Chapter 2

[Along Came Alice]

(beta by: the lovely Yocaterpillar)

“People look at it from the outside and think that this is just a society for the bourgeois, but that’s not exactly the case. I still remember, in your father's era, there was this young man from a…” Jessica’s grandmother paused to look for a better and more polite word. “…from a hardworking family. You know, not those born with a silver spoon in their mouths. But he’s smart. A genius, I must say. And he got invited to Der Märchenclub.”

Jessica stared blankly at her grandmother, Jung Hyori. Krystal and her were having dinner together with their grandparents in their manor. Jessica loved her, but was not really fond of her grandmother. Jung Hyori was the type of woman who pretended not to care about social label, but in fact, cared about it the most among other people. Jessica liked her grandfather more, truth to be told. The man was quiet (partiallybecause his Alzheimer's was getting worse) and he was (at least, prior to his disease, had been) a good listener. Not that Jessica often talked to him, but she noticed how he always had the right amount of reaction to people talking to him. Perhaps that was one of the reasons why the old Mr. Jung had been a very prominent Banker in his era.

“Are you listening, Jessica?” her grandmother asked with an accusing tone.

“Yes, grandmother. I’m listening.”

Under normal circumstances, she would probably have feigned interest, but she had not had any proper sleep since her flight earlier that afternoon. Fortunately, her grandmother did not seem to mind her older granddaughter’s lack of attention. To her, it was at least better than to see Jessica playing with her uneaten pot au feuwith her fork (her grandmother had scolded her earlier. What kind of manners did they teach Jessica when she was away from Korea?).

“And he became a successful man, didn't he, Grandmother?” asked Krystal eagerly.

“I don't know much about him now. But he was the creator of Korea’s most complicated government hacking system. I even heard he got into the World’s Top 10 Programmers. And it’s thanks to Der Märchenclub, which opened his pathway to success.”

If he was as genius as you said he was, he wouldn’t have needed this Märchen Club to be successful, Jessica thought inwardly. Her grandmother seemed to catch the unspoken cynic, because the oldest lady then added, “What use is someone’s brain if he has no connections? That guy got his link to the government officials through your father’s friend too.”

“I understand, Grandmother,” replied Jessica.

“No, you don’t.”

“What’s the point in understanding it anyway, if you will still force me to enter this club?”

“So that you can at least be more willing to enter it. Not that your willingness will have anything to do with my decision, though.”

“I will not be willing, and you know that, Grandmother,” stated Jessica. “But I respect you enough to just follow whatever plan you have.”

“I’m glad we have an understanding,” the Old Mrs. Jung paused to take a sip on her tea. “I expect that your study of Fashion Business has taught you how to present yourself properly on your first introduction in Der Märchenclub.”

“Then perhaps you can re-activate my bank account first? I’ll need a new attire.”

Her grandmother widened her eyes, but it happened only for a moment. After all, she was used to her granddaughter’s bluntness and infamous shopaholic tendency.

“Very well. Just promise me you will not disgrace the Jung Family.”

Jessica could not promise that, but for the sake of her bank account, she responded, “I will try to.”

For the second time since she stepped foot in Korea again, Jessica felt like she was actually living again. The first time was when she met Krystal, and her second time was this.

Shopping.                                           

Oh yes, she was a shallow person. At least she admitted that.

Her first debutante into Der Märchenclub would be in four days and she did not have lots of time to look for the perfect gown. Jessica spent her Sunday morning strollingaround Cheongdamdong area, entering one boutique after another. She actually already had her eyes on that almost perfect silky, cream white dress in the last shop she entered, but she was a perfectionist when it came to shopping. Thus she had to find the perfect dress and –

And she found it.

At the center of the boutique, the gown worn by the mannequin was maroon in color. It was sleeveless, and on the first sight, Jessica could tell that the material was a high quality one. She thought it would compliment her look very much. Her feet carried her towards the mannequin. She needed to have it. She had to –

A pale arm suddenly extended in front of her –pointing out at Jessica’s dream dress. There was a tall woman, with long, straight brown hair, and a very, very pretty face pointing at the gown Jessica had her eyes on.

A smiling shopkeeper came in a hurry, bowed and asked the tall customer. “You’ll take this one?” asked the cheerful young girl clad in the shop’s uniform.

Jessica watched in horror as she saw the beautiful woman nod. fell open. She did not care if she created a commotion. She just needed that dress. Badly.

“Wait a minute, Miss,” the Jung girl s