Chương 31: Chapter 30: The Preparation Before the Banquet

The carriage finally came to a stop. They had arrived at Mr. Roosevelt's residence. Nina looked out the window, observing the enormous estate before her. She had expected a wealthy merchant's home, but seeing it in person was something entirely different. As she prepared to step down, Mr. Roosevelt stopped her.

"Wait." Nina paused.

"You do not need to get out yet. We are only stopping so the gate can be opened." Nina blinked. The gate? Before she could question it, a guard approached the carriage. The moment he saw Mr. Roosevelt, he immediately bowed.

"Welcome back, Master Roosevelt."

"The gate is fully opened. Your wife is currently waiting for your arrival." Mr. Roosevelt nodded. The carriage continued forward. Only then did Nina realize that the first stop had not been the actual entrance. It was merely the entrance to the estate. The carriage continued for another minute before finally coming to a stop. This time, Mr. Roosevelt opened the carriage door from his side and stepped down first. After doing so, he immediately turned around and extended his hand toward Nina.

It was a simple gesture. A proper gesture. A gesture expected when assisting a lady from a carriage. However, Nina only saw him exit from his side. Therefore, she naturally reached for the door beside her. The carriage had two doors. If one side opened, then one could leave from that side. Simple. The moment she opened the door, Mr. Roosevelt froze. From his position, he could only see the back of Nina as she stepped out from the opposite side. For several seconds, the merchant remained completely still.

The servants nearby also paused. Even the woman waiting for their arrival looked surprised. Nina, completely unaware of the reason for their reactions, calmly closed the carriage door and walked around. Only then did Mr. Roosevelt finally recover. Of course, Nina did not understand the issue. In her previous world, vehicles had doors on both sides. Passengers were free to leave from whichever side was more convenient. There were no complicated expectations attached. No specific method. No social meaning.

A door was a door. By the time Nina reached the other side, Mr. Roosevelt had already lowered his hand, and the servants had begun preparing the carriage to be moved away. Only then did Nina properly see the people waiting for her. Several servants stood neatly arranged. At the front was a beautiful woman. She possessed striking red hair and dark, ashy eyes. Her dress immediately caught Nina's attention. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

It flowed between deep blue and rich red in an elegant gradient, creating a seamless transition between the two colors. The edges of her gloves followed the same design, while the rest of the outfit was decorated with white fabric and faint gold details. She held a fan in her hands. With a soft movement, she opened it, covering the lower half of her face. Then she stared directly at her husband. Her eyes narrowed.

"Could it be…" Her voice remained calm.

"... that you have fallen so low?" Mr. Roosevelt stiffened.

"To bring another woman into our home?" Nina blinked. Another woman? The woman's eyes moved toward her. Slowly. Judging. The young lady standing before her appeared no older than her daughter. And yet, her appearance was far from what one would expect from someone entering a merchant's estate. Her clothing was simple. Practical. Pants and a plain shirt designed for movement rather than appearance. There were still traces of coal dust across the fabric and parts of her face.

It was not because Nina lacked the ability to change her appearance. The System had already granted her complete control over her clothing, allowing her to alter her outfit whenever she wished. However, Nina had never considered it necessary. After helping Jake's mother, Nina had personally gone to retrieve the compensation from the factory.

The factory owner had refused to provide payment unless she completed a portion of the work herself, forcing her to spend time inside the coal factory before she could obtain the money. By the time she had finished handling the situation and encountered Mr. Roosevelt, there had not been enough time to completely change her appearance. Changing afterward would only create unnecessary complications. To Nina, the clothing was simply clothing. To Mrs. Roosevelt, however, the image appeared completely different.

A young woman. Covered in traces of labor. Brought into her husband's home. Without explanation. She snapped her fan shut.

"How shameless."

"Wait." Mr. Roosevelt immediately moved forward.

"My love—""You dare bring a young woman into this house?"

"No, no, no!" The famous merchant, feared by countless business partners and respected even by nobles, suddenly dropped to his knees. Nina stared. Again? This was the second time today.

"My love, please listen!" Mr. Roosevelt looked genuinely desperate.

"It is not what you think!"

"I would never behave in such a manner. I am not some kind of person who would bring a young woman here as a mistress." Mrs. Roosevelt remained silent.

"This young lady is someone I found because of her rumored abilities." Mr. Roosevelt quickly explained.

"She can impersonate others."

"Impersonate?"

"Yes." He pointed toward Nina.

"Our daughter has fallen ill. The banquet tonight is extremely important. If she cannot attend, it may affect her future, her connections, and her marriage prospects." His expression became serious.

"I thought about our daughter's future."

"And this young lady may be able to take our daughter's place temporarily." Mrs. Roosevelt looked at Nina. Then back at her husband.

"Is that true?"

"Yes." Mr. Roosevelt placed a hand over his chest.

"I swear upon everything I value. I would never lie to you, and I would never bring someone into this family to destroy the harmony we have built." For several seconds, Mrs. Roosevelt remained silent. Then her eyes twitched.

"Stand up." Mr. Roosevelt immediately stopped.

"... What?"

"Stand up." He quickly obeyed.

"The behavior you are displaying does not match your reputation." Mr. Roosevelt smiled.

"But it shows that I am a devoted husband who deeply loves his wife and family."

"Whatever." Mrs. Roosevelt waved her fan lightly.

"What would outsiders think if they saw this?"

"That I care deeply for my wife and children."

"Enough." She turned away.

"Bring the young lady inside." Mr. Roosevelt stood up and brushed the dust from his clothes. Then he turned toward Nina.

"Please, come in." Nina followed silently. She had watched everything. The great merchant. The man known throughout history as a once-in-a-century genius. The person whose business decisions forced even nobles to carefully consider their actions. She had heard stories about how intimidating he was. How others struggled to meet his eyes. And yet... Twice in a single day, she had seen him kneel. Nina glanced toward the servants. None of them looked surprised. Not even slightly. No one whispered. No one reacted.

They simply continued working. After seeing their expressions, Nina reached a conclusion. This was probably normal. Mr. Roosevelt was probably a repeat offender.