Episode 42. My Ex-Husband's Wedding Invitation
“Eric, I think your mother really likes me.”
“What a prickly person.”
“Just as I captured your heart, I captured your mother’s heart in an instant.”
She couldn't believe she was getting married tomorrow. An unexpected, sudden scenario flashed through her mind. Doana had envisioned the typical response: Eric's mother coming to visit, slapping her in the face and threatening her, or offering her money to urge her to leave. She had envisioned the typical Korean soap opera. But none of that happened to Doana.
'No matter how much I think about it, I'm definitely the main character in the novel.'
Otherwise, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly. Doana hummed as she approached Eric. She sat down on his lap, still sitting sullenly.
“Aren’t you excited? You’re getting married tomorrow.”
“Is it because I’ve already done it once?”
...Oh my, really. There's nothing he can't say to the woman he's going to marry. She wasn't feeling particularly good, but today, she didn't make a fuss and just let it go.
'If it's marriage, I've already been married once.'
Of course, not in the novel, but in Korea.
'It won't be much different from then. This novel was written by a Korean, after all.'
Weddings were really the same. The only difference was the amount of money invested, but the essence was the same. Entering, greetings, exchanging vows, watching a celebratory performance, taking pictures, and eating. It seemed like there were no cameras in this world, but... Doana stared at the large portrait of Rose and Eric hanging in the center of the room. Rose was wearing a wedding dress, perhaps painted on their wedding day. The hanging painting was remarkably similar to the real thing. Doana muttered as she looked up at the painting.
At Doana's words, Moniblanc's chief designer blurted out a meaningful comment.
“Well, if you want, I can make you stand out more than anyone else at the wedding hall tomorrow.”
"You're stating the obvious. I'm the star of tomorrow. So you should make it even more spectacular than the others. Doesn't a senior designer even have that level of basics?"
Doana condescendingly spoke to the designer. The Moniblanc designer was the daughter of a prominent family. Therefore, she couldn't stand being treated so poorly by a maid of mere commoner origin. However,
'Since it's a request from Sister Tercia, I'll let it slide this time.'
She tried to suppress the anger that was welling up to her chin. For Tercia, her regular customer and close acquaintance.
“Well, anything in excess isn’t good, right?”
"You don't know. When it comes to weddings, it's always better to go overboard. Something flashy and sparkly. If you keep it moderate, it won't even show the expense."
Doana reiterated her sentiments, recalling the extravagant wedding she'd held in Korea. The Moniblanc designer smiled broadly, promising to do whatever she wanted.
“Have you been there?”
Rose, who was alone in the Serviat mansion, went downstairs when she heard the door open. The Serviat couple entered with complex expressions on their faces.
“Eric, I think your mother really likes me.”
“What a prickly person.”
“Just as I captured your heart, I captured your mother’s heart in an instant.”
She couldn't believe she was getting married tomorrow. An unexpected, sudden scenario flashed through her mind. Doana had envisioned the typical response: Eric's mother coming to visit, slapping her in the face and threatening her, or offering her money to urge her to leave. She had envisioned the typical Korean soap opera. But none of that happened to Doana.
'No matter how much I think about it, I'm definitely the main character in the novel.'
Otherwise, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly. Doana hummed as she approached Eric. She sat down on his lap, still sitting sullenly.
“Aren’t you excited? You’re getting married tomorrow.”
“Is it because I’ve already done it once?”
...Oh my, really. There's nothing he can't say to the woman he's going to marry. She wasn't feeling particularly good, but today, she didn't make a fuss and just let it go.
'If it's marriage, I've already been married once.'
Of course, not in the novel, but in Korea.
'It won't be much different from then. This novel was written by a Korean, after all.'
Weddings were really the same. The only difference was the amount of money invested, but the essence was the same. Entering, greetings, exchanging vows, watching a celebratory performance, taking pictures, and eating. It seemed like there were no cameras in this world, but... Doana stared at the large portrait of Rose and Eric hanging in the center of the room. Rose was wearing a wedding dress, perhaps painted on their wedding day. The hanging painting was remarkably similar to the real thing. Doana muttered as she looked up at the painting.
