He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 217

217. The Beginning of 19th Century London (End)

◈ Early January 1800. Theo’s mansion in Mayfair, London.

Theo invited ten couples, each significant to him, to his home to celebrate the dawn of 1800.

These were individuals who had found their way to marriage through Theo’s matchmaking efforts.

The convivial gathering evolved into a cheerful dinner, and over tea, the conversation naturally gravitated towards the topic of marriage.

They shared fond memories, recounting their own wedding stories.

“Hahaha—that’s right! If I hadn’t listened to Duke Sanderson that day and actually visited her home, we might never have connected. I still remember the look of surprise on my mother-in-law’s face when I showed up unannounced. Haha!”

Lord Edward Monson and Lady Lydia Monson, the first couple Theo successfully matched in London, shared their story.

Lord Monson, who had risen from a Baron to an Earl, chuckled as he recalled his impromptu visit to Lydia Godwyn’s residence.

Then, Sir Daniel Burke turned to his wife, Sarah, and added,

“It’s the same for me. I wasn’t even considering marriage because of my work, but the Duke arranged a meeting with my wife without giving me much notice. If I had refused or left early that day, I would have missed out on my precious wife. Haha!”

Sir Daniel Burke, though a nobleman, was not wealthy, and his future seemed uncertain.

He possessed a keen business sense, able to anticipate the shifting economic landscape of the Industrial Revolution, but many women of his social circle looked down on him at the time.

However, after marrying Sarah Clark, who possessed remarkable emotional intelligence and a solid understanding of economics, he found stability and his business thrived, making him one of the wealthiest men in England.

Sir Burke also honored his late father-in-law’s request to care for his daughters, successfully arranging a suitable marriage for his youngest sister-in-law.

And, stepping into the role of a father figure after his father-in-law’s early passing, he became a reliable support for his four sisters-in-law.

“Hehe—to think I once declared I would never marry, but the Duke ended up connecting us anyway.”

Lord Louis Palmer, who had publicly sworn off marriage, reminisced about his first encounter with Ashley Clifford.

Then, Eva Morrison, the wife of writer Logan, smiled brightly and said,

“Thanks to the Duke, I rekindled my friendship with Ashley, my childhood friend, and found my wonderful husband. I can’t express how grateful I am. Hoho.”

Ashley smiled warmly at the beaming Eva.

Ashley had once distanced herself due to some complicated feelings, but after marrying writer Logan through Theo’s introduction, the two women became close friends again and frequently visited each other.

Theo, listening to their stories, wore a pleased expression.

“Actually, you should all be thanking me. When I established my matchmaking company in Kensington and expanded the business, your successful marriages were a tremendous asset.

During consultations, your stories and happy outcomes were always highlighted, and many clients, inspired by your happily married lives, sought our services, hoping for the same. In that regard, I should be the one expressing my gratitude to you.”

Then, Sir Colin Peterson cautiously inquired,

“We live in Manchester, so we only learned about your wedding after hearing the news of the Duke’s marriage. We’re all curious to know how the Duke, renowned for introducing the best spouses, ended up marrying the Princess of the Kingdom of Naples. Haha.”

Lucy, sitting next to Colonel Rogers, chimed in with a playful expression.

“Actually, I worked at the matchmaking company, so I knew a little about the Duke and Duchess’s relationship, but I still don’t know the details of how you two dated. You kept it a secret even from me, who was right there, so I’m dying to know how your relationship started.”

The other couples echoed Sir Peterson and Lucy’s sentiments.

“Ah—now that you mention it, it’s true.”

“That’s right. I really want to hear the Duke’s story. We’ve all shared our stories, so it’s your turn, Duke! Haha.”

“When did you two start dating?”

“Please, tell us!”

Theo and Princess Maria blushed under the barrage of requests.

They waved their hands, claiming there was nothing special to tell, but the expectant demands only intensified.

As the host, Theo felt he couldn’t dampen the cheerful atmosphere.

