Translator: Elisia
Editor/Proofreader: Wojo
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“Of course, you have to go.”
Ha-neul said that right away.
“……Really?”
When I asked again, Ha-neul nodded and said,
“Of course. Now you can finally meet your relatives.”
It was a very reasonable statement.
That’s right.
Ha-neul was a rational person.
No matter what kind of incident she went through, or how abnormal the school she attended was, she never let go of the thread of common sense.
Well, that makes sense since she’s the protagonist.
After all, the genre itself was more of a traditional romance game than a refreshing story, so it was only natural.
Thus, she thought it was only right for Sara to meet her blood-related family… or at least her relatives.
“But is it really okay?”
However, Soo-ah, who was beside her, voiced her concerns.
“Most of Sara’s relatives are probably connected to the Eugene Group, right? Couldn’t they approach Sara at the birthday party with impure intentions?”
No one else could see me, the one inside Sara.
Only a few people around me knew of my existence, and among them, the only one who knew my age was Sara.
Judging by the fact that Sara’s friends didn’t ask me about my birthday when I mentioned hers, it seemed clear that they treated me as “another Sara.”
So, from the perspective of the business world, I could be seen as a very easy target.
‘Ugh…’
And naturally, Sara hated that situation immensely.
She had finally thought she’d freed herself from the person who had been suffocating her, but now, she probably hadn’t even imagined there would be another shackle like this.
I understood her feelings perfectly.
Honestly, excluding the relationships between people, the rest of the situation was something I was also going through.
“Ah… that might be true.”
Ha-neul nodded as if she hadn’t considered that part before.
“Hmm… But still, I think it’s better to attend. The more information we have, the better. You can’t know if the other party is trying to deceive you without seeing them first, right?”
I had already relayed the story about Ye In-hyuk, who came to see Sara, to my friends in as much detail as possible.
I said that I didn’t find anything particularly suspicious, but… well, I was the only one who had actually spoken with him.
Yang Hye-in just stood silently by the side.
Judging by how Ye In-hyuk didn’t show any particular interest in Yang Hye-in, it could be inferred that he had lived in that wealthy household since he was very young.
After all, it’s extremely uncomfortable to have someone standing nearby while you’re having a conversation and not saying anything.
The fact that he didn’t even glance at Yang Hye-in meant that such situations were very familiar to him.
Like someone who grew up using servants at home, or at the very least, someone who often kept a secretary nearby during important conversations.
…Well, that’s just my theory.
“Besides, we’ll be going together, right? I’ll stick close to you, so nothing serious should happen, right?”
…If something serious happens at the birthday party of the richest teenage girl in the world, that itself would be a huge problem.
Even if someone tries to manipulate me, it probably won’t appear in the form of a “serious incident.”
They might try something more discreet, though.
“I will be around as well, so please rest assured.”
Yang Hye-in, who had been silently listening to our conversation until now, slightly bowed her head and spoke.
Uh…
How should I put it?
I feel a bit sorry to say this, but honestly, when Yang Hye-in says something like that, it’s a little scary.
It feels like if something big really happened, she might punch the person right in the face.
Not that I’m saying she shouldn’t, but… honestly, it’s best not to cause any trouble unless absolutely necessary for everyone’s sake.
…Well, considering Yang Hye-in worked under someone like Choi Na-kyung for several years, I suppose there won’t be any major problems?
“Oh, by the way.”
While I was thinking that, Soo-ah clapped her hands together.
“Since it’s a birthday party, is there a dress code or something?”
“What?”
For a moment, I wasn’t sure if I heard her right.
A dress code at a birthday party?
So… like, ‘Please wear black clothing when you attend the party~,’ that kind of thing?
No, why would there be a dress code at a birthday party?
When I looked at her with a confused expression, Soo-ah tilted her head and said,
“So, there isn’t a specific outfit you have to wear, right?”
“If you need a dress to wear, we’ve already prepared one.”
At Soo-ah’s words, Yang Hye-in replied as if guiding her.
…A dress?
