Episode 8. A Dog Reciting Poetry for Three Years
Doana wanted to whisper in Rose's ear right now. The person she said was a good person was actually spending every night with her. Embracing her and whispering sweet nothings. Rose stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Doana's twitching expression. Her face was slightly upturned, the corners of her mouth twitching. Her eyes were playfully curved... It was the expression Gyeo-ru often made toward Byeol-ha. Gyeo-ru's face overlapped Doana's.
‘...So that’s why you often made that expression.’
Rose chuckled at the fact she'd been completely unaware of at the time. She'd always assumed that expression was just the way Gyeo-ru felt when she was in a good mood. But now, knowing everything, she saw it as a look of superiority, a look of having secretly coveted her husband. Whether the male protagonist in the novel slept with Doana or not didn't matter to Rose. She didn't find Eric attractive at all, and the female protagonist's position was a thorny one, nothing more, nothing less. She simply felt indignant at Doana repeating the same behavior.
'What on earth did you like about this woman? Why on earth... why did you marry me?'
She couldn't understand. If only he'd dumped her before they got married and gone to Gyeo-ru, she wouldn't have been so hurt... Thinking of Lee Do-hyun, whom she had always believed she would spend the rest of her life with, a part of her heart ached. She doesn't know about others, but she always lived believing that her boyfriend, her husband, would never do that. He was kinder and considerate than anyone else when they were dating. They were the perfect couple, the envy of everyone.
“Rose?”
Doana called out her name, perhaps because Rose was looking at her with a blank expression. Only then did Rose open her mouth to address Doana.
“Ah. The earrings are so pretty, I had to look at them closely.”
“Right? How did you manage to prepare earrings that are just the right level for me?”
At Rose's words, Doana smiled broadly, revealing her white teeth. She seemed delighted that Rose was envious, as she kept fiddling with her ears.
“But how did you meet your boyfriend?”
Rose looked at Doana, her eyes trying to hide her cold gaze. She seemed pleased with Rose's curiosity about her boyfriend and answered in a clear voice.
“Was I just drawn to him by fate?”
Doana didn't go into detail about how they met, but simply said that meeting him was fate.
“Just. Everything is great. He’s really the perfect person.”
Then, she folded her eyes into crescent moons and glanced at Rose. She was wearing a maid's uniform now, but...
'That seat is mine, Rose.'
Doana smiled wickedly, her dark intentions unconcerned. She had, in fact, seized the position of government official. But a government official was no match for Doana's sexuality. She had captured Eric's heart and was acting as his concubine, but that was all. There were no fancy dresses, no extravagant lifestyles, just nights spent together.
Doana wanted to whisper in Rose's ear right now. The person she said was a good person was actually spending every night with her. Embracing her and whispering sweet nothings. Rose stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Doana's twitching expression. Her face was slightly upturned, the corners of her mouth twitching. Her eyes were playfully curved... It was the expression Gyeo-ru often made toward Byeol-ha. Gyeo-ru's face overlapped Doana's.
‘...So that’s why you often made that expression.’
Rose chuckled at the fact she'd been completely unaware of at the time. She'd always assumed that expression was just the way Gyeo-ru felt when she was in a good mood. But now, knowing everything, she saw it as a look of superiority, a look of having secretly coveted her husband. Whether the male protagonist in the novel slept with Doana or not didn't matter to Rose. She didn't find Eric attractive at all, and the female protagonist's position was a thorny one, nothing more, nothing less. She simply felt indignant at Doana repeating the same behavior.
'What on earth did you like about this woman? Why on earth... why did you marry me?'
She couldn't understand. If only he'd dumped her before they got married and gone to Gyeo-ru, she wouldn't have been so hurt... Thinking of Lee Do-hyun, whom she had always believed she would spend the rest of her life with, a part of her heart ached. She doesn't know about others, but she always lived believing that her boyfriend, her husband, would never do that. He was kinder and considerate than anyone else when they were dating. They were the perfect couple, the envy of everyone.
“Rose?”
Doana called out her name, perhaps because Rose was looking at her with a blank expression. Only then did Rose open her mouth to address Doana.
“Ah. The earrings are so pretty, I had to look at them closely.”
“Right? How did you manage to prepare earrings that are just the right level for me?”
At Rose's words, Doana smiled broadly, revealing her white teeth. She seemed delighted that Rose was envious, as she kept fiddling with her ears.
