Introduction 1 - The Dutiful Mother-In-Law With A Plan

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Her name was Kim Si-eom, aged 59.

Her only wish in life? A daughter-in-law like a gentle breeze and grandchildren like fluffy rabbits.

A quintessentially ordinary and modest Korean mother-in-law, and the proud mother of two sons.

She had lost her husband early and raised her sons alone.

It had been no easy feat—but now, with both sons grown and holding respectable jobs, she considered her duty as a mother complete.

Almost.

If she were to be honest, there was just one lingering regret.

Marriage. Specifically, her sons’ marriages—and most particularly, the second daughter-in-law.

Her eldest son had yet to marry. Only the second had, and every time Kim Si-eom looked at her second daughter-in-law, she felt a knot in her throat and a sharp tug at the base of her skull.

The more she looked, the more the girl seemed… off. Somber, dampening the mood wherever she went.

From the very first impression, she hadn’t liked her.

No charm in her speech, no sweetness in her demeanor. An orphan with a pitiful background, and it showed.

So what if she earned more money than her son? She’d grown up without proper guidance.

Did she think a bit of money could wash off the scent of poverty steeped into her skin?

‘Ugh, what could my son possibly see in her?’

She had asked him. And his answer? “Because she’s kind.”

But the way she’d been acting lately? Not kind. Not even close.

No, Kim Si-eom was convinced now—her sweet, innocent son had been fooled into marriage.

But now, three years in, the charm was fading. Surely, her son must be starting to see through it all.

With such a dull wife, how could he not think of other women?

A wife like that? If he didn’t have wandering thoughts, was he even a man?

She’d married them off because at least the girl seemed obedient… Hmph.

In any case, the thorn in her side—the second daughter-in-law—was finally something she could deal with.

And what’s more, in this new world, she had been reborn into nobility!

No more house chores. No more plain existence.

Nobility. Or… was it aristocracy? Her son had told her, but the details were already fuzzy.

“Seong-min, what did you say this was again?”

“Possession, Mom. A mass possession.”

That’s right. Possession.

She, along with her two sons, had been transported to another world, reborn in new bodies, with new identities.

And her second daughter-in-law? She hadn’t come with them.

Well, no matter. Time to find a better match for her second son!

One Month Ago.

The plane had plummeted.

Onboard were Kim Si-eom, her two sons, and the manager from her second son’s café.

She had screamed, thinking she was about to die.

And then… she had awoken here.

In this world, she was now Lady Florence, a noblewoman of high birth.

Her son had explained: in this world, nobility lived like the old Korean aristocrats, lording over servants and estates.

And he hadn’t been wrong.

A grand mansion, furniture that made her head spin, cupboards full of the kind of fine china she used to only dream of.

And the servants—bustling, obedient, everywhere.

The smile on her face hadn’t left since.

This must be heaven’s reward for a life of suffering and virtue.

Her body, too, had changed. Younger. Prettier. With striking hair and unusual eyes—foreign, yet… pleasing.

She was, in a word, satisfied.

“How do you know all this?”

“Dain used to mention it sometimes. That sometimes, you get reborn through possession.”

Ah yes, Dain.

“So… where is Dain?”

Her eldest son had become Lord Florence. Her second son, the second son of House Florence.

“Was it just the three of us…?”

Indeed. Only they had been reborn.

No Dain. No manager either—the one her second son used to show suspicious affection toward.

Though that girl had more charm than Dain, Kim Si-eom still found her lacking.

“So both of you are unmarried here, right?”

Oh, joy! What a gift from the heavens!

Here, she would find the perfect daughters-in-law.

“Oh my, this is too good to be true!”

She could hardly contain her delight.

A royal ball, held in grand splendor.

Draped in lavish gowns, Kim Si-eom—now Lady Florence—gracefully accepted a glass of champagne from a servant.

Her gaze, sharp as a blade, scanned the young noblewomen across the ballroom.

Here, it was tradition to meet future spouses through dancing and conversation.

And best of all? The bride brought the dowry.

“As it should be,” she thought. “If you’re going to feed and house her for life, she’d better bring money!”

Satisfied, she continued her hunt.

‘Now, where might I find fitting brides for my boys?’

She had crammed the noble hierarchy into her head in the past weeks—for this very purpose.

Higher status? Even better.

Lower status? Fine too, as long as the dowry was hefty.

The ballroom glimmered with possibility.

