~Chapter 123~
Riden answered with a question instead.
“Do you want your son to be happy?”
“…?”
Kim Si-eom didn’t react right away. It took her a while to understand the question.
She sat still, like she was buffering, then frowned deeply.
“Of course I care about my son’s happiness! That’s why I’m worried about his marriage. Why else would I be concerned? Really, what do you take me for, asking that…”
She glanced at the money pouch on the table and spoke in an annoyed tone.
“Hey, is the payment not enough? If you need more, just say so instead of talking nonsense—”
She stopped mid-sentence.
She remembered this fortune-teller could see not just the present but also her past life. That made her uncomfortable, but a true fortune-teller was irreplaceable.
“So, what I mean is—”
“I didn’t ask because I doubt your love for your son. You could probably get him the wife you want if you tried hard enough, but if you do, he’ll just end up unhappy. That’s why I asked.”
“Unhappy? Why would my oldest be unhappy?”
“Because your son has a lot of inferiority inside. If he marries someone impressive, he’ll wither away and end up ruined.”
“….”
‘Huh? She’s quiet now?’
Riden found Kim Si-eom’s reaction interesting. She’d expected anger, but Kim Si-eom just stared into space, as if she knew her son’s flaws better than anyone.
‘Does she only get honest with a fortune-teller she trusts completely?’
Riden was almost disappointed—Kim Si-eom gave in so easily. She’d gotten so angry at Riden before, but she backed down at once with a stranger.
“If your son marries a great wife, he’ll probably try to outdo her, maybe even plot rebellion… and it would all go terribly wrong. You know that already, don’t you?”
Kim Si-eom, who’d been looking down, raised her head.
“Can’t I change it? A ritual… or some kind of offering to the gods. If you just tell me how, I’ll do anything…”
The fortune-teller paused, as if searching for options, then replied,
“It’s almost impossible. If you try, it’ll end very badly.”
Kim Si-eom didn’t ask again. She just spoke softly, almost in a whisper.
“Then what should I do…”
“You have to follow the natural order. There’s someone around your son he wants to marry. Even if you don’t like her, if your son chooses her, he’ll be happy.”
The fortune-teller narrowed her eyes, as if seeing something.
“Hmm… Pink hair. I see someone with pink hair nearby. If your son marries her, he’ll make a lot of money.”
“Pink hair… Sigh… I guess I have no choice but to accept her.”
Kim Si-eom mumbled with a sigh as she bit her lower lip, ready to ask another question.
The next question would, of course, be about Damian.
But before she could, the fortune-teller spoke with certainty.
“It’s best if you leave the capital.”
“What?”
“The energy of this place doesn’t match your second son. That’s why he was hurt. If you stay here, more bad things will happen.”
“Then if I just send my second son away—”
‘No way.’
Riden, as if staring Kim Si-eom right in the eyes, continued through the fortune-teller:
“Your reputation has fallen too, hasn’t it? If you leave the capital for a while, everything will start to work out. Both your sons will make a lot of money, and you’ll be able to return in glory.”
Riden didn’t really care what happened to them. She just wanted them out of sight, out of mind.
But would Kim Si-eom just leave because the fortune-teller said so? Then Berbes passed along an unexpected question.
[She asked if you meant the west when you said to leave the capital.]
‘Huh? The west, out of nowhere?’
Had she already planned to leave without Riden’s meddling?
‘That’d be perfect!’
“The west…”
Riden paused, unsure of Kim Si-eom’s intentions. Kim Si-eom anxiously spoke up.
“…The Marquis of Lules owns land in the west.”
The Marquis of Lules—a character who only briefly appeared in the original story—was famous for his affairs, even in middle age.
He was known for constantly lying and cheating, but because he stayed good-looking as he aged, he kept up his playboy life.
‘Wait… did the Marquis of Lules try to seduce Kim Si-eom too?’
For a moment, Riden wished she could see Kim Si-eom’s face in person.
[She’s blushing like a girl in love.]
‘…!’
Still, it was strange. The marquis was known for being cold and unfeeling, but maybe Kim Si-eom didn’t know that.
‘She probably doesn’t have many close friends. Her reputation took a hit when she tried to host her own salon. That’s why she doesn’t know.’
Maybe she’d get to see something interesting before they left the capital.
Riden smiled as she told Berbes what to say next.
All the nobles in the capital attended the opera at the imperial palace.
Marie helped Damian, who had his arm in a sling, slowly toward the opera house entrance.
As they entered the grand hall, Riden could be seen heading toward the imperial stairs.
“Ri—!”
“The Florence family, please use the west stairs to the second floor.”
The usher interrupted, and Marie frowned but had no choice but to follow Damian.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes, Damian.”
‘I’ll greet her later.’
She hugged Damian’s arm a little tighter, saying it was just to help him since he was hurt.
“Hello, Damian.”
“I heard you were hurt, Damian. What happened?”
They met many nobles on the way to their seats, all greeting Damian kindly.
“Lady Hern, you’re here too.”
“Yes, hello.”
Because she was with Damian, people who would never have spoken to Marie before smiled at her.
‘He must be well liked.’
She looked behind her.
The Florence baron and his wife were following, but no one really greeted them.
She met eyes with the baron.
‘Yikes!’
He had a big, stretched-out smile that made Marie uncomfortable.
He looked normal, but something about him just seemed creepy.
Marie shivered and pulled Damian’s arm closer to her.
‘Well, if it’s him…’
When she’d been sent away from the count’s family to join the Florence family, she hadn’t liked it. But now she thought maybe it was fate—maybe it all happened so she could meet Damian.
“Here we are.”
Marie entered the balcony with red velvet curtains.
It was almost a front-row seat, with name cards ready for them.
‘If I sit with Damian and talk during the opera, we’ll get closer.’
She smiled as she picked up her name card.
“These seats are comfy~.”
The Florence baron suddenly sat in the seat next to hers.
She realized the balcony was only for two people, not four. Normally, there would be two seats in front and two behind, but not this time.
Marie realized something and smiled.
‘Couples and lovers sit in pairs here…’
If the baron and his wife sat together, Damian and Marie would have their own seats. With so many nobles here, maybe everyone would think she and Damian were a couple.
She liked that idea and followed Damian out to the balcony, imagining good things.
But then, Damian shook her arm off his, his face expressionless.
Marie looked confused.
“Where are you going, Lady Hern?”
Florence baron’s wife called from behind her.
