Chapter 3

“Lady Deborah, it is the greatest honor to meet you. My name is Helen, the second daughter of Baron Jihoto.”

Helen, today’s visitor, was one of the most sought-after dress designers in the capital. Deborah had personally picked her while shopping in the city’s shopping district.

The moment Deborah saw one of Helen’s gowns displayed in front of her boutique, she had barged inside and demanded that the designer create dresses exclusively for her.

Well… thanks to that, I was the one benefiting now.

“It truly delights me to present the gowns from our atelier to you, my lady.”

“…”

As the silence dragged on, Helen’s complexion grew increasingly pale.

The truth was, I was deliberately keeping my mouth shut.

If I talked too much, I might accidentally expose the fact that I was nothing more than an easygoing pushover.

Oddly enough, even if I ignored people completely, everyone simply accepted it as ‘That’s just how Lady Deborah is.’

It was absurd…

But incredibly convenient.

“My lady, this gown follows the latest fashion. We’ve trimmed the sleeves with white rabbit fur. Would you like to take a closer look?”

Putting on a strained professional smile, Helen began introducing the dresses she had designed.

One featured a sapphire the size of a fingertip embedded in the bodice.

Another had pearls meticulously sewn along an elegant lace collar.

The dazzling gowns filled my vision, making my heart race.

To someone like me—a commoner who had even inherited her older sister’s school uniform—this was wealth on a scale that felt almost criminal.

So this is what life with a diamond spoon is like?

I’d never envied people born rich.

I’d always been the type to accept reality for what it was.

But now that I was actually surrounded by unimaginable luxury…

I had to admit…

I liked it.

I’d look amazing in every single one of these.

After all, fashion was only complete when paired with the right face and figure.

Just imagining those dresses on this model-like body filled me with excitement.

As I admired them, however, I suddenly frowned and bit my lip.

The rabbit fur made my nose itch.

I felt a sneeze coming.

Apparently, Helen interpreted my expression very differently.

Her face instantly turned ghostly pale.

“M-My lady! Th-these dresses are only a small portion of the collection we’re currently making…”

Huh?

There’s more?

I bit my lip harder to suppress the sneeze while looking at her.

Helen looked as though she might faint on the spot.

“I’ll prepare gowns that are even more extravagant… even more sophisticated! Please… just grant me three more days…”

Watching my expression, Helen suddenly dropped to her knees.

“I deeply apologize! I’ll alter every gown to match your tastes immediately!”

“…Cover them with jewels.”

I rubbed my tingling nose before adding kindly,

“The more extravagant, the better.”

The more gemstones there were, the better.

If things ever went wrong…

I could always pry them off and sell them for gold.

Who cares if she’s a villainess?

This face is a masterpiece.

Whenever I had free time, I found myself standing in front of the mirror like a narcissist, completely captivated by my reflection.

I absolutely loved this face.

With just the slightest lift of my eyes, I exuded the intimidating aura of an untouchable older sister.

The kind of presence that made those “Have you heard the word of God?” people avoid you from a hundred meters away.

I was completely absorbed in admiring Deborah’s cold, elegant features when a servant informed me that my private tutor had arrived.

Morning lessons.

Deborah received instruction in astronomy, history, poetry, and literature from some of the empire’s most distinguished scholars.

Most daughters of high-ranking noble families were privately educated from childhood.

The professors invited into one’s home—or the noble ladies who taught etiquette—served as symbols of a family’s power and prestige.

I’m kind of jealous.

Back in my previous life, I’d been scolded just for buying online lecture courses.

This was practically like hiring university professors for expensive one-on-one tutoring sessions.

Of course…

Deborah had absolutely no interest in studying.

She skipped lessons constantly.

Standing up her tutors was routine.

She had even once hung a tutor upside down outside a window because he’d nagged her about not doing her homework.

The rope had nearly snapped, almost killing one of the empire’s most respected history professors by breaking his neck.

The incident was so infamous that it had been described directly in the novel.

The more I learn about Deborah… the more horrifying she becomes.

Every memory fragment I uncovered left me sighing.

At the same time, it drove home one undeniable truth.

The Law of Conservation of Craziness.

The crazy person themselves always had the easiest life.

Realizing that—alongside the fact that I’d spent my previous life being a complete pushover—hit me harder than anything else.

Still…

This mansion just never ends.

Leaving my room for today’s lesson, I walked down an endlessly long corridor.

Maybe it was because I’d studied architectural engineering…

But every time I saw this estate, I was amazed.

How much money…

How much manpower…

Had it taken to build something this magnificent?

As I admired the statues lining the hallway, I suddenly encountered a silver-haired young man who looked exactly like Duke Seymour.

Belek Seymour.

He was the family’s second son.

The moment our eyes met—those icy silver-blue eyes—a deep instinctive revulsion rose within me.

It wasn’t my own emotion.

It was Deborah’s.

Deborah absolutely despised her older brother, Belek Seymour.

