached him.
“Prince… As, what brings you here?”
“I was waiting to take you home.”
“You didn’t come yesterday, did you?”
Instead of answering, Ilias smiled.
“You should have let me know sooner.”
“I didn’t want to interrupt your good time with your friends.”
Even if today’s actions were planned, they were touching. Perhaps because I had spent a happy time with good people, his consideration resonated with me even more.
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