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~Chapter 12~
Veseth stared out the carriage window at the trees rushing past. He was thinking about last night.
In his hands, he held a few envelopes, sitting with an indifferent expression. The envelopes were neatly addressed with the words: ‘From your love.’ Veseth looked at them again.
Even when he was very young, Veseth had found Dahlia’s gaze unpleasant. It went beyond unpleasant and made his skin crawl. Her violet eyes were half-dazed and half-obsessed.
How could he forget the creepy gaze that constantly followed him?
But Veseth had never pushed Dahlia away himself.
To maintain his high position, he needed people who were loyal to him.
Among them, Dahlia was an essential piece for Veseth. She was someone who would offer her soul if he just said the word. But last night, she was different. Veseth was sure of it.
The problem was that he had no idea why or how she had changed so much.
The last letter had arrived less than two weeks ago.
“Did her heart change in just a few days?”
It didn’t make sense.
A deep love leaves a scar, just as an injury leaves a scar on the body. Even if she had truly given up, there was no sign of hurt on her. It was as if she had become a different person overnight.
“She looks like a fake, like someone who just put on a new shell.”
“Excuse me?”
A servant, who mistook his mumbling for a command, asked for clarification. Veseth turned his lazy eyes toward him.
“You said your daughter was born recently, right?”
“Ah, yes, Your Highness Veseth. After ten years of marriage, God finally blessed us with a beautiful daughter. You cannot imagine how lovely she is.”
The servant’s face brightened with joy just thinking about it.
“What if God were to take that child back?”
The servant’s face instantly hardened at the chilling question.
“I… I don’t even want to imagine it.”
“Exactly. If something was given, it’s already yours. It’s bad to take back something that was once given, whether it’s a life or a heart.”
Veseth smiled vaguely, but the servant felt an unexplained chill. Veseth quickly dropped the smile and gave a new command.
“Find out everything that has happened to Dahlia.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The servant was confused but didn’t ask questions.
‘I’ve become curious. I want to know why someone would force a gift upon you and then try to take it back.’
Veseth smiled eerily.
After that, I stayed in my room for a few days. I thought it would be best not to show myself to Etienne for a while, so I didn’t even try to go out.
The luxurious life was nice, but it was still boring. Penny was my only conversation partner, so I spent the rest of the time reading the books she brought me.
I was struggling to turn the pages of a history book, feeling obligated to adapt to this world, when Penny came into the room.
“Penny, welcome.”
She seemed used to my welcoming greeting now, and she just bowed without looking surprised.
“Lady Dahlia, you need to go to the drawing room. You will be choosing a dress for Her Majesty the Empress’s birthday banquet.”
“Oh my! Really?”
That was the best news I’d heard all day.
I thought Etienne would never allow it after that day!
“I’m so happy!”
I hugged Penny once and quickly got ready.
My steps were light.
I sat down, trying to control my excitement.
A knock came, and a man entered. He was huge. The white tunic shirt he wore looked like it was about to burst. His body looked like it was made for lifting weights, not sewing.
“Hello. For a designer, you are very… well-built. It looks good. Health is the best!”
I gave him a double thumbs-up and smiled. He flinched.
What? Did I make a mistake? Is he sensitive about his size?
While we were exchanging confused glances, a man wearing a deep purple coat came in.
“Oh my, Princess Consort. You are as beautiful as people say. I am Pierre.”
He had an exaggerated smile and a carefully curled mustache. Anyone could tell this man was the designer.
Then who is the other man? I felt sweat prickling on my scalp.
The muscular man, as if answering my thoughts, stood next to me and whispered gently:
“I am the Head Butler, Simon, Lady Dahlia. Lord Etienne told me, so please don’t worry.”
The big man even smiled. Phew, he was on my side?
“Please look for me if you need help in the future.”
His reliable words were very comforting. He was like a sacred… bear sent from heaven to help me.
No matter how thankful I am, a bear is still a bear.
“Then, may I show you the dresses?”
“Yes, please do.”
As the maids moved busily, my excitement bubbled up again.
What color would suit me best? I have pink hair now, so any bright color would probably look good. My skin is also fair and clear. Matching my eye color to a deep purple would look incredibly pretty!
As soon as I sat down, the first dress was brought in.
It was a navy blue dress that went right up to the neck.
