SCMBRN Chapter 10

Upon hearing who had sent the flower basket, I nearly spit out the water I was drinking.

 

Who? Kyrie? One of the sub male leads in <Looking for a Husband>?

 

Unless there was another archmage named Kyrie in this world, it meant the sub male lead Kyrie had sent the basket.

 

‘Why would he? Don’t tell me…’

 

I wasn’t the only one with questions.

 

“He sent a flower basket to Charlotte? Why?”

 

“Perhaps he has romantic feelings toward the young lady?”

 

“Could it be? Haha, Charlotte does resemble my wife, and she’s certainly beautiful. Charlotte, what do you think?”

 

“Me? Well…”

 

“If you don’t dislike him, perhaps you could meet him. There’s nothing wrong with befriending such an exceptional magician…”

 

“You!”

 

The marchioness narrowed her eyes into triangles.

 

“Kyrie? Isn’t he the one notorious for being a womanizer? There are rumors he flirts with noble ladies all the time.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Obviously, he’s just throwing a line because Charlotte’s pretty. How could you suggest our daughter meet such a philanderer?”

 

The marquis, flustered, tried to explain himself.

 

“I had no idea he had that sort of reputation. Everyone only speaks of his magical prowess.”

 

“Regardless, absolutely not. Charlotte! Don’t you even think about meeting that man. He’s probably only looking to toy with women.”

 

“Not necessarily, right? The rumors could be false…”

 

“There you go again! Ever since you were pining after that Duke Hickleid who didn’t even like you, I knew your taste in men was hopeless.”

 

I tried to defend Kyrie out of pity, only to get caught up in it.

 

‘At this point in the story, Kyrie is still widely seen as a womanizer.’

 

But that’s all just a misunderstanding.

 

Due to certain circumstances, Kyrie was falsely labeled a flirt until the female lead Ayla cleared his name. That moment marked the beginning of the archmage falling for Ayla.

 

To the marchioness, who didn’t know that truth yet, Kyrie was simply a scoundrel.

 

“Men who seduce women with shady magic and a pretty face should be avoided at all costs!”

 

“Still, Charlotte said it might just be a false rumor.”

 

“You’re not trying to use Charlotte to get close to him, are you?”

 

“Of course not! What do you take me for?”

 

Whatever the marquis’s intentions, Kyrie was undoubtedly someone many noble families had their eyes on. There weren’t a few who would do anything to form a connection with him.

 

The marchioness sighed and looked at me.

 

“First that barbarian Viscount of Mont yesterday, now this. Why do only strange men flock to you?”

 

“The Mont lord just helped catch a pickpocket, that’s all.”

 

“Exactly! That’s how they try to get close. What noble young lady in the Empire would marry a barbarian with a ghastly scar on his face?”

 

Haha. When Eugen starts walking around without his helmet, women will be lining up.

 

“Don’t go treating him kindly just because he helped you. Next thing you know, he’ll propose marriage.”

 

Haha. The thought alone is exhilarating.

 

‘Still, I know she says these things out of concern for me.’

 

In her way, the Marchioness of Lyndsey does care about her daughter. She simply loves her husband and young son more.

 

The Marquis Lyndsey also cares for Charlotte in his own way. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have kept this troublesome, unrelated daughter around for so long.

 

‘…Honestly, I never know how to react to things like this. It makes me uncomfortable.’

 

In my past life, I was born the daughter of a single mother. I never knew my father, and my mother passed away not long after giving birth due to failing health.

 

Until I became an adult, I bounced between my grandparents’ and relatives’ homes. They weren’t like the villains from dramas or novels, but they were too busy struggling with their own lives to give me proper attention.

 

There were a few with whom I remained on cordial terms, contacting or seeing them now and then. But not once, even for a moment, did I ever feel they were family. Not until the car accident that ended my life.

 

So maybe that’s why, when the Lyndsey family occasionally acts like real family, I don’t know what kind of face to put on.

 

‘I’d rather they just treated me like before.’

 

Like a mere acquaintance.

 

“Charlotte, are you listening?”

 

“Yes?”

 

The marchioness broke my train of thought.

 

“The flower basket from that womanizing archmage. Why don’t we just throw it away?”

 

“But it seems a bit harsh to toss a gift.”

 

“Are you interested in him, by any chance?”

 

She narrowed her eyes again. Afraid she’d start on that monastery nonsense again, I shook my head vigorously.

 

“No, not at all! I mean it!”

 

“You used to say that no matter how many men I introduced, you only wanted Duke Hickleid.”

 

“That was a long time ago. I’ve really given up on the Duke now.”

 

“Truly?”

