I Thought It Was a Common Transmigration - Chapter 4

“Our family’s maids are quite skilled even by Miss Edith’s standards.”

“Did Duchess Ludwig not bring a single maid with her when she married?”

“Well……”

In many ways, the conversation was in Count Riegelhoff’s favor. It would have allowed him to bring Sophia in with Edith.

Count Riegelhoff looked at me again, this time with a kind and affectionate look on his face, as if to conclude the negotiation.

“My dear Edith, Duke Ludwig is unwilling to allow you to bring a few maids with you; I don’t know what to do.”

I felt a chill run down my spine at the thought of bursting into tears at any moment, but I had to keep my wits about me. My decision here would determine my life.

“I’m fine…… I don’t need to bring a maid.”

“Huh……? E- Edith……?”

“After all, the Ludwig family’s maids are only as good as ours, and I don’t want any maids to leave our mansion because of me, so you don’t have to think about sending me a maid, Father.”

The Duke and his two sons were watching me with sharp eyes. They seemed to think I was going to cushion myself and then demand other terms.

But I am innocent, gentlemen!

“Please forget my father’s request, Your Excellency. My father is too anxious to give me away in marriage when I am still so young.”

“No, well……”

The Duke of Ludwig sounds like he’s in trouble. I can’t be weak-hearted here!

“As the daughter-in-law of the Ludwig family, I don’t want to be seen as a spoiled lady. I’ll come alone, and I’m sure the Duchess will have a good maid for me.”

I forced myself to smile as benignly as I could.

The corners of Edith’s eyes were slightly upturned, making it difficult for me to put on an innocent face.

The Duke and Duchess nodded their heads in agreement, albeit with a hint of irritation, and Count Riegelhoff’s face hardened.

As soon as we were in the carriage and out of the mansion gate, Count Riegelhoff burst out. “Are you out of your mind?!”

I was afraid he would slap me, but I’m glad he didn’t. From now on, I have to act with all my might.

“Father, didn’t you see the look on Duke Ludwig’s face earlier?”

“……what?”

“He had already realized what you meant when you said you wanted to send the maids along. What could I do if you made such a blatant demand?”

Count Riegelhoff’s eyelids trembled at my words.

It must have been strange to hear his daughter, who was always so good at doing what he told her to do, stand up and say something out of left field.

But I couldn’t back down now.

“What’s the point of bringing a maid in if you’ve already aroused suspicion? There will be more prying eyes around, and that’s why I’d rather not have one, Father.”

“That’s……!”

“Have you forgotten what the primary purpose of this marriage was? It was to dispel their suspicions. First, we must blunt the blade of vigilance they have set upon us.”

Well, that’s what you get when you’re a marketing department staff speaker on the Korean peninsula who’s been practicing presentation skills since college!

As if on cue, the Count’s fierce expression softened.

“So, what are you going to do next……?”

“For now, I’ll enter alone, and when their suspicions are allayed, I’ll make an excuse, homesickness or whatever, and tell them I’m bringing a maid with me “just for a while”. They won’t stop me from doing that.”

“Hmm……”

“Don’t spoil things by being impatient, Father.”

In the end, Count Riegelhoff was persuaded by me.

I felt as if the sword aimed at my throat had moved ten centimeters away.

***

And here I am, after a crazy week, standing in this black comedy of a wedding.

The priest is still reciting prayers. In Korea, the trend is to do away with long, boring ceremonies, but I guess that hasn’t caught on here yet.

“And so the faithful children of the Creator build another nest, Hershan, bless the rings they share, and the everlasting covenant that is in them.”

Ah, finally, the exchange of rings.

I turned toward Killian as I had practiced.

Unlike me, who turned easily in my uncomfortable dress, he turned slowly, barely, as if he really didn’t want to do it.

His formal attire, now that I could see it properly, was stunningly gorgeous, but I felt like I was asking for a major accident if I stared at him now.