"But shouldn't you take that picture down now? You're about to be a newlywed. It's just weird having your ex-wife's picture hanging there."
At Doana's words, Eric's gaze shifted upward. It was a painting he'd forgotten about. Looking at the portrait after so long brought back memories of Rose's wedding day. Rose, wearing a pristine white dress, smiled shyly.
'It was really beautiful that day.'
Eric frowned at the thought that had crossed his mind without him knowing.
'What were you thinking? Was she pretty? That stupid woman?'
He immediately denied his thoughts.
'You're lost in memories and think about all sorts of useless things.'
Apparently, his memory had been embellished. Eric called a servant into his room.
“Put that away.”
"Yes."
"Don't throw it away, you clean it up," Doana asked, just in case.
“Clean up? Where to?”
“There is a warehouse where things are stored.”
'Just in case' turned out to be 'as expected'.
'No, why don't you just throw it away and put it in storage?'
She didn't understand. The man she was about to marry seemed to still have feelings for his ex-wife.
"How can you store something that big? Wouldn't it be better to just burn it?"
Doana surreptitiously linked her arm with Eric's and whispered softly. She succeeded in removing the portrait, but she couldn't quite burn it.
“Burn it? You dare burn a painting with my face on it?”
Eric's reaction was more defiant than expected. Doana looked at Eric's face, hoping to appease him.
“Oh, no. That’s not what I meant.”
Doana, facing Eric, forced herself to swallow the words rising to her chin. Eric's expression, staring at her, was frighteningly cold.
'I guess burning a painting has some kind of significance here.'
The novel and the Korean sentiment didn't match. That's why Doana took a step back. There was no benefit to offending Eric. The servant, who had been holding the painting, looked at Eric. Eric spoke to him coldly.
“What are you doing? Don’t bring it to the warehouse.”
"All right."
The servant nodded and staggered out of the room, carrying the huge painting.
“Relax. You’ll get wrinkles on your handsome face.”
Doana acted cute and gave Eric a light kiss on the cheek.
“Hmm. Still feeling bad? Should I make you feel better?”
Doana wrapped her arms seductively around Eric's neck. Then, her eyes swept over him provocatively. She pressed her lips stickily against Eric's body. His forehead, nose, cheek, and neck. Doana, who had been straddling Eric's legs, rose from her seat. She gently pushed aside the chair Eric was sitting on and knelt down. Submissiveness was one of Eric's favorite qualities. Doana knelt before Eric and blinked her long eyelashes. Was it working? Eric's gaze had certainly softened. If only he could take her to bed like this... The room was as warm as if a fireplace had been lit. Doana and Eric exchanged sticky glances without saying a word. Then, an oblivious servant knocked on Eric's door.
"Count, is Doana here? A guest has come to measure her for tomorrow's dress."
Doana, who had been kneeling quietly, suddenly stood up from her seat.
“Oh my, I think the designer you sent has already arrived!”
Doana closed her eyes, unable to hide the expression on her face. Eric was the only one feeling regret. Eric grabbed Doana by the waist as she stood before him. He then forced her onto his lap.
“Do you really have to go now?”
Eric's hand wrapped around Doana's waist. His face flushed, and he looked at her. Judging by the way his eyes slightly fluttered open, Doana's seduction had been quite provocative. Truthfully, it hadn't even been three minutes, so he could have feigned defeat and given in to Eric, but she didn't want to do that now. Getting the wedding dress she was going to wear tomorrow was more important than trying to please Eric and pretending to be nice.
At Doana's words, Eric's gaze shifted upward. It was a painting he'd forgotten about. Looking at the portrait after so long brought back memories of Rose's wedding day. Rose, wearing a pristine white dress, smiled shyly.
'It was really beautiful that day.'
Eric frowned at the thought that had crossed his mind without him knowing.
'What were you thinking? Was she pretty? That stupid woman?'
He immediately denied his thoughts.
'You're lost in memories and think about all sorts of useless things.'
Apparently, his memory had been embellished. Eric called a servant into his room.
“Put that away.”
"Yes."
"Don't throw it away, you clean it up," Doana asked, just in case.
“Clean up? Where to?”
“There is a warehouse where things are stored.”
