Chapter 110

In the end, thanks to Armin’s relentless drive, we decided to hold our engagement ceremony a week later. Since we were already deep into wedding preparations, adding an engagement ceremony was more like deciding whether to have two or three receptions—just a minor detail.

 

The day after the idea was raised, Armin had already sought an audience with the Emperor and returned with official permission for the ceremony. Naturally, both the Duchess and my mother, who had been restlessly awaiting the wedding date, were overjoyed.

 

Now, nearly everything was ready. The only thing left was the dress. Though we already had several custom-made gowns for the wedding, both mothers insisted that the engagement was a different matter altogether, and couldn’t be dissuaded.

 

Princess Florin’s face, softly laughing, bloomed with a rose-petal pink radiance.

 

“Oh.”

 

It seemed Sasha had completely forgotten about my engagement. His blank-faced reaction only made me more tempted to tease him.

 

“We were actually supposed to go yesterday, but I got stood up because you went to drink coffee somewhere scenic with my brother.”

 

I smiled at Princess Florin as I said it. She didn’t catch on that it was a joke and began apologizing repeatedly.

 

“I really did remember, even this morning… I’m so sorry, Lady Roha. I honestly did remember…”

 

“It’s fine, Your Highness. You can just come with me today instead.”

 

I took my time enjoying Sasha’s conflicted expression—he clearly wanted to go, but didn’t know how to say it. But, as they say, blood is thicker than water.

 

“By the way, Your Highness, did you know that Sasha has a real eye for fashion?”

 

“Really?”

 

Admiration sparkled in Princess Florin’s eyes.

 

“Yes. Sasha actually picks out all of my dresses.”

 

“Wow! That’s amazing.”

 

“Which is why I was thinking…maybe Sasha could come with us when we go dress shopping today?”

 

I winked at Sasha as I said it.

 

“But Lord Roha is probably busy…”

 

Even though it was obvious she really wanted him to come, Princess Florin hesitated. She had never once insisted on anything, even though as a royal guest, she had every right to. Instead, she always worried about Sasha’s situation first.

 

Her thoughtfulness moved me more than I expected. I could just imagine how lovable she must seem in Sasha’s eyes.

 

“I’m not busy.”

 

Sasha quickly added, almost too quickly, “This is my sister’s engagement. Of course I’ll make time.”

 

Still, his eyes never left Princess Florin’s face the entire time he spoke.

 

Seriously now. For a brother supposedly invested in his sister’s engagement, don’t you think you’re a little too focused on someone else, big brother?

 

 

* * *

 

 

When we arrived at Madame Dewey’s atelier, Madame Dewey greeted us warmly.

 

“Lady Roha, congratulations! I heard you decided to have the engagement ceremony first?”

 

“Thank you for taking the request on such short notice.”

 

“Oh, please. How could I refuse a request from you, my lady?”

 

Though she was already well-known, Madame Dewey’s atelier had become so popular that now it was nearly impossible to get an order fulfilled without booking a year in advance.

 

It all began on the day that marked the start of the end-of-the-century romance between Armin Grey and Vivian Roha—when I had worn one of Madame Dewey’s creations. Word had gotten around, and since then, her calendar had been flooded with bookings from noble ladies.

 

“But who is the lady beside the young Master?”

 

With the eye of a seasoned designer, Madame Dewey had clearly taken notice of Princess Florin’s exceptional presence.

 

Since Princess Florin disliked being in the spotlight, it was Sasha who introduced her.

 

“This is Princess Florin of Gellang.”

 

“Oh, a princess! I thought her grace and poise were too extraordinary to be ordinary.”

 

Eyes sparkling, Madame Dewey suddenly stepped forward and began measuring Princess Florin’s figure with a tape.

 

“Wait—Madame Dewey, what are you doing?”

 

“What do you mean, what am I doing?”

 

Princess Florin froze under the unexpected attention. It was only then that Madame Dewey realized her mistake.

 

“Oh! Don’t tell me… you’re not Lady Roha’s bridesmaid?”

 

“Bridesmaid?”

 

“Yes, of course! Since you came together, I naturally assumed you’d be serving as one!”

 

Startled, Madame Dewey quickly put away the measuring tape and tried to explain herself. That’s when I finally understood the source of the misunderstanding.

 

At weddings, brides typically have their friends serve as bridesmaids. But I didn’t have any friends like that. The only people I’d grown close to over time were Sasha and his friends—and they were all men.

 

So the only thing missing from my fully-prepared wedding was a bridesmaid.

 

“Madame Dewey, I already told you I wouldn’t be doing that.”

