SSCP 12

Chapter 12

The reason I suddenly recalled my past memories was all because of Cheodore.
If he hadn’t suddenly burst into tears and said he wanted to see the clothes I was wearing when I crossed dimensions, I wouldn’t have gone on such an unproductive trip down memory lane.

“Didn’t you say you were asleep when you crossed over?”
Cheodore frowned as he looked at my outfit.
Maria, the maid, had said the clothes were unwearable. To the people of this “other world,” they would look bizarre.
So I had slipped on a pair of jeans and a blouse—but in the end, I couldn’t zip up the back. I had spent a while in the dressing room, stretching my arm awkwardly behind me to pull it up, until I gave up and stepped out.

Cheodore, who was lounging comfortably on the sofa in my room, lifted his head in mild confusion.
“Could you zip this up for me?”
I turned around and showed him my bare back. He clicked his tongue and walked over to me.
“Hold your hair up.”
I obediently gathered my hair into my hands. His large hand brushed my back briefly before withdrawing.
Then came the slow sound of the zipper being drawn up. A tense silence filled the room—so quiet I could hear myself swallow. His hand wasn’t even touching me anymore, yet it felt as if my back was burning.
The zipper reached the top. The back of his warm hand grazed the nape of my neck lightly before falling away. I hesitated, feeling oddly disappointed, then turned around.

His raw, unfiltered gaze swept over me from head to toe. The longer he looked, the hotter my face felt. That naked look soon faded, and the usual Cheodore returned.
“Do you usually sleep in jeans?”
His question snapped me out of my daze. I picked up my handbag from the floor. Inside were a dead phone, a cushion compact, lipstick, band-aids—just the usual stuff.
“I wasn’t asleep at home. I fell asleep on the bus while I was out. When I opened my eyes, I was here, in this world.”
Even as I said it, the absurdity of it hit me, and I laughed weakly.
“Now that I think about it, it’s ridiculous. Like some kind of ‘afterlife bus.’ Who falls into another world from a bus ride?”
“Where were you going?”
“I was on my way to meet a guy I had a crush on. A senior named Yeon-seo set us up. We’d met twice? He was polite and sweet, so I was thinking of dating him.”
“…What?”
His shocked expression made me blink. I was twenty-eight at the time—did he really think I’d never have dated anyone?
“A blind date…?”
He slumped back on the sofa, looking as if he’d just been struck.

I ignored him and went to the vanity mirror, checking my reflection as I tied up my hair.
“What are you doing?”
Cheodore sat up, tilting his head curiously.
“Have you calmed down a bit now?”
At my question, he covered his eyes with one hand and shook his head, looking gaunt.
As I fixed my hair, I met his reflection in the mirror.
“Are you really that shocked that I went on a date?”
He didn’t answer. His lips stayed tightly shut—like a sulking child.

I knew he had feelings for me. And I couldn’t deny that I, too, felt something for him.
He was the fated person I met after falling alone into this strange world. I might not have lived here as long as he had, but he was just as precious to me.
“Do you want to be someone special to me that badly?”
He blinked, stunned by my question. I chuckled softly at his expression.
“What?”
“Well, you did torment me quite a bit. I almost lost my hair from the stress you gave me, Producer-nim.”
He looked taken aback.
“If I caused you pain… I’m sorry. I’ve reflected on what happened. I remember it vividly, even now.”
I didn’t bother replying. Too much had happened for us to dwell on past mistakes.
“It’s hard for me to see you as a man, honestly. Unless you actually tried to appeal to me as one.”
He hesitated, then asked quietly,
“As a man, then… if I tried to seduce you, would you fall for me?”
I thought about our past and shook my head primly.
“Now that I think about it, probably not.”

Before I could react, Cheodore walked toward me with quick, determined steps. I flinched, backing up in my chair.
“Think again, Bangul. Give me a chance.”
His low voice was almost a whisper as he bent down to meet my eyes.
“What kind of man do you like? I’m confident I can seduce you.”
He gently took my wrist and pressed his lips against my pulse.
“I like men who are considerate and kind.”
I quickly added,
“Men who respect me.”
Men who looked beautiful when they cried were my type too—but I didn’t mention that.

‘I heard that an Asian-looking woman was adopted into the Rubiche family. I thought maybe… but I never imagined it would be you. I wasn’t crazy after all.’