Fortunately, this revealing dress was keeping me sane.

‘Yes, yes, Killian. I know how you feel, so let’s get this over with.’

I mean it. I want this uncomfortable, awful time to be over, too.

Two ring bearers approached with the rings on a small cushion. They couldn’t be more than seven years old, and they are so cute.

In contrast to the adults of both families, who looked as if they were about to eat each other, the cheeks of these children were flushed with the joy of being a part of a beautiful wedding. I could only smile at them as they melted my heart.

Killian glared at me, then picked up the ring.

I politely held out my left hand, and Killian slipped the bridal ring onto my left ring finger, barely touching my hand at all.

He didn’t even support my left hand with his other hand.

‘Wow, he really doesn’t like me.’

What happened next was even worse.

He reached out and snatched the groom’s ring before I could pick it up. He put it on himself and then stood facing the priest as if he had finished his business.

I was the only one standing awkwardly facing him, trying to pick up the ring.

The guests from the groom’s side burst into laughter, and the guests from the bride’s side looked like they would rise up in anger at any moment.

I wasn’t okay with it, but showing my displeasure would only make things worse.

I kissed the children lightly on the cheeks and turned to face the priest.

I felt a faint chill radiating from Killian and thought to myself, ‘Yeah, it’s okay to not have a man in my life.’

I should be content to have a good life and a healthy body after having nothing, but I’ll be punished if I’m greedy enough to want a man.

‘A life of leisurely enjoyment of my hobbies without fear of being beaten by my father or brother. How nice!’

If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to use the heir’s excuse to sleep with that handsome, fit man a few times.

If that doesn’t work out and I’m lonely, I’ll make a lover later.

Okay, that’s it.

I resolved once again to give up on the “Ro” in the Rofan and enjoy the “Fan” to the fullest.

***

The reception, which I was worried would be too crowded and bustling, ended early in a rather chilly atmosphere.

‘I never thought I’d be so grateful that the two families don’t get along!’

Lizé seemed worried that I might be upset, but I was actually grateful.

My dress was too low-cut and I had to keep my back straight all day, which made my spine ache like it was broken at every juncture. Not to mention my feet in high-heeled, uncomfortable shoes and my swollen calves.

Just when I wanted to scream that this was torture, Lizé, at the Duchess’ request, escorted me to the bridal chamber.

A waiting maid stripped me of my embarrassing and uncomfortable dress and changed me into a nightgown.

‘I thought I was going to die before the story began. Ha……’

I breathed a sigh of relief that I was still alive.

After sending the maid away, Lizé looked hesitant to say something.

“Is there anything you’d like to tell me, Miss Lizé?”

“Oh, well……”

I could have pretended not to know, but I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to talk to the female lead, no matter how tired I was.

Besides, one of the survival rules for a villainess possession story is to befriend a kind female lead.

‘A kind and righteous Lizé would never avoid my friendly approach, hohoho!’

Laughing slyly to myself like a character hiding a plan, I realized that Lizé was beautiful as she fidgeted with her hands, hesitating to open her mouth.

Dressed in a simple yet classy ivory dress, she was even more dazzling than I was moments before, when I was covered in sparkling jewelry.

She was more suited to the image of a chaste, shy bride. Which was probably what the writer was going for.

“I apologize on behalf of Killian for his rudeness to Miss Edith today, and I hope you don’t hate him too much, because as cold and blunt as he may seem on the outside, he’s actually a deeply caring person.”

Huh? I remember this scene!

In this scene from the original story, Lizé talks to Edith first as she does now.

Then she explodes at Lizé, who tells her not to hate Killian, and says, “How dare you wear a white dress to someone else’s wedding, and how dare you mention Killian’s name in front of me, his wife!”

Honestly, as a reader, I know all the reasons why Lizé said that, but for Edith, who had to listen to it without knowing what was going on, I think she had every right to be upset.

But who am I? I’m the one who read the whole book.