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chapter 3
Fortunately, Perre unnie didn’t notice my powers.
After handing the child to a woman who seemed like an aunt, I went up to the second floor, where Perre unnie was gracefully savoring her latte.
I sat across from her and apologized.
“So, why did you summon me here?”
Perre unnie stared at me, her expression urging me to get to the point.
I hesitated for a moment, then looked her in the eyes and said,
“Please let me be your right hand!”
Perre unnie responded with nothing more than a dismissive snort.
Just then, our coffee and bread arrived, so I temporarily set the issue aside and enjoyed the delicious latte and pastries while observing her expression.
Perhaps because I was so nervous, I suddenly needed to use the restroom.
Unfortunately, the café’s restroom was only on the first floor, so I tried to hold it, worried about leaving Perre unnie alone, but it was impossible.
“I… I’ll just quickly go to the restroom.”
I leapt to my feet and rushed down to the first-floor restroom.
After finishing, I hurried to return to Perre unnie, taking the corner that led back to the first floor, when I overheard the young ladies seated downstairs whispering among themselves, unable to sit because I had rented the entire second floor.
My steps instinctively paused.
“Isn’t this ridiculously rude? How can someone rent the whole café?”
“They’re just a nouveau riche with money. Of course, they’d show off in a way like this.”
“Still… this is too much. Do they really have no sense?”
They were all complaining about me renting the second floor.
I had expected some scolding, so I almost ignored them—but soon, they started blaming Perre unnie, and I stopped in my tracks.
“So this is all Perioze’s doing?”
“Yeah, she couldn’t rent the place because of her reputation, so she used the rich girl.”
“Perioze thinks about her reputation? She just doesn’t want to get on the Crown Prince’s bad side.”
“This is too much. The rich girl takes all the blame, while she enjoys herself and walks away…”
I couldn’t let that slide, so I quickly approached the group along the first-floor wall.
The young ladies paused when they saw me, their expressions shifting to a ‘what are you going to do about it?’ look.
“If I may, I’d like to say something.”
The young ladies exchanged glances, startled.
I smiled lightly at them and said,
“You’re free to gossip, but if you only speak of facts, it won’t look ugly.”
Their faces twisted at my words.
“Ugly…!”
“No, young ladies. Are you done? Ugly? Where—?”
“I rented the second floor and invited Perioze unnie. She merely accepted my invitation. So there’s no reason for you to gossip. And one more thing—how dare you speak ill of Perioze unnie, the eldest daughter of the McKenzie dukedom, in a public place? If it reaches Duke McKenzie’s ears, do you think those insignificant necks would stay attached?”
Cutting off their excited chatter with a firm tone, their mouths instantly shut tight.
I smiled politely at them and continued,
“Please be careful in the future. Words are light, and you never know how much disaster a thoughtless remark might bring.”
I finished speaking and, holding my chin high, turned to head upstairs.
By the time I reached the second-floor stairs, the mouths of the young ladies on the first floor remained sealed like bees in honey.
As I ascended, I locked eyes with Perre unnie, standing halfway on the stairs with her arms crossed, looking down at me.
“Oh, unnie…!”
Perre unnie’s expression was as usual—calm and unreadable—as she watched me climb.
“Unnie…”
Before I could say anything else, she spun around and descended the stairs.
Knowing her personality from the original story, I followed, anxious that the young ladies below might be in trouble.
Once on the first floor, Perre unnie slowly scanned the room and spotted the young ladies I had spoken to.
Their bodies stiffened and they flinched at her gaze. In an instant, she realized they were the ones speaking ill of her.
“You were sharing some… interesting stories.”
Her icy voice reverberated across the first floor.
The once noisy space fell silent, as if someone had thrown cold water over it.
Perre unnie seemed utterly uninterested in the reaction. With a composed, cold tone, she addressed them:
“Perioze unnie struggles to avoid displeasing the Crown Prince… yes?”
As she repeated their own words, the young ladies’ faces froze in fear.
She narrowed her eyes at them, faintly smiling, yet her gaze carried the ferocity of a predator cornering its prey.
I shivered slightly at the chill radiating from her, imagining how terrified the young ladies must feel.
“Being careless with your words may stem from ignorance, so I won’t blame that.”
“…!”
“But if you cannot distinguish when to speak and when not to, you should not appear in society. Misused words could drag down not only yourselves but your entire family.”
Wow… she’s terrifyingly threatening them…
She was elegantly and coldly stating that anyone who crosses her might not only be barred from high society but also threaten their family’s survival.
“I-I’m sorry!”
“We apologize, unnie!”
“I’m sorry, I misspoke!”
Shaking, the young ladies quickly apologized. One even burst into tears, making Perre unnie seem even more like the perfect villainess.
“Why cry? I haven’t even cut off anyone’s neck yet. Enjoy. I hope today’s peaceful day teaches you a lesson.”
Perre unnie smiled faintly, the curl of her lips and eyes sending a chill down my spine. I shivered involuntarily at the icy elegance of that smile.