With a helpless expression, Theo began his story.

“My first meeting with my wife was in the VIP consultation room of our matchmaking company. The Kingdom of Naples…”

And so, the love story with Princess Maria beautifully colored the weekend evening.

◈ March 1800.

“Duke, a letter has arrived.”

Upon returning home from work, I found a thick letter from Herace Wilden, who had journeyed to Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom].

Herace, now in his third year in Joseon, provided a detailed account of his accomplishments and experiences.

Theo couldn’t help but smile as he carefully read the letter.

‘Hehe—he’s doing exceptionally well. I’m truly glad.’

According to the history I researched upon returning to the 21st century, the British delegation to Joseon should have returned around this time due to the Littleton group, who had seized power, cutting off all support.

Consequently, Joseon’s Gabo Reform [a series of reforms aimed at modernizing Joseon] ultimately failed.

However, with Theo’s intervention, the Littleton group was removed, and the relationship between Joseon and England naturally strengthened.

As a result, the British delegation was able to proceed with their plans as originally intended.

According to Herace’s letter, Theo’s decision to prioritize language and cultural immersion proved to be invaluable.

Unlike other Western powers who threatened East Asian countries with the ultimatum of opening their borders or facing war, the British delegation communicated in the Joseon language and approached them with respect and courtesy, honoring Joseon culture.

While some factions remained wary, overall, public opinion in Joseon towards the British delegation was trending positively.

The Joseon Sadaebu [scholar-officials] and the people, who had been advocating for a firm stance against the West, showed considerable favor towards the British who spoke their language and respected the Joseon royal family and its people.

In particular, Herace Wilden’s exceptional Joseon language skills, his extensive knowledge of East Asia, and, most importantly, his deep understanding of Neo-Confucianism, won the favor of King Jeongjo, a staunch Confucian fundamentalist.

Jeongjo, more conservative than most, strongly opposed Western learning, clinging to Neo-Confucian orthodoxy.

He was a king known for turning away Western ships seeking trade.

However, while maintaining the policy of refusing trade and diplomatic relations to protect Joseon’s autonomy,

Jeongjo began to heed Herace Wilden’s sincere argument that strengthening Joseon’s national power was the key to preserving Neo-Confucian autonomy, pointing out the contradiction in Joseon’s reliance on the foreign power of the Ming Dynasty [previous Chinese dynasty that Joseon had close ties with].

Theo’s eyes widened at the mention of a ‘weapon factory’ in the letter.

The Joseon leadership, impressed by the power of British modern weaponry, seemed eager to establish a weapon factory to bolster the nation’s strength.

In the original timeline, Japan, after the Meiji Restoration [a period of modernization and westernization in Japan] half a century later, gained significant military power during the era of global power struggles between England and Russia.

This was because England, seeking an ally in East Asia, partnered with Japan, which had successfully modernized, to counter Russian influence.

Leveraging this power, Japan colonized Joseon and other countries, rising to become a new imperialist power.

The best way to prevent this was to modernize Joseon first, surpassing Japan and the Qing Dynasty [the ruling dynasty of China at the time] economically and militarily.

To achieve this, strengthening Joseon’s military was paramount, and the fact that Joseon had proposed the idea of a weapon factory was a very encouraging sign.

Theo spent the late hours in his study, composing a detailed reply to Herace’s letter.

He outlined the points to consider in their future relationship with the Qing Dynasty, the specific direction to take, and pledged his unwavering support.

◈ May 1800

Princess Maria visited the company with unexpected good news.

She was pregnant.

“Haha—when do you think our baby will be born?”

“Counting the days, it looks like it will be around December.”

“That’s wonderful news. From now on, you should banish any worries or anxieties and focus on positive thoughts.”

“Yes, Duke.”

Having experienced loss twice before, Theo and Maria were extra cautious to prevent such sadness from happening again.

That’s how the hot summer passed, autumn arrived, and the long-awaited winter finally came.