“But how did you meet your boyfriend?”
Rose looked at Doana, her eyes trying to hide her cold gaze. She seemed pleased with Rose's curiosity about her boyfriend and answered in a clear voice.
“Was I just drawn to him by fate?”
Doana didn't go into detail about how they met, but simply said that meeting him was fate.
“Just. Everything is great. He’s really the perfect person.”
Then, she folded her eyes into crescent moons and glanced at Rose. She was wearing a maid's uniform now, but...
'That seat is mine, Rose.'
Doana smiled wickedly, her dark intentions unconcerned. She had, in fact, seized the position of government official. But a government official was no match for Doana's sexuality. She had captured Eric's heart and was acting as his concubine, but that was all. There were no fancy dresses, no extravagant lifestyles, just nights spent together.
When she'd expressed her desire to wear a fancy dress like Rose, Eric had simply told her to wait. He'd promise to give her everything when the time came. While she wasn't entirely happy with those words, she had a plan. A way to seize the position of Countess.
'I thought my life was over because I was being held back by a guy like Lee Do-hyun.'
Doana looked around Rose's lavishly decorated room, a faint smile on her face. Who would have thought that she, a semi-chaebol, would meet the wrong man, be disowned by her parents, and end up living a life of poverty?
'You have nothing, yet you dare to impregnate me?'
It was an unwanted pregnancy. She intended to enjoy the thrills of this and that man, then enter into a political marriage with someone of her caliber.
'I should have just run away then.'
She foolishly became weak-hearted and ended up marrying Lee Do-hyun. She also wanted to see Byul-ha's face, who was always fumbling around despite being nothing, distorted so horribly... Her parents were shocked to see their daughter stealing their friend's husband and kicked her out without giving her a single penny.
"It's clear that being possessed by a book is a divine opportunity. It's so I can live up to my original standards."
Doana, wearing high heels, clattered as she stepped closer to Rose. She scanned Rose's face, which was looking at her with the innocent expression of a country girl.
'I heard Rose already had a miscarriage once. She hasn't had a child in three years.'
Already, Eric seeks out only her every night, and he doesn't seem to have any intention of going to Rose.
'Ugh... I'll make sure you never have another chance to have children again.'
Doana thought the winner of the game was already decided, and inwardly snickered at Rose. Rose frowned slightly at Doana's giggle in front of her.
'I wonder why I didn't notice this before.'
To think of such a clearly savvy child as a friend? Her past self felt somewhat foolish. Doana was lost in her superiority complex, unaware that Rose had seen through her thoughts. Then, a servant knocked on Rose's door. Knock.
"Ma'am."
“Come in.”
As Rose finished speaking, a servant cautiously opened the door and entered. He was startled to see Doana in Rose's room.
'What a shameless woman.'
How could he continue their relationship as if mocking Rose, who knew nothing? He glared at Doana with a sharp gaze and bowed his head deeply toward Rose.
“Madam, an invitation has arrived.”
“An invitation?”
Rose tilted her head at the servant's words. It was strange. In the novel, Rose never received an invitation or anything like that.
'Am I not remembering? It clearly said that Rose was a social outcast, never interacting with anyone, and only looked up to Eric.'
“Oh my, what is that?”
Before Rose could receive the invitation from the servant, Doana snatched it away. She sensed the servant's unfavorable gaze as he looked at her.
'How dare you look at me like that? If I become a Countess, you'll be fired immediately.'
She gave the servant a haughty look as if she were already a Countess, and began to read the invitation.
“You are invited to the banquet to be held in ten days.”
Rose's eyes widened at the sound coming from Doana's mouth.
“What is this?”
Doana waved the invitation with a look of great interest.
“They’re inviting me to a banquet.”
“A banquet? What are they doing there?”
“Just dress up nicely and go and make friends.”
Dressing up prettily probably meant a dress like the one Rose was wearing. Doana couldn't hide her smile as she imagined herself in that dress, confident that she would be the most beautiful person at the banquet.
“That sounds fun. Let me go too!”
Rose simply laughed at Doana, even though she had no intention of taking her. Rose spoke softly, as if trying to soothe a child.
“What should I do if I feel sorry?”
“Huh? What are you sorry about?”
“You can’t go.”
"Why?"
Doana's expression hardened suddenly, perhaps at the unexpected words. She'd assumed she could go, but hearing the word "no" from Rose's lips? Doana paused in a daze for a moment, then cleared her throat and spoke softly to Rose.
