🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 19
Before I knew it, Martin and I were the only ones left in the room.
“Why did you say that just now?”
“You admitted to Erica yourself that the rumor was true.”
…Damn it. I had no comeback for that.
It was true—I’d thought it would be better for Erica to believe it.
But Martin didn’t seem to think that was the main point. He turned away and quickly added,
“Come to the garden later.”
“…”
“I have something to tell you. It’s not like I came for no reason.”
Whether it was a date or not, eating alone with Martin was unusual.
The fact that he had another reason for calling me made me feel strangely relieved.
‘You could’ve just said that from the start.’
Finally feeling a bit more at ease, I answered,
“Alright. I’ll get ready and come out.”
He must have noticed my softer tone, because his stiff posture eased a little too.
“Then I’ll be waiting.”
I couldn’t see his face—just his back—but for some reason, I had the feeling he was smiling.
When I went down to the garden, Martin was waiting for me at a terrace set to one side.
As soon as he saw me, he told Chef Baba to bring out the food that had been prepared.
“The weather’s warmed up a lot,” he said once I sat down.
He was right—the air in the garden was pleasantly warm, perfect for eating outdoors.
Martin smoothly laid the napkin in front of me.
When a nearby servant stepped forward to pour my water, Martin stopped him.
“I’ll do it.”
Then he personally filled my glass.
‘So he does have a side where he takes care of people…’
Watching the water quietly fill the glass, I felt an odd sense of unfamiliarity.
On the white tablecloth, elegant plates of food were set down one after another.
I decided I should hear why he’d called me before starting to eat.
It’d be bad if I heard something shocking mid-bite and ended up choking.
“Let’s start with what you wanted to say.”
“The royal audience has been scheduled.”
At the word audience, my throat suddenly felt dry, and I took a sip of water.
“You mean… our family was actually chosen?”
“I’m surprised too. I don’t know what their aim is…”
“Aim?”
“It’s nothing. Like I said before, I’d like you to attend instead of me. Please prepare.”
Martin didn’t elaborate. An audience had been set, and I was going to represent the Cloud family in his place.
I never imagined something like this happening before the novel’s main events even started.
Meeting King Leonard face-to-face might actually work in my favor.
“Still… this is representing the family. Are you really okay with me going instead?”
“To be honest, I’m curious.”
“…?”
“You might do things differently. Oh, and by the way, our family being chosen this time is largely thanks to you.”
He gave a wry smile as if trying to wrap things up quickly.
“That doesn’t sound right to me.”
“I know you like your own way of getting things done.”
I had to admit, he wasn’t wrong.
The idea to hold Baron Gilbert’s exhibition had been mine, and it had been a huge success.
While cutting into my steak, I asked,
“Have you heard anything about the other families?”
“Like what?”
“I doubt we’re the only ones attending.”
The palace had said they’d narrow it down to a few families, so it wouldn’t just be us.
It wouldn’t hurt to know who else would be there in advance.
Martin shrugged. He knew very well how bad he was at social networking.
“You’re a promising businessman, but when it comes to society, you’re hopeless.”
“I’ve never had any reason to mingle with other houses.”
After a thoughtful pause, he dabbed his mouth with his napkin, looking a little bitter.
I still had more questions.
“Do you know anything about His Majesty’s tastes?”
Martin’s face darkened instantly. He slowly set down his napkin.
“Why do you want to know that?”
“Knowledge is power, right? I should at least know something if I’m going to face him.”
It was King Leonard—the ruler of the country.
He was also the father of the male lead Erica and I were supposed to win over.
I didn’t know why the audience was being held, but it was definitely an event I couldn’t just pass over.
‘There’s probably something I can change at the audience too.’
But Martin’s answer crushed my little spark of anticipation.
“I’m not sending you there to deal with anyone.”
“But—”
“Even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you.”
Why not?
His unyielding tone instantly killed my enthusiasm.
Here I was, doing everything I could to save someone’s life, and yet the actual culprit behind the rebellion was no help at all.
I couldn’t waste such a good chance to improve the Cloud family’s image.
“Then at least let me use your study.”
If he wouldn’t give me information, I’d find it myself.
After a long sigh and rubbing his forehead, he gave in.
“Two hours. That’s all.”
