It Turned Out to be a Useful Fraudulent Marriage Chapter 6 - 1. Precognitive dream

“You…”

 

The woman responded with a smug smile and giggling.

 

“Who was it again?”

 

At that moment, the woman’s smile faltered.

 

“You don’t remember me?!”

 

She exclaimed with a hint of embarrassment, glancing at the young ladies around her. Her smug smile disappeared.

 

“It’s me! Vivian Cavendish.”

 

Ah.

 

I curled my lips, pretending that I finally remembered her name. To be honest, I hadn’t forgotten Vivian Cavendish. I was just pretending.

 

‘You were born a commoner? Aren’t you embarrassed that your Mom, your brother, and even you cling to your stepfather and imitate nobles?’

 

Even if I had a heart of steel, wouldn’t it be hard to forget her?

 

Vivian is a girl who flaunts her presence by nature. She would consider it an insult just to be forgotten by someone like me.

 

As evidence, Vivian’s face couldn’t have turned any redder than it already was now.

 

Vivian was the daughter of Marquess Cavendish, the wealthiest man in the South.

 

I first met Vivian when my mother had just married Viscount Wedgwood. My mother desperately wanted to integrate me into society as a respectable noble lady, and for that, education was necessary.

 

Now I’m quite skilled at acting, but at that time, I couldn’t let go of my commoner’s speech, habits, and vicious personality. So, my mother spent a huge sum of money and put me in classes where young ladies in the South gathered to study etiquette.

 

And there was Vivian.

 

Vivian Cavendish. A girl who instilled a terrible prejudice against nobles in me.

 

Vivian was an honor student in the class, and she very much ignored me, the adopted daughter of the notorious Wedgwood, who was infamous even in the South.

 

Subtly tripping on my feet or pulling my hair was tolerable. There is only one thing about her that makes me unbearable, both now and then.

 

Messing with my family.

 

‘Hey. Don’t grip the teacup so rudely. It’s uncivilized. Yes, it would be perfect to get scolded by your mother-in-law. Oh, come to think of it, did you say your mother was from a commoner background? Home education must have been difficult for.’

 

Moreover, at that time, I was in the midst of stormy adolescence.

 

‘You sound like a mother-in-law. If you dare to reprimand me for holding such a cup, I’ll pour tea over anyone.’

 

I pretended to stand up and poured tea on Vivian… I was just pretending. But even that made the refined noble young lady scream and fall out.

 

‘Aaaah!’

 

The problem was that Vivian retreated on her own and accidentally stepped on the tablecloth, spilling real tea.

 

Vivian burned her toes only a little, really a little bit, but it got me kicked out of class and Mom couldn’t go to any Southern social gathering again.

 

Then I got slapped by Viscount Wedgwood and my nose bled.

 

‘You fool!’

 

A few slaps from the Viscount didn’t matter much. It was just hard to hide because I was afraid Mom would find out.

 

I spent a few days secretly icing my cheeks and nose to prevent swelling.

 

Yeah. There were days like that too.

 

The days when I reassured myself the reason I am enduring it is not because I am afraid of Viscount, but for the sake of my mother and brother. Those were the days when I only had to let go and watch as cowardice grew inside me.

 

More than poverty, it’s those days that I really hate.

 

I looked at Vivian and said calmly.

 

“I remember now, Vivian. You’re the girl who was trembling with fear of getting scalded by hot tea, right?”

 

The noble ladies around Vivian looked at each other in surprise at my words. Vivian’s face changed from red to blue.

 

“You… you!”

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

As I stood up, Vivian’s face showed an expectant expression. It seemed like she was waiting for me to crawl, speaking in such a manner.

 

I smiled mischievously and said, “It’s not nice to see you either.”

 

Vivian’s friends and even Lily burst out into laughter at my words.

 

Vivian gave Lily a menacing look. If it were Vivian’s personality, she might have hit Lily right away. I quickly changed the subject because I didn’t want her to get into trouble because of me.

 

“I have to go see my mom. When I heard those screams, I thought my mom was being assassinated by one of her employees. I’ll take my leave now. Vivian.”

 

It was while I was tidying the hem of my dress.

 

Vivian, who was quite agitated, said to me, “I heard your mother has finally lined up her fifth marriage. Oh my. To the Duke Orleans at that. All the nobles in the capital are betting on whether your mother’s marriage will last a year or not. We were just discussing that.”

 

Vivian exchanged glances with the ladies behind her with a look on her face determined to humiliate me.

 

The ladies giggled while looking at me.

 

I glanced upstairs where my mother was still screaming.

 

If it were before, I would have endured it because I thought of my mother, who was on the verge of marrying Duke Orleans. For the sake of my mother and brother.

 

But now it was different.

 

I looked at Vivian’s enticing hair and came up with a devious plan.

 

I whispered to Lily. “Lily, I have a favor to ask you.”

 

“Yes, I would have the carriage standby…”

 

“No, it’s not that. Please try to divert my mother’s attention if possible. Just for ten minutes. Ten minutes. And please, never disclose the conversation that took place here between Lady Vivian and me.”

 

“You, what are you…?”

 

That was when Vivian frowned as she heard my voice.

 

Instead of answering, I moved my hand first.

 

“Aaaahhh!”

 

Soon, Vivian’s screams echoed through his clothing store.