'Just in case' turned out to be 'as expected'.
'No, why don't you just throw it away and put it in storage?'
She didn't understand. The man she was about to marry seemed to still have feelings for his ex-wife.
"How can you store something that big? Wouldn't it be better to just burn it?"
Doana surreptitiously linked her arm with Eric's and whispered softly. She succeeded in removing the portrait, but she couldn't quite burn it.
“Burn it? You dare burn a painting with my face on it?”
Eric's reaction was more defiant than expected. Doana looked at Eric's face, hoping to appease him.
“Oh, no. That’s not what I meant.”
Doana, facing Eric, forced herself to swallow the words rising to her chin. Eric's expression, staring at her, was frighteningly cold.
'I guess burning a painting has some kind of significance here.'
The novel and the Korean sentiment didn't match. That's why Doana took a step back. There was no benefit to offending Eric. The servant, who had been holding the painting, looked at Eric. Eric spoke to him coldly.
“What are you doing? Don’t bring it to the warehouse.”
"All right."
The servant nodded and staggered out of the room, carrying the huge painting.
“Relax. You’ll get wrinkles on your handsome face.”
Doana acted cute and gave Eric a light kiss on the cheek.
“Hmm. Still feeling bad? Should I make you feel better?”
Doana wrapped her arms seductively around Eric's neck. Then, her eyes swept over him provocatively. She pressed her lips stickily against Eric's body. His forehead, nose, cheek, and neck. Doana, who had been straddling Eric's legs, rose from her seat. She gently pushed aside the chair Eric was sitting on and knelt down. Submissiveness was one of Eric's favorite qualities. Doana knelt before Eric and blinked her long eyelashes. Was it working? Eric's gaze had certainly softened. If only he could take her to bed like this... The room was as warm as if a fireplace had been lit. Doana and Eric exchanged sticky glances without saying a word. Then, an oblivious servant knocked on Eric's door.
"Count, is Doana here? A guest has come to measure her for tomorrow's dress."
Doana, who had been kneeling quietly, suddenly stood up from her seat.
“Oh my, I think the designer you sent has already arrived!”
Doana closed her eyes, unable to hide the expression on her face. Eric was the only one feeling regret. Eric grabbed Doana by the waist as she stood before him. He then forced her onto his lap.
“Do you really have to go now?”
Eric's hand wrapped around Doana's waist. His face flushed, and he looked at her. Judging by the way his eyes slightly fluttered open, Doana's seduction had been quite provocative. Truthfully, it hadn't even been three minutes, so he could have feigned defeat and given in to Eric, but she didn't want to do that now. Getting the wedding dress she was going to wear tomorrow was more important than trying to please Eric and pretending to be nice.
“They're a guest sent by my mother, so I can’t keep you waiting long.”
Doana, using the excuse of Tercia, slipped out of Eric's embrace. Eric's expression, licking his lips in disappointment, didn't matter. With a bright expression, she followed the servant to the reception room. Doana walked with more confidence than ever.
“Well, I heard the former Countess liked Doana.”
“Is that true?”
“Yeah. I heard that as soon as you saw Doana, you said you wanted to set up a wedding tomorrow?”
“Oh my god. What is going on?”
“It really only takes a moment for her status to rise.”
Doana, using the excuse of Tercia, slipped out of Eric's embrace. Eric's expression, licking his lips in disappointment, didn't matter. With a bright expression, she followed the servant to the reception room. Doana walked with more confidence than ever.
“Well, I heard the former Countess liked Doana.”
“Is that true?”
“Yeah. I heard that as soon as you saw Doana, you said you wanted to set up a wedding tomorrow?”
“Oh my god. What is going on?”
“It really only takes a moment for her status to rise.”
“If it’s Doana, then I can have a chance too, right?”
“Ugh. Don’t talk nonsense.”
The entire mansion was abuzz with talk about Doana and Eric, as Tercia had instructed them to prepare for Eric's wedding tomorrow. Everyone assumed Doana would be the bride tomorrow, as Tercia had ordered her to prepare for the wedding the moment she arrived.
“Ugh. Don’t talk nonsense.”
