According to my memory, this content appeared in the original work:

“Claudia needed funds for the revolution, and Owen, who had escaped from the northern coal mine, needed a foothold for his comeback.

Owen, who met Claudia in a cheap tavern, clenched his fist.

“I want to paint again. I want to stop scribbling in hiding.”

“I heard your paintings still sell for high prices.”

“The price of my paintings skyrocketed after I became a traitor. While I worry about food for the day… my paintings sell for tens of millions of gold.”

“I’m a person who only knows the sword.”

“But you’re someone who can become emperor.”

Claudia, who was glaring at Owen, jumped up from her seat.

“If you talk nonsense, you’ll be dragged not to the northern coal mine, but to hell.”

“I’ll do anything if I can erase the label of traitor. I could make you a lot of money.”

“You said you’re worried about food costs? How can I trust you?”

Claudia’s blue eyes shone sharply.

Although he was only thirty, Owen’s smile was tinged with the emptiness of an old man facing death.

“Even if you can’t trust me, don’t you trust the person who introduced me?”

“…”

“Lord Roselois. If you accept me, I promise you a fortune. Use that money to open a new sky.”

“I thought you were a painter, but you’re a gambler.”

“I may be surviving like a rat, but I don’t bet my life on just anyone.”

Claudia had decided to work with Owen before meeting him.

Owen Black was a representative figure who had fallen due to the Yevrei Imperial Family.

If he lent his strength, talents who had been falsely accused and living in hiding could join the revolution.

Of course, as people gathered, the possibility of being discovered also increased.

But it was a time when Claudia needed to take a gamble too.

“Count Black. How do you plan to make money?”

“You’re more impatient than I heard.”

“Did you also hear that I hate braggarts?”

“Douglas advised me. He said to tell only the truth when I meet you.”

“If you want to work with me, it would be good to remember my friend’s advice.””

The person who introduced Owen to Claudia was none other than Douglas.

I planned to meet Owen using Douglas as a stepping stone, just as Claudia had done.

Douglas wanted to repay his debt, and Owen wished to regain his honor.

Both were problems I could solve.

Not for free, though.

[This is the timeline separator]

When I asked him to introduce me to an illustrator, Douglas seemed perplexed.

When I suggested meeting with that illustrator at the high-end restaurant Burger King, he looked visibly confused.

Burger King was famous for only employing the Empire’s best chefs.

Nobles hoped to make reservations at this restaurant, even if it meant paying extra.

I had reserved a quiet private room for today.

A snow-white tablecloth covered the table, and sparkling silver cutlery was neatly arranged.

“To think that the illustrator was the famous Owen Black… I apologize for not recognizing you.”

Douglas bowed his head deeply.

A man in his 30s with dark brown hair and reddish-black eyes made an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t confess beforehand.”

“I understand.”

“I knew the Marquis was a deep person who would forgive. I didn’t expect my identity to be revealed so easily though.”

I comforted Owen, who seemed bitter.

“Don’t worry, Count. Only the three of us know this fact.”

Was it because the title of Count was unfamiliar after so long?

Or was it because I was the education officer for the Crown Prince?

Owen glared at me with apparent annoyance and turned his head away.

“How did you know? I didn’t reveal any of my style in the illustrations for ‘The Red Star of the Empire’.”

“It’s not difficult if you have enough gold.”

Of course, that was a lie.

If I hadn’t read the original work, I would have had no way of knowing that Owen had drawn the illustrations.

I wouldn’t have known about his friendship with Douglas either.

Or how Claudia had won his favor at their first meeting.

“Miss Elizabeth. Why did you want to see me?”

“I have a favor to ask.”

“I refuse. How could I trust a lackey of the Yevrei Imperial Family?”

“Even if you can’t trust me, don’t you trust the person who introduced me?”

A small ripple appeared in Owen’s eyes, which had seemed solid.

People tend to like those who speak in a similar manner and style.

That’s why I did some research, you know?

“Shall we eat first?”

I clapped my hands once.

The dishes I had specially ordered started coming in one after another.

Owen quickly rolled his eyes as he discovered the plates brought by the waiters.

He swallowed at the sight of the golden-brown roasted veal, and his nostrils flared as he smelled the steaming clam stew.

He was also moved by the meat pie topped with plenty of pink turkey, and the turkey stewed with blueberries.

Each dish was expensive enough to appear only at grand noble banquets.

These were also foods that Owen, a gourmet and big eater, hadn’t tasted for a long time.

‘Claudia won Owen over with food. He’s a simple man despite pretending to be picky.’

I smiled slightly, resting my chin on the table.

“Please eat as much as you like. Let me know if it’s not enough.”

“A free meal makes me suspicious.”

“If you don’t eat, Count, these dishes will have to be thrown away.”

“How wasteful! When so many people can’t even eat potatoes to their fill.”

Despite grumbling, Owen picked up his fork and knife.

Douglas pushed the plate with a whole deer leg towards Owen.

“Please eat, if only for my sake. Burger King’s cuisine is the best in the Empire.”

“I’m eating for the Marquis’s honor. Ahem.”

Thinking the pleasantries were enough, Owen began eating in earnest.

His mouth opened wide and food kept going in without pause.

Owen didn’t forget to exclaim and analyze between bites.