◈ 7 months later. December 13, 1800.

Theo Marriage Information Company, 5th floor CEO’s office.

Earl Burns, sipping tea with Theo, spoke with a hint of embarrassment.

“I truly had no intention of getting married until you introduced me to Miss Agnes.”

“Why was that?”

“Among the London social circles, there was a persistent rumor that I was somehow responsible for Earl Francis’s tragic death. My parents and Earl Francis, who raised me like a son, all believed that my misfortune was the cause of their suffering.”

“……”

“I realized then why no one was willing to offer me their daughter, despite my being the head of a prominent family like the Kents. So, I had completely given up on marriage.”

Theo had carefully considered and introduced a lady who he believed would be a perfect match for Earl Burns, who had resigned himself to a life of bachelorhood.

He practically dragged Earl Burns, who initially refused to meet, to a meeting, and the two quickly realized they were a match made in heaven.

Earl Burns, who had previously rejected the idea of marriage, changed his mind upon meeting a woman who captivated him instantly.

Now, the families had concluded their discussions and even set a wedding date for early next year.

“It’s impossible for someone like Earl Burns to remain unmarried. It’s simply not an option, especially for the sake of the Kent family. I’m incredibly pleased that you two are getting along so well. Haha.”

Knock knock-

Clunk-

Lucy, who opened the door immediately after knocking, looked flustered.

“CEO! Someone from your house is here! The Duchess has gone into labor!”

“Oh! Really?”

As Theo leaped from his seat, Earl Burns also stood up and exclaimed,

“Duke! Go quickly! Hurry!”

“Yes, Earl! Let’s meet again soon to discuss the wedding details.”

“Yes, yes! Go quickly. I’ll visit as soon as the baby is born. And congratulations in advance! Duke! Haha-”

“Yes! Thank you, Earl!”

***

Arriving home, I rushed inside, where a maid assisting the midwife emerged from the room.

“Duke! You’re here?”

“Yes, what’s the situation?”

“The Duchess has started having labor pains. The midwife estimates the baby will arrive in 3-4 hours.”

“That long?”

“Yes, that’s what she says. I need to get back in to assist the midwife.”

“Yes, yes. Let me know immediately if anything happens!”

“Yes, Duke.”

The maid returned to the room, and Theo, unable to sit still with anxiety, began pacing around the living room.

I fervently prayed that my wife, who had conceived again after the pain of miscarriage and had waited and hoped for a child more than anyone, would deliver safely.

***

After pacing for about two hours, Theo, now somewhat calmer, looked around.

The living room was piled high with congratulatory gifts sent in advance from various circles since the news of Princess Maria’s pregnancy months ago.

While examining each gift, his gaze stopped at a blue and white porcelain vase placed on the display case.

This blue and white porcelain was a congratulatory gift sent by King Jeongjo of Joseon [Korean dynasty] some time ago and was Princess Maria’s favorite gift.

While the blue and white porcelain from China or Japan had excessively flamboyant blue colors, the blue and white porcelain from Joseon had a mysterious harmony between the pure white beauty of the porcelain and the subtle blue color, making it a piece of pottery that Maria cherished so much that she personally cleaned it every day.

Theo quietly stroked the blue and white porcelain, praying once again that Maria would deliver the baby healthily.

And then, at that moment….

The baby’s cry, which he had been waiting for so long, echoed throughout the house.

Thump-

“Duke! You have a son! Your son is born!”

A maid, her forehead drenched with sweat, opened the door and shouted with a joyful face.

Theo asked in a trembling voice.

“Are they… both healthy?”

“Yes, yes! Duke! You have a healthy son. A very handsome son has been born!”

“Okay, okay. And Maria is healthy too, right?”

At Theo’s question, the maid smiled brightly.

“Of course! The Duchess is also very healthy. I will let you know as soon as things are settled inside. Please wait a moment.”

“Alright. Thank you so much!”

