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CHAPTER 54
“Should we go visit that boutique too—the one run by the Duke’s wife… no, Lady Cloel?”
It all started with a casual remark from one young lady.
“I heard you have to wait in a long line just to get in. And they say most of the stock is sold out.”
“Yeah, I heard it’s so popular, even if you have the money, you can’t buy anything. But I met someone who got a dress from there—she said it was amazing.”
“Really? I assumed a male designer wouldn’t be good at making women’s clothes.”
“I thought so too, but apparently, they’re incredibly comfortable, high-quality, and beautiful. Of course, they’re pricey too.”
“Well, it is the designer endorsed by none other than His Grace the Duke of Del Lua. He wouldn’t back a mediocre designer.”
As soon as Idris’s name came up, everyone nodded in agreement.
Despite his reputation for being a ruthless man…
There was no denying that the “packaging” around him was impeccable.
“Well, since we brought it up, why don’t we really go check it out? Even if most of it’s sold out, maybe we’ll get lucky and find something just in.”
“We’ve finished our tea anyway, and it’s not like we have anything better to do. Why not take a look? In that case…”
The two young ladies, in perfect agreement, set down their teacups and stood up without hesitation.
But then—poke.
“Ahem… Ahem!”
“Ugh, what?”
Startled, one of them turned to her friend and froze.
The friend had subtly gestured with her eyes toward the quiet corner of the room—where Elise was silently sipping her tea.
‘She always acted like the leader of our gatherings, but she’s been so quiet today, I didn’t even realize she was here.’
The two girls who had been about to leave for the boutique awkwardly smiled and sat back down.
“If we’ll have to wait that long and still not get anything… maybe there’s no need to go.”
“Right. It’s a lovely day. How about a walk by the lake instead?”
The young ladies quickly changed the subject, clearly watching Elise for her reaction.
In truth, they had no reason to be wary of Elise.
Most of them were daughters of counts, and even the daughters of viscounts or barons came from wealthy families.
By contrast, Elise had lost everything—drowning in debt, even stripped of her barony by her uncle.
They had no need to care what she thought.
And yet, they still treated Elise as the de facto leader of their group.
Why?
No one had said it aloud, and Elise herself never brought it up, but… they believed the rumors.
That she was Duke Peidan’s mistress.
And if that were true, Elise had a strong chance of becoming the next duchess.
So even if her character was questionable, they couldn’t afford to ignore where the future balance of power might fall.
Which is why they had maintained a friendly relationship with her so far…
‘Did we just offend her?’
As all the young ladies watched Elise nervously, she finally spoke.
“I actually agree with Lady Florence. I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to visit the boutique.”
The young women blinked in surprise at the unexpected response.
“It’s the most talked-about place these days, after all. And it’s run by the very hero who saved His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Y-yes, that’s true.”
“I think helping their sales a bit wouldn’t hurt either.”
Is she being serious?
Even after hearing her words, the young ladies continued to gauge Elise’s mood.
“Come on now, let’s go.”
Only when Elise stood up first did they breathe a collective sigh of relief and follow her lead.
Each of them sent their family’s carriage away and piled into one together.
While the young ladies chatted excitedly about what the boutique might be like, Elise sat quietly by the window, eyes cold as ice.
‘I have no reason to avoid that woman.’
She didn’t want to run into Leticia, of course.
But to avoid her? That would be conceding defeat—and Elise had too much pride for that.
Leticia had been the one who stole Peidan, her first love.
So why should she be the one feeling ashamed?
‘And anyway, it’s not like she’ll throw out a customer who came to help her sales, right?’
After a long wait in line, Elise’s party was finally allowed entry.
Elise boldly stepped forward, prepared to enter first—
Or at least, she tried to.
“I’m sorry, Lady Fran. I’m afraid you are not permitted to enter.”
It was the very thing she had feared—yet never truly expected to happen.
“Not allowed to enter? Why not?”
One of the surprised young women asked in confusion.
The staff member, still smiling politely, gestured toward the side entrance.
“Oh, the other ladies may proceed through that door.”
“What? But that’s…”
It was blatantly obvious—they were singling out Elise.
The other ladies hesitated, unsure of what to do, glancing at Elise instead of heading inside.
Standing frozen under everyone’s gaze, Elise let out a shaky breath and asked:
“You’re saying… only I can’t go in?”
“Yes, regrettably,” the staff member replied politely, but without offering any further explanation.
Which only fueled the murmurs and speculation from the onlookers.
“That has to be the owner’s decision, right?”
“Must be. She said there was nothing going on… but if she’s banning her like this, the rumors must be true.”
“Honestly, I wouldn’t want my husband’s mistress showing up to my business either.”
As the murmurs spread, Elise’s face flushed red with humiliation.
“She’s showing her hostility this openly, in public?”
She hadn’t expected it at all.
In the conservative world of high society, such behavior was considered undignified.
For a proper noblewoman to lose her composure because of a mistress?
It only opened her up to further scrutiny—and gave people an excuse to assume she had done something wrong.
Of course, Elise had guessed Leticia no longer cared about appearances after divorcing and storming out of her home…
But still, this was too much.
Elise was furious.
“Leticia’s the one who took Peidan from me—so why am I the one being humiliated?”
Calling her a mistress made it sound like she had stolen Peidan first!
But now wasn’t the time to show her anger.
Quickly composing herself, Elise looked up with a calm expression.
“…So the Madam still believes I’m having an affair with the Duke.”
Her low murmur carried both bitterness and resignation.
She turned her head away swiftly, as if trying to hide tears threatening to fall.
Her shoulders trembled, and her frail frame looked utterly pitiful.
The murmuring crowd and even the once-firm staff member began to falter.
Sensing their hesitation, Elise gently pressed on.
“Could you please call the Madam for me? I can bear the misunderstanding, but if she continues to suffer because of it… that worries me.”
Of course, she had no real intention of meeting Leticia.
If they actually met, Elise feared a full-blown, ugly confrontation.
“But if I back down now, it’ll look like I’m admitting the rumors are true.”
Besides, she had heard Leticia was still recovering.
There was no way she would show up at the store.
“I’m sorry, but Lady Leticia is currently unavailable due to personal circumstances.”
I knew it!