“Not only Sara but I think we should all dress up as much as possible. Since many people from the Eugene Group will be attending.”
No, but it’s just a birthday party, right?
You buy a cake, light the candles, make a wish, sing a song, blow out the candles, and then receive gifts… isn’t that what we’re talking about?
However, just as I was about to argue, a memory suddenly flashed through my mind.
‘So, I was thinking, how about we hold a small celebratory party for that day? After all, you haven’t been able to meet your relatives because of Chairwoman Choi Na-kyung. How about attending and properly greeting them?’
That’s what that man had said.
If he were just a close uncle rather than a director of the Eugene Group, the scale of the party would be what I expected, but… that’s right.
He was one of the directors of the Eugene Group.
And apparently, he was an extremely important one, too.
…If someone that important was attending, it meant that the Eugene Group’s key relatives would also be present, along with their chauffeurs, secretaries, and other attendants.
Of course, the attendants wouldn’t enter the party as guests… but even the number of “relatives” wouldn’t be just one or two people.
Moreover, even those who weren’t relatives but held significant positions within the group might come to offer their greetings.
The venue isn’t a problem.
This mansion alone could easily accommodate all those people.
However, if we prepare food for everyone to eat and drink, the scale of the “party” inevitably becomes enormous.
And since most of the attendees would be wealthy, they certainly wouldn’t be wearing anything cheap.
“If your friends also need outfits, I can prepare them right away.”
“……Yang Hye-in.”
“Yes?”
“Please prepare one for yourself as well.”
“…Understood.”
Even if the servants don’t enter the party, Yang Hye-in must come inside.
At least, Yang Hye-in knows far more about the faces of the important people in the group than either Sara or I do.
Even if she didn’t know, she could at least do some research.
At the very least, she knows how to investigate.
She’s a multi-talented person in many ways.
…It’s a relief that this person is on my side.
“Um… so.”
So-hee, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, spoke up as if summarizing.
“The ‘party’ you’re talking about isn’t the kind of birthday party we’re thinking of, right? You mean the kind of large-scale party that only comes out in movies or dramas, right?”
“Seems like it.”
When I answered, So-hee made a tired expression, one I hadn’t seen in a long time.
“…We’ll have to hold a real birthday party later, just among ourselves.”
Ha-neul muttered that.
Exactly.
At a party of that size with that many people, we won’t even be able to freely exchange birthday gifts.
…Things have gotten more complicated than I thought.
I sighed deeply.
*
…And three days before my birthday, the invitation arrived.
Ah, not for me.
More like, ‘If you have a close friend, please give them this invitation.’
The problem is, I don’t have many friends I’d want to give an invitation to.
At best, two people come to mind… Son A-reum and Nam Da-un.
Though I could easily invite Son A-reum right away, inviting Nam Da-un is a bit tricky.
Even though his presence has faded so much that I sometimes wonder if he was the original male lead, surprisingly, I still haven’t broken off the engagement.
It wasn’t easy.
With a marriage, if you annul it, the state officially recognizes it, but not an engagement.
It’s more like a promise declared to the public than an actual system.
The problem is that the person who should retract that promise is currently in hiding.
Even if I declare it over on my own, who knows how his family will react?
They might even be pleased about the fact that I’m now alone.
Perhaps that’s one of the reasons this party is being held.
That’s why inviting a man is a bit awkward.
I don’t want any misunderstandings.
But, yeah.
There’s no problem inviting a woman.
“So, here.”
During lunch, as we gathered as usual, I handed an invitation to Son A-reum.
“What’s this?”
“It’s my birthday invitation. Looks like my relatives are planning something grand.”
“Oh, oh…”
Son A-reum accepted the invitation absentmindedly, her mouth half-open.
…Yeah, this must feel strange.
In elementary school, we might have exchanged printed invitations for fun, but who hands out birthday invitations like this now?
It’s not like it’s a wedding.
…Maybe that’s why.
For some reason, it suddenly got incredibly quiet around us.
Everyone was glancing at the invitation.
…Ugh, this is embarrassing.
Maybe I should’ve given it to her in a more private place?