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Chapter 47
The carriage changed its destination and sped along quickly.
“Ugh… ngh.”
For some reason, the carriage felt especially bumpy today. Unable to keep her balance, Rosé swayed back and forth.
The Archduke did ask them to hurry, but isn’t this a bit too much?
As Rosé looked out the window, she felt as though she were riding a high-speed train.
Of course, compared to a comfortable high-speed train, the carriage was unbearably rough.
“Ah—!”
As she struggled to steady herself, Rosé’s body tilted toward Archduke Arteum. Before she knew it, she had fallen into his arms. Startled, she quickly pushed herself upright.
“I—I’m sorry. I can’t seem to keep my balance today.”
Even as she spoke, Rosé continued to sway like a paper doll inside the jolting carriage.
In contrast, Archduke Arteum looked perfectly calm. To an outsider, it might have seemed as though Rosé and the Archduke were sitting in entirely different places—the difference was that stark.
The Archduke extended his hand diagonally in front of Rosé. As if lightly fixing her in place so she wouldn’t sway, he steadied her body, and the violent rocking noticeably lessened.
Still, it wasn’t enough. Because of the Archduke’s “gentlemanly hand,” Rosé’s body continued to wobble.
Rosé wrapped both arms around the Archduke’s arm, which was positioned like a safety belt.
The moment her body touched him, the Archduke flinched slightly, but Rosé was far too flustered to notice his reaction.
“Ha… thank you.”
Only then did Rosé catch her breath and express her gratitude.
The Archduke, who had been staring at her with wide eyes, turned his head away when their gazes met and looked out the window.
“It’s nothing.”
The sensation against his arm felt strangely stimulating. With his free hand, the Archduke absentmindedly touched his faintly reddened earlobe.
There’s only about an hour left.
Unlike the flustered Archduke, Rosé’s mind was occupied solely with thoughts of the wedding. The idea that she had to be perfectly dressed from head to toe made her anxious.
“Do you think we’ll be able to finish getting ready in time?”
“Of course.”
Unlike Rosé, Archduke Arteum looked completely at ease.
The carriage was running several times faster than usual thanks entirely to the magic the Archduke had cast. When he had stopped the carriage midway and changed its destination, he had discreetly cast the spell so Rosé wouldn’t notice.
Travel time won’t be an issue at all…
Without any warning, the carriage came to a sudden stop with a tremendous screech of friction.
Screeech—!
“Kyaaah!”
Her body lifted for an instant and pitched forward. It felt like riding a roller coaster without a safety belt, and Rosé’s heart shrank with terror.
Had it not been for the Archduke, Rosé would surely have ended up battered inside the carriage.
“We’ve arrived.”
The Archduke pulled his robe back over himself and hurried out of the carriage. Taking Rosé’s hand as she followed, he led her into an elegant-looking shop.
“Welcome.”
Lifting the brim of her wide hat slightly, Rosé spoke in a rush.
“Could we finish getting ready within thirty minutes?”
“Thirty minutes? What style are you looking for?”
“I’d like recommendations for hair, makeup, and a dress as well.”
It wasn’t Rosé but Archduke Arteum who answered the clerk.
With a businesslike smile, the clerk replied,
“I’m sorry, sir, but we only offer hair and makeup here. And thirty minutes would be impossible. You’d need at least two hours. Also, without a reservation, makeup isn’t available.”
“Ah…”
Disappointment clouded Rosé’s face. Tugging on the Archduke’s sleeve, she whispered,
“I guess we came too hastily. There’s nothing we can do.”
As regrettable as it was, if they said it couldn’t be done, there was no helping it.
However, unlike Rosé, who was about to give up and leave, the Archduke showed no sign of exiting the shop.
Archduke Arteum pulled back the hood of his robe, revealing his face.
“Oh—oh my.”
“Isn’t that Archduke Arteum?”
The moment his concealed beauty was revealed, the chilly atmosphere instantly reversed. The clerks, who had been wearing stiff, commercial smiles, stared blankly at the Archduke’s face.
But only for a moment. Soon, fear colored their expressions.
“If we say we can’t do it, won’t he kill us?”
“No way… would he really go that far?”
“He’s Archduke Arteum! He absolutely would!”
They whispered among themselves in low voices, unable to hide their anxiety.