“What does it mean to have a good friend? It’s meant to be used in situations like this.”
Doana spoke to Rose as if she were doing her a favor.
"I'll go with you. A timid person like you wouldn't be able to approach people first... I'm worried you'll just waste time alone in a corner."
Her voice was soft, but there was a thorn in it. She spoke, holding Rose's shoulder affectionately.
"It'd be better if you came with me. Unlike you, I'm comfortable becoming friends with people I've just met."
Rose found it amusing that Doana was trying to persuade her to go to the banquet hall. She also barely managed to suppress her laughter at the sight of her not hesitating to slyly disparage her.
“Sorry. I’d love to, but this party is only open to invited guests.”
“Can’t you just say I’m your friend and go with you?”
“We can go together, but...”
Rose looked at Doana, her voice trailing off.
“Only nobles can enter here. Maids cannot.”
"What...?"
Rose expressed her regret towards Doana.
“If you go, you’ll just be turned away... Ah! Or would you like to become my maid? If you promise to serve me, you’ll be allowed into the banquet hall.”
Doana frowned, feeling offended by Rose's innocent expression as if she had no ill intentions.
'A maid? How dare you expect the soon-to-be countess to serve you?'
She went there to be treated well, and she had no intention of going as a maid.
“You’re not offended, are you? I was just thinking about you when I said that.”
Rose covered her mouth with one hand and gazed cautiously at Doana. To prove she meant no ill will. They say a dog in a village can recite poetry after three years. Rose found it amusing that she could mimic Doana's actions so perfectly. She'd acted like a bear before, but now she was imitating a fox.
“It’s a bit disappointing... I just feel sad.”
Doana was speechless at Rose's actions and only smiled coldly.
'Unlucky girl.'
Doana swallowed the curses she couldn't utter in front of her. She was strong with the weak, but incredibly vulnerable to the strong. Doana, who had to extract information from Rose, had no choice but to please her. Rose gave Doana a faint smile and picked up the invitation in her hand.
'Let's see who the invitation is from.'
Rose slowly read the invitation. Doana had already read the text, so that was enough. Ten days later, at 6 PM...
"...Huh?"
Rose, who was checking the invitation, couldn't believe her eyes when she saw who it was. In the original, it was the man who had never met her face-to-face, but he had sent her the invitation.
“Why is this person doing this to me?”
Rose gulped as she recalled the face she'd seen him face not long ago. Perhaps her connection with him wouldn't end after just one encounter?
“Grand Duke Artaeum...”
The person who sent the invitation to Rose was the Grand Duke of Arteum, whom she had met at the auction house.
'I thought my life was over because I was being held back by a guy like Lee Do-hyun.'
Doana looked around Rose's lavishly decorated room, a faint smile on her face. Who would have thought that she, a semi-chaebol, would meet the wrong man, be disowned by her parents, and end up living a life of poverty?
'You have nothing, yet you dare to impregnate me?'
It was an unwanted pregnancy. She intended to enjoy the thrills of this and that man, then enter into a political marriage with someone of her caliber.
'I should have just run away then.'
She foolishly became weak-hearted and ended up marrying Lee Do-hyun. She also wanted to see Byul-ha's face, who was always fumbling around despite being nothing, distorted so horribly... Her parents were shocked to see their daughter stealing their friend's husband and kicked her out without giving her a single penny.
"It's clear that being possessed by a book is a divine opportunity. It's so I can live up to my original standards."
Doana, wearing high heels, clattered as she stepped closer to Rose. She scanned Rose's face, which was looking at her with the innocent expression of a country girl.
'I heard Rose already had a miscarriage once. She hasn't had a child in three years.'
Already, Eric seeks out only her every night, and he doesn't seem to have any intention of going to Rose.
'Ugh... I'll make sure you never have another chance to have children again.'
Doana thought the winner of the game was already decided, and inwardly snickered at Rose. Rose frowned slightly at Doana's giggle in front of her.
'I wonder why I didn't notice this before.'
To think of such a clearly savvy child as a friend? Her past self felt somewhat foolish. Doana was lost in her superiority complex, unaware that Rose had seen through her thoughts. Then, a servant knocked on Rose's door. Knock.
"Ma'am."
“Come in.”
