CRBM 02

Chapter : 2

At the mistress’s mocking words, Clitaim also opened her fan and covered her mouth.

Because of the laughter threatening to spill out.

‘I’m surprised things are going exactly the way I wanted.’

There was only one reason Clitaim had deliberately provoked the proud Camilla.

It was to draw everyone’s attention at the banquet.

Not as the woman who had deceived the people of the empire and even the gods, but as a pitiful woman.

And… to gain Patron’s help.

It hurt her pride, but so what?

Clitaim was exhausted from the endless regressions.

After experiencing pain close to death over and over again, she was on the verge of losing her mind.

So this time, she had decided to use a surefire method.

It was cowardly, but she would cling to a powerful person and use their authority to achieve what she wanted.

In Cerdia, there was only one person who possessed the greatest power and influence after the Emperor.

Patron Ludwig.

The parent of the original male lead, and the Grand Duke of this empire.

Since he was a character from the original novel, one might think she should avoid him.

But Clitaim thought differently.

Since he was a character she had seen in the story during her previous life, she thought it would actually be easier to win him over.

He wasn’t a major character, so there weren’t many descriptions of him, but that was still better than dealing with a noble whose personality and background she knew absolutely nothing about.

‘Didn’t he appear again quite a while after the banquet?’

Clitaim endlessly recalled the novel she had read in her previous life while searching for Patron with her eyes.

One thing was certain: if not today, she had no idea when she would ever get the chance to see him again.

She wasn’t high-ranking enough to dare summon a Grand Duke privately.

“Are you all right?”

Camilla’s question pulled her out of her thoughts and back into reality.

“I am. But watch what you say. There are children here.”

“The only child here right now is Electra. What’s the problem?”

We live under the same roof anyway.

When Clitaim gently tried to placate the mistress, Camilla instead spoke arrogantly, as though she had already won.

“……”

Clitaim glared at Camilla and covered Electra’s ears with her hands.

It was the bare minimum of consideration.

Consideration for a child who had done nothing wrong.

‘If I can’t beat her by normal means, what crazy thing could she possibly do that I can’t?’

She suppressed her guilty conscience with self-justification and looked at her daughter with pity.

Electra’s pale eyes trembled in confusion.

She seemed to have understood what the noblewomen and Camilla had been talking about.

Clitaim had hoped she wouldn’t.

“She’s quick…”

Clitaim clicked her tongue inwardly before speaking.

“Don’t believe anything anyone says. Just believe Mommy, all right?”

Electra looked only at her mother and nodded.

She probably wanted to turn away from it somehow.

From her parents’ divorce and the ridicule surrounding it.

Clitaim gently stroked the child’s cheek and glanced around.

No one stepped forward, but as expected, everyone was whispering, and some were looking at her with sympathy.

Mistresses were common in noble society, so perhaps no one cared much about that.

But apparently, they pitied her for what happened in the bedroom.

As she happened to turn her head, she spotted Hailey among the crowd.

The twitching corners of her mouth made it obvious that she was mocking her.

Ironically, the fact that Camilla was Hailey’s mistress was known only to the servants of the baron’s household, which made this possible.

How could she not enjoy watching someone she hated being humiliated in front of everyone while she herself remained in the safest possible position?

After all, Clitaim was nothing but a useless woman with no support from her father and nothing of value to offer.

‘Where is Patron?’

Though she had deliberately created this situation, Clitaim felt uncomfortable and continued searching for Patron.

The entire purpose of all this was to catch his attention.

And then, just as she was desperately scanning the room—

“……!”

Her eyes met the sea-colored eyes she had been searching for.

Patron’s lips were stiffly set. His brows furrowed ever so slightly, and with an annoyed expression, he left his seat.

‘He saw me.’

Clitaim smiled faintly and removed the hand covering Electra’s ears.

“Electra, would you like to go to the carriage with Daddy?”

At home, he was an arrogant and inconsiderate man, but outside, he was one of the most affectionate people she knew.

It was all an act.

But at least at this banquet, he would be kind to his daughter.

“With Daddy?”

“Yes. Mommy will come in a little while.”

“What should I say if Daddy asks where you went?”

“Say you don’t know. Say we separated halfway and you don’t know where I went.”

Being insulted by Hailey a little more wouldn’t change anything.

After all, she had been killed by his hand several times. This much was nothing.

“……You have to come soon, okay?”

“I’ll be there soon.”

Clitaim answered firmly, reassuring the child.

Once her daughter left, Clitaim approached Camilla, who was still standing there.

Then, with a livelier smile than ever, she leaned close and whispered into the woman’s ear.

“There was only one reason I stood there like a block of wood. It was because it was so boring.”

By the way, I’m talking about my husband.

Camilla’s expression immediately turned cold.

To Clitaim, he was an estranged husband.

But to Camilla, he was the man who had cheated with her.

Watching her expression subtly change, Clitaim raised one corner of her mouth and delivered the same final blow Camilla had given her.

“Looks like he’s just right for someone of your level.”

Snap.

The thread of Camilla’s reason finally broke, and her hand seized Clitaim’s shoulder.

Her grip was remarkably strong, but Clitaim’s expression remained calm.

Instead, she casually struck Camilla’s hand away with her fan, looking completely at ease.

“Go ahead and make a scene. Let’s see who will listen to you.”

I warned you.

Know your place.

