“Hello, Yu-jin! Thank you so much for inviting me!”
As soon as she saw him, Georgina greeted him with a lively smile and an enthusiastic voice. Behind her stood another woman. When Yu-jin looked at her face, Georgina spoke up in her stead, sensing her discomfort.
“Charlotte gave me a ride here, so I couldn’t just send her away. You don’t mind, right?”
“Of course not. Please, come in, Charlotte.”
When Yu-jin greeted her with a smile, she hesitated before replying with a short “Yes.” Just like the first time they’d met, Georgina was brimming with energy, looking around the mansion with excitement as she chatted away.
“You have no idea how much I’ve been looking forward to this. What’s Angela doing right now? Does she know we’re coming? I barely got to see her properly last time…”
Yu-jin struggled to keep his mind from drifting as she continued talking. Their visit was about five days later than originally planned. Though calling it a “plan” was generous—it had been more of a one-sided notice. Regardless, Georgina had gotten what she wanted in the end. She hadn’t bothered explaining why the date was pushed back, but Yu-jin hadn’t asked either.
“I even brought a gift for Angela.”
Georgina proudly held up a box for him to see.
“Angie will love it,” Yu-jin said with a smile.
“I guarantee it. This shop has been around forever. You won’t find better chocolates anywhere else. I even heard that Winston used to love them when he was a kid…”
Yu-jin let her words go in one ear and out the other. He hadn’t said a word to Winston about Georgina. Ever since that day, the two of them had been locked in a cold war. Aside from absolutely necessary conversations, they barely spoke, and when they did, their words were laced with sharp-edged sarcasm and bitter accusations.
And yet, Winston never failed to share his bed with him.
Yu-jin thought it was a pointless waste of effort, but he let it be. For now, he needed to keep Winston off guard until he was ready.
Inviting Georgina over while Winston was away on business had been a deliberate decision. It wasn’t just a small act of defiance—proof that he didn’t need Winston’s permission for every little thing—but also a calculated move.
If I get close to her, there’s bound to be an opportunity.
He felt a twinge of guilt over Georgina’s genuine kindness, but she had approached him out of curiosity just as much as anything else. In the end, they were both using each other. Steeling his resolve, Yu-jin led her up the stairs. Charlotte trailed behind them at a slow, reluctant pace, keeping her distance.
“Would it be alright if we had tea in Angie’s room? She’s been really looking forward to this,” Yu-jin said, feeling a bit self-conscious as he added, “She’s never had guests before… She’s played pretend tea parties with me, but she’s never actually hosted anyone in the house.”
His ears burned with embarrassment. He had done his best to live as earnestly as he could, but in moments like this, the truth of his past—the harsh reality of scraping by on the brink of starvation—became glaringly obvious. Even though he had glossed over the details, his impoverished past flashed before his eyes, momentarily draining all the strength from his body.
‘The purpose of theft, robbery, and prostitution—there’s only ever one reason, isn’t there? Money.’
The cold, cutting words Winston had once said to him flashed through Yu-jin’s mind, sending a chill down his spine.
So what?
Summoning the last of his strength, Yu-jin defiantly lifted his chin. He had done whatever it took to survive. No matter how much that man despised or mocked him, it didn’t matter. He had nothing to be ashamed of.
“Oh my, really? That’s just adorable! Then I must make sure to conduct myself properly as a guest!”
With a loud clap of her hands, Georgina quickly straightened her posture.
“I’m ready.”
She let out a small cough and flashed a charming smile. The chatty, carefree girl from moments ago had vanished, replaced by a well-bred young lady. Yu-jin was startled by the sudden transformation. Perhaps this was Georgina’s true self. After all, she had been raised in a prestigious family and trained in proper etiquette from a young age.
“Alright then,” Yu-jin said, glancing over her shoulder.
Once he saw that Charlotte had caught up, he lightly knocked on the door. After a brief pause, Angela’s voice called from inside.
“Yes, please come in.”
Hearing the refined tone the young girl had mustered up, Georgina stifled a giggle before quickly composing herself.
“She must watch a lot of dramas…”
Yu-jin smirked wryly as he turned the doorknob.
