~Tpmma 03~

Chapter 3

The count’s eyes widened.

“Are you trying to make a bet with me?”

“Predicting my misfortune without any grounds is nothing but placing a curse. At least place a wager if you insist.”

“You couldn’t even do anything at the position your aunt painstakingly prepared for you! Seeing that, your future is obvious!”

“Really? You can’t even predict my rebuttals, yet you confidently declare my future.”

“Ugh…”

The count gritted his teeth.

“Yes. The world is full of the unpredictable. And seeing you, who had impeccable manners, flustered at last spring’s tea party, makes it even clearer!”

Gulp. That incident flashed through my mind, and I paused for a moment.

February of this year. What gave me the hardest time after being reincarnated into Dori was the strict etiquette of the nobles. I had spent all night studying etiquette books just to meet the bare minimum, avoiding the scrutinizing eyes of the count and his wife who were thinking, ‘The youngest is odd.’

Around March, the countess hosted a tea party inviting the third prince. I thought all I had to do was drink tea politely.

But with a tighter corset than usual, the tension of being in front of my future husband, and his sideways glances… I ended up making several small mistakes that even Tristan couldn’t hide his sighs over.

Still, I spoke boldly:

“Since that day, have I ever brought shame to the family? I correct my mistakes and improve every day, so I don’t understand why you keep tying me to the past. Is it only to have an excuse to scold me?”

“You… how dare you speak to your father like that!”

“I’m about to be sent to a convent and serve a new father, so why should I hold back my words?”

“…”

“Let me ask again. If I succeed in winning His Highness’s heart, what dowry will you give me?”

“Hmph. If you can do it, I’ll give you anything! If you’re connected to the royal family, what could I not give you?”

“Really?”

I took a step back to look around the room. The count panicked, waving both hands.

“Wait! I-I’m not saying I’ll give you everything. I only mean to prepare you properly so as not to shame the royal family!”

“Yes, I trust you.”

“Ahem. But! If you fail to win His Highness’s heart by the end of this social season, you’ll be off to the convent. Don’t expect a chance next year!”

“Understood.”

Even at the raised, threatening tone, I remained composed, and the count huffed in displeasure. I made no expression as I bowed and left the office.

They think I’ll end up in a convent, and my dowry will go to Natalie?

Not a chance.

‘Reality will be the opposite.’

Having endured today’s nonsense, I was about to return to my room when someone blocked my path.

With a soft perfume, a striking beauty approached, her hair a bold shade of red like a rose.

“Unnie?”

My elder sister, Natalie Redfield.

She tilted her lips in a sly smile.

“Hello, my lovely little sister, Dori.”

Lovely? I’d be happier seeing an ex-boss on the street than that.

In the original story, Natalie hardly interacted with Dori, but it’s obvious what a villainess character would do:

Ignore the unpopular younger sibling.

My expectations were correct.

“You couldn’t dance with Prince Tristan even once today, right?”

“Yes. You knew.”

“Oh, really? I just guessed, seeing your outfit made me think no one would choose you!”

Natalie lifted her chin and laughed. Her laugh was textbook villainess.

“The prince may be like that, but even other men passing you by… How pitiful. If His Highness abandons you, you’ll have nowhere to go, right?”

Even the teasing was typical.

But I didn’t get angry.

Even if the villainess lives diligently, her ending is exile to a convent. How did you end up with a villainess character…?

I kept smiling.

“Indeed. I wish I were at least half as beautiful as you.”

Thirty percent flattery, seventy percent sincerity.

If I had to be reincarnated, I wished I were in a beauty character. Unfortunately, I ended up in a minor character with no facial description, so I mostly retained my own face. A bit disappointing.

Now, what would the villainess say?

‘Should I give you half?’ or ‘It would be faster to be reborn’—classic lines, right? I looked up, expecting something like that—

…Huh?

Natalie looked flustered.

“Do-Dori… what did you just say?”

“Pardon?”

Why is she like this? I don’t think I said anything rude.

“I said I envy you for being beautiful.”

“And…?”

“No other meaning!”

She’s probably heard she’s beautiful her whole life. Why so shocked?

