MLWG CH 8

~Chapter 8~

“When she barged in, I told her we were fully booked and had to turn her away. But she shouted ‘double!’ Said it was an emergency and insisted she had to get a dress no matter what.”

Corel narrowed her eyes on Riden’s behalf.

“So you caved to the double price?!”

“No! Whether it’s double or triple, that’s not the point! I refused and even recommended another boutique. But she kept insisting she’d only get her measurements taken before your arrival. I couldn’t forcibly kick out a noblewoman…”

Laria looked tearfully distressed.

Watching her saddened face, Riden’s anger slowly softened.

In the modern world, she could’ve reported it as business interference. But here, no matter how successful, a boutique owner was still a commoner—unable to forcibly remove a noble.

Fine. Let’s stop being angry and just reclaim the time I lost.

As she thought that, Laria leaned in, whispering with utmost remorse.

“I must’ve upset you. Since you lost time because of me, if you let me know another convenient date, I’ll work solely for you—free of charge—for two extra days. And also, this—”

Hmm?

Laria handed her a pouch, which jingled with the sound of gold coins.

“This was money I earned during the time I should’ve been serving you. Naturally, it belongs to you. Please wait just a moment in the lounge—I’ll send the Marchioness out right away.”

Inside the pouch were the double fee Laria had charged the other woman plus Riden’s initial 3 gold—a total of 9 gold coins.

Candy for angry children. Coins for angry adults.

Since Laria had already demonstrated discernment, there was no need to scold her further.

Feeling her mood lighten, Riden replied,

“I’ll wait.”

“Thank you, Milady.”

As Riden turned to head back to the lounge sofa—

A sharp voice from the inner room stopped her in her tracks.

“What are you doing? Where’d you go instead of getting my fitting done?”

“Yes, I’m coming!”

Laria, bowing once again to Riden, rushed inside.

Riden’s gaze followed her.

There, snapping her fingers arrogantly at the staff and barking orders, was the Marchioness of Florence.

And strangely, that woman’s attitude reminded Riden of someone familiar.

…Mother-in-law?

Riden’s brow furrowed in discomfort.

Why would she suddenly be reminded of her old-world mother-in-law?

Wait… why is that woman here?

In the original novel, the Marchioness of Florence was another minor villain.

If Riden was the main antagonist, the Marchioness was the secondary one who supported her in tormenting the heroine.

She’d accepted the most bribes and jewels from Riden in exchange for humiliating the heroine at social gatherings.

Riden glanced through the curtain again.

Is that really her?

Elegant blonde hair and a refined appearance that belied her dark nature—it was definitely the Marchioness of Florence.

But something didn’t add up…

That family was broke, weren’t they?

In the novel, the Marchioness allied with Riden because her household was drowning in debt.

Yet the number of hats and dress samples around her suggested she was commissioning multiple outfits.

This boutique was one of the most expensive in the capital—ordinary nobles couldn’t afford more than one dress.

Did she find another sucker to replace the old Riden—someone willing to throw money at her just to bother the heroine?

Riden quietly chuckled to herself.

With the original villain missing from the altered storyline, this woman’s unshakable survival skills and shamelessness were something to behold.

Just then, Mrs. Kim Si-eom, examining the dresses, turned her gaze toward the entrance.

Who’s this young girl smirking at me like that?

A pale platinum blonde with light blue eyes blinking slowly—her gaze fixed on her.

That blinking speed—just like Dain!

The calm, fluttering lashes, the quiet smirk—it all reminded her of her second daughter-in-law, Dain. Always laughing alone while everyone else raged.

Always so detached—oblivious to others’ irritation.

Annoyed by the memory, Mrs. Kim asked Laria sharply,

“Who’s that?”

“Oh, Madam—what if the young lady hears you calling her ‘that’?”

Laria, keeping a careful eye on Riden, answered politely.

“She’s the young lady I mentioned earlier—Lady Riden McCurry, the only daughter of the McCurry family. She’s the one who booked the boutique for the entire day.”

Her eyes silently pleaded: If you have any sense of social etiquette, please leave now.

But Mrs. Kim didn’t budge.

“Oh~ is that so?”

“Yes, Madam. She lived only in the countryside until recently, and now that she’s come of age, she’s here to debut in society. She has a mountain of outfits to prepare—that’s why she booked our boutique for the day.”

So please get out now! Laria’s eyes pleaded again—but still, no response.

Mrs. Kim scanned Riden from head to toe.

Her blunt, appraising gaze made Riden feel a chill for reasons she couldn’t understand.

Earlier, when Mrs. Kim had arrived, she was told a noble young lady had booked the whole boutique and that she’d have to leave.

Already fuming from discovering her late husband had left behind a mountain of debt, she refused to go.

So she shouted—

“Double! I’ll pay double for the dress! That’s enough, right?!”

When you’re broke, dressing poorly just makes it worse.

You had to wear expensive things to appear prosperous.

Who lends money to a poor-looking wretch? You had to look rich to get rich.

Count’s territory, huh? So she owns land?

After becoming the Marchioness of Florence, she had been thrilled to gain noble status—like a Joseon-era aristocrat.

But the title meant nothing. Her family had no land—just a big mansion and well-trained servants, which now seemed laughable.

Seeing that the Marchioness clearly had no intention of leaving, Laria tried a different appeal.

“Her parents recently died in a tragic carriage accident. That young lady must be struggling emotionally. And if even her debut dress fitting doesn’t go right, she might think people look down on her because she’s alone now…”

Yes, Madam. You are the inconsiderate one. Get out already!

But Mrs. Kim’s thoughts went in a different direction entirely.

Her parents are dead? Then…

Her brain kicked into gear.

If she married this girl off to one of her sons, who would manage that land?

My son would, of course.

Here or in the other world—real estate was always the answer.

She had been fretting over her sudden debt, but maybe the solution lay in her sons’ marriages.

With land under her family’s name, making easy money would be simple.

Didn’t noblewomen bring dowries with them?

The math was clear.

Marriage really is everything.

How much dowry did that girl have? How vast was her land?

Would she be an easy daughter-in-law to handle?

Smiling from ear to ear, Mrs. Kim stepped out of the dressing room and began walking toward Riden.