TMLWMM Episode 1

 

When I first transmigrated into the novel, I thought I was lucky.

There were no longer family members tormenting me, and there was no grandmother desperate to marry me off.

To be precise, a grandmother desperate to sell me off to a 45-year-old widower.

So, I like this world so much better, where my father and mother are alive, albeit indifferent, and no grandmother trying to marry me off.

On top of that, my position is stable.

 

My role was to help the female protagonist, who was exhausted by her husband’s coldness and constant communication problems, to abandon her husband and run away, to help her settle down in a safe place, and in the end, to help the male and female protagonists resolve their misunderstandings and reconcile.

The male protagonist’s true childhood friend.

I didn’t have to do anything to survive, I just had to be by the protagonists’ side and support their happiness, so there was no danger of dying.

Moreover, the worldview itself was not a place where wars or major conflicts would break out.

At this point, this transmigration is really good.

 

“Since I’ve possessed comfortably, let’s live a little more comfortably.”

 

It wouldn’t be a strange thing to be greedy like that.

The only misfortune I would face in my role would be that the male protagonist would recoup all the money he had invested in the family business for helping the female protagonist escape.

Though it would stabilize again, during that time, the Count of Loteroa faced severe financial troubles. After that, the female and the male protagonist reconcile when they return, and thanks to the female protagonist’s request, Count Loteroa regains his former position.

What the male protagonist said to Roselle at that time was a big hit.

 

“Be thankful that this is the end, Roselle. Don’t do anything that will draw attention and live quietly. Do you understand me?’

 

Bastard. Is that something you would say to your friend? Even though I’m just an extra, it’s so frustrating.

Wait, wouldn’t my life be so much happier if I didn’t get involved with the main characters? Especially the male lead. A man who can’t communicate in this age of communication. That’s where you fail.

I pressed my head hard.

 

Let’s think about other routes.

Do I really have to be friends with the protagonists? I don’t have to, right? I can just live like this. To do that, I first need to throw away the title of “the male protagonist’s childhood friend”. I’ll become a breakaway character.

 

“I’ll just stop being friends with him. This would be the best. After all, he cares more about his woman than his friend. He’s practically a woman’s fool. He couldn’t care less whether or not his friend’s family is ruined because of a woman.”

 

Yes, from now on, let’s cut ties.

 

 

* * *

 

 

It was a peaceful mealtime. That was until the topic of the male protagonist came up.

 

“Isn’t it Reston’s birthday today? The duke must have invited you. Did you prepare a birthday present?”

 

My new father asked affectionately.

Today was the male protagonist’s birthday. But it’s ridiculous to celebrate his birthday now that I’ve decided to cut ties.

 

“I’m not going, Father.”

“What?”

 

Father and mother exchanged glances. I glanced at them and put a piece of meat in my mouth. Wow, this is really good. It’s cooked perfectly and the sauce is fantastic.

When I lived at my grandmother’s house before, I never ate as much as I wanted.

‘A fat girl is no good. Eat moderately.’

 

Sometimes, my meal bowl would be taken away and restricted my meals for a week just because I’d gained weight. I would starve myself and then barely eat anything at school.

‘You need to be slim like your mother. If your appearance is ruined, do you think you’d get married properly? Look at your mother. She met your dad because she was pretty.’

My mom had what is called a ‘Cinderella marriage’. But she was kicked out because she couldn’t give birth to a son and became infertile. After my mom and dad, who were running away with me, died in a car accident, I had to go straight to my grandmother’s house.

When I became an adult and started earning money, the best part was to be able to buy whatever I wanted.

I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that here.

 

“Can I have one more serving?”

“Before that, Roselle.”

“Yes, Father.”

“You must attend Reston’s birthday banquet tonight.”

“What?”

“You are no longer a child, so I think you’ll understand this. Right now, we, the Loteroa family, is receiving help from the Duke’s family. In the past, it was because of the friendship between your grandfather and Reston’s grandfather, and now…….”

 

The Count hesitated, and then the Countess spoke.

 

“Now, the Duchess of Chescant has you in mind as the future Duchess. This is an extremely important opportunity for us, and we can’t afford to miss it for Loteroa.”

 

This…… This is completely unexpected.

I quickly swallowed the food in my mouth. No matter how much I recalled the story I had read, there was not the slightest mention that I had such a relationship with Reston.

The novel itself is from the female protagonist’s perspective, but in the story, Roselle is portrayed as a very good friend and ally to the female protagonist.

The female protagonist is a distant relative of Count Loteroa, who is asked by the Count to debut in the high society, introducing her as his niece.

For a while, she stays with Roselle, who is always been kind to the female protagonist.

 

No, wait.

What if the female protagonist was actually a total fool?

What if Roselle actually hated her and tormented her…….

 

‘I don’t think that dress suits you, Eileen. Wouldn’t this one be better? That one is too revealing.’

 

A scene flashed by. In the end, Eileen goes to a banquet in a dress recommended by Roselle but is criticized for being tacky. However, Roselle consoles her, saying that people are just jealous of Eileen…….

 

Also.

When she ran away…….

 

‘I’ll help you, Eileen. This is your chance to change Reston’s bad habits. As you know, that guy… he’s a little…you know? I’ve known him since I was little, but Reston has always been bad. You probably don’t know this, though.’

 

Wait, wait.

What if Roselle had been trying to provoke and tear Eileen apart, but didn’t work? What if Roselle, pretending to be kind, was actually a bad person…….?

I felt like I had been hit in the head.

 

“This marriage has been promised for a long time, Roselle. You’re going to be the Duchess. You were looking forward to it not long ago, weren’t you? It’s been planned for a long time. At Reston’s birthday banquet, we’ll announce your engagement.”

“Ugh.”

 

I was so shocked that I bit my tongue. An announcement?

No, there was no such thing in the original. Why is this happening all of a sudden? I’m not ready for this! The female protagonist hasn’t even appeared yet. If this happened before the original story even began, shouldn’t I have been given a heads-up? Why are they setting a marriage flag with the male protagonist? What on earth did I do wrong to deserve this?

Is this some kind of a parallel theory?

I was almost sold for money in the other world, and now I’m seeing the same thing happen again.

My life. This must be karma my soul accumulated.

Let’s think about this more.

If Roselle tormented the female protagonist out of jealousy, then it would make sense that Reston ruined Roselle’s family.

Still, I’m sure that this engagement wouldn’t be announced here. There was no such thing in the original. If the engagement is bound to break even without my involvement…….

It seems best to attend for now. I need to assess the situation.

 

“I’ll go.”

 

Let’s go and think about it further. How can I protect my safe and happy future?

You have to know your enemy to win.

I need to know Reston and myself.