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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Playboy's Flower Basket
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When I heard the name of the person who sent the flower basket, I nearly spat out the water I was drinking.
Who? Kirie? One of the second male leads from ?
Unless there was another Great Mage in this world named Kirie, then it had to be the second male lead who sent the flower basket.
‘Why would he? Could it be… again?’
I wasn’t the only one with questions.
“That man sent Charlotte a flower basket? Why?”
“Perhaps he has taken a romantic interest in the Young Lady?”
“Is that so? Haha, Charlotte is quite the beauty, taking after my wife. Charlotte, what do you think?”
“Pardon? I’m not sure.”
“If you’re not against it, why not meet him? There’s no harm in getting close to such a brilliant mage…”
“You!”
The Marchioness’s eyes narrowed.
“Isn’t that Kirie fellow famous for being a playboy? There are rumors he makes passes at young ladies from various noble houses.”
“I-Is that so?”
“It’s obvious he’s just making a move on Charlotte because she’s pretty. How could you suggest our daughter meet with such a womanizer?”
The flustered Marquis desperately made an excuse.
“I had no idea he was like that. Everyone only ever talks about his magical prowess.”
“Anyway, absolutely not. Charlotte! Don’t you even dream of meeting that man. A man like that is only interested in toying with women.”
“That might not necessarily be true, right? The rumors could be wrong…”
“This girl, honestly! I should have known when you were obsessed with Grand Duke Hiklrid, who clearly disliked you. How can you have such poor taste in men?”
I felt sorry for Kirie being unfairly slandered and tried to say something, but it only backfired on me.
‘At this point in the story, Kirie is still known to the public as a playboy.’
But it’s all just a misunderstanding.
Due to certain circumstances, Kirie was misunderstood as a playboy, but later, thanks to the efforts of the heroine, Aila, his name is cleared. That becomes the catalyst for the Great Mage falling head over heels for Aila.
To the Marchioness, who didn’t yet know this truth, Kirie was simply a scoundrel.
“You should never associate with a man who uses strange magic and a pretty face to bewitch women!”
“As Charlotte said, couldn’t they just be baseless rumors?”
“Dear, you’re not thinking of using Charlotte as bait to get close to him, are you?”
“O-Of course not! What do you take me for?”
I couldn’t be sure of the Marquis’s true intentions, but the Great Mage was indeed a figure coveted by many families. There were more than a few noble houses trying to forge a connection with him.
The Marchioness sighed and looked at me.
“First that barbarian, Margrave Mont, yesterday, and now this. Why do only strange men flock to you?”
“Lord Mont was only helping me catch a pickpocket.”
“That’s how they have to approach you! What noble lady in this empire would marry a barbarian with a hideous scar on his face?”
Heh, once Yugen starts walking around without his helmet, women will be lining up for him.
“Don’t treat him well just because he’s your ‘savior’! He’ll get attached and insist on marrying you.”
Heh, the very thought makes me feel like I could fly.
‘But she’s only saying this because she’s worried about her daughter.’
Seeing this side of her, it’s not that the Marchioness Lindsi doesn’t care for her daughter. She just loves her husband and young son more.
The Marquis Lindsi also cares for Charlotte in his own way. If he didn’t, he never would have kept a troublesome stepdaughter all this time.
‘…Honestly, it’s uncomfortable because I have no idea how to react.’
In my past life, I was born the daughter of a single mother. I never knew who my father was, and my mother’s health deteriorated and she passed away not long after giving birth to me.
Until I became an adult, I was shuffled between my grandparents’ and relatives’ homes. They weren’t villains out of a drama or novel, but they were too busy struggling with their own lives to have the luxury of giving me their full attention.
There were a few with whom I was on good enough terms to keep in touch and meet occasionally, but even they never once felt like ‘family.’ Not even in the moment I died in that car accident.
Perhaps that’s why I don’t know what kind of face to make when the people of House Lindsi occasionally act like a real ‘family.’
‘It would be more comfortable if they just treated me like they used to.’
Like strangers who are merely acquainted.
“Charlotte, are you listening?”
“Pardon?”
The Marchioness broke me out of my thoughts.
“About that flower basket from the playboy Great Mage. Why don’t you just throw it away?”
“But throwing away a gift seems a bit much.”
“Are you perhaps interested in that man?”
Her eyes blazed. Fearing she would bring up the convent again, I shook my head vehemently.
“Not at all. Not in the slightest!”
“I suppose so. No matter how many other men I introduced you to, you always made a fuss, insisting you only wanted Grand Duke Hiklrid.”
“That was in the past. I’ve truly given up on Grand Duke Hiklrid now.”
“Really?”
“Of course. I’ve been telling you that all along.”
“It’s true you haven’t thrown any tantrums demanding to see the Grand Duke for the past six months. I’ll trust you this once.”
