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Chapter : 03
Even after being dragged out in the middle of the night, Douglas stood obediently in front of Tara without any sign of complaint.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“……”
Tara asked with a cold expression. Still, Douglas said nothing.
“If you’re not an idiot, then you clearly remember how Evelynn has been these past few days, don’t you, Douglas?”
“…I do.”
“Then say it yourself.”
As if warning him that silence wouldn’t be tolerated, Tara tightened her grip on her staff. Douglas clasped his hands behind his back, lowered his gaze, and finally spoke reluctantly.
“…She’s been locked in her room since that banquet.”
“Yes! She’s been locked in her room since that damn banquet!”
Tara exploded before he even finished speaking.
Not stopping there, she raised her voice even more.
“Getting her to finally sit at the table today took everything we had. And the child we raised so she wouldn’t care about others’ opinions—today, she even tried to act like she was spending money just to please us. And you dared to make Evelynn cry?”
Who is Evelynn?
More precious than the eldest son who resembles Tara, and more precious than the younger son who resembles Henry.
The only cherished daughter of House Pravice—half Tara, half Henry.
Normally Henry would have stopped her, but not this time.
“Douglas, you went too far. You know that, right?”
“……”
Douglas nodded obediently, but he still couldn’t understand.
Was he really that harsh?
That much?
They always talked like that to each other. Of course, Evelynn had never hit him before or flipped him off.
…Still, that behavior was unlike her. Was she that obsessed with the Crown Prince?
No, could she even truly love someone?
Maybe she was just angry because she couldn’t have him.
Still… I didn’t mean to make her shut herself away again.
Douglas decided to at least make an effort. Otherwise, he’d be dragged out again in the middle of the night for more lectures.
“…Please give Evelynn some allowance. From my personal budget.”
“That was already the plan.”
Satisfied, Tara dismissed him.
The next day.
“Sir. The young lady has been called to the master’s office.”
As soon as Douglas heard the report, he paced outside Tara’s office.
Henry, who had been waiting, glanced at his dark eye bags and clicked his tongue sympathetically.
“You should’ve behaved properly if you didn’t want this.”
“I did not ‘not behave properly.’”
Douglas muttered, shifting his weight back and forth like an anxious dog.
When the door was about to open, he immediately hid.
Henry watched him with pity, then warmly greeted Evelynn.
“Daughter!”
“Dad?”
Douglas observed Evelynn carefully.
Has her mood improved?
She didn’t look too bad. Even smiling faintly, even linking arms with Henry.
As expected, this is how it should be.
Confident in his conclusion, Douglas stepped forward.
Evelynn frowned as soon as she saw him.
But normally she would ignore him and walk past.
That would mean she had calmed down.
However—
“Stop wasting your money trying to give allowance to a pathetic kid.”
“….”
She walked right past him after saying that.
Douglas instinctively realized something.
That small allowance wouldn’t fix anything.
If he made even one more mistake, things would get very bad.
That morning, Henry reported everything that had happened.
“Actually, earlier…”
How Douglas had provoked Evelynn until her nose turned red, and how she had almost cried—every detail reached Duke Tara Pravice.
“That crosses the line.”
Tara, enraged, immediately summoned Douglas.
Episode 3 (Continuation – Boutique Street)
I came out shopping with Henry.
Honestly, it was awkward at first, but Henry’s personality made things bearable.
I mostly just responded with:
“Ah, really?”
“Oh, I see.”
“Nope, not my style.”
Yet Henry looked delighted like he was on cloud nine.
Come to think of it, Evelynn used to hate going out with her parents once she got older.
She said they were treating her like a child.
Now I finally remembered that.
That was probably after she started obsessing over the Crown Prince.
Ugh. That guy really is terrible. He turned a perfectly fine girl into a rebellious daughter.
We arrived at the most prestigious jewelry store in the capital.
Henry opened the door.
“Ladies first.”
As I entered, staff immediately bowed 90 degrees.
Henry smiled brightly and ignored them completely.
“The quality here is still the best.”
Not just “best”—these were top-tier luxury goods.
But I instinctively agreed after one glance.
So this is what extreme wealth looks like.
“Let’s just buy everything.”
The clerk froze.
Others, however, didn’t react at all.
I wasn’t sure I could do this either if I hadn’t lived a past life surrounded by luxury brands.
Henry looked genuinely happy beside me.
He really is young-looking for a middle-aged man.
Who would think he was a duke consort?
My future is… financially bright.
“Thank you, my lady.”
“Next store.”
We continued down the boutique street.
Then lunch came.
Naturally, it was the empire’s best restaurant.
The moment food arrived, I understood why.
This is insane.
Even grilled meat tasted unreal.
But I maintained my villainess dignity and ate calmly.
“I’m glad you like it, daughter.”
Only then did I realize I had already finished almost everything.
“Hmm. It’s okay.”
“You eating properly… it’s been so long.”
Henry looked nostalgic.
Then he said something that made me pause.
“You used to go shopping with us… remember?”
I did.
Evelynn had once refused to eat or go out with her parents after becoming obsessed with the Crown Prince.
“Mom, Dad doesn’t understand! Ulysses is amazing!”
Just remembering it made me want to apologize on her behalf.
“…Evelynn.”
Henry gently held my hand.
“I’m so happy to see you like this.”
Honestly, I hadn’t done anything except eat and spend money.
But if this is what they want, I can do it.
Life is give and take.
I smiled.
“Don’t worry. I won’t act pathetic anymore.”
“Daughter…!”
We continued shopping.
“Buy all of them.”
“Pack everything.”
“Everything on display.”
Money flowed like water.
And strangely, neither of us cared.
Because the Pravice wealth was endless.
This is what infinite money feels like.
Then I stopped.
A boutique caught my eye.
“Here is…”
A store popular among noble women.
Expensive. Extremely expensive.
But I wasn’t interested in myself.
“I’ll buy a gift.”
“For who?”
“For Mother. And maybe Father too.”
Henry suddenly hugged me tightly.
“Our daughter is so kind…”
I sighed and patted him.
Back in my past life, I gave away everything and still got called unfilial.
This body is too easy.
You spend money and get praised.
If I keep this up, I can completely avoid the original story.
Then—
We entered the shop.
“Pr, Pravice Lady?”
I froze.
Silver hair.
Golden eyes.
A pure, radiant face.
“…Lady Hebe.”
I quietly spoke the name.
Dahlia Hebe.
The heroine of Oh, My Dahlia.