 

“Of course. I’ve been saying that for some time.”

 

“You haven’t begged to see him for over half a year now. Fine. I’ll believe you just this once.”

 

“I won’t disappoint you.”

 

I hate the idea of the monastery. If they threaten to send me there, I’m ready to run away with my emergency stash.

 

Perhaps my resolve came across, because the marchioness nodded and instructed the butler.

 

“Place that flower basket the womanizer sent in Charlotte’s room.”

 

“Yes, madam.”

 

Wanting to steer the conversation away from the archmage, the marquis presented me with a tray brought by a servant.

 

“These are invitations for you. If there’s an event you’d like to attend, choose one without hesitation.”

 

On the tray lay three envelopes, each adorned with lace or pressed flowers.

 

Not many, but considering Charlotte’s reputation, it couldn’t be helped.

 

‘I don’t feel inclined to attend any, but it feels rude to reject such a kind gesture.’

 

Besides, there was something I needed to handle. Thinking of the flower basket likely being placed in my room right now, I picked one of the invitations.

 

“I’ll go with this one.”

 

“Ah, this is a tea party hosted by the daughter of Countess Mosella. Do you know Lady Mosella well?”

 

“Just vaguely.”

 

In truth, I had no idea what she looked like. Ever since I possessed this body, I’d hardly left the house, so how many people could I have met?

 

The only ones I’d spoken to were those known as Charlotte’s cronies in the novel, her followers who frequently picked fights with Ayla.

 

‘Now that Charlotte has fallen from grace, those same girls act like sycophants to Ayla and go out of their way to bother me.’

 

It was one of them who splashed me with champagne at the emperor’s birthday banquet.

 

Some of them might be at this tea party too. But even if that risk existed, I needed to meet Lady Mosella.

 

Evelyn Mosella. In the novel, she relentlessly pursued Kyrie. She would certainly let him know I planned to attend her tea party.

 

‘A once-celebrated socialite who hadn’t been seen in half a year making an appearance? She wouldn’t keep that juicy bit to herself.’

 

Alright then, time to confront this. If I can’t avoid the fate of the sub male leads approaching me, I might as well face them first.

 

Sending a flower basket? Only because he’s rumored to be a womanizer did the family let it slide. It could have caused a major scandal.

 

A scandalous affair with the archmage is the last thing someone like me, who wants to live quietly, needs.

 

I must put a stop to it before he does anything more foolish!

 

As the marchioness examined the invitation I had just set down, she suddenly exclaimed.

 

“Oh my, this one requires a partner. Charlotte, do you have someone to accompany you?”

 

“…”

 

“You don’t, do you? And you still chose it?”

 

I had been so focused on seeing Kyrie that I hadn’t thought that far ahead.

 

“I can just take someone who’s free, right? It doesn’t have to be a lover or fiancé.”

 

“You’ve really changed, haven’t you? You used to say you wouldn’t go unless it was with Duke Hickleid.”

 

“…Haha, people change.”

 

“Still, it’s a partner. You can’t just take anyone.”

 

“This could be a good chance for Charlotte to meet the archmage and judge him for herself… Never mind. Forget I said anything.”

 

The marquis, still not ready to give up on Kyrie, quickly backpedaled.

 

We discussed several potential partners for a while but couldn’t come to a decision.

 

Someone of similar rank to the marquisate, yet close enough to avoid any awkward rumors, it had to be a male cousin around my age. That’s usually the go-to for unmarried noblewomen.

 

‘Unfortunately, Lyndsey’s extended relatives all hated Charlotte, the outsider of commoner blood.’

 

And her reputation was abysmal. Even if they weren’t relatives, most noble sons would avoid Charlotte, wary of Duke Hickleid’s influence.

 

Just then, Jayden, seated diagonally across from me, cleared his throat.

 

“If there’s no one else, I could…”

 

The marquis cut him off.

 

“What about my aide, Sir Riemann? He’s from a respectable family and already on good terms with Charlotte. That should keep misunderstandings at bay.”

 

“What about his work?”

 

“I’ll give him a day off. Consider it special leave.”

 

So engrossed in their discussion, the marquis and marchioness hadn’t even noticed Jayden’s offer.

 

I debated whether I should ask him what he meant, but the marquis turned to me.

 

“Charlotte, what do you think? You and Sir Riemann got along fairly well, didn’t you?”

 

I recalled the face of the man I had seen a few times. It didn’t really matter to me either way.

 

“Yes, as long as Sir Reyman is willing…”

 

Thud.

 

Jayden suddenly placed his palm firmly on the table, drawing everyone’s attention.

 

He declared, almost solemnly,

 

“I will be the lady’s partner.”