“The first dress was chosen considering the Princess Consort’s usual taste…”
“It’s dreary!”
“Pardon?”
Everyone in the room, including Pierre, stared at me with wide eyes after my outburst.
I worried that I was breaking character too much, but I couldn’t help it.
It really was too dreary… I didn’t want to wear something like that.
The second dress was brought in.
It was a heavy, dark purple dress that hung limply.
“Ugh! Why is another dreary one here? Pierre. Your clothes are so bright, so why do you only bring me things like this? Are you trying to outshine me alone?”
“B-but, I prepared these according to Lady Dahlia’s usual taste…”
“This was my taste? Are all the others like this, then?”
Now that I thought about it, the clothes in my closet were all similar dark colors.
Was the real Dahlia’s taste really like this?
Pierre looked troubled and ordered the rest of the dresses to be brought in. Every single one was dark and somber.
It’s like going to a funeral… What was Dahlia’s taste? So gloomy, so gloomy!
My head started to ache. I thought about just wearing one of them, but I quickly shook my head.
In my past life, I always looked for the cheapest clothes. I never bought pretty, bright clothes because they got dirty easily. The memory of constantly window-shopping while complaining about my life came back strongly.
That’s why, now that I was a Princess Consort, I didn’t want to wear a dress like this to my first party. It would also be great if I could look different to impress Etienne.
“Listen carefully. My taste has changed as of today. I want bright, glamorous, beautiful things! Go bring me some. I absolutely must be the prettiest one there that day.”
“B-but, the banquet is soon. It’s impossible to custom-order other dresses.”
“Can’t I just buy one without ordering?”
“It’s possible, but… common nobles who can’t custom-order like Lady Dahlia make reservations. There won’t be any left now that the banquet is so close.”
I racked my brain. All the dresses are reserved? No. There should be one place left.
I curved my lips into a smile.
“It’s fine. I know a place.”
Everyone looked at me with doubtful expressions. You don’t believe me? But there really is a place.
The Empress’s upcoming birthday banquet was the scene where the original heroine, Sophienne, made her first appearance in society.
She was the heroine, but she was also a princess of a fallen kingdom. No designer wanted to sell her a dress.
She and Veseth, who was hiding his identity, wandered around for a long time until they found a small dress shop on the outskirts of the city.
The designer’s skill was outstanding, but the shabby interior of the store meant noblewomen didn’t visit.
She chose the most beautiful dress there. And she became the flower of the party.
After that, the designer’s dresses became so popular they couldn’t be kept in stock.
I will wear the most beautiful dress. The flower of the party? Who else would it be but me? And…
“Penny. Do you have any money?”
Penny blinked a few times and took a step back.
Why is she acting like this?
“Come on, bring me some money. I’ll double it for you. Hurry.”
“I don’t have any,” she said seriously. She was always so strict about money.
“Hey, don’t you trust your big sister? I’ll be generous. 100 percent principal guarantee. How about that? You have nothing to lose.”
Penny still looked at me like I was a thief.
It made sense since I was facing divorce for stealing my husband’s property.
“I can’t!”
“Yes, you can. Hand over everything you have.”
Etienne was looking out the dark window. His firm muscles were visible beneath his partially unbuttoned shirt. He looked a little messy, which was unlike him.
The view outside the window was dark. But to Etienne, whose senses were especially sharp, the garden was perfectly clear.
It was the same that night.
Dahlia and Veseth stopped right in the spot visible from the window, as if on purpose.
From his position, he could only see Veseth’s face, but Etienne, who had watched Veseth since childhood, knew. The feelings Veseth had for Dahlia were not ordinary.
As if to prove Etienne’s thoughts, the two stood close, then pulled apart. It had definitely been a kiss.
Etienne ground his teeth. He had never trusted her in the first place, but he was still filled with the thought that she had tricked him again.
“What the hell is that woman?”
She acted like she had lost her memory right in front of him. She definitely had a hidden agenda.
‘And then she came to me with that shameless face.’
He remembered her face as she looked up at him, holding out the piece of paper.
A face as round and fair as the moon, with cheeks that were annoyingly flushed. Her eyes were as innocent as a cat that knew nothing.
And the way her hair swung teasingly near her ears.
Etienne pressed his hand to his forehead.
