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Chapter 8
“Yeah. Corsets aren’t just for noble ladies—common women wear them too as an essential item. So even if it’s uncomfortable, you absolutely can’t take it off.”
The uncle gasped for air, his breathing turning thin and ragged.
I had the exact same reaction when I first wore a corset.
“Alright, let’s put on the dress now.”
With a clap, the maids stepped in and began dressing him.
Once he was in an indoor dress and fully made up, he finally started to look somewhat like a noble lady.
But his expression screamed that he was dying. Especially because of the corset.
And since this was probably his first time wearing makeup too, it must feel suffocating.
“Hm. Now you finally look somewhat human.”
“Do noble ladies really dress like this every day?”
“Yep. I do it too.”
Knock knock.
I tapped the corset on my own body with my fist to demonstrate.
The uncle looked utterly exhausted by the sight.
It seemed he had realized that being a noble lady was more difficult than expected.
I gave a small laugh and led him to the sofa.
I instructed the maids to bring tea and placed a romance novel I had brought from the count’s estate into his hands.
The uncle read the title with a pale face.
He looked at it as if asking, What is this?
“A romance novel.”
“Why a romance novel all of a sudden?”
“To study the heroine.”
Since we couldn’t obtain Flower of the Glass Conservatory in this world, I planned to teach him how typical heroines behave.
Soon, the maids returned with tea and snacks.
After watching the table being set, I dismissed the maids.
The uncle still looked unconvinced.
“Still, this is a pretty famous novel in this world.”
“Oh, really?”
“Try reading it.”
While he read, I planned to enjoy the tea and snacks.
According to Renée Sauver’s memories, the marquis’s household had an excellent chef and maids, so the desserts would be delicious.
“Read it quickly.”
At my urging, he leaned back lazily on the sofa and opened the book.
Immediately, I slapped his thigh.
“Don’t spread your legs. Sit properly.”
“No one else is here anyway.”
“A heroine must maintain proper posture at all times, everywhere.”
I glared at him, and he sighed before correcting his posture.
Good. Now she at least looked somewhat like a heroine.
A peaceful scene: a “heroine” reading a third-rate romance novel, and an extra enjoying tea in front of her.
I smiled and bit into a cookie.
Mmm. Perfect. Rich butter flavor, crispy yet soft texture.
As I was thinking about how much the kitchen staff must be paid, the book suddenly fell onto the table.
“I’m done.”
“…Already?”
I looked at him suspiciously.
He shrugged and shoved another cookie into his mouth.
Looks like I need to test him.
“What’s the heroine’s name?”
“Valerie.”
“What’s the incident where she meets the male lead?”
“She gives a gold coin to a beggar child on the street and gets caught by thugs.”
He had actually read it properly.
“Where was the first kiss between the heroine and the male lead?”
“Under the clock tower.”
“Pass.”
I clapped and immediately handed him another book.
He looked at me like, Again?
“There are still this many left. Hang in there.”
I gestured to the pile of books on the floor.
He sighed deeply and took the next one.
“At least you can read, it seems.”
Since he didn’t remember anything as Beatrice, I had worried he might not even be able to read.
He flipped through the pages and nodded vaguely.
“It just… reads itself when I look at it.”
Good. At least I don’t have to teach him literacy.
I already had too much to teach.
As I ate another cookie, he quickly closed the book again.
“So? What did you think?”
“About what?”
“The heroine.”
“They’re all kind of brainless.”
“That’s how heroines are supposed to be. Innocent.”
“Innocent? That’s just stupid.”
A harsh evaluation for a heroine.
But what could I do?
From now on, this was exactly what he had to act like.
I grinned and grabbed paper and a pen from the desk.
“Then list the traits you felt about the heroine.”
He immediately started writing.
[Stupid. Extremely naive. Flower-filled brain. Looks like she’d die from a single stab.]
Well… that’s harsh.
I peeked at it, then took the pen.
He looked at me questioningly.
“I’ll organize it for you. You need to act like this from now on, so pay attention.”
I began writing.
[Heroine Traits]
- Kind
So kind it’s almost naive, sometimes getting betrayed by people she trusts—usually supporting characters. - Constantly in danger
Always caught in schemes by villains or villainesses. But at the last moment, the male lead saves her, so it’s fine. - Oblivious
She usually doesn’t realize the male lead is in love with her, even when it’s obvious.
As he read what I was writing, he frowned hard.
“So she’s just an idiot.”
“Don’t say it like that.”
I soothed him and finished the list.
This should be enough.
I handed it to him.
“You don’t have to follow it exactly, but don’t deviate too much.”
“So I’m supposed to act like an idiot?”
“Not an idiot. A heroine.”
“Same thing.”
He grumbled and took the list.
Then he scanned it and sighed deeply.
“I can’t believe I have to act like an idiot…”
It’s not an idiot. It’s a heroine.
Later
After assigning him homework to finish all the books by tomorrow, I returned to the count’s estate as the sun was setting.
After having a proper dinner at the marquis’s estate, I went straight to my room on the second floor.
As expected, my family didn’t care what I did—but honestly, their indifference made things easier.
More importantly, if I tried too hard to change their feelings, they might realize I wasn’t the real Renée.
This way is better.
Once inside my room, I immediately sat at my desk and took out paper and pen.
I wanted to organize everything I remembered about the original story.
I had tried to avoid getting involved with the plot, but somehow I was getting deeply entangled anyway.
Because I had to support the uncle, who was now the heroine.
Maybe this was some kind of unavoidable fate as a transmigrator.
I sighed and listed the male leads again.
I vaguely remembered their ages being mentioned, but not clearly.
For a novel I had only read once, remembering this much was already impressive.
“First, it would be good if Uncle met all the male leads at least once…”
The duke had already been met at the spring banquet.
The crown prince would appear at the upcoming First Princess’s tea party.
That left only Shamal.
The problem was that Shamal, in the original story, was a timid type who rarely appeared in public.
After thinking for a while, I found a solution.
That’s right—
“Shamal always appeared whenever Beatrice was in danger!”
I would use his trait.
In the original story, he always lingered around the heroine and secretly appeared when she was in danger.
So if I put the uncle in danger again, Shamal would naturally appear.
It was a new event not in the original plot, so the “world destruction gauge” might rise…
But even so, identifying which male lead had the highest chance of connecting with the uncle was more important.
“Now… how do I make Shamal appear?”
After considering several possibilities, I found the safest and easiest method.
Hehe.
Just wait, Shamal.