The door opened smoothly, revealing a bright, sunlit room. Georgina, who had stepped in behind him, gasped and covered her mouth with one hand.
The room was neatly arranged, with only a few stuffed animals sitting atop the bed. Though it was likely the servants who had done the tidying, the effort was clear—Angela had meticulously prepared her space to welcome her very first guests.
Dressed in a soft cherry blossom-colored baby doll dress with blue ribbon accents, the young girl had styled her rich brown hair into elegant curls and adorned it with a headband decorated with vibrant flowers. Standing in the center of the room with perfect posture, her hands delicately clasped together, Angela caught sight of their guests and lifted the hem of her dress ever so slightly, offering a graceful curtsy like a true princess.
“Welcome, my lady, madam. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Angela Campbell.”
As she straightened up and added a final, radiant smile, Yu-jin was overwhelmed with secondhand embarrassment, while Georgina sucked in a breath, pressing both hands over her mouth. Even Charlotte widened her eyes in astonishment.
Looks like Angie got a little too carried away.
They had played plenty of pretend tea parties before, but never had Angela gone this far with the act. Just as Yu-jin was about to step in and smooth things over, Georgina let out a strangled gasp, followed by a tiny squeal.
“Oh my goodness, what kingdom did this little princess come from?! This is unbelievable—she’s too precious!”
She nearly shouted the words in a rush before realizing everyone was staring at her in confusion. Hastily regaining her composure, she straightened up and spoke in a dignified tone.
“Thank you for inviting us, Your Highness. It is an honor for my family.”
Georgina executed a flawless curtsy before presenting the box she held with both hands.
“This is a token of gratitude for your invitation. I do hope Your Highness enjoys chocolates.”
“Oh my, such a lovely gift. Thank you, my lady. I’m sure it will pair beautifully with the tea I’ve prepared.”
Yu-jin was quietly taken aback by how well Georgina and Angela were matching each other’s energy. He hadn’t expected them to get along this perfectly.
Yu-jin had assumed that Georgina was only here to satisfy her curiosity and that Angela was just an excuse. But now, a pang of guilt crept in. Curiosity was certainly a factor, but it didn’t seem like a lie. Even if it was a hasty judgment, Georgina didn’t strike him as a bad person. In fact, it was almost astonishing that someone so bright and pure existed in the Campbell family. Maybe it was because she was still young, but there was no need to overthink it. Right now, at least, Georgina’s presence was a positive one.
“Then, my lady, madam, I have prepared seats for you here. My attendant will be bringing tea shortly. In the meantime, let’s reminisce about past events.”
We’ve only just met today, Angie.
Yu-jin thought her line was a bit off, but Georgina seamlessly went along with it.
“Oh, Your Highness, listen to me! At the last ball, you made your grand debut in high society, didn’t you? You have no idea how deeply moved I was to witness such a momentous occasion…”
She must have read a lot of novels or watched a ton of dramas.
Just as Yu-jin had that thought, there was a brief knock at the open door. The butler, Kane, had arrived. Angela, who was already seated, turned toward him with an air of regal authority.
“Our guest has brought a gift, Kane. We shall enjoy it with our tea, so please bring a plate for the chocolates.”
“Understood, my lady.”
Yu-jin’s eyes widened. Even the butler was in on this? What in the world was happening?
But this wasn’t the time to be standing around in shock. The hostess of the tea party, Angela, had fixed him with a serious gaze and chided him in a firm tone.
“Your Majesty, you must take your seat. Our guests are all waiting.”
Yu-jin was at a loss for words, but everyone else remained perfectly serious. Even Charlotte mouthed, Come on, hurry up.
With no other choice, he reluctantly moved and sat in the empty chair. Once everyone was properly seated, Angela beamed and made a grand declaration.
“Thank you all for attending my tea party. Let us enjoy these carefully prepared refreshments and share delightful conversation.”
“It is an honor, Your Highness,” Georgina responded smoothly.
Angela’s cheeks practically glowed with pride.
And so, as Angela took the throne as queen of her little tea party, Winston was miles away, boarding a plane to another state.
