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Chapter 10
Lloydal Street was located on the outskirts of the city center.
Because its location was not widely known, it was quiet and relatively empty—making it a convenient destination for high-ranking nobles.
Boutiques catering exclusively to nobles had set up along the street, forming a discreet commercial district.
Visits were strictly by recommendation only, and it was rumored that people even traded letters of introduction. Among the upper nobility, this had become something of a trend.
Though Floheta pretended to live a reckless life as the younger son of the Marquess, he still kept in contact with his older sister.
Through letters from her, he was able to gather this kind of information.
“This is the boutique that’s famous on Lloydal Street.”
After a long ride through the quiet street, observing the occasional passerby, the group arrived in front of the boutique.
Floheta made sure his robe stayed fastened and stepped forward, extending a hand to help Yuse alight comfortably.
Fortunately, the street was empty, so the risk of being seen was minimal.
“We’ve arrived, let’s get out.”
With no Sir Alec around and no one else watching, Floheta began speaking informally.
Yuse, for her part, was more comfortable this way.
“Here?”
Yuse stepped down from the carriage and craned her neck to see the shop sign—but there was none.
“This place only admits those who know it.”
“Flo, are you a regular here?”
“What do you mean? I don’t even have a lover. I come alone. My sister often visits this place, so I just happen to know it.”
Yuse had only asked out of curiosity, but Floheta looked flustered, shaking his head quickly.
“Ah…”
Yuse simply nodded in acknowledgment, as though the answer had no particular significance.
“So it’s famous, huh?”
“Better to see for yourself than hear about it. Come on, let’s go in.”
Floheta stepped ahead, opening the door and guiding Yuse inside.
The first thing that greeted them was a fresh citrus scent.
Inside, where nothing was visible from the curtained windows outside, the boutique’s interior was simple yet elegant, filled with high-quality wooden furniture.
“Did you make a reservation?”
A woman appeared before them, her hair pinned up, her eyes sharp, and holding a cane.
Her heels added height, but she was naturally taller than Yuse, and appeared roughly the same height as Floheta, whose head towered above most others.
“Under the name of the Marquess of Levermillion’s younger son, Phila.”
Phila—Yuse recognized the name.
It was the name of Floheta’s older sister.
Yet Phila insisted on being addressed as the Levermillion younger son in public.
Thus, anyone outside their immediate family dared not speak the name.
“Oh my, you know that name? Oh, upon closer look, it’s Lord Floheta?”
Madam Lei had been wary at first, but upon realizing Floheta’s identity, she beamed and bowed warmly.
“Madam Lei, you must keep today’s visit a complete secret.”
“Keeping secrets is why I’ve survived so long. Don’t worry.”
Noticing Yuse, Madam Lei gestured toward her.
“And this lady?”
Floheta stopped Yuse from introducing herself and said,
“Please pretend you don’t know her.”
Madam Lei, understanding that it would be better not to probe further, merely nodded.
She reached into her dress and pulled out a pair of glasses.
“Uh?”
Yuse’s eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the glasses.
Shrugging, Madam Lei said,
“There’s no rule that a dress can’t have pockets. Come this way, milady.”
Beila remained outside to keep watch, so inside it was only Floheta, Yuse, and Madam Lei.
No other customers, no staff—perfectly quiet.
“Shall we hear the reason for your visit?”
Madam Lei led them into a room inside the boutique and gestured for them to sit at a side table.
“I’m here to have an engagement dress made.”
Yuse replied.
“An engagement dress? When is the date?”
“The deadline is three days… the engagement is this Saturday.”
“I’m sorry, milady, that’s impossible. Even giving the order a month in advance is tight. Three days before the event? No chance.”
Madam Lei scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Not even for Phila? Not for anyone in this empire.”
She made sure Floheta heard the same, her tone firm.
“Eh?”
Yuse’s already wide green eyes trembled further at such a decisive refusal.
“That…!”
“Have you attended the social scene before, milady? It seems you’ve never commissioned a dress before.”
Madam Lei let out a small sigh as she looked at Yuse’s trembling expression.
Yuse had no response. She had indeed never attended society functions, and no one had told her that a custom dress required so much time—not even Killian.
“How can it not be possible, Madam Lei? It’s urgent!”
Seeing Yuse unable to speak, Floheta stepped in, pleading on her behalf.
“Hm…”
“Please, I beg you.”
“For the sake of the person I love most, for the engagement I’ve been waiting for!”
Yuse shivered as she implored, while Floheta’s gaze remained steady.
Madam Lei, noticing their determination, finally spoke.
“I happen to have a few dresses I’ve made as a hobby. If you tell me your preferred design, I’ll see if I can find something suitable.”
Yuse’s face lit up instantly, her earlier distress vanished, and she nodded rapidly.
She began rattling off the designs she wanted.
“All right! I’d like a white dress, not too revealing. Something in a mermaid style with floral frills at the hem—do you have anything like that?”
“You’re very particular about the dress, despite not knowing the production timeline?”
Yuse blushed shyly.
“It’s the design my fiancé would like. When we exchanged letters, we once talked about the engagement dress. He asked what kind of dress I liked, and I thought something white with frills would be perfect—so I designed it myself.”
“How romantic.”
Yuse blushed further at the compliment, and Madam Lei smiled warmly.
“You’re lucky. Coincidentally, I have just the dress you described.”
“Really?”
Yuse nearly jumped from her chair, struggling to contain her excitement.
Her heart raced.
It felt as though anything concerning Killian always turned out perfectly—further proof that he and she were destined.
“However, since it’s made to my taste, it’s a bit expensive… is that alright?”
“That’s fine! Money’s no object!”
Money had always been the one worry she’d never truly known—being born into nobility.
“You’re charming and cute, and also bold. I like that, milady.”
“Hehe, thank you. And the dress…”
Yuse had just started to say she wanted it delivered to her, when Floheta intervened.
“Hold on… what?”
Everyone—Madam Lei, Yuse—turned in surprise at the name Floheta gave.
“Madam Lei?”
“Oh, yes. That’s right. Very well, we’ll do that.”
Madam Lei quickly recovered, nodding in agreement.
“Flo, what are you doing?”
“Killian said he’s in charge of everything for the engagement. That means he’s covering the dress too. Don’t worry. Let’s head back before it gets too late.”
Though Yuse still looked flustered, Floheta gently guided her toward the exit.
“Thank you. I hope to see you again, milady. And please give my regards to Phila, too.”
“I will. Yuse, now we should—”
But Yuse suddenly stopped mid-step.
Even Madam Lei’s farewell went unanswered.
“Yuse?”
Floheta followed her gaze, sensing something was amiss.
“….”
And then he understood why she had fallen silent.
Before them walked a couple.
The woman had radiant blonde hair and green eyes, wearing a bright yellow dress matching her hair.
Her companion, walking arm-in-arm with her, had jet-black hair, a tall frame, and blazing red eyes.
“…Killian?”
It was him.
The man Yuse truly loved—the same Killian she would soon marry.
