Chapter 05

After finishing her greetings, Jasmine hurried away, saying she still needed to prepare the clothing. The soft clink of a teacup being set down echoed faintly. With her tension easing, Lauren let her shoulders relax—then felt a faint breath brush against her ear.

“For a wife he loves enough to go through with a secret marriage, I suppose even a man like him has to try things he normally wouldn’t.”

The low voice slipped into Lauren’s ear.

Startled, she nearly jumped out of her seat. Covering her ear, she scooted back. Her widened lavender eyes met Astor’s calm green ones. Arms crossed, he chuckled.

“D-Don’t scare me like that.”

Her heart pounded loudly. Pretending nothing was wrong, Lauren picked up the teacup in front of her and hid her flushed face behind it. She slowly sipped the tea, trying to calm herself.

My heart is only racing because he surprised me. That’s all. Surely.

“Pardon the interruption while you’re enjoying yourselves, Your Grace, Madam. Everything is ready. Shall we begin?”

Jasmine approached and asked politely.

Astor nodded and leaned back into his chair. Following Jasmine’s guidance, Lauren stood and walked after her. In the adjacent room, a curtained fitting area had been prepared. First, her measurements were taken behind a partition. Jasmine used an old-fashioned term for it, calling it taking dimensions.

Even the clothes worn by the employees of Aloria Dressmakers looked like prototypes meant to attract attention—vivid and extravagant in color. Like colorful flowers and butterflies.

Compared to them, Lauren’s clothes looked excessively worn.

Among all those bright colors, her faded garments appeared shabby.

The tips of her ears grew warm, but Lauren forced herself to lift her chin.

Who cares? There’s no reason to be ashamed.

I’m a duchess now.

Wearing only drawers and a camisole, she was guided deeper into the curtained space. The cool air touched the back of her neck, making her shiver slightly.

But there was no time to dwell on the chill.

The staff had brought armfuls of clothing: blouses, skirts, jackets, even several dresses.

Just imagining trying them all on made her head ache.

The Siaz barony had never been particularly wealthy, so she rarely experienced anything like this.

Unfamiliar things were best avoided.

Other young ladies might have enjoyed this, but Lauren was already exhausted.

“His Grace the Duke said it was urgent, so we prepared various ready-made garments. Please try them on and speak freely. Anything needing alterations will be handled immediately.”

Surely they didn’t expect her to try on all of them.

Seeing the weary expression on her face, Jasmine laughed softly.

Still, her hands never stopped assisting with fittings.

The high-collared blouse felt pleasant against the skin, and the wide skirts were surprisingly light despite the obvious abundance of fabric.

Lauren frowned slightly.

“For everyday wear or outings, skirts should be comfortable enough to move in. And please remove all lace and frills from the sleeves.”

Contrary to Lauren’s expectations, Jasmine simply nodded.

Jasmine made clothes for nobles; Lauren had thought she might be offended.

Apparently not.

Noblewomen often liked displaying their status—the fact they occupied positions above others.

Since they had no need to work, excessively wide skirts and extravagant lace or frills became fashionable.

Undergarments were often made of glossy silk with generous amounts of lace.

What Lauren wanted was the complete opposite.

Thanks to her excessively upright father, luxury goods had rarely been used in their household.

From helping with his work, she knew lace and frills only got in the way.

When expensive lace snagged on a pen and tore, she had nearly cried.

Ink stains on decorative frills had also proven impossible to remove.

Besides, after the incident in her childhood, she had stayed away from high society.

Except for visiting relatives or occasional estate events, she had almost never worn dresses.

Lauren pressed her preference a little further.

“But you must display the dignity befitting the Duchess of Lilywood.”

Ah.

Right.

Lauren was no longer the daughter of a baron.

She was a duchess now.

Whether she liked it or not, she would have to enter high society.

Even so, Jasmine’s gentle smile didn’t waver.

“For everyday clothing, we’ll proceed as you requested. As for outfits worn outside, it may be difficult to avoid decoration entirely. However, any newly made garments will reflect your preferences as much as possible.”

“…All right. Please do.”

When the older owner of the dress shop spoke so earnestly, Lauren couldn’t insist further.

Still, she was grateful at least her wishes for daily wear had been heard.

Jasmine instructed an employee to bring different samples.

Lauren noticed the employee’s brows faintly furrow.

Yet she said nothing and withdrew.

The newly brought clothes were somewhat lower in quality than the earlier ones, but definitely closer to Lauren’s tastes.

Comfortable skirts.

Blouses with wide cuffs.

Simple, clean-lined jackets.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Lauren nodded.

“I’d like everyday clothes like these. Thank you, Jasmine.”

