#67

Brie complained to her husband while stroking her distended belly. Meanwhile, she was worried about her sister who had been mentioned several times in the newspaper, so she tried to meet her, but the Baron’s servants didn’t let her enter the Baron’s residence. Therefore, her attempts to meet with her biological sister every day failed.

“Oh, really. My sister is narrow-minded. It’s quite simple.”

What happened in prison back then, as a result it was okay not to die. That was exactly what happened at that moment. If Gloria was accused of killing the Baron, her family would probably suffer. She didn’t want to shame her child who wasn’t even born yet for having a murderous relative.

If she was in Gloria’s shoes, she would have gladly drunk the poison that her sister handed over. Therefore, she considered her actions to give it to her sister was reasonable.

Brie’s husband, Dale Dorason, listened to his wife’s complaints while eating soup at the dinner table. After she finished talking, he asked his wife as if it had just come to mind.

“Have you asked Gloria about my job?”

Dale’s eyes were glimmering of hope. Through his wife, he asked for a high position at Stephen Bank. He imagined himself sitting like a branch manager in the capital. He was between the representative and the family, so he had to get such a position to save face.

Originally, he sent his wife to his sister to ask for this favor. She was a nobleman and was fed up with her situation of being a railway station employee. Even if he hadn’t been born as a collateral child, he wouldn’t have done such a shameful thing because he considered himself smart.

“No, I was expelled. I can’t even talk to her. That woman still have a dirty nature.”

“Oh, you should have comforted the girl! What’s wrong with that innocent person?”

Dale was furious. He had just found a useful connection among the people he knew. An opportunity like this could not be wasted. Ever since he knew that his wife’s sister was going to marry Baron Stephen, he had been dreaming of the position of the bank manager. He had even spread rumors to his colleagues that he would soon quit his current trivial job.

“Do you know how difficult it has been to move around when you’re pregnant? I don’t feel good at all. What should I do?”

Dale stared irritably at Brie’s bulging belly. 

‘If Gloria hadn’t rejected my heart back then and I hadn’t made the mistake of getting drunk, I wouldn’t have married her instead.’

It wasn’t until the ingenious Brie had a child that she used her child as a weapon to push him to marry her. Due to that, Dale had no choice but to choose to marry a penniless commoner.

If only Dale and Brie hadn’t gotten into an accident that day. If he kept waiting for Gloria to see him like this. If he had waited for Gloria for a little longer with a pure heart, the Baron’s great fortune could have fallen into him. He really thought that way.

‘Should we get a divorce?’

Even though divorce process among nobles was difficult, but it’s not impossible. However, when a child was born, after that…

‘Gloria must be an affectionate person. Once I see my child, I’m sure she’ll give a lot of love to me.’

Dale’s bloodshot eyes looked frightening. A cruel thought flashed in his mind.

“Brie. When did the doctor say you’re going to have a labor?”

“Hm? They said a child who looks like us will be born next week. What are you going to buy for me?”

“Is there anything you want?”

Brie stroked her belly proudly and gently folded her eyes in half.

“Honey, the last time I saw there was an emerald necklace hanging around Gloria’s neck back when I spotted her at the funeral. Do you know how expensive and beautiful it was hanging around her neck as she devoured her husband’s wealth? Honey, you should buy me a necklace to celebrate the birth of our baby.”

“Alright, I’ll buy you anything you want. Shall we leave right now?”

“Really? My husband is the best!”

Dale was thinking of something else while holding Brie, whom he pulled into his arms. He had heard that the two sisters had similar tastes. The necklace he was going to give to Brie could be handed over to Gloria as her wife’s legacy later. He was going to meet Gloria with that plan in mind. Later, he could enter the baron’s residence as an excuse for the education of his son who was the Baroness’ nephew.

* * *

There was someone waiting for me on the first floor of the bakery building. It was Emily. I was a little shocked because it had been a long time since I had heard from her. There was the manuscript of ‘Today’s Etiquette Tips’ written by Babiroa Arete in her hand.

“Oh, Emily. Long time no see.”

“Haley, please help me.”

I saw her in front of the gambling house about a month ago. I didn’t really talk to her about it. At that time, Emily looked sad as if the world had collapsed.

‘If I pretend to know what I saw before, Emily’s pride will be hurt.’

I took over the script she was carrying and waited to see what words would come out of her mouth. Emily scratched her forehead in embarrassment.

“Hey, I know I’m embarrassed to ask for your help like this. However, you’re the only person around me who has power to help….”

Emily immediately cupped her palms together and lowered her head in front of me. When I looked at her trembling hands, I thought she was going to ask for a favor that was hard to say.

The woman I saw at the gambling arena last time looked similar to my previous life. Sacrificing herself for her sister and family. Instead, I recalled the time when she yelled when asking what I had done for her, and I heaved out a sigh. I already knew Emily used to despise me. However, I couldn’t bring myself to hate her.

She was just like me in her previous life. This was the story of my past when I was taken advantage of by my own family and lived my life like a fool.