Upon hearing that everyone was healthy, Theo unconsciously put his hands together and gave thanks to God.

***

After a while, Theo entered the room to see Princess Maria and the newborn child.

Despite the long labor, Maria was smiling brightly as she looked at Theo.

“My dear… you’ve worked so hard.”

At Theo’s words, Maria teared up and said.

“We finally… finally have a child.”

“Yes, yes. Our baby is so precious. And you are healthy too, what a blessing this is?”

The midwife carefully held the loudly crying baby and handed him to Theo.

“Duke, it’s a son.”

Theo carefully took his son, afraid of dropping him, and quickly moved him into his arms.

Then, he pulled up a chair and sat close so that Maria could see.

Then, the baby, who had been crying so much, became quiet as if by magic in Theo’s arms.

Princess Maria said in amazement.

“He was crying so much… it’s like he recognizes you.”

Theo stared down at the baby’s face.

The baby, who had his eyes tightly closed and was wriggling, slightly opened one eye.

Even though the newborn baby couldn’t possibly see, he diligently looked at Theo.

And the moment his eyes met the baby’s…

‘……’

The anxiety that had always been in one corner of his heart became strangely comfortable.

One day, he fell into the 18th century for no reason,

Then went to the changed 21st century. He had to experience this unacceptable phenomenon several times.

Was that why?

Even while spending happy days, he would suddenly worry that he might be taken to another dimension again, and on those days, one corner of his heart would become endlessly heavy and anxious.

And he could only resent God for making him experience such a harsh fate.

However, the moment he held his own flesh and blood in his arms, he felt that all the anxiety that had been tormenting his heart had disappeared as if by magic.

Looking at the child, Theo even felt certain that he no longer needed to have such fears.

Even if the world is divided and parallel universes are created each time an interaction occurs,

And even if all possible outcomes are actually realized in each parallel universe and materialized into their respective lives,

It is only a meaningless ‘assumption’ for humans who cannot observe it.

However, for God, who can see all of those forms, it is not a meaningless ‘assumption’ but a realized ‘phenomenon.’

The only being who can simultaneously observe Hyun-tae Theo in the 21st century and Theo Sanderson in the 18th century is God, and the only being who can connect the two in different time dimensions is God.

The moment Theo realized that the path chosen by such a God was this life, the fear of the future disappeared as if by magic.

And his heart fluttered with anticipation for the 19th-century life he would face with this child.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

Princess Maria asked with a gentle smile.

“Hehe. Is it because I’ve become a father now? Looking at the child brings up so many emotions.”

“I hope our child grows up well. I want to raise him to be a wonderful man like you.”

“Don’t worry. He will become a much more wonderful fellow than me. I will teach him well and make him a warm person who will change the world for the better.”

“Since you say so, I really think it will be like that. I’m so excited to see how our son will grow up.”

Princess Maria, who was looking at her husband and son with loving eyes, exclaimed in an excited voice.

“Oh my! It’s snowing outside!”

Theo turned his head towards the window.

It was true.

White snow was falling softly outside the window, as if to bless the baby born in the first year of the 19th century.

End.

It’s already the end of the year when we wrap up another year.

And this work is also coming to an end here.

Like many web novel writers, I also have a day job, so I often wake up at dawn to write on weekdays.

After finishing work and getting off in the evening, I’m not in a state where I can write, so I usually wake up around 4 a.m. when I can write with a clear mind.

Always a cup of coffee and the dawn when I was busy typing before going to work.

But today, I’m typing this as a final greeting, not a serialization.

From today, I feel relieved that I don’t have to worry about the next serialization, but on the other hand, there is also a deep regret that I can no longer share Theo’s story with the readers.

If I had to pick the most fearful thing when I started paid serialization, it was whether mental or physical problems would affect the serialization during the serialization.

Since the writer’s emotions are completely buried in the writing, it seems really difficult to write when you have anxiety, worries, or illness.