Until her eyes caught a scene: her eldest son nervously asking a young baroness to dance.

Whack! She slapped him on the shoulder.

“You brat!”

“Wha—? But she’s young and cute!”

Her eldest, Byeong-min, nearly 40 and still chasing twenty-somethings.

How many times had she told him to look beyond youth?

Dragged to the corner of the hall, Lord Florence pouted.

“She’s noble, young, pretty—what’s wrong?”

“Same nobility? We come from another world! We have knowledge they can’t even dream of! You think you’re on the same level? Think again.”

At that moment, another man swooped in to ask the girl for a dance.

Her son scowled.

“He stole her! She was so fair and soft-looking… Mom, just worry about Seong-min instead.”

“Listen to me. If you had been born with better status, you could’ve been president—or even king! It’s my fault I couldn’t support you better. You were both geniuses as kids. So you must marry women who match that potential. That’s what I mean!”

Then—the ballroom doors opened.

“Presenting: His Royal Highness, the First Prince, and Her Royal Highness, the Princess!”

Like a hawk spotting its prey, Kim Si-eom turned sharply.

There she was. Her number one candidate: the princess.

The first prince adored her—she was beloved and likely to become queen.

If her son married the princess? He’d be part of the royal family.

Lord Florence glanced at his mother, amused.

“Mom, we’re just barons—”

“So what? Aren’t we nobility?”

She had enough of her sons’ low self-esteem.

Then—

“Presenting: Lady Riden McCarry of House McCarry!”

Whispers rippled again through the crowd.

She turned her head—and there she was.

Moonlight hair. Eyes like a clear sky. All eyes were on her.

But more than her beauty—it was the empress herself acting as her chaperone.

“The Empress? As her escort?”

“Who is she…?”

Kim Si-eom narrowed her eyes.

Riden McCarry. Supposed orphan of a ruined count’s family. But lately, rumors had swirled—marriage talks with a ducal house.

‘Would a duke propose to an orphan without reason? Of course not. It’s the money—massive money.’

Perfect.

Princess for the eldest. Count’s daughter for the second.

That was the plan.

‘Rich, spoiled girls like that are easy to control.’

She lifted her chin, proud.

Time to move.

Before any other man could approach her, she nudged her second son forward—

Only to see him, eyes wide, walking toward the girl on his own.

“Dain…?”

Why was he calling her?

Kim Si-eom’s lips curled in confusion.

Had he really just said her second daughter-in-law’s name?

Not knowing, not even in her wildest dreams, that Lady Riden McCarry was in fact… Jeong Dain.

“Lady McCarry! Please honor me with your first dance!”

“Me, if you please!”

“Even if not the first, grant me a place on your dance card!”

“Ha… this is harder than it looks.”

Reaching the powder room, Dain sighed in relief.

She had escaped just five minutes into the ball—overwhelmed by the flurry of suitors.

Yes, she now lived as a noble lady, draped in jewels and silks… but it wasn’t easy.

Still—

‘A second life with no trashy mother-in-law, no annoying brother-in-law, and no useless husband? YES PLEASE.’

Compared to her previous hell? This was bliss.

Then… a shadow.

‘Gasp.’

“M-Mother?”

There stood Samantha Kenwolf.

The duchess of the empire’s most powerful family—and her former future mother-in-law.

“Oh my dear girl, I’ve searched for you everywhere.”

“For me…?”

“Of course. Has anyone been bothering you? Like that Lady Florence?”

Her gaze grew cold—but a moment later, she smiled sweetly and held out a velvet box.

Inside: a dazzling diamond tiara.

But Dain had broken off her engagement with the duke.

‘If I accept that… I’ll never escape!’

Panic-stricken, she raised her hands.

“M-Mother, I’m not confident with dancing. What if I drop it—”

“Oh?”

Samantha tilted her head innocently.

“And if you did? I’d just buy you another. What’s the harm in that?”

What do you MEAN what’s the harm?!

Dain screamed internally.

‘I don’T WANT to be your person! And your son? Ugh—regret material!’

She remembered the cold, distant words from the man she was once meant to marry—Ethan Kenwolf, the duke.

“We don’t need to get along. It’s a political match. Let’s just do what’s required. That’s it.”

Even his gorgeous face couldn’t make her reconsider.

And above all—

If her previous in-laws were storms, the duke’s household was a full-blown hurricane.

She had barely survived drowning once. Now again?

Eyes shut tight, Dain braced herself against the looming duchess.