TVPTL 35

Chapter 35

“This won’t do.”

I placed the certificate of ownership and verification back on the table and stood up.

I couldn’t just sit still.

If I did, who knows? I might end up with even more money than what was hidden in Preston’s secret vault.

I rang the bell cord hanging by the side of the bed.

“Did you call for me, miss?”

A maid knocked and bowed her head.

“Please call Mrs. Salisbury for me. I need help getting ready to go out.”

“Understood, miss.”

As soon as the maid left the room, I went straight to the dress room and threw the doors open.

The dress room, which had been nearly empty just yesterday before going out, was now packed.

After all, the Duke and Veloa had bought all the dresses and accessories they picked yesterday.

‘If they were going to do that anyway, what was the point of giving me the verification slip?’

In the end, the Duke had given me everything he wanted to give.

‘I’m honestly touched. I could cry.’

I quickly skimmed through the clothes in the dress room.

I had something important to do.

To find a teacher for Veloa.

‘Her mana flared up earlier than expected.’

We managed to get through it somehow, but what happened in Preston’s secret vault was a really close call.

Raw, unrefined power is dangerous.

Power that the user can’t control is even more dangerous.

And Veloa is described as a genius among geniuses in Vacuum Flower.

Such an incredible force had suddenly burst forth in a small space without any refinement.

‘We were lucky.’

It was fortunate that it ended with just some coins floating around.

If Veloa had lost control of her mana and gone on a rampage—if that had happened…

“…”

I exhaled and moved quickly again.

‘There’s going to be another accident soon.’

The first time is hard, but the second and third are always easier.

She needed to learn how to control her mana as soon as possible.

‘I’m worried.’

I furrowed my brows as I pulled out a suitable dress.

‘Veloa still can’t even speak properly.’

Can such a young child really learn how to control mana?

I couldn’t help but worry.

In the original story, the incident didn’t happen until she was seven.

Even then, she struggled to learn mana control at that young age.

And now she’s even younger and in a weaker state.

‘Of course, I expected things to start earlier since the original timeline got pushed forward, but this early?’

I bit my lip.

Taking Veloa out of the Tekins Count’s household three years early?

I didn’t regret it.

Across both my past and present lives, it was the best thing I’d ever done.

Still, with all this happening, I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.

‘No, snap out of it.’

Now was the time to find a teacher for Veloa, fast.

The only issue was that given who it was, I needed to lay some groundwork first.

‘Still, I shouldn’t worry too much.’

Holding the dress up to myself, I smiled.

No matter what anyone says, our Veloa is a genius.

‘Thanks to Veloa, I even got the key to the secret vault.’

Who would’ve guessed that the bracelet the Countess of Preston dropped was the vault key?

If Veloa hadn’t spotted it, we would’ve had a hard time opening that vault.

‘And she picked out the dresses so well too.’

Every dress Veloa chose was stunning and suited me perfectly.

It was amazing.

Well, to be fair, the ones Grand Duke Leandro chose weren’t bad either.

But just the fact that Veloa picked them made the dresses feel prettier.

‘Wait a second.’

I stopped mid-step as I was about to walk out with the dress.

She found the vault key like a pro, picked out beautiful dresses…

Veloa—could it be?

‘She’s not just a genius—she’s a squishy-muffin ultra-genius!’

Oh my gosh, that must be it!

Otherwise, how could a three-year-old be this competent?

‘She really is our Veloa.’

Knock, knock.

Just as I finally picked one dress, I heard a knock.

It was Mrs. Salisbury.

“Come in, ma’am! I’ll be right out.”

I opened the dress room door with the dress in hand.

‘I thought this might happen, so I asked Mrs. Salisbury to come up around this time.’

Thump!

And then—I witnessed something incredible.

“Oh, oh my!”

Thump!

“Heavens!”

Thump-thump!

…What did I see?

At some point, Mrs. Salisbury and another maid had gathered around the table.

And Veloa?

“Oof!”

Thump-thump-thump!

She was up on the table, gleefully dancing away.

Even with her diaper on, her little round butt wiggled all over the place.

“So cute…!”

“Awww!”

The two women were melting from Veloa’s cuteness, and I was frozen in place watching this dazzling three-year-old perform her little dance.

“Oh?”

Mrs. Salisbury, noticing me a bit late, blushed with embarrassment.

“I’m terribly sorry, my lady. We knocked several times and didn’t hear a response. Please forgive the intrusion.”

Wait a minute.

What?

“Eek!”

The maid who spotted me a beat later jumped up and bowed quickly.

“G-Good day, my lady!”

She was the same maid who had cleaned my room before—and had overheard my little “war trophy” slip-up.

“She’s very handy with her skills, so I brought her along to help get you ready for your outing.”

Mrs. Salisbury spoke cautiously as I stood frozen.

“Were you thinking of another maid, my lady?”

“No, no.”

I shook my head quickly. How would I know who had skilled hands?

I was just grateful Mrs. Salisbury brought someone she trusted.

The only thing bothering me was—

“My lady?”

That word.

“My lady.”

“I’m still just His Grace’s fiancée.”

We’d only just talked about getting engaged, and we hadn’t even had a proper engagement ceremony.

It was just because I moved into the Grand Duke’s estate that things looked more official.

Technically, it wouldn’t have been strange for things to fall apart at any time.

And yet—“my lady”?

“That title feels too grand for me.”

When I trailed off, Mrs. Salisbury smiled gently. The maid next to her rolled her eyes.

“No, it suits you perfectly. All the staff heard the news yesterday.”

News?

Oh no.

“About how His Grace bought Miss Eddy’s shop for you on the spot.”

Yep. That was it.

I smacked my forehead.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Salisbury’s smile soared as if it didn’t fear the heavens.

“How much must His Grace love you, to buy a shop like that then and there?”

Everyone else painted me as a villainess indulging in extravagant luxuries.

But in Mrs. Salisbury’s eyes, it was a grand romantic gesture.

“With such a public display of love from His Grace, how could we servants not respond?”

Mrs. Salisbury nodded solemnly and her eyes sparkled.

“Following Lord Deon’s suggestion, we all decided to call you ‘my lady’!”

Hey!

Deon!

Didn’t you say you weren’t warming up to me? That you were still cautious?!

“…I see.”

I was tempted to go find Lord Deon and shake him by the collar, but I didn’t have the time.

“By the way, ma’am,” I tried to mount a counterattack.

“Does His Grace know about this?”

Surely, the man who suddenly gained a wife deserves to weigh in.

“I was a bit worried he might be upset.”

“Please don’t worry.”

Mrs. Salisbury nodded confidently.

“Lord Deon already informed His Grace!”

Hey! Deon! You traitor!