Chapter 38
At that moment, Susan was happily greeting Ailen at the entrance. Due to the hastily arranged plan, the duchy’s carriage had been sent to the Blanche estate to personally bring her over.
“I’m glad you made it on time.”
“With a carriage sent just for me, I couldn’t possibly be late. Thanks for inviting me, Susan. I’ll enjoy quite the spectacle today.”
Though she spoke warmly, she cast a sideways glare when Susan wasn’t looking. She was annoyed not only by Susan’s high-handedness in sending the carriage without asking, but also by the insolence of the maid who had been sent to fetch her. Mimicking her impertinent mistress, the maid had practically dragged Ailen along as if threatening her.
“Hurry, Lady Blanche. My lady has been waiting quite impatiently.”
Even without asking, Ailen could guess that Susan had told her maid to bring her over as quickly as possible.
‘That brat… Even friends should have some basic manners. No wonder her maid acts just like her when I have to put up with her whims so often.’
Though Ailen’s mind was filled with complaints, she kept them to herself. After all, she accepted this as the natural order, considering the social gap between a noble duke’s daughter and a mere count’s daughter.
In her view, this difference in standing didn’t come from tradition or illustrious family history, but from the sheer weight of wealth—money, pure and simple. To put it bluntly, associating with wealthy Susan might bruise her pride, but it provided plenty of opportunities to pick up the scraps. Especially on a day like today, when dresses were being tailored.
“They said it’s from Roman Tailors, right?”
“Yes, the most famous place in the capital.”
“How thoughtful of the duke to look after his sister like this.”
She’d added this comment to flatter both the Duke of Edmond’s status and her friend’s pride, but surprisingly, Susan remained silent.
‘Seems like there’s something more to this,’ Ailen thought.
Susan intended to keep quiet about her brother calling the tailor for her sister-in-law’s dress. She didn’t want her to realize she was already being outshone by her sister-in-law.
But as they reached the drawing room, they were met by a hurriedly running tailor’s assistant.
“What’s the meaning of this?”
Recognizing the annoyed Susan, the assistant immediately bowed repeatedly. Letting out a shallow sigh as if one problem had led to another, he began apologizing profusely.
“My apologies, my lady. Truly, I’m so sorry.”
“What on earth is going on?”
“The duke gave urgent instructions, and I was in such a hurry that I didn’t see you there.”
“What orders did my brother give?”
“He commanded us to bring in a different tailor immediately.”
Peeking through the slightly open door, Susan saw the Roman Tailor’s head tailor struggling awkwardly.
“Isn’t that Gray, the most reputed tailor in Roman Tailors—and the Empire?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Then why call for another tailor?”
“Well… the duke requested a female tailor.”
“A female tailor? There’s no such thing. Wait a moment.”
With a look of determination, she entered the drawing room, as if she could put an end to her brother’s antics.
“Brother, what exactly are you doing right now?”
“Can’t you see?”
“We have the Empire’s top tailor right here, yet you’re asking for a female tailor who doesn’t even exist.”
“Then why don’t you do it?”
“W-what?”
Her green eyes wavered. Her brother was asking her to do the menial task of measuring her sister-in-law. And with her friend Ailen watching, no less.
Clenching her trembling hands, Susan confronted her brother firmly.
“Tailoring requires specialized skills, not to mention it’s a man’s job. We’ve always had male tailors measure us, so why can’t you accept it for your wife?”
Unable to meet his sister’s accusing gaze, Stefan fixed his glare on the tailor. But he couldn’t voice what he really thought—that the tailor’s gaze was lecherous and his touch untrustworthy.
In the increasingly tense atmosphere, an unexpected voice broke in—it was Ailen.
“I… I will do it, Your Grace.”
With everyone’s eyes on her, she spoke again, more resolutely this time.
“I’ll measure the Duchess, Your Grace.”
“Thank you, Lady Ailen.”
When Rachel took Ailen’s hand to thank her, Stefan’s anger finally subsided.
“If you do that, I’d be grateful. In return, I’ll have as many dresses made for you as you wish.”
“Th-thank you, Your Grace.”
Grinning widely at the sudden windfall, Ailen beamed. Meanwhile, Rachel gave a discreet signal to the tailor and Ailen, and the three disappeared behind a partition.
Once they were out of sight, Susan glared at her brother as if she could bore a hole through him.
“This is disgraceful, you know.”
“…Disgraceful?”
“You’re acting jealous over a mere tailor.”
“Mind your words, Susan.”
“I’m truly disappointed in you, brother. Truly.”
Unable to contain her anger, she stormed out of the drawing room, and Stefan slumped onto the sofa.
“This is all because of that damn curse. If I hadn’t known about it, I wouldn’t be so angry…”
Why did Rachel look so unusually beautiful today? The blue dress she wore made her seem noble and graceful, almost like a water spirit. Her fresh, cool beauty, which made even the sweltering summer heat seem distant, was so captivating that even the insignificant tailor was shaken.
He had offered to make her a dress in hopes of winning her favor, but her excessively cheerful demeanor made him uneasy. Each time the tailor wrapped fabric around her neck, his anger surged.
What finally set him off was Rachel’s remark.
“Why would a slip need a design? As long as it drapes softly when touched and can be easily taken off…”
Her words, spoken so casually without realizing their implications, made his blood boil. He could no longer tolerate the inappropriate looks and touches of that man towards his wife. He would rather look like a fool than allow it.
“I’ll just buy a tailor shop. I’ll train female tailors too. I can’t keep worrying like this every time Rachel gets a new dress.”
Stefan leapt off the sofa, staring at the partition for a moment before storming out of the drawing room.
***
“Thank you so much, Lady Ailen.”
“It’s nothing, Duchess.”
“When we’re alone, just call me Rachel.”
“Oh, no! I can’t call you that, Duchess.”
She seemed to realize something for the first time. She finally understood that the dark horse rising in Duke Edmond’s estate was none other than Rachel.
Taking advantage of the situation, she planned to ask her to take over Susan’s task.
“I never imagined the cold-hearted Duke would turn into a romantic… Truly impressive, Duchess.”
“When you fall in love, I guess everyone becomes a romantic.”
“Falling in love?”
“Even though our marriage was arranged, I realized on our wedding night that we were destined for each other.”
If married couples had heard this, they would have laughed and fallen over, but for the unmarried who dream of sweet love and freedom, these words would have been quite tempting.
Someone once said that the most thrilling and heart-pounding moment of love is just before you start dating.
“Lady Ailen, do you have someone like that?”
“Ah… no, not yet…”
“I hope you find a wonderful love too.”
“…I hope so too.”
Both Ailen and Susan seemed somewhat wistful, as neither had a suitable match, and they appeared like drifting buoys lost on the sea, uncertain and aimless.
“I think Miss Susan is a lot like the Duke.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Once she falls in love, she won’t be able to get out.”
“Really?”
Ailen couldn’t imagine the prickly Susan struggling in the throes of love, and shook her head again. That just couldn’t be.
Rachel lowered my voice subtly and gently placed her hand over Ailen’s.
“Look at the Duke. He was even colder than Miss Susan. Blood is thicker than water, you know.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Of course. He would even give up his estate to the person who brings him a lover.”
That’s when Aileen’s inner thoughts, which she had been holding back, came to light.
‘Maybe I should make a move on Elliot? He doesn’t have much, but he’s an Earl. The Edmond estate has more than enough money, so just his title as an Earl should be enough, right?’
