Chapter 15
Belle glared fiercely at Duchess Cassier, as if she had nothing to bow her head for, and spoke firmly.
“Apologize properly.”
“……”
Duchess Cassier, her pride wounded, couldn’t open her mouth easily.
But with many eyes watching—and Ian also looking at her as if urging her to apologize—she couldn’t just brush it off.
“I… made a mistake. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t let this happen again. I might end up spilling hot tea on the Duchess by accident too, you know.”
She delivered the final blow perfectly.
That remark implied she knew it hadn’t been a mistake, but intentional.
Duchess Cassier, trembling with frustration, quickly left the salon.
“Oh my, seems there was a commotion.”
As if she had been waiting for this moment, Madame Rodina swiftly stepped in to settle the situation.
“The stain is quite bad. Duchess Cassier may have caused the accident, but we’ll take responsibility for the damages. We apologize.”
Her attitude was more polite than before.
It seemed she realized Belle wasn’t someone to be taken lightly just because she was a commoner.
“It’s not even that valuable of a dress to compensate for.”
“No, still, it happened at our salon. Please allow us to compensate.”
“…Well, if you insist that much, do as you please.”
“Thank you.”
Madam Rodina bowed and then fussed, saying they should change Belle into something more comfortable right away.
At that moment, Ian, who had quietly waited while Belle took care of the situation, asked with a worried face.
“The burn—are you okay? Let’s go to the hospital first.”
He seemed extremely concerned after hearing that Duchess Cassier had poured hot tea on her. His fussing prompted Madam Rodina to join in.
“Oh dear, shall we call a doctor for you?”
“It’s not that serious. I may have overreacted a bit.”
“No way, it was definitely hot tea.”
It wasn’t really hot, more like warm tea.
But due to Ian’s fuss, the madam quickly called a doctor. After applying burn ointment to the red area, the treatment was done.
It wasn’t a big deal, but Belle’s face flushed with embarrassment for making such a scene.
“I’m jealous.”
But Rodina didn’t seem to think it was an overreaction at all. She looked at Belle with genuine envy.
“Huh?”
“My husband, even when I’m hurt, just goes ‘Oh, you’re hurt?’ and that’s it. So indifferent. I’m the only one who’s sad, the only one who’s hurting. No one even notices. But your man worries about you like this—how could I not be jealous?”
“…Haha, I guess I’m lucky…”
Before meeting Ian, her life had felt like it was stuck in a cesspool.
But after meeting him, so much had changed.
Belle truly felt she had become lucky.
Just having Ian Rothiers—someone completely on her side—by her side made everything better.
Sure, maybe Rodina was just trying to flatter her, but even so, it made Belle feel good.
As Belle’s lips curled up in satisfaction, Rodina seemed to take that as her cue to get back to business.
“Shall we take a look at some dresses now?”
“Sure.”
She took off the wet dress for the time being, and when she saw the glamorous dress Rodina recommended, her jaw dropped.
“This kind of dress?”
“Oh, just try it on for a moment! I thought this style would really suit you.”
“…Hmm.”
It wasn’t really her style, but she figured there was no harm in trying it on just for fun.
And surprisingly, her reflection in the mirror was more beautiful than expected.
“…Wow. You look absolutely stunning.”
Madame Rodina even clapped her hands in admiration.
To be honest, even Belle had to admit it—the dress looked amazing on her.
Even though it was a bold style she’d never tried before.
A deep neckline and a dress that fitted her figure perfectly.
The deep, rich color could have looked tacky, but the sleek silhouette made it look flawless.
“This style is hard for most people to pull off, but you’re like a chameleon—you could wear anything and still look perfect. I bet Lord Ian is going to fall for you all over again.”
Rodina clapped again and dramatically pulled back the curtain.
And then—
Why was not only Ian, but also Cedric, standing there?
“…Lord Cedric?”
Madam Rodina, too, seemed surprised at Cedric’s sudden appearance.
* * *
Cedric was annoyed.
He was the one who had suggested going out first, but Belle had refused. Yet now she was preparing to go out—with Ian.
If it were the old Belle before she lost her memories, she would’ve followed his words without question.
Just like the well-raised doll Count Agrita had groomed her to be.