“What? Only two hours? That’s way too short.”
Even if I searched all day, I wasn’t sure I could find much about King Leonard.
But Martin ignored my whining and closed his eyes, making it clear there’d be no further negotiation.
So my plan was to head straight for Martin’s study early the next morning.
I didn’t have enough information about King Leonard, and if anywhere could give me something useful, it would be Martin’s study.
Sure, Martin had said he wasn’t sending me there to “deal with someone,” but still.
That’s why I’d gone through the trouble of getting his permission to use the study—only for my plans to be ruined again.
Because bright and early that morning, I heard Erica calling for me in the hallway.
I pressed my fingers to my forehead and took a deep breath.
What was it this time?
“Sister-in-law!”
She peeked into my room, then walked in, patting her hair like she hadn’t just been running around looking for me.
Her cheeks looked a little flushed, like something had put her in a good mood.
“What’s going on so early?”
“It’s about that donation thing.”
“…?”
Erica handed me an envelope, her expression prim and proper.
Inside was a notice approving her application to become a sponsor.
I looked at her in surprise, and she flipped her hair with a proud voice.
“Why are you looking at me like that? You didn’t think I’d get rejected for being unqualified, did you?”
“Of course not.”
“It would be ridiculous if I wasn’t qualified.”
The fact that she repeated herself told me she had been worried about it.
She’d tried not to show it, but it was obvious.
“Sounds like you were the one worried, not me.”
“I was not!”
I quickly covered my mouth to hide a smile—no need to make her mad.
But surely she hadn’t come here just to get a congratulations from me.
There had to be another reason.
“Do you need me to do something?”
Her body stiffened like a machine breaking down.
Guess I’d hit the mark.
Then she quickly composed herself and said casually,
“I’m going to meet the child I’m sponsoring today.”
“That’s a nice idea. They’ll be happy to get the gifts from you personally.”
“So about that…”
“…?”
Bad feelings are rarely wrong.
“You should come with me. You know it wouldn’t look good for a young lady to go alone, right?”
Since when did Erica care about appearances?
But she was asking politely enough.
It was the first meeting between Lady Erica Cloud and the child she’d be sponsoring.
It might not be bad to be part of that moment.
Besides, Erica was the type who couldn’t stand owing someone a favor—so there’d be a nice reward in it for me later.
The audience wasn’t for a while yet, so I agreed readily.
“Alright.”
Not long after, we left the mansion together.
The carriage moved slower than usual, weighed down by the sheer amount of stuff Erica had packed.
She’d really gone all out. I didn’t know if I should call it “unlike her” or “exactly like her.”
Inside the carriage, Erica smiled as she imagined the child she’d never even met.
‘She must be really excited.’
Who would have thought Erica would ever become the type to make charitable donations?
Sure, I’d nudged her into it—but the original Erica wouldn’t even have considered it.
“So… what do kids these days like?”
The sunlight streaming in through the carriage window made her red eyes sparkle.
She really was different from before—it wasn’t my imagination.
“Aren’t you still a kid yourself?” I teased.
She ignored me and went on talking as if answering her own question.
“Pretty hairpins are always a safe choice. Especially since I picked them myself.”
“You chose them yourself?”
“Of course. I just had some free time, that’s all.”
No one had asked, but she was already sounding like a textbook tsundere.
“Oh! A doll would be good too.”
“They’d love that.”
“I almost want to bring them home with us.”
“…That much?”
“Well… only if you say yes.”
It didn’t sound like she was imagining the child she was sponsoring—more like she was imagining a “friend.”
That thought made me a little sad.
She’d never really had friends her own age.
By the time she debuted in society, the cliques were already set, and no one new was welcome.
The Cloud family’s terrible reputation didn’t help, and in the original story, Erica’s own bad behavior had only made things worse.
‘When you look closely, there are parts that don’t match the rumors.’
I was starting to think that Martin and Erica weren’t as shameless as they’d been in the original story.
“Wait—why my permission and not your brother’s?”
“Because you’re the lady of the house.”
She said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I blinked at her in surprise. She pressed her lips together, then turned to look out the window.
Why start to say something and then stop?
After a long pause, she finally said something I never expected.
“You’re the mistress of our house, after all.”