(Before I tried paid serialization, I thought, ‘Why would you do that if you have stockpiles in advance?’ But when I actually did it, the stockpiles ran out faster than pocket money, haha.)

While writing this novel, there were several crises, but fortunately, I was able to come to the end without any major problems, so I think that was the biggest achievement for me.

Also, to explain why I suddenly stopped writing replies in the second half,

One of the readers wrote and deleted a post saying that the writer’s replies sometimes become spoilers, and they can’t say what they want to say because they are conscious of the writer.

When I thought about it, the writer’s comments have the advantage of communicating and resolving misunderstandings, but I thought that there were quite a few disadvantages, so I think I will not write replies as much as possible in the future.

Now, let’s talk about the novel.

This novel was a story based on the story of ‘Many-Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics.’

You’ve probably heard of it a few times, and it’s a field that I’m personally interested in, but the content about parallel universes that I researched and studied in more depth to create the novel was very interesting.

According to this cosmology, even if someone goes back to the past and changes history, the universe that is affected by it and the universe that is not affected by it continue in parallel, so the contradiction that arises from time travel, that is, the paradox that if you change the past, the current me does not exist, does not occur, and time machines can be possible.

And in the past, parallel universes were just treated as science fiction as a sub-concept of the multiverse theory.

There are various interpretations of this parallel universe, and the concept of many-worlds interpretation, which is the most supported, that is, the world is divided and parallel universes are created each time an interaction occurs, and all possible results are actually realized and materialized in each parallel universe, was very attractive.

It is a concept that is completely contrary to classical physics, which states that any substance must be in a predictable physical state, and even the genius Einstein dismissed it as nonsense.

But now, it has become a real story that lives and breathes in the field of quantum mechanics, and there are many scientists who believe that it is possible.

And one of the decisive clues that can prove it is the fact that ‘we’ are living in this world called Earth with an unimaginable probability in the universe, breaking through the ‘problem of fine-tuning’ was also interesting.

(In short, the probability that many-worlds interpretation is correct or the probability that we can exist on a planet called Earth in the universe is not much different.)

This is where ‘I started a matchmaking agency in 18th century London’ was born.

And the part that many people misunderstand as ‘light path ending’ is the content that I thought about from the beginning based on this cosmology, in my own way.

However, the light path ending is just a story in a dream, but Theo’s 18th century story is not a futile ‘dream’ but an actually happened ‘reality’, so I hope there are no misunderstandings.

However, in the many-worlds interpretation, the focus is on the story of choices being divided at the moment of interaction and opening up another world and going to the future, but for the fun of web novels, I regressed to the past life as if riding a time machine, and I came up with the idea of creating another parallel universe by making new choices there.

If I explain everything, it will be complicated and long, so if I simply say only the results, you can think that Theo in the 21st century was not dead in the Thames River, but was rescued and is living well in that world in his own way.

(Theo in the 21st century, who came to believe in the many-worlds interpretation, vaguely guesses that another self went to save Princess Maria in the previous universe while losing consciousness after falling into the Thames River.)

And the protagonist who returned to the 18th century saves the lives of Princess Maria and many London citizens who were about to die by using the knowledge of the future belonging to the same universe world, and lives happily, and opens up the changed 19th century world with his son who was born 223 years ago today.

After that, new parallel universes will be created due to interactions caused by choices, and other future universe worlds will be created, right?

I’ve been talking for too long.

Perhaps it’s because of my desire not to let go of the end of this story.

Since everyone has become happy through the last episode, I think I should let go of my greed now.

And I will save that power and try to come back with a new novel soon.

Above all, I would like to bow my head once again and express my deep gratitude to all the readers who read my writing. I really feel like I want to hold each and every one of you by the hand and say thank you if you were in front of me.

And I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to the employees of Pentagram and Editor Oh, who have been silently supporting me.

Finally, I would like to say thank you to my beloved wife and children.

Then, I, Theo, and Theo Sanderson will step down now.

Thank you so much for everything.

By Damhaide.

End