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Chapter 2 — A New Beginning
I had boldly declared that I was going to become a woman who loved money, but I had overlooked the most important fact.
Serna had no money.
She wasn’t as broke as Kim Yoonmi had been, but Serna’s finances were still a complete disaster.
The only saving grace was that she had no debts and owned a merchant ship that brought in a steady income. Oh, and this huge, old mansion should count too. I suddenly felt grateful that Serna hadn’t handed even the merchant ship over to that bastard Kellen.
The mansion was large enough to make anyone envious, but because it hadn’t been maintained on time, repairs were needed everywhere. After the servants left because they hadn’t been paid, the only livable rooms remaining were Serna’s room, Anna’s room, and the butler’s room.
“Cough… Well, at least I own a mansion like this. Imagine having a house like this in Gangnam.”
The dust stirred by my footsteps tickled my nose until I couldn’t help but cough. I closed the door to another room that hadn’t been cleaned.
After making a full round of the mansion and checking each room, I let out a sigh.
There’s really not a single part of this place that’s in decent condition.
As I slowly made my way back toward my room, I noticed another room not far from Serna’s bedroom. Judging by the ornate gold decorations and the massive doors, it was probably the room her father had once used.
Creak.
The rusty hinges groaned from years of neglect.
Even so, compared to the rest of the mansion, this room was the most well-kept.
The moment I stepped inside, a portrait caught my eye.
A woman with the same hair color as mine stood beside a man with the same eye color.
“Mom and Dad?”
They were probably Serna’s parents—the Count and Countess of Troide.
As I stared at the portrait, thoughts of my real parents suddenly surfaced.
Am I dead by now?
Mom must’ve heard the news.
What happened to all the debt I left behind?
I’m nothing but an irresponsible runaway.
Serna…
An irresponsible Kim Yoonmi has taken over your life.
I’m just as foolish as you were, someone who was blinded by love and left with nothing but a tattered heart.
But if you’re okay with it…
I’d like to live this life more comfortably. More abundantly.
So that someday, if I leave…
If you return as Serna…
You’ll be able to smile.
Just give me your permission.
I promise I’ll make it happen.
“Miss, where have you been?”
“I just went for a walk. Where are you headed?”
“Oh, I need to prepare dinner, but we’re out of ingredients. I’m on my way to the market.”
When I returned to my room, Anna had already changed into her everyday clothes.
Her outfit had clearly been mended countless times, with patches of different-colored fabric sewn onto it.
It pained me to realize that Anna had endured poverty right alongside Serna.
“Anna, should I come with you?”
“Huh? Oh, no, Miss! The coachman only works once a week, so there’s no carriage today. I’ll go by myself, so please stay here and rest.”
“It’s fine. I want to get some walking in too.”
“But…”
“I’ll go change first. Wait for me.”
Since I’d decided to live as Serna, I needed to learn more about the Ether Empire.
Serna’s memories were practically filled with nothing but that bastard Kellen.
While Anna stood there looking flustered, I opened the wardrobe to change clothes.
My jaw dropped.
“Anna… is this really all the clothes I have?”
“…Yes. It’s been quite a while since you were able to buy new clothes, so there are only old dresses and worn everyday outfits left.”
“I think they’re worse than just old.”
Somehow, they looked even shabbier than Anna’s clothes.
Aside from one red dress, every single outfit looked like something a homeless person sleeping at Seoul Station would wear.
Being old wasn’t even the biggest issue.
They were filthy.
“Did I hate doing laundry that much? Haha.”
“You said they still carried Count Pyro’s warmth, so you absolutely forbade anyone from washing them…”
“So I really said something that stupid.”
“Miss… your language…”
“Sorry. Once we get back today, could you wash everything? Every single piece.”
If Seoul was the comparison, Serna seemed to have lived in Gangnam.
We hadn’t even walked far from the mansion before we found ourselves surrounded by crowds.
She really had been a noble lady living in the best part of town.
Just selling the Troide mansion would probably bring in a fortune.
Should I sell it and run away?
No.
I abandoned the thought.
I had a much greater goal now.
Listening to Anna’s advice to wear a robe in case someone recognized my face had definitely been the right decision.
In this flashy Gangnam-like district, I looked like a shabby homeless person wandering through the streets.
There was no reason to advertise to everyone,
“I’m the daughter of Count Troide.”
“Anna, how much farther is the market?”
“Just a little farther. Walking takes longer than going by carriage.”
Sure enough, after walking a little longer, we arrived at a bustling marketplace.
It wasn’t exactly like the markets I’d seen in Korea, but it still felt strangely familiar, and that alone lifted my spirits.
Beautifully colored fruits.
Golden loaves of freshly baked bread.
Steaming dumplings.
Passing rows of street stalls, we continued deeper into the market, where I spotted a jeweler displaying gemstones that shimmered with mysterious light, mannequins dressed in the Empire’s fashionable balloon-sleeved clothing, taverns opening for business beneath extravagant signs, and banks closing for the day.
“Miss, I need to buy some meat. Could you wait here for a moment?”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
As Anna walked off toward the butcher, I found myself unconsciously lingering in front of a dress shop.
Elegant clothes made from luxurious satin.
Noble young ladies chatting happily with the designer beyond the large glass windows.
Perhaps Serna had once sat there too, laughing with her noble friends while waiting for beautiful dresses.
Making plans to visit the newest dessert shop.
Talking excitedly about which noble family’s son was handsome.
The kind of youth that made your heart flutter.
It was a life I had never experienced.
And one Serna had lost as well.
A youth never lived was a regret that lingered forever.
Just as I was lost in those thoughts, one of the boutique’s employees suddenly threw open the door and shouted at me.
“Get lost already!”