That’s why, in a way, it had become boring.
She was so obedient that just watching her made him feel stifled—it was suffocating.
But the current Belle sparkled.
And her smile? Absolutely radiant. If only she’d shown this side of herself sooner, maybe he wouldn’t have ended up having an affair with Deloni.
More than anything, the fact that Belle was now someone else’s woman made her all the more enticing.
Cedric had never thought he had such a preference, but he now realized—someone too easy just wasn’t fun. The thrill came from the chase.
Up until now, Cedric had married easily and gotten everything he wanted. That’s why Belle’s rejection only ignited his competitive spirit.
A burning desire to somehow make Belle his woman.
“…Hah.”
And just then, Belle stepped out in her dress—and she was breathtakingly beautiful.
He let out a short breath of admiration, momentarily stunned, when Ian strode over and gently draped his coat over Belle’s shoulders, as if to mark his territory.
Cedric’s mood instantly soured.
Who the hell did Ian think he was, acting so possessive?
“What brings you here, Lord Cedric?” asked Belle.
“…Came to get some clothes tailored.”
There was a separate boutique for men’s clothing—so why here?
He replied to the madam, but his gaze remained fixed on Belle.
Rodina, tilting her head in confusion, soon caught the meaning in his eyes.
It seemed like he was here because of that lady.
Looks like the Duke of Rothiers family was going to be a source of gossip for a while.
Rodina quickly assessed the situation and addressed Cedric.
“Ah, then would you please come this way?”
She intended to separate them, sensing the tense atmosphere.
But Cedric didn’t move. Instead, he said,
“My sister is here—I might as well help her pick something out.”
“…Pardon?”
Even a toddler would know that the two of them weren’t on good terms.
And now he wanted to pick out clothes together?
Rodina’s eyes wavered, and so did the gazes of the other noblewomen who had been watching silently.
What in the world was happening here?
“Why? Is that a problem?”
“Well…”
Rodina looked ready to say something, worried she might get caught in the crossfire between the duke’s two sons. But then—
“That’s fine. Let him do as he wants.”
It was Belle who spoke up first, shielding Rodina with her words.
“…Belle.”
“Sigh, I’ve told you countless times not to call me that, but you don’t seem to understand plain words.”
Gasp.
Everyone held their breath. Belle had just openly rebuked Cedric.
Cedric—the same man known as the biggest scoundrel around when Ian wasn’t present.
No one dared stand up to him and walk away unscathed.
“You only say that because you don’t remember. But you are Belle.”
“Anyway, enjoy your little tailoring session.”
“…What?”
“Madam, I think that’s enough for today. I’ll be heading out.”
“You’re just going to leave?”
She didn’t answer. Honestly, the outfit wasn’t exactly something you could comfortably stroll around in.
Belle knew that. But more than that, she didn’t want to stay and become Cedric’s eye candy.
She had recognized that look in Cedric’s eyes the moment she stepped out in the dress—lustful, filthy.
It made her feel utterly disgusting.
“Let’s go, Ian.”
Ian seemed to sense how Belle felt and nodded without question.
“A shame, but I’ll look forward to next time, then,” added Madam Rodina.
But clearly, Cedric looked ready to follow them wherever they went.
It was obvious his tailoring excuse had been nothing but a pretense.
Unfortunately, the date ended before it could even begin.
* * *
The next day.
Though unexpected, Cedric’s outburst at the salon had turned into quite the scandal.
What made it worse was that he had called her Belle, not Annie.
People had already been talking because of the resemblance, but Cedric had sealed the deal.
The rumor was now widespread: the second son of the Rothiers family had brought home Belle Agrita as his bride.
This was an entirely different story from what people thought before—just a commoner marriage.
Plenty of noblewomen had seen Belle’s face that day, and they couldn’t ignore the resemblance.
Still, there was one thing that didn’t quite add up—her personality.
Belle Agrita had always been known as a meek, foolish girl who couldn’t speak up.
But Annie, the woman they saw yesterday, was bold and outspoken.
“Honestly, this might work in our favor,” Belle said.
She and Ian needed to stir up this scandal even more.
To make sure the Duchess couldn’t sabotage the wedding.
