Chapter 31

I tugged lightly at Evan’s sleeve and whispered into his ear. The duchess showed no sign of backing down. Even the duke hinted that he would generously fund everything and told me to buy whatever I wished.

 

“Evan, please stop your mother.”

 

“Hm…”

 

After a brief moment of thought, Evan turned toward the duchess and spoke.

 

“Mother, I don’t believe Lep must attend the banquet. I won’t be there either. And frankly… the thought of other men hovering around Lep is unpleasant.”

 

‘Ah… that angle?’

 

Whatever the case, I was satisfied he stepped in.

 

“My son, think carefully. Some banquets simply must be attended. And wouldn’t it be lovely if our dear girl could appear in a beautiful dress on such occasions? She’ll look stunning. And your health has improved so much. A day where the two of you attend hand in hand isn’t far off.”

 

“That is…”

 

Evan’s eyes trembled slightly.

 

He’s not… actually wavering, right?

 

I fixed my gaze on him.

 

“Well, since Mother is offering… why not accept it? You’ll need a banquet dress eventually.”

 

It felt like my reliable ally had betrayed me.

 

“My dear, if anything catches your eye, don’t hesitate to say so.”

 

And that is how, the next morning, I ended up dragged—helplessly—into enjoying a shopping trip with the duchess, thanks to the duchy’s coachman who came to pick me up.

 

To the capital’s most renowned boutique, no less.

 

A place so in demand that everything operated strictly by reservation.

 

The bells chimed when we entered, and everyone looked our way. First, they reacted with surprise at the sight of the duchess. Then curiosity when they saw me standing beside her.

 

“Who is that young lady? She seems quite close with Duchess Weiss.”

 

Some didn’t know me, but others did.

 

I might not socialize, but unless I lived as a hermit in the mountains, someone was bound to recognize me. And my face had been printed clearly in the newspapers.

 

‘Or maybe someone remembers me from childhood.’

 

Back then, I attended tea parties. After twelve, I stopped accepting such invitations—wasting time when Evan needed antidotes felt pointless.

 

“Isn’t that Lady Clies?!”

 

“Oh my, you mean the fiancée of the Weiss heir?”

 

I scratched my cheek.

 

The gazes of ladies and noblewomen picking their dresses converged on me. Especially the older ladies whispering as they glanced between me and the duchess.

 

“They say the duchess constantly praises her, don’t they?”

 

Unable to contain her curiosity, one noblewoman approached and greeted the duchess.

 

“Lady Camille, it’s been a while.”

 

“Lady Somian. I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

 

“Yes, same for me. I came to have a dress tailored for my daughter for the upcoming banquet. But…”

 

While looking at me, she fluttered her fan.

 

Her up-and-down scrutiny was unpleasant, but I endured it.

 

Judging looks were expected.

 

I was Evan’s fiancée, yet few believed the engagement was real.

 

To outsiders unaware of the circumstances, the gap in status seemed like heaven and earth.

 

“Will the engagement really continue…?”

 

“Lady Clies did achieve something remarkable recently, but isn’t that suspicious? No one knows whether it was her ability or her merchant group’s work. Or perhaps her father helped.”

 

“Then why does the ducal family protect her so fiercely? I heard the rumor that they admire her skills as an aspiring healer and want her by Lord Evan’s side…”

 

Of course nobles would wonder why a ducal house linked itself with a count’s. And my rare banquet appearances only fueled curiosity.

 

The constant chatter was exhausting—even if I’d heard such things countless times. But the duchess…

 

I glanced at her, then turned to the noblewoman.

 

I reached deep into my memory, dragged out etiquette I never needed because I stayed cooped in my greenhouse, and executed it flawlessly.

 

“Good day to you, Lady Somian.”

 

The noblewomen’s gazes shifted again.

 

“Her etiquette is impeccable. And I’ve never heard of any prestigious tutor teaching her.”

 

I hear you. I hear everything.

 

Do gestures magically improve only if taught by someone famous?

 

“Hmph. It seems many people are far too interested in my dear girl. Since when did the boutique become so noisy?”