“Wh-What?”
“What’s with this beggar hanging around in front of the shop? Talk about bad luck.”
“I’m just waiting for someone…”
“Then why are you waiting here? Go wait over there in the corner!”
Her shrill voice made my shoulders instinctively shrink.
The noble ladies inside opened their fans to hide their mouths as they whispered among themselves while glancing between me and the employee.
Judging by their smirks, they had probably told her to chase me away.
“Can’t I even look around?”
“Not dressed like that. You’re making our noble customers uncomfortable. You’re getting in the way of business!”
I’m a noble too.
But I couldn’t exactly throw off my robe and shout,
“I’m the daughter of Count Troide!”
That would only shame Serna even more.
Within the Empire, Serna had already become a laughingstock.
The pathetic woman desperately chasing after Count Pyro.
A once-prestigious family that had lost its money, honor, and influence.
Still…
There was no way I could simply swallow the way this woman was talking to me.
No matter how I looked, no one had the right to humiliate me.
“What if I were a noble lady?”
“What if I were a wealthy commoner?”
“Hah. As if anyone would believe that dressed like that. Just move farther away. And don’t ever come back!”
“I’ll buy every single outfit in this shop.”
“What?”
“I said I’ll buy everything.”
The employee narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Well, of course.
Someone dressed like this claiming they’d buy every expensive outfit in the boutique?
Even I’d stare at them like that.
As our argument dragged on, the noble ladies inside began rising from their seats.
“How much?”
“How much will it take?”
“There are well over ten thousand Trang worth of clothes here. You’re saying you’ll buy all of them?”
“That’s right.”
“I’ll take everything.”
My firm answer made the employee sense something was off.
“D-Designer!”
she cried before running back into the shop.
Moments later, a middle-aged woman who appeared to be the designer came outside with her.
Judging by the look on her face, she didn’t seem particularly pleasant either.
Butterfly-shaped glasses.
Sharp, critical eyes.
A thin frame dressed neatly.
Her short hair gave off the unmistakable impression of a designer.
“I heard you wish to purchase every item in the shop.”
“I do. Will it take long?”
“Our boutique uses only the finest materials in the Empire. We even supply the Imperial Palace itself. Both our materials and our designs are of the highest quality.”
The strict-looking designer adjusted her glasses.
She sounded like she was praising her own shop, but the hidden meaning was obvious.
Can someone like you really afford something this expensive?
Of course I couldn’t.
The House of Troide couldn’t even afford to pay its servants.
Only Anna and the butler remained.
Even so, hidden beneath my robe, I spoke with complete confidence.
“Exactly.”
“That’s why I’m buying everything.”
“It will cost at least ten thousand Trang. Probably more. Are you certain?”
She slowly looked me up and down before curling one corner of her lips into a mocking smile.
The noble ladies burst into laughter outside the shop, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
“Well~ if you’re going to keep blocking someone who’s trying to buy your clothes, I suppose I’ll just shop somewhere else.”
“W-Wait…”
“It’s fine~ You’ve already ruined my mood. I don’t feel like buying anything here anymore.”
“Miss! There you are!”
I deliberately imitated the elegant tone and speech of the wealthy wives I’d seen in chaebol dramas.
As refined and dignified as I could manage.
Right then, Anna returned carrying the meat.
Perfect timing.
The moment she addressed me as “Miss,” the employee and designer exchanged uneasy looks.
“W-Would you… perhaps come inside first? There are too many people watching.”
“We sincerely apologize for our employee’s mistake. Would you allow us the honor of serving you some tea? We’ll have all the clothing carefully packaged and delivered directly to your residence.”
Was this what privilege in a class society felt like?
Only moments ago I had been treated like a beggar.
Now I was suddenly being welcomed as the daughter of a wealthy family.
Anna looked utterly bewildered as she glanced back and forth between me, the employee, and the designer.
“Let’s go.”
“My mood’s been ruined. I don’t want to stay here another second.”
Keeping my voice as dignified as possible, I lowered my robe a little farther and turned away.
The employee hurried after me and blocked my path.
“I-I’m so sorry, Miss! I failed to recognize you. Please forgive my rudeness and allow us to make amends…”
The same woman who had cruelly told me never to stand in front of the shop again was now bowing deeply before me.
How ridiculous.
Truly.
All because of money.
All because of status.
I was still the exact same person.
Yet they judged me however they pleased.
“I don’t have enough money to buy the clothes in this shop anyway.”
“…What?”
“The lowly beggar you looked down on and the noble lady you suddenly respected…”
“They’re both me.”
“…”
“Funny, isn’t it?”
“I’m still the same poor person.”
“But one moment you treated me like trash, and the next you treated me like someone precious.”
At my cold words, the employee flinched.
If she’d worked in a place like this for long enough, she understood exactly what I meant.
“I’ll come back someday.”
“I hope you’re still working here when that day comes.”
If I really had been rich…
I would’ve bought every single outfit in the store and given them the most satisfying lesson imaginable.
Anna seemed to have figured out what had happened even without me explaining anything.
She looked even more upset than I was.
“Miss… I’m sorry.”
“Anna.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“I should’ve taken better care of your clothes.”
“This is my fault.”
“Don’t say that.”
“They’re the ones who are awful.”
“…Pardon?”
“Don’t even breathe in the direction of that shop.”
“I don’t want their bad luck rubbing off on us.”
Anna immediately puffed out her cheeks and began scolding me, saying my language was far too rough for a noble lady.
For some reason, today the Empire didn’t feel so unfamiliar anymore.
Having money didn’t guarantee happiness.
But one thing was certain.
Without money, life became unbearably miserable.
Money was that kind of thing.
And in that regard…
Korea and this world were no different.
