Chapter 18: I took away Yeju's first love.
Her tense demeanor reminded me of my former self.
The weak me who couldn't pull myself together after Tatyana took away my fiancés, like a defeated soldier.
"Have you heard the story of someone who had their fourth fiancé taken away by Tatyana, who had already taken three others?"
Even though her shop was failing, being on Berry Street, she must have heard about me.
Her eyes widened as if the memories were slowly coming back.
"That was me. Do you still think I would be on that girl's side?"
I clearly revealed my past to her.
Nivea, who had sat down again, seemed much calmer.
Perhaps she thought of me as a comrade who had been attacked by Tatyana.
She drank water repeatedly and let out a long breath.
"Yes. I believe Freya's family wouldn't harm me, so I'll trust them."
"Speaking of Tatyana, what happened between you and her?"
Nivea swept her wrinkled face with one hand.
She seemed quite tense and found it hard to speak.
I sat calmly and waited for her.
How much time had passed?
"A few years ago, about three years, I think. One day, the Duchess appeared and proposed a business deal to me."
The conditions weren't bad. She said she would establish a brand for her and leave the management and other aspects entirely to me.
"But there was a reason I refused."
"I wanted to pass my boutique to my daughter. She's also a perfumer. But the Duchess said she couldn't accept that condition."
Artisans often passed their shops down through generations.
That's why, when collaborating with them, it was a rule not to interfere with their business to respect their pride.
"But the Duchess got angry. She asked why I wouldn't listen to her."
Nivea, recalling that moment, swept her face as if in distress.
"I'm not sure, but she was really angry. She even threatened to ruin me completely."
"She's still as stubborn as ever."
And she really did ruin everything Nivea had.
People stopped coming to her shop, and suppliers refused to deliver goods.
Not long after, Nivea learned that Tatyana was behind all this.
And once again, she received a call.
Unlike the first contract, this one included a clause that all the recipes she created would belong to the Duchess.
"Refusing that led to this situation. Even the people on this street won't talk to me. It's as if I did something terrible to the Duchess."
Hearing Nivea's words, I recalled my own appearance during my academy days.
I didn't strongly oppose Tatyana's actions, but somehow, bad rumors never stopped.
'Is it the power of the bracelet, or is Tatyana just that smart? It must be one of the two.'
Thinking about the tough years, Nivea sank into her chair.
Staring blankly out the window, she saw her old, dilapidated shop, which didn't fit in with the glamorous street at all.
"I don't know why you came, but I'm about to leave this street. I'm tired of it."
"So you're running away?"
"Is there a way? I don't think so. After all, you also had your fiancés taken away by that woman, right?"
I wanted to run away many times.
The news of Karina's fourth engagement being broken was quite shocking to her, who had been holding out.
It made her realize how much power Tatyana held, even the Pioneers' Dukedom couldn't handle it.
And she, a commoner who had crossed such a powerful family, understood she could do nothing more.
I couldn't blame Nivea for feeling that way.
I was tired of Tatyana's tyranny.
I was annoyed by her baseless torment, but I thought I could just ignore it.
I endured and suppressed it, but then Aster appeared before me.
He held my hand and urged me to seek revenge.
"Have you not heard the recent rumors?"
"I'm seeing the Emperor. I might even become the Empress."
Nivea's mouth opened wide at my words.
"Do you think a mere Duchess can challenge the authority of the Empress? I don't think so."
I thought my reputation was quite grand, but it seemed she hadn't heard.
I decided to tell her directly about my worth.
That there was someone who wouldn't fear Tatyana.
"Huh. Are you telling me to use my business to seek revenge?"
But her response was more conservative than I expected.
I hadn't anticipated this reaction.
Artisans who had delved deeply into their field revered their businesses.
So, she must have felt an instinctive aversion to using her business for personal gain.
"Is that bad? She used her position to ruin your business."
