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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Encounter
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‘Is this how a duchy does things?! This is so overwhelming!’
Still, I never expected her to rent out the entire boutique!
On top of that.
‘This place… it’s the Christiansen boutique!’
The Christiansen boutique.
It was the most exclusive boutique in the capital, run by Madame Christiansen herself—one of the most celebrated designers in the empire.
A boutique patronized by the empire's leading nobles, and even occasionally commissioned by the imperial family.
It had recently gained even more fame for designing the wedding dress of a foreign crown princess.
Even Serapina had never had a dress made here…!
‘The price… can I even afford it?’
My pupils trembled violently.
To make matters worse, my personal allowance was nearly depleted.
That was because Serapina had recently pestered me, fluttering her pretty eyes and saying,
“Lari, I want a new dress.”
…and like the official pushover I was for Serapina, I had naturally bought her all sorts of things, piling them into her arms.
“What are you doing? Aren't you coming in?”
The duchess glanced at me out of the corner of her eye, then strode past me.
‘Ugh.’
Like a cow being led to the slaughter, I dragged my feet and followed the duchess.
I really hope they accept installment payments….
About two hours later.
“Hah, now you finally look presentable enough to be seen with me.”
The duchess muttered in a satisfied voice, carefully observing my reflection in the mirror.
“Indeed. She is a lady worth dressing up.”
Madame Christiansen quickly chimed in.
They were right.
After being polished and shined from head to toe, I…
‘I look better than I thought, don’t I?’
My once-unruly hair was now neatly tied back in a half-up style.
The dress, which lightly cinched at the waist to emphasize my slender figure, was a shade of pink that complemented my eye color.
And to top it off, I had a handbag adorned with a ribbon as an accent piece.
Even to my eyes, which had developed impossibly high standards for beauty from being around Serapina and the duchess,
I looked quite pretty!
However, the biggest problem still remained.
‘The bill… what do I do…?’
I squeezed my eyes shut, then creakily turned toward Madame Christiansen.
“Excuse me, Madame Christiansen. Do you happen to accept installment payments?”
“Just a moment. What are you talking about?”
At the same time, the duchess cut in, glaring at me.
“Did you really think I was going to make Lady Ansi pay for the dress?”
She then lifted her chin, as if to make a point.
“I am Duchess Claudius. I’m not so destitute as to pass off such a paltry sum.”
“…!?”
Wow, I’m speechless.
Gazing at the duchess with an ecstatic expression, I reflexively mumbled in a daze.
“I think… I’m falling for you, Your Grace…”
“Hmph. Over something as trivial as this?”
The duchess scoffed loud enough for me to hear, then glanced at Madame Christiansen.
“Bill everything from today to the duchy.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The madame bowed her head respectfully.
The duchess primly suggested to me,
“Shall we go get some lunch now?”
We moved to another location for an early lunch.
It was a brunch cafe renowned in the capital for being a culinary hot spot.
The duchess's preparedness shone through here as well, as we were immediately guided to a table on the second-floor balcony with a clear view of the street.
“Don’t tell me you made a reservation in advance?”
“Of course. It’s hard to get into popular places without a reservation.”
I’d been thinking this since yesterday, but the duchess was surprisingly sensible.
In truth, for a high-ranking noble family like the Duchy of Claudius, a table would materialize even if none were available.
She didn't abuse her privileges, I suppose.
‘To think someone like her is the villainess of the original story.’
Once again, I lamented the absurdity of this world.
“Order whatever you want. I’m just going to the restroom for a moment.”
“Ah, yes.”
And with that, the duchess left the table.
After looking at the menu for a moment, I glanced up and looked out over the balcony.
The people coming and going on the street all looked happy.
And I, at this moment…
‘I must look just like them, right?’
How should I put it? It truly felt like a dream.
I'd always thought that receiving people's kindness and enjoying life was something only permitted to Serapina.
But now.
I feel like the protagonist of my own life….
“Lari?”
Huh? That voice…
Turning around, I instinctively furrowed my brow.
Serapina and Gregory were staring at me, their eyes wide.
It’s true what they say about running into your enemies in the most unlikely places.
Why is it them again?
I'm so tired of seeing their faces.
Meanwhile, Serapina, who had been staring at me in horror as if she’d seen a ghost,
“Fancy meeting you here, Lari.”
hastily composed herself and acknowledged me.
“What’s someone like you doing in a high-class brunch cafe like this?”
Seeing how she subtly emphasized the word ‘high-class,’
it seemed she wanted to taunt me with something like, ‘What's a nobody like you doing in such a fancy place?’
“There’s only one reason to come to a place that sells brunch, isn’t there?”
I shrugged lightly.
“I came to eat.”
“…”
At my nonchalant reply, Serapina bit her lip in frustration.
Well, it was to be expected.
Usually, when Serapina showed she was displeased like that, I would have automatically groveled.
She must be wondering why I'm being so standoffish.
“You two must be out shopping?”
The moment my question left my lips, Serapina proudly showed off the shopping bags piled in her hands.
“Yes, Gregor said he’d buy me a new hat.”
I even get gifts from your fiancé, but you got nothing, right?
That was the gist of it.
I deliberately put on a pitiful expression.
“My goodness, you’ve been carrying all that around? It must be heavy. I did some shopping today too, and they told me they’d deliver all my purchases to the townhouse.”
“…What?”
Serapina narrowed her eyes, looking at me with suspicion.
Most high-end brands also offer a delivery service.
However, that service is reserved for VIPs who spend an overwhelming amount at the brand.
Being well-versed in luxury brands, Serapina would have more than understood what I meant.
“Wait.”
At the same time, Serapina’s gaze fell upon the handbag resting on my lap.
Her dark green eyes filled with shock.
“That handbag… don’t tell me it’s from Madame Christiansen?!”
As expected, she recognized it immediately.
The ‘ribbon adornment,’ Madame Christiansen's signature design feature.
I was inwardly satisfied.
Her eyes wild with jealousy, Serapina sharply questioned me again.
“How are you carrying a bag from Madame Christiansen? They’re extremely selective with their clientele…!”
“Oh? Serapina.”
I tilted my head and met her gaze.
“Are you perhaps suggesting that I’m not worthy of carrying a bag from Madame Christiansen?”
“…”
Serapina gritted her teeth.
Well, she was probably about to go mad with frustration.
A dress and bag from Madame Christiansen were things even Serapina had never been able to possess.
And yet, not only was I suddenly adorned from head to toe in that very brand,
but I was also constantly getting on her nerves.
But since Serapina's usual image was that of a kind and innocent girl, it would be difficult for her to lash out according to her true nature.
‘Isn't that right?’
Smiling sweetly at Serapina, I glanced over at Gregory.
‘By the way, Gregory is being strangely quiet, isn't he?’
Saying it's extravagant, or that such luxury items don't suit me, or that I should give it to Serapina.
I was sure he'd be spouting some nonsense.
But right now, Gregory was simply looking at me with a peculiar gaze.
It wasn't a look filled with hostility.
Rather, it was more like…
‘…it seems similar to the way he usually looks at Serapina.’
In other words, as if he's seeing me as a woman…!
A chill ran down my spine.
