Translator: Nox

Chapter 29

“…….”

It was only a fleeting moment. Vanessa clearly saw the sharp flicker of agitation in the woman’s eyes. Was it wariness, or was it jealousy?

The woman pressed her crimson-painted lips together, but in the next breath, she let a picture-perfect smile bloom. A polite expression settled over her eyes like a mask, all emotion suddenly vanished.

“We meet again, sir. I see you’ve come with a companion today.”

Today. The implication was clear. River Ross had been here alone at least once before. Judging by how he didn’t seem to think much of the woman’s greeting, it didn’t seem to be a secret he particularly cared to hide.

“Last time, you ordered such a refined, lovely dress in pale blue…. If I recall correctly, the measurements were 25 for the waist, a D-cup, and 31 for the hips.”

Vanessa felt a faint prickle of malice in the seamstress’s gaze as the woman glanced her up and down. Soon, as if losing interest in her, the woman smiled brightly and stepped around the counter.

“What kind of clothes are you looking for this time?”

She approached River Ross with a graceful, swaying gait. Vanessa, having been awkwardly pushed aside, watched them as if observing a scene.

Even to another woman, she was quite charming. She looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties. While not strikingly beautiful, she had an elegantly groomed appearance, a confident posture, and a steady gaze. In some ways, she looked more like an aristocrat than an actual noblewoman. Just like River Ross.

“Perhaps a neat shirt to match that face this time? Or a vest made of fine blue silk?”

The woman’s fingertips reached out, almost brushing River’s shoulder. She looked at him with eyes as sweet as if he were a piece of candy.

“I also have cufflinks set with the finest sapphires. I imported them from Atuilly at a very high price. I simply had to the moment I saw them. They are the exact color of your beautiful eyes….”

Though she had been pushed to the sidelines in an instant, Vanessa stared at them with dreamy eyes. Contrary to her outward appearance, she was actually feeling a bit excited. The moment she saw River Ross standing in this space, her stifled imagination had begun to erupt like a geyser.

“…….”

Vanessa narrowed her eyes, mentally drawing the two of them closer together. The ‘Navy Sailor’ character, which had been stuck in the conceptual stage for days, finally began to take on a concrete shape.

An elegant rogue born into a poor commoner family who rose to success through talent alone. An ambitious man who would do anything to succeed and was never truly honest with anyone. Such a man would feel both interest and contempt for the overly righteous ‘Miss Welsh.’

And if he needed clothes, he would seek out a place like this. His first meeting with ‘Miss Welsh’ while she was investigating a case could have been in a shop just like this one. If so, how often did he come here? What would he have ordered? A suit for himself? A handkerchief for a lady? If it was a handkerchief, what kind of woman was it a gift for…?

“Is this not to your liking either? You’re being quite difficult today. Well then, I also have hunting caps and belts made of fine leather. Whatever you desire….”

‘Whatever you desire.’ In her musings, which were rapidly approaching the realm of delusion, Vanessa imagined a scene where River Ross bought a woman’s undergarments. She pictured him, with that elegant and noble face, ordering a garter belt and matching lingerie.

And then, asking in the most gentlemanly manner if he might see her wearing them….

“Not for me.”

Just before the shop owner’s hand could touch him, River turned and caught Vanessa by the shoulder. She was pulled forward a few steps.

“I would appreciate it if you could show this young lady some clothes that suit her.”

Only then was Vanessa dragged back from her fantasies to reality. The shop owner smiled with an expression that suggested she had forgotten Vanessa was even there. Perhaps it was because Vanessa’s dazed face looked amusing. Of course, that composure vanished quickly.

River’s hand moved down to lightly brush against Vanessa’s waist before letting go. To onlookers, it looked like he was cherishing something precious; to Vanessa, it felt like he had some wicked ulterior motive.

“Take a look around as much as you like.”

As the large, sturdy man—much taller than her—leaned down, his voice dropped to a low murmur. The breath spreading across her neck and ear was as hot as a brand.

It was exasperating enough that he was using her to ward off the owner’s advances, but she couldn’t believe that just having his breath so close made her recall their lewd memories from the afternoon right in front of others.

“…Very well.”

A blunt thorn pricked through the shop owner’s soft voice. Nevertheless, her tone was different from when she had been wary of a thief eyeing her possessions; it was now strangely drained of its venom.

Before Vanessa could fully process the dissonance, the owner reached out. Her hand was seized, and she was spun around in a daze.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

The owner pulled a measuring tape from somewhere and began applying it to her body here and there.

“Twenty, and five more…. Good. Keep your arms raised like that.”

“Like this?”

“Yes, just like that. Your lines are straight. Since your frame is naturally slender, clothes that overemphasize the body or have excessive decorations won’t suit you. And thirty, plus one….”

The woman, who had been muttering measurements to herself, suddenly fell silent. Vanessa looked up, puzzled.

“Is something wrong?”

“…….”

“Is there a problem?”

“It’s nothing.”

The owner replied with a cryptic smile. The flicker that had briefly crossed her eyes had already settled back to normal. Putting down the measuring tape, the owner clapped her hands and continued in an unnaturally soft tone.

“It just so happens we have a few dresses in the shop that would suit you, miss. They’ll be ready to wear with just a few minor adjustments. In the meantime, sir, please go upstairs and check on the clothes you commissioned last time. They’re nearly finished….”

When the owner rang a bell, a man draped in measuring tapes came tumbling down the stairs with a loud clatter. He must have been sleeping with his face on a desk until a moment ago, as the marks from the measuring tapes were pressed deep into his cheeks. The owner gave a command with an elegant wave of her hand.

“Colin. Show this gentleman the clothes.”

“Can you stay here alone for a moment?”

“Of course.”

He arched an eyebrow as if he didn’t quite believe her. He seemed to be remembering her covered in dirt and clutching a duck at the farm earlier. Vanessa lifted her chin slightly and met his gaze with a brazen face.

Very confident, as if she didn’t have a single care in the world.

“Don’t worry and go ahead. I’ll be on my best behavior this time.”

“All right, then.”

He laughed softly and raised his hand as if to muss her hair, but then lowered it again.

“I’ll be back in a moment, so look around. Don’t leave the shop.”

“I won’t.”

Just before following the tailor upstairs, River Ross took something from his coat and handed it to the owner. The woman covered her mouth with her hand in surprise before accepting it with both hands. Vanessa was dying to know what he had given her, but the owner was already ushering her toward the other side of the room.

“This way, miss.”

Swept along by that momentum, she was led into the inner part of the shop, revealing a hall packed with clothing racks. Errand boys were constantly moving in and out through the back door, and employees were frantically packing clothes into boxes, their faces weary as they attended to each one.

The owner led her to a rack against one wall.

“Take your time and look through these. Everything here should fit you.”

All sorts of blouses, skirts, trendy dresses, and expensive-looking hats caught her eye.

Vanessa looked over the clothes with a worried expression. Reality, which she had momentarily forgotten, finally came back to her.