 

Somehow, I found myself unable to meet Princess Florin’s eyes. I was worried she might think it strange—pitiful, even—that I didn’t have a single friend to stand with me.

 

“But Lady Roha, have you ever seen a wedding without even a single bridesmaid? There are plenty of young ladies who’d love to be your bridesmaid. Why do you keep turning them down?”

 

Well, that’s obvious. It’s not the ceremony they care about—it’s the attention.

 

Since being a bridesmaid at Armin’s wedding would show everyone they were close to the future Duchess, the young ladies had been unusually friendly toward me. I’d even received several letters about it. I think one of them was from Lady Rose.

 

“If I don’t have bridesmaids, maybe it’ll become a new trend,” I said jokingly, trying to end the conversation on a light note.

 

But Madame Dewey was firm.

 

“Lady Roha, bridesmaids are a long-standing tradition. How can someone becoming a Duchess not have a single friend to stand with her?”

 

Her tone turned a little sharp, as if half-scolding me.

 

“If you’d brought along at least one friend today, I wouldn’t have mistaken the princess for your bridesmaid.”

 

She spoke as though the very idea of a wedding without bridesmaids was unthinkable.

 

“Regardless, that matter’s already settled. I’m here to order my engagement dress today. I never asked for a bridesmaid’s dress.”

 

Even so, I had absolutely no intention of asking those noble ladies I barely knew to stand beside me. My tone grew a little pointed as I addressed Madame Dewey.

 

But the reply didn’t come from her.

 

“I’ll do it.”

 

“What?”

 

The person who spoke was none other than Princess Florin.

 

“I’ll be your bridesmaid. Let me.”

 

There was a strange sense of determination on her face as she took a step forward, her stride firm and purposeful.

 

“Go on, Madame. Take my measurements.”

 

“But Your Highness!”

 

A wedding that featured a foreign princess as a bridesmaid—such a lavish, extraordinary thing had never been heard of. I tried to dissuade her, but the Princess was insistent.

 

“You’ll be returning to Gellang by the time of my wedding.”

 

By then, her marriage prophecy would likely have been revealed, and whoever her intended was wouldn’t take kindly to her being someone else’s bridesmaid.

 

“But… we’re friends, aren’t we? I don’t like the idea of Lady Roha looking like someone without a single friend.”

 

Despite her usual gentle demeanor, the Princess was surprisingly stubborn. She took my hand and said,

 

“Then how about just the engagement ceremony?”

 

“The engagement?”

 

“Yes. I’m just a guest staying at the Viscount’s house until next week. So it’s perfectly fine for me to be your bridesmaid for the engagement.”

 

In the end, I sighed in surrender. My eyes involuntarily turned to the most stubborn man I knew. Somehow, I couldn’t help but think they made quite the perfect pair.

 

 

* * *

 

 

“How about this one?”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“Maybe this one instead…”

 

“Right? That’s what I thought too.”

 

Who knows how many hours had passed by now.

 

Despite Madame Dewey bringing out dozens of sample dresses, those two were still not satisfied. As a result, I was still stuck in the salon, changing clothes over and over.

 

“In the end, I think the color of the first one you tried on suits you best.”

 

After much deliberation, the two finally reached a conclusion. The dress with that delicate hue—like a single drop of violet ink in water, the one Madame Dewey had initially recommended—was the best.

 

“Then wouldn’t it have saved us all a lot of time if we’d just picked that one from the start?”

 

The futility of it all made me laugh. But to my question, Sasha and Princess Florin firmly shook their heads.

 

“But that one shows too much skin.”

 

“Her Highness is right. It’s a bit too much for an engagement dress. Madame? Do you think we could use that fabric with the design of the last one she tried on?”

 

“Ah, Young Master Roha, always putting my skills to the test. But ‘impossible’ isn’t in my dictionary. Of course it’s possible.”

 

“The weather’s nice since it’s spring, but it might still be a little chilly. I think a sheer overlay around the shoulders would be nice.”

 

“Oh! Then the fabric would fall like fairy wings. What a wonderful idea.”

 

Madame Dewey quickly sketched out the princess’s idea, and Princess Florin nodded in approval, clearly impressed by the designer’s skill.

 

“Yes, that’s exactly what I was envisioning.”

 

“Hoho! Then let’s finalize this design and move on to the princess’s bridesmaid dress.”

 

Since the main color had already been decided, Madame Dewey assured me choosing the bridesmaid dress would be a quick task.

 

But that was only Madame Dewey’s opinion.

 

Reality, as always, turned out very differently.