I could still vividly recall the first time we met in this world—his tear-streaked face at the party when he took my hand. I’d been so startled and confused, but that crying face had left an impression.
His tongue slipped out between his lips, pressing gently against my wrist. I startled and yanked my hand away.
He only grinned, unfazed.
His lips glistened red; his shirt was partly undone. For all his angelic looks—silver hair, golden eyes—his aura was anything but holy. It was sinful. Seductive.
“I’ll become the kind of man you want.”
He buttoned his shirt neatly again and smiled beautifully.
“Just… don’t abandon me.”
He knelt on one knee before me, placing his hands gently on my knees, looking up with aching eyes. He definitely knew this kind of thing was my weakness.
His face was absolutely my type. I sighed and pushed him away lightly.
He raised his hands in surrender and stepped back.
“Don’t get your hopes up. I’m not going to fall for your charm.”
He smiled anyway, unbothered.
“I won’t hope. Just… don’t reject me.”
I didn’t bother replying. He only kept smiling sweetly at me.

After classes ended at the Imperial Academy, I stayed behind with Lady Armand of House Obidos to prepare for the university entrance exams.
The problem was the other noble ladies who clearly disapproved.
“As expected of lowborn blood—wasting time trying to enter a university.”
At that, I snapped my quill in two. The daily snide remarks had finally worn me down. Armand grabbed my arm in alarm, but I was already on my feet, facing the girl.
Standing by the door were Lady Serinne of House Serinne and her clique—the ones who’d been spreading nasty rumors about me being vulgar and dangerous.

“Lady Serinne.”
She frowned at the sound of her name, her crimson hair gleaming under the light. I remembered her recent interview with the Alpine Gazette.
‘Everything You Need to Know About Lady Rubiche!’—that was the headline. What had she said again?

‘Lady Rubiche? She’s utterly lacking in refinement. Given her unclear origins, is it any surprise? She claims to have memory loss, but who knows? Maybe she’s pretending. Who can say what she was doing in the Kingdom of Neiden? Just look at how she bewitched Prince Reynold…’

I couldn’t recall every word, but it was something like that. Her interview had caused such an uproar that my adoptive father and Rioel had nearly gone to war over it.
But in this society, there’s no such thing as defamation, and nobles insulting other nobles isn’t even a crime—so there was nothing we could do legally.

“What is it? You called me, so speak.”
Serinne crossed her arms, looking down at me with arrogant disdain.
Why couldn’t she just leave me alone? I sighed softly.
“Why do you think going to university is a waste of time, Lady Serinne?”
“Why should I explain that to you?”
“Ah, I see. You must be used to speaking in riddles only you understand. The ladies around you must find it exhausting.”
I rested my cheek against my hand with a look of gentle concern, as if I truly pitied her friends. It was a technique I’d learned recently from my etiquette instructor.

The other girls fell silent, uncertain whose side to take.
Serinne’s lips twisted in irritation. I tilted my head slightly.
“It’s hard, isn’t it, to explain yourself clearly? I’m sure you want to take responsibility for what you say—but it must be difficult when you lack the ability.”
I gave her a pitying smile. She stared back at me, then let out a short laugh.
“It’s not that I can’t take responsibility. I simply don’t feel obliged to explain myself to you.”
She clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“Trying to explain things to someone too dense to understand would only waste my breath.”
She turned to leave, apparently done with her little performance.

I hadn’t planned to say more, but it would’ve been a shame to let her walk away so easily.
“Lady Serinne, you should try to keep your monologues quieter. Your voice is so loud I thought you wanted to talk to me. People might think you’re ill-mannered. Do be careful.”
I said it with perfect innocence, and Armand burst into laughter beside me.
“Such rudeness! Lady Serinne, don’t bother with this lowborn!”
A girl with orange hair clenched her fists and spoke up indignantly. Whatever.

My business was done. I turned back to my seat and resumed studying with Armand.
For a while, I could feel their eyes burning into the side of my face. They whispered and gossiped before finally leaving.

“Are you all right?”
Once the room had quieted down, Armand looked at me with genuine concern.
“Lady Serinne holds considerable influence in society. I’ve heard rumors that she’s soon to be engaged to His Highness Prince Verdi. She’ll become the Crown Princess. If that happens, things could become difficult for you socially.”
The social scene didn’t mean much to me—but losing reputation and influence was another story.
“Still, sitting quietly while being insulted is foolish. Nobles call that dishonorable, don’t they?”
Armand looked conflicted. She knew how often Serinne had insulted me—calling me vulgar, ugly, and making all sorts of racist remarks.
“To overpower someone like Lady Serinne, you need strength. And I’m not exactly well-liked in society. If anything, I’m surrounded by bad rumors.”
Armand fell silent, clearly unsure how to respond.
“Praise and slander are separated by a very thin line. The harder Lady Serinne tries to drag me down, the more spectacular it’ll be when I turn the tables.”
Armand looked startled.
“Do you… have a plan?