“I have to attend my ex-husband’s wedding.”
Rosé removed the hat that had been hiding her face and spoke loudly. The noisy shop immediately focused on her.
“L-Lady Wens?”
The clerks recognized Rosé at once. The one who had spoken her name was smacked on the back by the others.
“Shh! Watch what you say!”
“Gasp!”
Realizing her mistake, she hurriedly covered her mouth.
“The wedding is at noon, and there isn’t much time left. If a dress isn’t possible, then please—just hair and makeup.”
Once it became clear that Rosé was the one receiving the makeover, the clerks exchanged looks.
“Get ready.”
“I’ll go get a dress.”
“I’ll handle the hair.”
“I’ll do the makeup.”
Their combat power instantly shot to its peak.
They were usually smiling service workers, but not now. They looked like soldiers heading into battle, utterly serious, all traces of smiles gone.
“Please, have a seat.”
Following the clerk, Rosé sat down. The moment she did, they finished setting everything up in an instant—draping a gown around her neck, placing a cushion on her lap, and even setting a chilled drink beside the mirror.
“What would you like us to do?”
Their voices lacked the usual gentle, friendly tone. They were solemn, like soldiers awaiting orders.
What changed their attitude wasn’t the Archduke’s fearsome reputation, but the keyword “ex-husband’s wedding.”
The entire empire was already abuzz. Eric had abandoned Rosé and was remarrying the youngest daughter of a marquis’s family. Some mocked Rosé, but public sympathy far outweighed ridicule—especially since public opinion of the Wens Count family was already quite poor.
“Hm… just make me pretty. And if possible, something that won’t take too long.”
She wanted to ask them to put in extra care, but time was the issue.
The sight of them holding makeup tools and beauty supplies looked reassuring. It felt like a battlefield—only arrows and swords were missing. Rosé found these valiant clerks quite likable.
They began working on Rosé with incredible speed.
Can people really move this fast when they put their minds to it?
Their hands moved so quickly her eyes could barely follow.
Of course, once again, Archduke Arteum had cast an acceleration spell on them—but no one found it strange.
We’ll finish well within time.
The Archduke watched Rosé being made up as he sat nearby, but he couldn’t remain idle.
“Your Grace, please come this way.”
It was the same clerk who had been trembling before him just moments ago. Now she met his eyes confidently.
“You’re going as her partner, right?”
That hadn’t been his plan. He intended to see Rosé inside and wait outside.
Still, having a partner would make it look better.
The Archduke nodded silently and followed her to take a seat.
The clerk, fingers filled with makeup tools, was brimming with enthusiasm. Even without magic, her hands moved swiftly.
With hawk-like focus, she worked on the Archduke’s hair and makeup. Thanks to his already outstanding features, it didn’t take long. She tidied his unruly eyebrows, sharpened his features, and lightly added color to his lips.
The Archduke checked his reflection and stood up.
I forgot to give money to the person who went to buy the dress in the chaos.
Leaving Rosé behind, he exited the shop and looked around. With little time, she must have gone to the nearest dress boutique.
He entered the shop next door without hesitation. As expected, he spotted a clerk busily selecting dresses.
“I’ll choose the dress. You can head back now.”
Though his words might have sounded cold, they didn’t feel threatening to the clerk, whose combat power was already abnormally high like the others’.
“I’ll help you choose. Boss! Please show us the most popular designs. She’s attending her ex-husband’s wedding.”
The designer, who had been focused on her work, snapped her head up with gleaming eyes.
“Ex-husband?”
“Yes.”
Jumping to her feet, she began enthusiastically explaining.
“This design is very popular lately, and this color is also highly favored…”
Spit practically flew from her mouth as she spoke passionately. The Archduke picked up the dresses she recommended one by one.
Before he knew it, more than twenty dresses were piled on his arm.
“What’s the image of the woman attending the wedding? I’ll recommend what suits her best.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’m buying everything we’ve picked.”
“Pardon?!”
Though shocked, the designer didn’t miss the opportunity. Snapping back to her sales instincts, she slipped a few more dresses onto his arm with a bright, commercial smile.
“That makes twenty-two dresses in total.”
Her high-pitched voice rang cheerfully through the shop, her smile more radiant than ever.