“I’m simply grateful that Madam approves.”

Jasmine bowed deeply.

Seeing an older woman greet her so respectfully felt awkward, and Lauren gave a dry laugh.

“It may take some time before the dresses for fitting are ready. Would you like another cup of tea while you wait?”

“That sounds nice.”

She was already somewhat tired.

It was astonishing this endless procession of clothes still wasn’t over, but Lauren tried not to show it.

Right. Dresses too.

The Emperor might summon her at any time.

Of course those had to be prepared as well—

whether Lauren wanted that or not.

As Lauren headed back toward Astor, she noticed the preparation room door was open.

The employees had worked hard too.

Perhaps she should at least offer a word of praise.

Just as she stepped closer—

high-pitched female voices drifted out.

“No way.”

“I’m serious!”

“Come on. Why would a duchess want to wear clothes meant for governesses?”

“But the clothes I brought really were like that. Maybe that’s all she amounts to. You know how governesses often become noblemen’s mistresses.”

Lauren stopped walking.

The faint smile on her face disappeared.

Jasmine frowned and stepped forward, but Lauren stopped her.

She wanted to hear more.

“Her own clothes looked shabby too. Maybe she threw herself at him trying to change her life. Otherwise why marry a murderer? If a duke married, there would’ve been a grand ceremony. Yet no one heard anything. Right? Has anyone heard about wedding dress orders? No? See? Maybe even the murderer was ashamed to present her publicly.”

“Still, even so…”

“Well, he was incredibly handsome. Nice body too. Hard to believe someone like that is a murderer. Hmm… maybe I should throw myself at his feet. I’m prettier and younger than that crow. Who knows? Maybe I’ll become duchess.”

The corner of Lauren’s mouth twisted upward.

Dreaming was free.

Boasting aloud like that was another matter.

Especially while working for a noble household and insulting its lord.

Lauren stepped into the room.

One woman standing near the door noticed her and turned pale.

Several others lowered their heads immediately.

But another woman, absorbed in fixing her makeup before a mirror, kept talking.

“I’m sick of pleasing noblewomen and sewing. There’s no guarantee staying in this job means I’ll ever open my own shop. And even if I do, I’ll spend my whole life flattering people… What? Why are you acting weird?”

When no one answered, the woman turned around.

Then she saw Lauren—

and Jasmine behind her—

and froze.

Lauren deliberately smiled softly.

A crow.

People who mocked her black hair truly never seemed to have any imagination.

Honestly. This is why I hate places full of people.

Still—

as a duchess, she couldn’t simply ignore someone insulting her.

And that woman had said things she should never say about the Duke of Lilywood.

“W-What?! Eavesdropping on other people’s conversations!”

Ah.

So she’d decided anger was the best defense.

Lauren’s smile deepened slightly.

If she had apologized immediately, Lauren might’ve overlooked it as youthful foolishness.

Now there was no need.

“Jasmine.”

Lauren called behind her in an intentionally gentle voice.

Jasmine replied coldly, face tense.

“It seems stricter employee training is needed.”

“As you say.”

That person would be Jasmine’s responsibility now.

Dismissal.

Compensation demands for offending the duchess.

Whatever happened was no concern of Lauren’s.

But there was one thing she wanted clarified.

“Did I say I wanted to wear clothes like a governess?”

Lauren asked.

Her smile was soft.

Her voice gentle.

Only her pale violet eyes curved dangerously.

She noticed the woman’s clenched hands trembling.

“I didn’t marry to become a pretty doll.”

“I married to become a partner—someone who manages the estate alongside His Grace and lives by his side.”

“And…”

Lauren paused and looked the woman up and down.

The wide skirt.

The lace.

The ribbons.

She was dressed elaborately, yet her rough fingertips revealed the unmistakable hands of someone who sewed for a living.

Lauren narrowed her eyes.

What was wrong with women working?

The woman herself worked.

Why look down on hardworking people?

Did she think it increased her own worth?

“Astor dislikes the smell of cosmetics.”

Smiling faintly toward the heavy perfume, white powder, and painted lips—

Lauren turned leisurely and walked out.

Behind her, Jasmine’s voice ordered the woman to wait in the carriage.

The employee’s angry shouting for the shop owner followed.

Lauren leaned against the wall outside and released a small sigh.

She was used to insults.

Normally she would have ignored them.

But she couldn’t anymore.

Because now—

she was a duchess.

Perhaps because she had acted in ways she wasn’t used to, her head throbbed.

Why am I this angry?

Maybe I’m just hungry.

I should go drink some tea.

Moving sluggishly, Lauren walked back toward where Astor was waiting.