No matter how terrible Clitaim’s reputation was in high society, she and Camilla were different by birth.

If a conflict arose between them, it was obvious whose side the nobles would take.

Camilla might have behaved however she pleased inside her household, but outside, she was nothing more than a mistress.

So she had no choice but to let Clitaim go.

After the commotion, shortly before the evening ball began.

Clitaim was in her room, having her appearance adjusted with the help of her maid, Becky.

Just as they were nearly finished—

“So? Are you planning to approach His Grace the Grand Duke?”

“Yes! It’s already been more than ten years since His Grace lost his wife. Don’t you think he’s looking for someone to remarry?”

With a family like mine and this beauty, wouldn’t I be a decent match?

“But… he has a child.”

“So what? He’s the Grand Duke! If things go well, I could become the Grand Duchess and enjoy all sorts of things…”

A sharp voice could be heard from outside.

Clitaim stopped dressing for a moment and listened to the conversation.

No, she simply heard it.

The young ladies, who had been talking loudly, noticed Clitaim already inside and froze in shock, instinctively covering their mouths.

In contrast, Clitaim smiled brightly and spoke first.

“It’s all right. I prefer honesty.”

Don’t worry about your words getting out. No one listens to anything I say anyway.

The young lady had intended to mock Clitaim’s terrible reputation in high society, but instead, she became nervous and began stammering.

“I-I apologize. Please, continue using the room.”

The young lady at the front, her face pale, hurriedly led the others out of the cloakroom.

Clitaim watched the door.

Only after it had completely closed did she speak.

“Becky, the necklace.”

“Oh. Yes. Which one would you like?”

Clitaim stared thoughtfully at the accessories Becky had brought before choosing the most elaborate sapphire necklace.

Once the jewel was placed around her bare neck, it complemented her green eyes and accentuated her beauty.

“Still not enough.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing.”

That’s enough dressing up. Go check on Electra.

Even if her father seems perfectly fine outside, I’m worried about her.

“Ah, I-I understand, Madam.”

Startled by the sudden mention of family matters, Becky hurriedly left the room.

‘That young lady. She was definitely the daughter of House Marquess Bellision.’

One of the noble families Clitaim had studied diligently after possessing this body.

A beautiful young woman from a powerful family.

A flawless young lady who had only recently made her debut.

The complete opposite of me.

Well, perhaps calling her flawless was a bit much.

Maybe the memories of my previous life are becoming blurred.

I’m gradually becoming accustomed to the customs of this novel.

Clitaim let out a short sigh and deliberately scratched the area around her neck where she had carefully applied makeup.

The red marks exposed the scars that remained on her neck.

‘They’re still there.’

Even if she had to use everything at her disposal—

“I have to get him.”

Once outside, Clitaim quickly found Patron.

His eye color, hair, and clothing were not things she could easily forget.

And even if that weren’t enough, the young lady she had just seen was practically announcing Patron’s location to everyone.

Perfectly composed elegance and a dignified smile.

The sort of appearance that anyone, regardless of age or gender, would find appealing.

‘I didn’t want to make an enemy unnecessarily, but I have to survive first.’

Clitaim straightened her back and approached Patron.

The laughter around him abruptly stopped as the young ladies recognized her.

In the awkward atmosphere, only Clitaim moved freely.

“My child wanted to see Your Grace. Would you have a moment?”

Using Electra, who had left the banquet hall, as an excuse, Clitaim drew Patron’s attention.

Patron, recognizing the hand reaching out to him for help, pretended to hesitate before moving his lips.

“Where is the child?”

The two of them stepped onto the balcony and spent some time silently enjoying the breeze.

Only the lamps illuminated the place, and it was so quiet that even their breathing could barely be heard.

Patron eventually opened his mouth, intending to say goodbye and leave.

“Thank you…”

But as he spoke, he noticed the bruises and scars on Clitaim’s face and neck.

His brows drew together.

Reading his gaze, Clitaim answered casually.

“It’s nothing. I got hit a little.”

“By whom?”

“My husband.”

At her emotionless answer, Patron stared at her, at a loss for words.

Her husband?

He simply couldn’t find the right words to comfort her.

Seeing his troubled expression, Clitaim let out a small laugh and continued the conversation.

“I was just unlucky.”

“……”

“I’ll be getting divorced. Will you help me?”

At her request for help, Patron’s expression turned cold.

It wasn’t proper for a third party to interfere in someone else’s quarrel.

Especially when it involved an affair.

The sympathy he had felt for her went no further than a few words of comfort.

“That will be difficult.”

At his polite refusal, Clitaim stared at him for several seconds before letting out a small laugh.

“I knew you’d say that.”

She pushed back a strand of hair that had been blown loose by the wind, wiped the smile from her face, and changed her question.

“You need someone to remarry, don’t you?”

At the continued impertinent question, Patron narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased.

“Are you telling me to marry you?”

“Yes.”

At her clear-cut answer, Patron gave a disbelieving laugh.

“Why would I need to remarry you?”

Even if it isn’t you, there are plenty of women I could marry.

He was right.

Although Patron was a man with a child, he possessed a status and power capable of covering that fact.

Unlike someone who already had a child and was still mocked as a fake saint.

If judged solely by their respective interests, this would be a much worse bargain for him.

But Clitaim knew Patron’s weakness better than anyone.

The only blemish on his otherwise perfect reputation.

“Your former wife has returned, hasn’t she?”