“They used raspberry vinegar on the veal? This seems to be a broth from northern coastal silk clams? The honey is fresh, and the crispiness of the surface is excellent.”

He was a man who could have been hugely successful as an eating show creator rather than a painter.

Seeing the plates emptying in an instant, I called a waiter.

The mood would be ruined if the food ran out midway.

“It seems an enormous amount will be written on the bill.”

Douglas whispered with concern.

He would be shocked to know the amount I had spent for this meal.

“It’s worth it if I can gain the Count.”

“What is your intention in befriending him, Elizabeth?”

“I want to provide the Crown Prince with the best art tutor.”

I used Franz as an excuse while coating a piece of steak generously with mushroom sauce.

Douglas lowered his voice towards me as I chewed the meat.

“He’s not one to easily change his mind.”

“Neither am I.”

“He must have many grievances against the Imperial Family. Even if he becomes a tutor, it could cause big problems.”

“That’s possible. Or it might not be.”

“I really can’t understand what Elizabeth is thinking.”

“It’s a win-win situation.”

It couldn’t be anything but good all around, as it would slow down the growth of Claudia’s power while strengthening my position.

“I’m just grateful for introducing me to the Count. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Elizabeth, you really are mysterious.”

“Me?”

“You easily achieve things others wouldn’t even dare to attempt.”

Douglas looked at me with great admiration.

His sincere praise made my stomach tingle and I felt shy.

“I haven’t gotten the Count’s permission yet, you know?”

“Since Elizabeth has decided, you’ll eventually succeed.”

“I think you’re overestimating me? I’m not the female protagonist of a novel.”

“Elizabeth is more special than any female protagonist. To the point where I feel ashamed that I wrote a novel based on Elizabeth.”

Douglas had watched Elizabeth’s transformation from the closest position.

He was also the first to accept and support her.

A man who understood me better than anyone else.

A man who stood by my side unchangingly.

It was understandable why Claudia couldn’t let go of her lingering feelings for Douglas.

Being with Douglas felt as comfortable and drowsy as lying on a warm floor.

If the huge tree named Nikolai hadn’t grown inside me, I might not have been able to refuse Douglas’s sunny smile in the end.

‘Get a grip, Elizabeth! This isn’t the time to be fluttering over the original male lead. You need to deal with Owen first.’

I stared at Owen like a predator eyeing its prey.

It wasn’t simply to check Claudia that I wanted to win Owen over.

Owen was like a vine heavy with pumpkins.

To summarize a few points:

1. By pardoning and reinstating Owen, we can widely publicize Nikolai’s magnanimity.

2. We can gather talented individuals who have been unjustly hidden away.

3. By supporting their faction, we can disperse the power currently monopolized by the four great noble houses.

4. We can revitalize culture and arts centered around Franz and Owen.

I could use my charm to get quick results, but lately I’ve been hesitating to use seduction.

‘People seduced by charm aren’t truly mine. They might revert back when the effect wears off. I want to win people over with sincerity, not charm. That way, I won’t have regrets.’

Am I being too naive?

Am I being too proper when I should be rushing in recklessly?

But what I wanted wasn’t puppets, but ‘truly my people’ like Douglas or Susan.

Even if I approached them for a purpose.

Even if we made a deal for mutual benefit.

I believed that sincerity would eventually come through.

I didn’t need fair-weather friends who were only attracted to my appearance and wealth.

I didn’t want people who lost their senses, intoxicated by my charm.

Gathering such people would never be enough to defeat Claudia.

‘If sincerity doesn’t work, I’ll have no choice but to use charm to bring them down.’

Owen shuddered, his shoulders twitching, as if he had noticed my sinister gaze.

Just then, there was a commotion outside the door.

The door to the private room, which I had ordered not to let anyone in without permission, burst open.

“What’s going on?”

“I-I’m sorry! Some gentleman just barged in…”

The manager explained, sweating profusely.

Behind him, a familiar man appeared.

I almost screamed, clutching my scarlet hair with both hands.

‘Why is Nikolai here?!’

[This is the timeline separator]

Douglas froze stiffly upon seeing Nikolai.

Owen eyed the handsome man who had interrupted his meal with disapproval.

Fortunately, today Nikolai was dressed like a wealthy young knight.

His black jacket and leather boots were modest, and the sword at his waist had a simple design.

If you looked closely, you’d be surprised at how exquisite the finish was and how high-quality the items were.

“Once again, you’re with an unfamiliar man.”

Nikolai’s blue-green eyes looking down at me were as cold as the winter sea.

“My fiancé didn’t miss out either.”

Nikolai’s gaze turned to Douglas.

He made no attempt to hide his burning hostility.

Douglas greeted calmly.

Owen, who had been silent, wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“Who might this person be?”

“…”

“He seems to be a noble person, won’t you introduce him?”

Nikolai’s eyebrow twitched.

His look said, ‘You dare to interrupt while I’m speaking without permission?’

Before Nikolai could retort, I covered his mouth.

He glared at me with eyes full of dissatisfaction.

“Shall we two have a little talk?”

I wanted to prevent Nikolai from ruining my progress with Owen.

I had forgotten for a moment.

How willful a man Nikolai was.

“!”

I swallowed empty air.

It was because Nikolai had licked my palm.