The entire mansion was abuzz with talk about Doana and Eric, as Tercia had instructed them to prepare for Eric's wedding tomorrow. Everyone assumed Doana would be the bride tomorrow, as Tercia had ordered her to prepare for the wedding the moment she arrived.
Doana smiled triumphantly, glancing at the people whispering to her. Among them were quite a few who had previously ignored her. When they met Doana's eyes, they averted their gaze, startled as if they had seen a ghost.
“You should have been nicer to me in the first place. You’ve already been caught.”
She muttered to herself and walked with a thumping step. Upon arriving at the reception room, the servants politely opened the door for her. Doana felt a sense of pride at being treated so well. Without lifting a finger, she opened the door and walked in leisurely. The servants had already prepared a cushion for her to sit on, along with finger foods and her recent favorite, rooibos tea. Doana's pride rose even higher at the sight of them being so readily prepared without her even having to say a word.
'Yes, this is the taste of power.'
The servants were busy checking to see if she needed anything else or if she was feeling any discomfort. She smiled for no reason as she watched them carefully. Most people used to ignore her...
'I guess you're going to try to stand in line now.'
Even before she could assume the title of Countess, she had already kicked out Gwen and divorced Rose. The servants of this mansion would know better than anyone what would happen if she were to gain power.
“Hello. I am the head designer at Moniblanc.”
“You should have been nicer to me in the first place. You’ve already been caught.”
She muttered to herself and walked with a thumping step. Upon arriving at the reception room, the servants politely opened the door for her. Doana felt a sense of pride at being treated so well. Without lifting a finger, she opened the door and walked in leisurely. The servants had already prepared a cushion for her to sit on, along with finger foods and her recent favorite, rooibos tea. Doana's pride rose even higher at the sight of them being so readily prepared without her even having to say a word.
'Yes, this is the taste of power.'
The servants were busy checking to see if she needed anything else or if she was feeling any discomfort. She smiled for no reason as she watched them carefully. Most people used to ignore her...
'I guess you're going to try to stand in line now.'
Even before she could assume the title of Countess, she had already kicked out Gwen and divorced Rose. The servants of this mansion would know better than anyone what would happen if she were to gain power.
“Hello. I am the head designer at Moniblanc.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Doana.”
Doana nodded haughtily at the designer who was greeting her. Moniblanc's chief designer's eyes narrowed, but only for a moment. She smiled and spoke to Doana.
“Oh my, your proportions are great. You’ll look good in anything you wear.”
"That's true, but please make it as extravagant as possible. It's a one-time wedding, so it can't look like it's nothing."
Even in her previous wedding, she had always preferred the finest. She held her wedding at a famously expensive hotel in Korea, and even rented a dress so expensive it was unattainable for the average person. Her parents cut off support, so she had to pay for the wedding with Lee Do-hyun's money. While there were certainly some issues, he ultimately gave her everything she wanted.
Doana nodded haughtily at the designer who was greeting her. Moniblanc's chief designer's eyes narrowed, but only for a moment. She smiled and spoke to Doana.
“Oh my, your proportions are great. You’ll look good in anything you wear.”
"That's true, but please make it as extravagant as possible. It's a one-time wedding, so it can't look like it's nothing."
Even in her previous wedding, she had always preferred the finest. She held her wedding at a famously expensive hotel in Korea, and even rented a dress so expensive it was unattainable for the average person. Her parents cut off support, so she had to pay for the wedding with Lee Do-hyun's money. While there were certainly some issues, he ultimately gave her everything she wanted.
“It’s so splendid...”
At Doana's words, Moniblanc's chief designer blurted out a meaningful comment.
“Well, if you want, I can make you stand out more than anyone else at the wedding hall tomorrow.”
"You're stating the obvious. I'm the star of tomorrow. So you should make it even more spectacular than the others. Doesn't a senior designer even have that level of basics?"
Doana condescendingly spoke to the designer. The Moniblanc designer was the daughter of a prominent family. Therefore, she couldn't stand being treated so poorly by a maid of mere commoner origin. However,
'Since it's a request from Sister Tercia, I'll let it slide this time.'
She tried to suppress the anger that was welling up to her chin. For Tercia, her regular customer and close acquaintance.