“What’s wrong? I’ll do whatever I can.”

Emily grabbed my hand with her trembling hands. Her hands were wet because of sweat.

“I want to be a famous Cortishan. No matter how hard I try, I don’t have any idea on what to do. Do you know one of the most powerful nobles? Can you introduce him to me?”

What did he mean? Although Cortishan seemed to be enjoying a beautiful life on the outside, he was just a beautiful pet that was supported and pampered by the riches. I was speechless for a while as I stood up in a daze and asked back.

“You want to be a Cortishan?”

“Yes. My younger brother needs help on getting a job in the imperial court. But as you know, I’m not close to any nobles at all. If I become a famous Cortishan, I think it will help my brother. Haley, do you have connections with them?”

I frowned at her childish words. Are you saying that you know what it means to be yourself?

“Are you saying that while knowing very well what’s going to happen?”

“I know. And I’m sure I’ll succeed.”

“I told you before, didn’t I? Please, you have to live for yourself. However, why are you still like this?!”

No wonder I felt suffocated. I wanted to talk about a lot of things with Emily, but she wouldn’t listen to me. I already knew what was inside her rotten mind. I couldn’t persuade her anymore because of that fact. No, there’s no way I could.

Emily smiled bitterly and dropped her gaze.

“…This is for me, Haley. I don’t have the funds and ability to build business just like you. I also have a family to take care of. Even cheap sympathy is enough. If you feel sorry for me…. Can you help?”

Her face looked sad. That expression closed my lips.

Emily knelt in front of me slowly and cried.

“Haley. I’m begging you. This is the only way for my sister to succeed.”

“Alright. I will help you. But if you get into that position, you have to help me as well. Deal?”

If Emily, who has high self-esteem, lowered herself like this, I would rather say that I will ask her for a favor in return later. That way, this child would have less of a fan in me.

Emily wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded as if she was ready.

“I will do as you say. I will rise to the top of the empire. I believe I will succeed.”

“Very well. I’ll make an appointment and call you, so once I get back to you, you have to dress up nicely.”

I called Emily again around sunset a week after that. I even sent a letter to the blonde pe*v*rt in the imperial palace to help my friend. I didn’t remember his name, but I sent a letter to the Crown Prince’s bodyguard. Perhaps, that’s why he received the letter belatedly, but he replied to it very late.

‘Maybe I should pay money to buy a theater actor with a similar appearance.’

I waited for him anxiously while holding the hand of Mary who hadn’t come home from work at that time.

“How about a bouquet of flowers? Are you ready?”

“Yes. I made the most expensive and biggest bouquet.”

There was nothing in Mary’s hand to say so.

“Where is it now?”

“Oh, I put it in a vase because I was afraid it would dry out while we were waiting. I’ll get it now.”

After a while, the bouquet of flowers Mary brought was large enough to hold with both hands. Although the black and white image wouldn’t reveal the beauty of this bouquet of flowers well. Even so, it wasn’t bad to use at work today.

“Knock, knock.”

There was a man standing awkwardly in the doorway creating knocking sounds with his mouth that had caught my attention. He was the blond-haired lunatic. How long have he been here? He smiled mischievously because it had been a long time.

“What is a flower? Is there anyone else besides me?”

Mary examined the crazy blonde’s face and took a deep breath.

“Hah! I can’t believe I’m seeing a handsome man who I thought was extinct around here.”

Mary’s astonished look reminded me of back when I first met the blonde p*rv*rt. I poked Mary’s ribs with my elbow to bring her to her senses.

“Mary, can you please make some tea?”

I turned to the crazy blond-haired lunatic and spoke to him.

“Please take a seat and talk with me. I want to ask you a favor.”

In the letter, I asked him to attend a party with me. Due to that, he was dressed in a rather formal attire typically for attending a banquet. I handed him a large bouquet of flowers. He smiled brightly and accepted the gift, then placed his face in the flowers pretending to enjoy the fragrance.

“Is that for me? Are you going to confess to me? I don’t like women who have initiative personality, but I’ll be more than happy if it’s you.”

I wanted to slap him out of anger. First of all, I was in a situation where I had to ask him for a favor today, so I held back my anger.

“I apologize for that, but please just take a picture. But you have to go with my friend to the party.”

“Pictures? What pictures? And if this is a party…. Are you not coming with me?”

“In the letter that I sent you, i didn’t think it’s necessary for me to go to the party. I didn’t think to ask you to come with me.”

She opened her eyes wide and opened her mouth slightly as if I had just hit her. At this moment, I just said what I wanted to say one after another.

“The photo that my friend and I need. I’ll take it from behind. How about it?”

“Hm. Well. What is it for?”

“….”

The lunatic narrowed his eyes at me when I couldn’t answer him and his expression became annoyed.

“If I’m willing to be photographed today. What would you give me?”

“… What do you want?”

“Hm. We can continue what you did last time. Too bad it ended too briefly.”

Such a pervert. As expected, he was useless.