“Young master, the seamstress is waiting.”
“For me?”
“Yes. She says the ceremonial attire is ready, and it would be good for you to try it on.”
After the meeting, Kaon followed the maid to the fitting room. Although the preparations were complete, he felt indifferent about it. He simply assumed Deborah had done a good job.
The maid guided Kaon to a designated fitting room. As he entered, a large full-length mirror and several ceremonial outfits greeted him.
While the prospect of trying them all on was daunting, Kaon dutifully complied, considering the effort put in by the creator.
“Please let me know if anything feels uncomfortable, young master.”
“No, it’s fine. Please convey my compliments to Deborah’s excellent craftsmanship.”
After changing into the final outfit, Kaon briefly shared his thoughts with the seamstress’ assistant waiting outside.
Truthfully, Deborah’s creations were all impeccable. They were comfortably functional, yet refined and not overly flashy, exactly to Kaon’s liking.
“Very well, please wait a moment.”
The assistant stepped back, explaining that the final check should be done by the seamstress herself. Soon, Deborah entered, holding some pins.
“Young master, is there any part you are not satisfied with? I can still make adjustments before you depart.”
“This is more than enough. It’s comfortable and elegant, I have no further wishes.”
“I’m grateful for your kind words.”
Deborah bowed graciously, then whispered something to the assistant, who promptly left the room. Deborah then politely addressed Kaon.
“If the attire is satisfactory, we just need to match the companion.”
Companion? Kaon was puzzled by the remark when suddenly, sounds came from outside. Instinctively, he turned his gaze toward the door as it opened, and Alessia, who was wearing a dress, entered.
***
Kaon was momentarily transfixed, almost as if time had stopped. It happened the moment he laid eyes on Alessia, who had entered the room. It was an irresistible force that swept away his very soul.
Alessia wore a dress in a pale shade of blue, with delicate floral patterns in a slightly deeper hue embroidered all over. The wide, billowing sleeves draped down like wings, making the dress resemble something a fairy would wear.
And Alessia, wearing that dress, shone even brighter than a fairy. Her pure white hair cascaded naturally, and her face was devoid of any makeup, yet she was breathtakingly beautiful in a way that struck him anew.
“Miss! I think the Young Master has fallen for you!”
“Lily, don’t tease Kaon.”
Kaon snapped out of his trance at the sound of Alessia’s gentle voice scolding the servant. He realized he had been staring intently at Alessia, unable to look away.
“Would you both please stand together?”
“Kaon, come here.”
“…Alright.”
Normally, he would have inwardly mocked Alessia’s suddenly pretentious soft tone in front of others, but he had no such presence of mind. Kaon felt his limbs moving stiffly, as if they had a mind of their own.
“The attire suits you so well, Kaon.”
Once they were standing side by side, Alessia smiled and complimented him. Kaon kept his face stoic, only giving a slight nod without meeting her gaze. He was afraid that if he looked at her again, he would be unable to tear his eyes away.
The Ferdinand bloodline had always instilled him with pride, but it had also burdened him with a cursed tendency to be overly drawn to appearances. And Alessia was undeniably to his taste.
Feeling thoroughly deceived and manipulated was already agonizing, but he could not allow his heart to be stolen as well. Kaon resolved not to look at Alessia until he left the fitting room.
“Deborah’s craftsmanship is truly impressive.”
“It’s all thanks to your excellent cooperation.”
As Kaon responded with a lukewarm reaction, Alessia soon shifted her gaze to Deborah. Kaon feigned ignorance of their cordial exchange of compliments, forcibly diverting his attention.
“Hmm. I think wearing this dress and the navy ceremonial attire on the first day of the banquet would be best. The second day is more important, so a more elaborate…”
“Ah, and for the hairstyling…”
Deborah and the maid seemed to be engaged in a lively discussion, but none of it reached Kaon’s ears. He struggled to keep his wandering gaze from repeatedly straying toward Alessia.
***
Kaon woke up at dawn, when the world was cloaked in a bluish hue. As soon as he regained his senses, he carefully lifted the blanket, only to immediately pull it back over.
‘What the hell.’
Covering his head with both hands, Kaon repeatedly muttered the same curse under his breath. Trying to explain this situation, all the words seemed to have vanished, leaving only profanity.
He quickly rose and headed to the bathroom, hurling his clothes aside and dousing his head with cold water. The chilling sensation spreading through his body finally made him feel alive.
After completing his bath, Kaon did not return to the bed, but instead paced silently around the room. The dream that had suddenly surfaced was haunting him once more.