“Well, anything in excess isn’t good, right?”
"You don't know. When it comes to weddings, it's always better to go overboard. Something flashy and sparkly. If you keep it moderate, it won't even show the expense."
Doana reiterated her sentiments, recalling the extravagant wedding she'd held in Korea. The Moniblanc designer smiled broadly, promising to do whatever she wanted.
***
“Have you been there?”
Rose, who was alone in the Serviat mansion, went downstairs when she heard the door open. The Serviat couple entered with complex expressions on their faces.
“What happened?”
Rose looked at their expressions, which seemed a bit shaky, and asked worriedly.
“Should I say this...”
“What good is this? You’d better not tell Rose.”
In contrast to Rivera, who was hesitating whether to speak or not, Demon spoke with a firmness of voice. He said he would wash first, and then reiterated his warning not to speak, before entering the bathroom.
“Mother, what’s going on?”
“Your father told me not to tell you... I don’t think it’s necessary to tell you this either.”
Rivera kept her mouth shut, refusing to open it. Perhaps it was because of her developed intuition skills for surviving in novels, but Rose could tell without a word who was causing her to react that way.
“I know Eric is involved.”
“Oh, how did you know?”
In Korea, she'd been called a bear, let alone noticed, but she'd gotten it right. At Rose's words, Rivera's eyes trembled like aspen leaves. With the divorce already in hand, there was only one thing she could hide: Eric's remarriage. If a friend's husband had remarried just one day after his divorce, she would have thought she had to hide it, too.
“Everyone already knows that Eric is remarrying.”
Rose didn't know anything, but she pretended to know and spoke. And Rivera fell for Rose's trick.
“Oh, did you know?”
"No. I didn't know, but seeing my mother's reaction just now made it clear."
Rose nodded, contrary to her true feelings. She hadn't really liked him anyway, so it hadn't really hurt.
“Yeah. Since everyone already knows, what’s there to hide?”
Rivera handed something to Rose, who had a calm expression. It was an invitation.
It was the second time she'd seen her husband's wedding invitation. This time, it was her "ex-husband," so she was relieved. Rose stared silently at the names written on the invitation. Groom Eric de Wence, and bride...
“...Huh?”
Rose tilted her head as she read the bride's name. She had naturally assumed it would be Doana's. But the groom, Eric de Wence, and the bride, Beliana Diker, were listed on the wedding invitation. Doana's name was listed as another woman's.
Rose looked at their expressions, which seemed a bit shaky, and asked worriedly.
“Should I say this...”
“What good is this? You’d better not tell Rose.”
In contrast to Rivera, who was hesitating whether to speak or not, Demon spoke with a firmness of voice. He said he would wash first, and then reiterated his warning not to speak, before entering the bathroom.
“Mother, what’s going on?”
“Your father told me not to tell you... I don’t think it’s necessary to tell you this either.”
Rivera kept her mouth shut, refusing to open it. Perhaps it was because of her developed intuition skills for surviving in novels, but Rose could tell without a word who was causing her to react that way.
“I know Eric is involved.”
“Oh, how did you know?”
In Korea, she'd been called a bear, let alone noticed, but she'd gotten it right. At Rose's words, Rivera's eyes trembled like aspen leaves. With the divorce already in hand, there was only one thing she could hide: Eric's remarriage. If a friend's husband had remarried just one day after his divorce, she would have thought she had to hide it, too.
“Everyone already knows that Eric is remarrying.”
Rose didn't know anything, but she pretended to know and spoke. And Rivera fell for Rose's trick.
“Oh, did you know?”
"No. I didn't know, but seeing my mother's reaction just now made it clear."
Rose nodded, contrary to her true feelings. She hadn't really liked him anyway, so it hadn't really hurt.
“Yeah. Since everyone already knows, what’s there to hide?”
Rivera handed something to Rose, who had a calm expression. It was an invitation.
"The L,ady who was still in touch with Mom told me. She said they're getting married tomorrow."
“...Huh?”
Rose tilted her head as she read the bride's name. She had naturally assumed it would be Doana's. But the groom, Eric de Wence, and the bride, Beliana Diker, were listed on the wedding invitation. Doana's name was listed as another woman's.
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