Chapter 34: Jealousy Over Yeuju's First Love
Andrew's magic exploded out of him. The sharp coldness that his thin nightwear couldn't block made Tatiana bite her lip.
Why did it come to this with him?
Until just a short while ago, he did.
His eyes overflowed with love and tenderness when he looked at her.
Unlike other male leads, her connection with him began that day.
She had given her heart to him more deeply than anyone else.
She thought this might be the last time.
But everything was ruined.
Suppressing her urge to cry, Tatiana looked straight into Andrew's eyes.
"You said you wanted something."
She didn't know it could be so painful to realize that the person she loved didn't feel the same way.
"Yeah, that's right. To get back what's mine, I have to accept it, whether it's a mistress or a demon."
He was now smiling casually, having reined in his magic.
Tatiana, captivated by his smile, which she hadn't seen in a long time, stared at Andrew's face.
It was a beautiful sight, like a painting.
But the emotions hidden beneath that thin smile were sinister and cruel.
"Since you understand, get out."
In an instant, he wiped the smile from his face and chased Tatiana out of the room.
Pushed out the door, she clenched her fists.
Returning to her room, she stroked the bracelet she had taken off.
Just touching it made her feel calmer.
She fiddled with the bracelet, lost in thought.
She recalled Daniel's behavior today.
The unfamiliar emotions that flashed across Daniel's face, who had always been kind to her, were unsettling.
'It was as if I was looking at Andrew.'
All the raw expressions were negative.
Why did he show such expressions when she hadn't even touched the bracelet?
"Of course, it's that guy's fault."
Karina, who was clearly jealous of her, must have done something.
Otherwise, Daniel, who had always been blindly devoted to her, wouldn't have changed like this.
"But I can't just use force."
Lately, even choosing options and checking status windows had been exhausting.
Especially when she had to force Wilhelm's affection up, she even vomited blood.
Her doctor said it was due to accumulated fatigue, but...
'It must have gotten worse after the bracelet changed.'
A moment's mistake had ruined everything.
At times, she felt like giving up everything.
'Not yet. I can still endure.'
There must be a way to restore her relationship with Andrew.
After Aster left, the best couple of the ball was chosen.
Since Tatiana, who had been the topic of conversation, didn't dance with anyone and left early, she was excluded.
I was fortunate not to have to call out Tatiana's name.
"The masked ball was really fun today."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it."
People leaving the ball praised it unanimously.
"Especially that perfume. When will it be available?"
And there was great anticipation for the perfume.
"Due to some issues with the boutique, I'll contact you when it opens, madam."
I explained the situation to each of them and sent them off.
By the time everything was over, it was well past midnight. I dragged my tired body back to my room.
Lily, who had been waiting for me, helped me take off my heavy dress and asked while assisting me with my bath.
"Did you enjoy it today?"
I recalled the events of today's ball.
"I gave Tatiana a taste of her own medicine."
Lily, who had been my closest confidante and had witnessed my humiliation up close, deserved to hear this story.
I relaxed in the warm water and told her about what had happened between Daniel and Tatiana.
"Good grief, how can they be so shameless?"
Lily's harsh words provided a soothing background as I lost myself in thought.
Although the original work's suppression had weakened after Tatiana married Andrew, it still existed.
If I attacked Tatiana recklessly, I might find myself at a disadvantage.
'I need to be more cautious.'
I could corner Tatiana at any time, but if I wasn't sure, I might face a backlash.
I needed to be cautious in everything.
Tatiana probably wouldn't back down easily either.
"The reaction to the perfume was amazing. Would you like to hear about it?"
Lily, combing my hair, spoke about today's success.
"As you expected, the reaction was very good. Many people want to make a reservation."
"Many people asked me too. They said they were disappointed they couldn't buy it."
For a brand just starting out, a strong support base was essential.
And limited-time sales were perfect for building such a base.
"I'm thinking of making a limited edition."
"Limited edition? What's that?"
"Um. It means selling a specific number in a special package."
In my previous life, people were enthusiastic about 'limited editions.' Since this marketing method didn't exist in this world, it was worth trying.
"I plan to number the perfumes and release them as a special first edition."
Lily's massage relaxed my body.
I smiled happily and laid out my future plans for her.
Although it took a long time, this moment was perfect to end the day.
After finishing my bath, I changed into my nightgown and sat on the bed.
Soon, Lily brought the lavender tea she always served. As I sipped the slightly cooled tea, she asked cautiously, unlike her usual self.
Lily's stiff face relaxed.
"Yay! I told you he would come."
I couldn't help but laugh at her overjoyed reaction.
She seemed to like him more than I did.
While I was skeptical, Lily had been absolutely certain that Aster would come.
It was amazing how she could believe in someone she had never met.
Lily seemed eager to hear about Aster, but I postponed it due to fatigue.
Lying in bed, I fell asleep quickly without time to think about anything.
I woke up to an unfamiliar sound.
A buzzing noise accompanied by a small vibration.
Getting out of bed, I noticed light coming from the dressing room. Opening the door, I saw light streaming from the accessory drawer.
I opened the bottom drawer and took out the small jewelry box where the bracelet was stored.
When I opened the lid, the light emanating from the bracelet dimmed.
As I reached out to touch the bracelet, a familiar window appeared before my eyes.
―Congratulations, you have confirmed the Wilhelm route ending! [2/??]
Today's splendid launch show was one of the endings Tatiana was supposed to see.
If I hadn't forcibly taken his land and made a show of it, this wouldn't have happened in this world.
―The suppression has weakened due to the achievement.
The air around me felt fresher with the appearance of the unknown message.
Confirming the existence of the original work's power, a hollow laugh escaped me.
I also realized why I had thought the suppression had weakened over time.
"It weakened because I saw the ending with Andrew."
Tatiana must have known about the suppression too. That's why she had been so desperate to keep all the male leads in her grasp.
I put the bracelet back and sat at the table, lost in thought.
"Is it enough to just see the last scene of the ending, no matter how?"
Tapping my fingertips on the table, I recalled the ending scenes of the original work.
"The fastest ending to see would be the Daniel route."
In the Daniel ending, Tatiana established a hospital. The doctors they sponsored introduced new surgical techniques, and the names of Daniel and Tatiana spread across the continent.
Thinking about it, it was the perfect ending for Daniel, who valued honor.
"All I need to do is select a location and find a doctor."
The most difficult person to deal with was Raymond. His ending involved giving up his position as the head of the magic tower and being loyal only to Tatiana.
"This one will be tough, so I'll think about it later."
Lost in planning, I didn't notice the time passing. By the time I realized it, the sky outside was beginning to brighten.
I got up and pulled back the curtains.
Although I hadn't slept much, I felt strangely refreshed.
I stood by the window for a long time, watching the sun rise completely.