As Rose finished speaking, a servant cautiously opened the door and entered. He was startled to see Doana in Rose's room.
'What a shameless woman.'
How could he continue their relationship as if mocking Rose, who knew nothing? He glared at Doana with a sharp gaze and bowed his head deeply toward Rose.
“Madam, an invitation has arrived.”
“An invitation?”
Rose tilted her head at the servant's words. It was strange. In the novel, Rose never received an invitation or anything like that.
'Am I not remembering? It clearly said that Rose was a social outcast, never interacting with anyone, and only looked up to Eric.'
“Oh my, what is that?”
Before Rose could receive the invitation from the servant, Doana snatched it away. She sensed the servant's unfavorable gaze as he looked at her.
'How dare you look at me like that? If I become a Countess, you'll be fired immediately.'
She gave the servant a haughty look as if she were already a Countess, and began to read the invitation.
“You are invited to the banquet to be held in ten days.”
Rose's eyes widened at the sound coming from Doana's mouth.
“What is this?”
Doana waved the invitation with a look of great interest.
“They’re inviting me to a banquet.”
“A banquet? What are they doing there?”
“Just dress up nicely and go and make friends.”
Dressing up prettily probably meant a dress like the one Rose was wearing. Doana couldn't hide her smile as she imagined herself in that dress, confident that she would be the most beautiful person at the banquet.
“That sounds fun. Let me go too!”
Rose simply laughed at Doana, even though she had no intention of taking her. Rose spoke softly, as if trying to soothe a child.
“What should I do if I feel sorry?”
“Huh? What are you sorry about?”
“You can’t go.”
"Why?"
Doana's expression hardened suddenly, perhaps at the unexpected words. She'd assumed she could go, but hearing the word "no" from Rose's lips? Doana paused in a daze for a moment, then cleared her throat and spoke softly to Rose.
“What does it mean to have a good friend? It’s meant to be used in situations like this.”
Doana spoke to Rose as if she were doing her a favor.
"I'll go with you. A timid person like you wouldn't be able to approach people first... I'm worried you'll just waste time alone in a corner."
Her voice was soft, but there was a thorn in it. She spoke, holding Rose's shoulder affectionately.
"It'd be better if you came with me. Unlike you, I'm comfortable becoming friends with people I've just met."
Rose found it amusing that Doana was trying to persuade her to go to the banquet hall. She also barely managed to suppress her laughter at the sight of her not hesitating to slyly disparage her.
“Sorry. I’d love to, but this party is only open to invited guests.”
“Can’t you just say I’m your friend and go with you?”
“We can go together, but...”
Rose looked at Doana, her voice trailing off.
“Only nobles can enter here. Maids cannot.”
"What...?"
Rose expressed her regret towards Doana.
“If you go, you’ll just be turned away... Ah! Or would you like to become my maid? If you promise to serve me, you’ll be allowed into the banquet hall.”
Doana frowned, feeling offended by Rose's innocent expression as if she had no ill intentions.
'A maid? How dare you expect the soon-to-be countess to serve you?'
She went there to be treated well, and she had no intention of going as a maid.
“You’re not offended, are you? I was just thinking about you when I said that.”
Rose covered her mouth with one hand and gazed cautiously at Doana. To prove she meant no ill will. They say a dog in a village can recite poetry after three years. Rose found it amusing that she could mimic Doana's actions so perfectly. She'd acted like a bear before, but now she was imitating a fox.
“It’s a bit disappointing... I just feel sad.”
Doana was speechless at Rose's actions and only smiled coldly.
'Unlucky girl.'
Doana swallowed the curses she couldn't utter in front of her. She was strong with the weak, but incredibly vulnerable to the strong. Doana, who had to extract information from Rose, had no choice but to please her. Rose gave Doana a faint smile and picked up the invitation in her hand.
'Let's see who the invitation is from.'
Rose slowly read the invitation. Doana had already read the text, so that was enough. Ten days later, at 6 PM...
"...Huh?"
Rose, who was checking the invitation, couldn't believe her eyes when she saw who it was. In the original, it was the man who had never met her face-to-face, but he had sent her the invitation.
“Why is this person doing this to me?”
Rose gulped as she recalled the face she'd seen him face not long ago. Perhaps her connection with him wouldn't end after just one encounter?
“Grand Duke Artaeum...”
The person who sent the invitation to Rose was the Grand Duke of Arteum, whom she had met at the auction house.
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