“Well… unlike me with my dull carrot-colored hair, yours is like a blazing flame, elegant, with a straight posture…”

I listed her traits one by one, yet her embarrassment didn’t subside.

Soon, her eyes narrowed.

“Suddenly complimenting me… how strange.”

“Have I never complimented you…?”

“Maybe you have. But you always end with something like, ‘Inner beauty is more important; I’d rather read than put on makeup,’ making me forget what you said before.”

“…”

“Fine. It ruins my mood.”

Natalie twisted her red hair.

“Next ball, choose a proper dress. It seems there’s no man here refined enough to recognize your so-called ‘true inner beauty.’”

With a mocking remark, Natalie walked away. I stared blankly after her.

‘Earlier, Dori said she values inner beauty…’

Hmm… I prefer reading to dressing up, but I don’t think reading and grooming are a competition.

Come to think of it, this novel was published about twenty years ago, right?

Back then, villainesses cared only about appearances, women focused on looks were considered foolish, and villainesses were the enemy of other women. That was the prevailing sentiment.

‘Not that I’m defending a villainess who picks on her sister.’

The heroine deals with the villainess.

I’ll be dragged to all sorts of events until the social season ends…

‘Time to finally eat all the desserts I couldn’t afford in Korea!’

Of course, the most entertaining thing will be witnessing Tristan’s embarrassing moments.

He’ll regret it later!

Club Ares

Despite being named after the god of war, the place reeked of pleasure as a man threw down his cards.

“I can’t take it anymore! Two consecutive two-pair hands with queens? Are all the queen cards in this place somehow drawn to you?”

“The queen recognizes the prince.”

Tristan, finishing the streak without a hint of joy, set his cards down. The waiter noticed the poker game had ended and prepared brandy.

Instead of reaching for the glass, Tristan stared at the club door. The thick, velvet-covered door hadn’t opened for two hours.

“If I’m not mistaken, there seem to be fewer guests for a weekend. Any idea why, Alex?”

“Maybe… the weather’s bad.”

“What a convincing reason. I’m impressed.”

Tristan looked at his long-time friend. Alex rolled his eyes twice and admitted he couldn’t fix his earlier blunder.

“A new members-only salon started opening every Saturday. Called ‘Sacred Salon.’”

“Never heard of it. Do they show fairies juggling or something?”

For a weekly-only salon to survive, there must be quite the spectacle inside.

Alex gave an unexpected answer.

“Scandals.”

“Huh?”

“We bet on social scandals. From who dances with whom to which noble’s affair will be exposed, who will divorce, and so on.”

“…”

Tristan’s neat eyebrows twitched in rare surprise.

“Are you saying a salon for losers who obsess over others’ scandals is popular enough to survive with just weekly meetings?”

“That’s right.”

“When my grandmother sighed, ‘Young people these days are corrupt,’ I never understood. Now I think I get it.”

Tristan finally sipped his brandy. Alex explained the situation.

“It started as a small gathering of noblewomen with unmarried daughters, 2–3 years post-debut.”

“Hm.”

“But as it grew, information on family wealth, businesses, hidden children, and mistresses circulated. Naturally, scandal-loving people of all ages attended.”

“Strange. Usually, the bigger the info network, the lower the quality… Wait.”

Tristan realized what he had overlooked.

“Who runs the salon?”

Alex smiled.

“That’s the point. The leader is a woman called ‘Madame Abigail.’”

“Never heard of her.”

“Of course, it’s an alias. Everyone at the salon wears masks. Madame Abigail is no different, yet she’s said to know all about the capital’s nobles and influential people.”

Alex lowered his voice.

“Rumor has it she might even be Her Majesty the Queen.”

“Crazy! No, my mother could never do that!”

“It’s just a figurative way to say she knows a lot.”

“My mother would faint if she heard that!”

“Exactly why I didn’t want to say it. If your friend is shocked, imagine what others would do.”

“They’d try to shut the salon down immediately. Huh…”

“Understand? Don’t tell anyone at court.”

“Who would believe me anyway? Let’s pretend I didn’t hear.”

“…Ah. One thing I want to ask.”

Alex checked no one was around before speaking.

“Is the engagement break plan going well?”