‘What kind of a dream was that…’
The previous night, Alessia had unexpectedly appeared in his dream, in the same dress he had seen her wear. She had tormented him throughout the night. Or perhaps it was he who had tormented himself, but either way…
‘Damn it!’
Trying to shake off the memory by vigorously shaking his head proved futile. In the process, Kaon was careful not to wake Alessia, and eventually dressed himself and left the room. He felt the need to breathe in some cold air.
Quietly closing the door behind him, Kaon hurried down the stairs.
‘Right, I should go see Koda.’
The destination was hastily decided as soon as he exited the mansion. Seeing the adorable pup would surely cleanse his mind.
Nodding approvingly at his own brilliant idea, Kaon hastened his pace towards the back gate. He even took a longer route, as if punishing himself physically would help.
As Kaon approached the back gate, facing the opposite side of the castle, he was startled by a familiar voice. The person he least wanted to encounter was standing there, fortunately still facing the gate and not having noticed him yet.
Biting the tender flesh inside his mouth, Kaon quietly began to retreat. If he could just make it back to his room before being spotted, it would be ideal.
“Stop right there!”
A soft yet firm command halted his steps. Kaon squeezed his eyes shut. He had thought the distance and his position behind her would keep him unnoticed, but her senses seemed sharper than expected.
“Don’t come any closer, stay where you are.”
…But he hasn’t even gone anywhere yet?
However, the following words sounded odd. He hadn’t turned around, yet she told him to stop. Curious, he stealthily looked back and saw Alessia reaching out toward something.
Instinctively, Kaon hid behind a protruding column, observing her. Focusing more closely, he could see a small dog wagging its tail beyond Alessia’s petite figure, bathed in the blue light.
‘…Koda.’
Kaon sighed. In his initial panic, he had forgotten that the back gate was where Koda’s home was located. Wasn’t he also coming here to see the pup?
‘…Is she here to see Koda too?’
Kaon recalled that Alessia had previously mentioned avoiding the back gate area during her running exercises. Yet, here she was at dawn, seeking out Koda, which seemed quite unbelievable.
Could it be that her fear of the dog was truly just a lie? The thought sent a chill down his spine.
“Hello,” Alessia spoke in a soft, familiar voice, though it was tinged with a slight tremble.
“It’s nice to see you again today, Koda.”
Hearing his name, the eager pup began to wag his tail vigorously. Alessia hastily waved her hand.
“No, don’t come closer. I’m still afraid.”
Still.
The implication of those two words was clear. Alessia had not come to see Koda for the first time today. This fact left Kaon perplexed.
At the very least, Alessia’s fear of the dog seemed genuine. From a distance, she tensed up whenever Koda moved, her discomfort evident.
Then why? Kaon was still puzzled. She was terrified of even this small puppy, yet she…
“Who named you ‘Tail’? That’s not very thoughtful. How mean, right?”
Knitting his brows, Kaon mused. What’s wrong with Koda? Back when he was still a stray, he would wag his tail excitedly whenever Kaon came around, and Kaon had found it so adorable that he named him ‘Koda’, meaning ‘Tail’.
Koda is just so cute. Kaon inwardly retorted with a slight irritation.
“Is that why you keep wagging your tail? Because your name means ‘Tail’?”
Seemingly still afraid to have Koda approach, Alessia continued talking to him without properly addressing him by name.
“Don’t you dislike me? Even though I keep telling you not to come closer?”
As if the dog could understand that.
Kaon chuckled. Watching Alessia awkwardly crouch, alternating between extending and withdrawing her hand on her lap, he couldn’t help but find it amusing.
“I hope I can hug you someday. But for now, I’m still afraid…”
Her soft murmur held a hint of wistfulness. Despite her fear, she seemed to find Koda endearing. Kaon felt a surge of pride. Koda is so cute, after all.
“You won’t bite me, right? I’ll keep coming to greet you, so don’t bite me, okay?”
Kaon, who had been smiling warmly, froze at her next words. So that’s why she was so terrified of dogs—she had been bitten before.
Suddenly, Kaon felt embarrassed and sorry. Doubting her when he had witnessed her startled reaction up close was truly unbecoming of him.
“Ko—No, stop. Be a good boy. Do you want this? I brought some sausages for you.”
Alessia then spent a considerable time playing with Koda from a distance. Kaon watched her intently for a long while.
🍉🍉🍉
T/N: aww. she’s making an effort to befriend the pup :”) I’m in tears