"Now, someone has come to give you a chance. You can revive your ruined business and show everyone your success. You can even spit in Tatyana's face, who thought she had trampled you. And all while her surroundings praise and use your products."
It wasn't a bad proposal for Nivea.
In fact, I wanted to do business, not seek revenge first.
But if the business thrived, Tatyana would naturally find out, and she would probably be so envious she'd want to die.
I knew better than anyone how Tatyana reacted when she didn't get what she wanted.
"Give me some time to think."
The stubborn Nivea was wavering.
That was enough for today.
If someone who cherished their business so much was wavering, she would definitely come to me at least once.
I called a waiter, paid the bill, and stood up, saying to Nivea,
"I know you'll come. We weren't without anger; we just lacked a legitimate opportunity to express it."
"Revenge just hurts both sides."
Her innocent answer almost made me laugh out loud.
I had never thought that way, even after being wronged by Tatyana several times.
"Nivea, did you say 'both sides'? Where has Tatyana been hurt?"
My smiling question made Nivea's shoulders jump.
Tatyana had lost nothing.
"Still, I'll give you time. If you decide, come to the Pioneers' Dukedom."
Nivea's pale face, now marked with clear anger, showed that she realized she had no reason to worry about Tatyana.
"I want someone to witness Tatyana's fall with me."
Isn't revenge more enjoyable when shared?
I thought as I left the café.
When I returned home, I told my mother about Nivea.
Hearing about her struggles, my mother's expression turned serious.
"What is that Tatyana girl, anyway, that she can do such things and still walk around unscathed?"
"I'm also very curious about that."
I couldn't tell her that it was because the girl was the protagonist of this world.
But I couldn't shake the feeling that it was too much for Nivea.
After all, she had already married Andrew; why did she do such a thing?
"The bracelet. In the end, we couldn't find out who made it."
"I know someone personally who is an expert in processing magic stones. I'll ask them if they know anyone who could make such an item."
"Are you going back to the Magic Tower?"
I pouted without realizing it. My mother reached out and patted my head.
"Yes. So be careful in the meantime. That Tatyana girl is someone who could still harm you even after doing so much."
She then took the bracelet from her bosom and placed it in my hand, explaining how to use it.
To use the bracelet, I needed to know how to manipulate magic, which seemed to require quite a bit of training.
"Even though it was given by a clumsy person like Daniel, it's a top-tier item for storing magic. I've put my magic into it, so it will protect you wherever you go, as long as you follow the instructions."
The bracelet, which I had found repulsive just because it was the same as Tatyana's, now looked different.
Actually, its design had changed.
The design of rough glass beads strung together had been transformed into a sleek, elegant look with the beads cut and decorated with silver.
"I had it refined so you wouldn't have to carry something as tacky as hers. Now you can wear it anywhere."
"I didn't like what that Wilhelm guy said."
I nodded at my mother's gentle smile.
"I'll take good care of the gift."
"Good. Don't forget to practice every morning."
"Ugh, that's really hard."
I grumbled softly, and my mother laughed loudly.
I felt a warmth from the bracelet that I shouldn't have been able to feel.
After my mother left the dukedom, I waited calmly without provoking Nivea.
After all, I had plenty of time.
Tatyana wasn't going to meet a sudden and tragic end tomorrow.
"Miss, how about this hat?"
"That one doesn't seem very good."
Lily showed me a light blue hat, then disappointedly put it back.
Another maid next to her took out a straw hat decorated with chiffon and flowers.
"How about this one? It would be perfect for a picnic, wouldn't it?"
The maids were delighted and helped me put on the hat. It suited me better than I expected.
Today, I was going on a picnic with Aster, so there was no better outfit than this.
I stood up and twirled to check my outfit.
We were discussing what to do on our outing when we were interrupted by a loud knocking on the door.
Opening the door, I saw a pale servant.
"A girl named Rella, Nivea's daughter, is here to see you."
I rushed down the stairs.
A young girl, who looked like she had just become an adult, was sobbing.
"Please, save my mother!"