 

The pitiful Vivian Cavendish’s lovely hair turned into just a handful of protein, scattering on the carpet of the shop that day.

 

✵ ✵ ✵

 

People in my social circle gave me this nickname after the incident at the dress store that day.

 

‘Southern Lynx.’

 

A Southern Wildcat is much better than a Southern Bumpkin!

 

I felt proud, but Mom was about to faint the moment she heard this nickname.

 

Of course, even on that day, my mother rushed down upon hearing Vivian’s screams and tried to apologize to Vivian. But Vivian refused to accept my mother’s apology and shouted that she would send formal letters not only to our mansion but also to Duke Orleans.

 

My mother was so shocked by those words and couldn’t even scold me properly. She was carried away in the carriage with her face turning white.

 

The next morning, Philip and I took a carriage to Duke Orleans’ residence.

 

“Why on earth did you do such a thing? Why?! Have you gone mad? You’ve been living quietly until now! Have you been living too quietly? So something just snapped in your head? Like reason or thought or some concept?!”

 

Since Mom was still lying down in the mansion to cool off her temper, it was just Philip and I in the carriage.

 

Throughout the ride, Philip kept berating me terribly, but I let it go in one ear and out the other.

 

‘It would break off the engagement.’

 

Not only Vivian, but all the ladies who were Vivian’s friends would have omitted Vivian’s verbal abuse towards me and only mentioned my assault to their family.

 

The rumors must have already spread like wildfire, and by now, countless vassals of the Orleans household would have already sent letters to the Duke demanding a breakup.

 

‘Accepting a woman like Emeline as a daughter is a disgrace to the Orleans family!’

 

They would have said such things, the noble snobs.

 

That’s all.

 

Yesterday, Lily went to inform the Orleans about the situation right after the incident and was no different from the Orleans’ loyal dog. Especially after my mother, in a state of shock upon hearing the rumors, begged Lily for secrecy, even offering her a significant sum of money. But if Lily were to divulge that information to the Duke…

 

‘Perfect. I’m sure the entire Orleans household has figured what a terrible family we are.’

 

I began to laugh, and Philip, who had been poking me, suddenly fell silent.

 

He gazed at me intently, then suddenly spoke in a tender voice.

 

“Honestly, tell me… Did Vivian say something strange to you again? Or did the first blow come from her side? So you’re laughing even though you’re doing this crazy thing, right?”

 

I met Philip’s earnest gaze.

 

“Something strange?”

 

“Yeah. Like cursing at you, saying mean things, or subtly pinching your arms, just like she did during classes.”

 

“Did you know she was pinching my arm back then?”

 

When I raised my eyes, Philip coughed and avoided my eyes.

 

At that time, I thought Philip was too preoccupied with pestering other young ladies during classes to care about me.

 

“Of course. Every time she did that, I secretly gave her maid money to mix a little laxative into her snacks.”

 

Ah, this stupid Philip. As if that maid would mix anything into their mistress’s snacks! She probably just claimed she did.

 

Philip was certainly skilled at wasting money.

 

I looked at Philip with disdain.

 

But then, an image of my pitiful brother covered in blood from being shot by Baldrick overlapped with Philip’s face.

 

Because of that, the affection for my brother that I felt for the first time in my life suddenly welled up inside me.

 

“So tell me quickly. She must have done something weird first! Otherwise, why would you suddenly grab her hair? If you tell the Duke this, I have plans…”

 

I snorted at Philip’s words.

 

“Why?”

 

“What?”

 

“Why couldn’t I have pulled her hair out first? She was always like that. She bullied me first, spoke harshly to me first, and pinched me first for no reason. But why can’t I do the same without any reason? Ah, is it because I’m a commoner?”

 

I glanced at Philip. I saw Philip fold his shoulders in surprise.

 

My brother was only needlessly broad in his shoulders.

 

“You, really… Did you just do that without any reason? Did you hurt your head or something?”

 

“No?”

 

“Then why would you do that?! We’re about to become the Duke’s son and daughter! You fool!” Philip shouted.

 

Our bodies jolted as the carriage stopped.

 

While Philip hastily adjusted himself, the carriage door opened.

 

I made eye contact with Duke Orleans and his son, Eric, who were standing outside.

 

Four crimson pupils poured onto me. At that moment, I murmured to Philip.

 

“In truth, there was no reason…”

 

But Philip appeared to not have heard me and walked out of the carriage with a disgusting smile on his face.

 

I looked at his back and prayed earnestly. Please let that psycho let go of my family.

 

But as soon as I took Philip’s hand and stood in front of Duke Orleans, all hope was shattered by the Duke’s bright smile and his words.

 

“A visit to the Duke’s mansion from early in the morning. You must have been worried, Emeline, Philip. No need to worry. The matter with the Marquess has been settled”

 

Shit.

 

I momentarily forgot something.

 

The Orleans household is a family with insane wealth capable of instantly quelling any negative rumors in society with one blow.

 

As I sighed, Eric, who was standing behind the Duke, looked at me with cold eyes.

 

Why?! What are you looking at?

 

I suppressed the urge to confront him and politely greeted him instead.

 

Considering that the Duke’s obsession was so great, it became clear that a much grander scheme was needed to break off the engagement.

 

A huge scheme that would utterly shatter this marriage.