 

The duchess finally spoke, her voice edged with cold mockery.

 

The room fell silent instantly.

 

“This ruins the mood for dress-shopping. Thoroughly unpleasant.”

 

The ones who panicked were the employees.

 

“We will take you to a quieter room right away, Duchess! Please choose comfortably there!”

 

Terrified of losing a major patron, they scrambled.

 

The head madam rushed out as well, desperate to soothe her.

 

“If my future daughter-in-law isn’t choosing any dress, it must mean nothing here pleases her. We came because this was said to be the finest boutique in the capital. How disappointing.”

 

Her remark struck like lightning.

 

The employees and the madam stiffened in horror.

 

Prestige meant everything to high-end boutiques—especially with influential nobles.

 

The duchess clicked her tongue, and the madam nearly fainted as she barked orders.

 

“M-my deepest apologies, Duchess! You—bring out the other list! Quickly!!”

 

“N-no! They’re all lovely…!”

 

“Really? Then which one?”

 

Words lodged in my throat.

 

It was just an excuse. None of the dresses truly caught my eye.

 

But I had to say something.

 

“Well… um…”

 

The duchess nodded as if she understood—and then dropped a bombshell.

 

“All of them.”

 

“P-pardon?”

 

The madam’s voice broke.

 

“Since our dear girl likes every dress on the list, I’ll purchase them all. Adjust them to her size and deliver them to the Clies estate.”

 

“M-Mother?!”

 

The noblewomen watching us froze with their mouths hanging open.

 

The madam’s expression twisted between joy and despair.

 

 

***

 

 

“G-goodness! My lady, did something happen??”

 

I returned home half-dead.

 

I merely waved weakly at Mary.

 

Once inside my room, I collapsed onto my bed.

 

“…Mary, prepare yourself. Mountains of boxes will be arriving soon.”

 

“…Sorry?”

 

Mary blinked. Confused.

 

Then I clarified.

 

“A gift from the duchess.”

 

Understanding dawned. She stiffened.

 

“Our house may be rich from business, but compared to the duchy’s wealth built over generations, it’s nothing,” I muttered.

 

“After dresses come hats, shoes, and jewelry. What is this, a full-course meal?”

 

Stopping the duchess was impossible.

 

Even if we couldn’t match the ducal fortune, our family could pay for it.

 

I had my own earnings too. But she had dismissed that instantly—saying she didn’t need a child’s pocket money.

 

Her spending habits… I couldn’t keep up even if I tried.

 

Could anyone?

 

“More importantly, Evan needs to develop feelings for Elena…”

 

The entire ducal family naturally assumed Evan and I would marry.

 

For now. Later, that would change.

 

“I just hope it doesn’t get messy… cancelling a marriage is a heavy burden for someone like Evan.”

 

“Elena grew beautifully. He’ll fall for her soon enough. They just need time alone… but that girl keeps hiding in her research…”

 

Elena had become stunning.

 

Beauty beside beauty—they suited each other.

 

Even at the Academy, she had admirers among nobles. She turned them all down, of course.

 

She was kind, talented, and attractive. Anyone would fall for her.

 

“If I were a man, I’d have snatched her up immediately.”

 

“Lepina! What is all this?!”

 

From the window, I heard my mother shriek at the sight of the arriving wagons.

 

She sounded on the brink of collapse.

 

I hid under my blanket.

 

 

***

 

 

Early morning.

 

The Clies carriage headed toward the outskirts.

 

I lifted my head and looked at the massively expanded Grow Merchant Guild.

 

We could have moved to the capital center, but I hated attracting attention.

 

Still… it was time to consider relocating.

 

We had too many customers coming from afar, and the place was getting cramped.

 

I pushed open the door bearing the sign [Grow Merchant Guild.]

 

Ding—

 

The bell chimed.

 

A clerk welcomed what he thought was a customer, then froze when he saw my face.

 

“Welco… oh! Guildmaster!”

 

Inside, the place bustled with workers.

 

Watching them work diligently filled me with pride.

 

We had begun trade with the Zeiran Empire, and goods were constantly coming and going.