“I won’t let you down.”
I really hate the idea of a convent. If she threatened to send me to one, I was prepared to take my emergency funds and run away.
My firm resolve must have gotten through to her, because the Marchioness nodded and gave an order to the butler.
“Have that playboy’s flower basket taken to Charlotte’s room.”
“Yes, milady.”
The Marquis, eager to change the subject from the playboy Great Mage, presented me with a tray brought by a servant.
“These are invitations that came for you. If there’s a gathering you’d like to attend, don’t hesitate to choose one.”
On the tray lay three envelopes of various designs, decorated with lace or pressed flowers.
It was a small number for a Marquis’s daughter, but given Charlotte’s notorious reputation, it couldn’t be helped.
‘None of them appeal to me, but it would be rude to pour cold water on their kindness.’
Besides, I had a problem to deal with. Thinking of the flower basket the servants were likely moving to my room, I picked up one of the three invitations.
“I’ll go with this one.”
“This is a tea party hosted by the daughter of House Mosella. Are you acquainted with Lady Mosella?”
“We’re only slightly acquainted.”
In truth, I didn’t even know what she looked like. I’d been cooped up at home ever since I was reincarnated, so how many people could I have possibly met in high society?
The only ones I actually knew from conversation were Charlotte’s followers, known in the novel as Charlotte’s gang. They were the minor villains who acted as Charlotte’s lackeys and constantly picked fights with Aila.
‘Now that Charlotte’s status has plummeted, they’ve turned on me like bats, trying to torment me to get on Aila’s good side.’
The group that included the young lady who threw champagne on me at the Emperor’s birthday banquet was them.
It was possible one of them might be invited to Lady Mosella’s tea party. But even with that risk, I needed to meet Lady Mosella.
Evelyn Mosella was a character who relentlessly pursued Kirie in the novel. She would surely inform Kirie that I was attending her tea party.
‘There’s no way she would pass up such a juicy piece of gossip—the infamous Charlotte, who hasn’t appeared in society for half a year, is attending.’
Alright, let’s face this head-on. If I can’t avoid a future where the second male leads come to me, then this time, I’ll go to them first.
Sending a flower basket, of all things. My family let it slide because Kirie is known as a playboy, but it could have easily led to a strange misunderstanding.
For someone who just wants to live quietly, a scandal with the Great Mage is a situation to be avoided at all costs.
I have to stop this guy before he tries another stupid stunt!
The Marchioness, who was looking over the invitation I had briefly scanned and put down, let out a small, “Oh.”
“This is an event that requires a partner. Charlotte, do you have a partner to go with?”
“…”
“You don’t. And you still said you’d go?”
My mind had been so focused on meeting Kirie that I hadn’t thought that far ahead.
“Can’t I just take someone who’s available? It’s not like a partner has to be a lover or fiancé.”
“You’ve really become uncharacteristically nonchalant about these things. You used to not even glance at events requiring a partner, insisting you’d only go with Grand Duke Hiklrid.”
“…Haha, people change.”
“Still, he’ll be your partner in name. You can’t just take anyone.”
“Perhaps this is a chance for Charlotte to meet the Great Mage and judge for herself what kind of person he is… No, it’s nothing, my dear.”
The Marquis, who hadn’t yet given up on Kirie, tentatively offered a suggestion before backing down.
For a while, we discussed various candidates for my partner but couldn’t reach a conclusion.
To avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings while still matching the status of a marquisate, a male relative of a similar age would be perfect. Aren’t male cousins the go-to partners for unmarried noble ladies without a suitable escort?
‘Unfortunately, the extended relatives of House Lindsi all disliked Charlotte, the outsider who had rolled in from commoner stock.’
Moreover, her reputation was the absolute worst. Even if they weren’t relatives, most young lords would surely avoid Charlotte, wary of catching Grand Duke Hiklrid’s attention.
Just then, Jayden, who was sitting diagonally across from me, cleared his throat softly.
“If you must, then I…”
The Marquis cut his son off.
“What about my aide, Sir Lehman? Sir Lehman comes from a respectable family, and he was already acquainted with Charlotte, so it would avoid any unnecessary rumors.”
“What about his work?”
“I can give him a special day off.”
Absorbed in their conversation, the Marquis and Marchioness didn’t seem to hear what Jayden had been about to say.
I wondered if I should be the one to ask him what he was going to say, but the Marquis posed a question.
“Charlotte, what do you think? Weren’t you on fairly good terms with Sir Lehman?”
The face of a man I’d seen a few times here and there came to mind. It didn’t matter to me either way.
“Yes, if Sir Lehman agrees, then I…”
Thud!
Jayden slammed his palm on the table. All eyes immediately focused on him.
Jayden spoke as if making a declaration.
“I’ll do it. I’ll be my sister’s partner.”