Because Belek made no effort whatsoever to hide his contempt for her.

He hated incompetent people who refused to improve themselves.

Perhaps that was because his entire life had been spent desperately trying to surpass his twin brother, Rozad Seymour.

Curiously enough, every generation of the Seymour family produced twin heirs.

Their family crest—a two-headed serpent—symbolized that tradition.

From the moment they were born, gifted twins destined to become head of the family were thrown into a brutal competition.

As a result…

Most Seymour twins became emotionally broken at a very young age.

Just as family tradition dictated…

Rozad and Belek grew into exceptionally capable lunatics.

Later in the novel, they would kidnap the heroine, Mia Vinoche, imprisoning her in the ducal estate.

Knowing full well from the novel how twisted and sadistic the Seymour twins were…

It was difficult to appreciate anything about them besides their looks.

“Deborah.”

I thought Belek would simply walk past.

Instead, he brushed his long silver hair back with one hand and called my name in a low voice.

He just pushed his hair back…

Why did that look like something out of a fashion magazine?

Seriously…

No wonder he was one of the heroine’s many admirers.

His cold features paired perfectly with his monocle.

You ridiculously handsome pervert.

Good for the eyes and absolutely nothing else.

“Who is your tutor today?”

“Patrick.”

Trying to imitate Deborah, I answered with a curt reply while suppressing my nervousness.

“Even the Magic Tower has heard about your disgraceful behavior.”

His voice remained cold.

“Patrick is a scholar I value personally.”

“So for today…”

“Behave yourself.”

Having said only what he wanted, Belek strode past me without waiting for a response, leaving behind an oppressive atmosphere.

Whenever Belek treated Deborah that way, she usually flew into a rage afterward and took it out on innocent servants.

But…

I wasn’t Deborah.

His attitude didn’t anger me at all.

Compared to my family from my previous life, who constantly treated me like their personal maid…

Belek seemed almost reasonable.

Besides…

Wasn’t he the one handling every troublesome affair in this enormous household?

While Rozad and Belek worked themselves to the bone competing to become the next head of House Seymour…

I was pretending to reflect on my behavior while lounging around doing absolutely nothing.

Thanks.

I’m living comfortably because of you.

Giving Belek a discreet thumbs-up after he disappeared, I continued toward the reception room where a young professor awaited me.

This was only the second time Deborah had ever attended Professor Patrick’s history lesson.

Since she skipped class almost every week, the professor looked visibly nervous the moment I appeared.

“Y-You’re here…”

He bowed awkwardly.

Crossing my arms like Deborah, I gave a slight nod.

“Then… let us begin today’s lesson.”

Taking out a leather-bound volume titled A Thousand Years of Asteia, Professor Patrick began lecturing in a quavering voice about the glorious achievements of House Seymour.

He’s good at office politics.

Now I understood why Belek thought so highly of him.

Patrick had clearly tailored today’s lecture to appeal to Deborah’s immense pride in being a direct descendant of House Seymour.

A life surrounded only by people flattering you…

Honestly… not bad.

Far better than constantly being criticized by self-righteous busybodies pretending to give advice.

Power really is nice.

To summarize Patrick’s lecture:

The Eleventh Emperor had favored the head of House Seymour for strengthening the imperial throne.

As a reward, he granted the Seymour family authority over the Magic Tower.

That tradition continued to this day.

Since every generation of Seymours had produced exceptionally capable family heads…

The position of Master of the Magic Tower had remained in Seymour hands for nearly five hundred years.

It was like a third-generation chaebol heir becoming a cabinet minister on top of inheriting the family business.

So my father is both a duke… and the Master of the Magic Tower?

Isn’t that a bit excessive?

For the first time, I began to understand where Deborah’s boundless arrogance came from.

Seeing my interest, Professor Patrick enthusiastically continued.

The founder of House Seymour, Mirju Seymour, had been an eighth-circle archmage.

Alongside the First Emperor and the Goddess, he had played a crucial role in founding the Asteia Empire.

The empire’s founding heroes each established a great noble house:

• House Seymour
• House Montes
• House Orgo
• House Visconti

The House of Magic—Seymour.

The House of Spirits—Montes.

The House of the Sword—Orgo.

The House of Gold—Visconti.

These four families possessed the greatest authority in the empire after the imperial family itself.

No matter what outrageous crimes Deborah committed…

Simply being a direct descendant of House Seymour was enough to shield her from punishment.

The spoon I’d been born with wasn’t merely diamond.

It was practically forged from mythical orichalcum.

Unbelievable.

Since Deborah’s memories came only in scattered fragments, Professor Patrick’s history lesson helped me understand my place in this world far more clearly.

A fantasy world with temples and mages…

This is actually pretty interesting.

Perhaps realizing I was genuinely paying attention, Professor Patrick became increasingly engrossed in his lecture.

He grew so enthusiastic that the lesson ended up running well past the scheduled time.