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Chapter 3
“What do you mean by that?”
“It’s nothing,” I replied to Erica, but I couldn’t stop the little smile slipping out.
Once I’d calmed down, I turned her toward the door.
“Can you wait in the garden for a bit?”
I made up an excuse to send her out, then hurried to get ready.
I was humming without even realizing it — I finally had hope that I might survive.
I chose a light brown dress, not too flashy, and held it up to myself in front of the mirror.
That’s when I really saw Jemma’s face for the first time.
Soft pink hair with thick waves fell to her waist. Blue eyes, now full of life, sparkled in the reflection. Her pale skin made me smile widely.
How can a side character be this pretty?
If I could change the story with my choices, how could I just sit back?
If I could prevent the massacre, I could extend my own life too.
Alright. I’ve decided.
I won’t run away — I’ll stop my death. I’ll stop the bloodshed that’s coming to the Cloud family.
As long as I’m here, there will be no destruction.
The Jemma in the mirror smiled gently.
While I struggled into the dress, Mari’s voice called from outside.
“Shall I help you, Madam?”
“Oh? Uh… sure, come in.”
I could have refused, but Erica was waiting in the garden — I needed to hurry.
Better not make my sister-in-law angry by being late.
Mari came in carefully. I wasn’t used to having a maid help me dress — it felt too personal.
But I’d have to get used to it.
“In the future, you can just call me like before,” she said as she tied the ribbon at the back of the dress.
Wait… before? I thought I’d told them not to bother unless needed.
Mari must have noticed my confusion, because she confessed,
“The Duke told me to keep a close eye on you, Madam.”
That guy? “Keep a close eye” — did that mean watch over me, or watch me?
Even if she’d softened the words, I was sure it meant “spy on her.”
I kept my mouth shut, but then Mari looked at me with innocent, bright eyes.
“Oh, and Madam, you were amazing that day.”
“…?”
“The whole thing is still talked about among the staff.”
“What thing?”
“When you saved Lady Erica.”
“Oh…”
I almost laughed — saving someone was such a basic thing, yet it was apparently noteworthy here.
From the servants to Erica and Martin, everyone seemed to think Jemma saving Erica was strange.
Well, I guess the old Jemma couldn’t do anything on her own.
Still, if I wanted to win people over, I needed to change their perception of me.
“By the way, I should have thanked you all sooner. Please tell everyone I appreciate it. Without your quick actions, I couldn’t have managed alone.”
Mari blushed. “I… I’m flattered.”
“No need to be. Now, I’d better go.”
“Yes. Have a safe trip, Madam.”
“See you later, Mari.”
Her lack of malice made it hard to treat her coldly. I decided it was worth keeping her on my side — and honestly, anyone willing to even clean up after someone’s bathroom use deserved some kindness.
When I reached the garden, Erica was waiting with her arms crossed, clearly annoyed.
“You’re late, Sister-in-law.”
“Sorry, it took longer than I thought.”
“I told you — I can’t live owing someone a debt.”
I flinched at her words, because I remembered them from the original story.
[Didn’t I tell you? I can’t live in debt.]
Back then, she’d shoved the heroine to the floor in a ballroom after a minor bump and delivered that line. I’d laughed at how over-the-top she was — but facing her in person, it wasn’t funny.
Erica wasn’t someone who bluffed.
No way am I ending up on the receiving end of that.
Quickly, I said, “How about we get some cake at a dessert shop later? My treat.”
A safe move — I could at least afford dessert for my sister-in-law.
Erica’s eyes widened briefly, then she burst out laughing.
“Sister-in-law, I didn’t know you could joke like that.”
Joke? I was serious. But before I could correct her, she said,
“You don’t have any money, though.”
…What?
“Unless you’ve been secretly saving up without my brother knowing? No, impossible. He’s too thorough.”
Erica shook her head and climbed into the carriage. I followed quickly, piecing the puzzle together.
A penniless duchess.
That was Jemma’s reality.
I’d forgotten what kind of husband Martin was. The idea of running away when I had no money made my face burn with embarrassment.
Before long, the carriage stopped in front of a busy dress shop.
We walked in, and the shop clerk rushed to greet us politely. Normally I’d feel flattered, but now I just felt embarrassed, knowing I couldn’t afford anything.
“Pick something, Sister-in-law,” Erica said easily.
I didn’t really want new dresses — my wardrobe was already full of perfectly fine ones.
But if Erica wanted to “repay her debt,” I couldn’t leave empty-handed.
“Could you choose for me?” I asked.
“Me?”
“I haven’t shopped in a while, so I’ve lost my eye for it.”
At my request, she seemed reluctant at first, but then eagerly started picking dresses. When I told her I trusted her younger taste, she moved even faster.
She held a few against me, decided quickly, and handed them to the shop owner.
“Three of these, in similar styles.” She held up three fingers.
I quickly caught her wrist. “Three is too many.”
Both Erica and the shop clerk stared for a moment, then exchanged a look.
“Three? Sister-in-law, you’re joking, right? Didn’t you mean 300? Madam, as usual, please.”
“Of course, Lady.”
Erica covered her mouth, stifling laughter at my shocked face.
Three hundred? She’s messing with me… right?
But when I saw the clerk send thirty dresses out to the delivery cart, I realized what her three fingers had really meant.
The workers loaded them easily, like it was nothing. I’d seriously underestimated the Cloud family’s wealth.
As we left, I still couldn’t believe it. “These are all mine?”
“Of course. They’re payment for saving my life. Is that enough?”
“You didn’t have to go this far…” I tried to hide the smile tugging at my lips.
Her “can’t live in debt” rule was starting to grow on me.
“Oh, and if you want, I can keep this a secret from my brother.”
“A secret?”
“You have a certain… image. Wouldn’t he misunderstand?”
“What image?”
“That you’re a terrible spender. And I mean terrible.”
“Me?”
She nodded, then walked ahead.
A spending problem? How much could Jemma have possibly spent? If Martin saw his sister buying thirty dresses without blinking…
Maybe that 300-dress thing wasn’t a joke after all.
While I was still thinking, we arrived at a cake shop.
No!
I hurried forward — I had no money, but I could at least try to put it on credit. I couldn’t owe Erica again.
Inside, the sweet smell of desserts filled the air. I went straight to the counter.
“What kind of cake do you like, Lady?”
“You’re really going to treat me?”
“Of course.”
She eyed me suspiciously, but I leaned toward the clerk and whispered,
“Please put it on the tab — I’ll pay soon.”
The clerk looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, Madam, but we can’t extend you any more credit.”
“What?”
“You still haven’t paid for the order from the last party.”
…Great. Now I was a credit delinquent.
As I tried to argue quietly, Erica stepped forward and handed the clerk money.
“We’ll have the chocolate cake and milk tea.”
“Yes, Lady.”
Erica glanced at me with a pitying shake of her head.
“You should at least be able to look people in the eye. This is just embarrassing.”
“T-thank you, Lady.”
“I didn’t think you’d actually try to use credit. I honestly thought you had some secret stash.”
Now I owed her — again.
Feeling uneasy, I said quickly, “I won’t forget this debt. I’ll pay you back.”
“Do as you like.”
A little sharp, but not unfriendly.
Soon, the chocolate cake and milk tea arrived. Erica took a bite, closed her eyes, and hummed happily.
She must really love cake.
I took a bite too — the chocolate flavor spread through my mouth.
I need to get control over my own money.
Not being able to use credit? This was probably the case at every shop. If I stayed broke, I wouldn’t just be unable to run away — I might end up with Erica yanking me around by the hair.
I frowned, already thinking about how to get financial control from Martin Cloud.
