“Rubel.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Please contact each salon right away to bring their representative designers to the duchy. Tell them to bring in all the latest seasonal designs.”
“Yes, pardon?”
What about the salon and what about the latest? Rubel was taken aback by the duke’s unexpected order.
“However, since it will be the welcoming party for Grand Prince Benio soon, the reservations for famous designers must be closed now.”
“That’s why I’m personally ordering you.”
The duke hardened his eyes. Only then did Rubel realize the duke was very serious.
“Do whatever it takes. You can spend as much as you want. Who dares ignore the crest of Duke Felicite?”
“Ah… Yes, I understand.”
If it was the crest of Duke Felicite, there was no choice but to do it. However, he was surprised that the duke would put the crest at stake only for ‘salon reservation.’
“Prepare the best carriage too. It would be nice to have a new one made by the craftsman a while ago.”
“Isn’t that carriage exclusively only for use by Your Grace?”
“Don’t question me, Rubel. Besides, I’ll be riding along too.”
“Riding along? Are you saying that you will be escorting Lady Siani to the Grand Prince Ash’s welcoming party?”
“There’s nothing I can’t do.”
Amazement and astonishment flickered across Rubel’s face.
Duke Felicite escorting Siani… No one could imagine such a sight in the entire empire.
The duke spoke as he held a pipe in his hand. “What documents need to be reviewed?”
“I’ve arranged it here. I’ve been informed that the soldiers guarding the duchy’s border area need material support.”
“Since it’s surrounded by wilderness, they can just hunt and use animal hides as blankets. Talking about material support is such nonsense.”
The Duke’s appearance, frowning after spitting out the smoke, was truly manly.
“These rookies are retreating. We need to train them properly.”
The former battlefield commander, known for his name on the battlefield, still had that aura. However, at that moment.
“By the way.”
He dropped his pipe and pulled something out of his arms. It was an uncharacteristically careful touch.
Ointment? Rubel watched in silence as the duke applied ointment to his hand. It was an ointment made by Siani.
The person who walked around throwing away his gloves just because he’s being intrusive…
“It smells really good. Not to mention the moisturizing effect.”
“Mois…turizing?”
“Your hands become very soft. It’s incomparable to magic stone.” The duke muttered as he put down the ointment the size of his fingernail.
What on earth is this situation? That fleeting smile felt eerie to Rubel.
* * *
It was a few days after that.
“What on earth is going on!”
To be exact, it was a week before the welcoming party of the Grand Prince Benio. Many noble ladies who had heard the news gathered on Nise Street, where famous salons were gathered.
“Lierra can’t do it? How much trouble I went through these past few months to catch her!”
“I’m sorry, Madam.”
Countess Shured, whose reservation had been rejected by Kore Salon’s representative designer, Lierra, staggered.
“How much money did we put down for the reservation? Now, it is being turned down right before the welcoming ceremony? Mother! What should we do now?”
“Calm down, Mari. Are you going to make that kind of expression in front of the grand prince?”
She scolded her daughter for being in tears in the midst of this.
“Didn’t I say that you shouldn’t lose your smile under any circumstances?”
“We apologize, Madam. We will refund your reservation fee double and provide compensation as well.”
“What? No, it’s not about the money. It’s about sending the representative designer as promised.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Ha, who on earth do you trust to act like that!”
The countess looked astonished at the manager’s firm answer. At that time, a noble madam walked hurriedly into the salon.
“Manager, is Lierra’s reservation available? I’ll pay you enough money, so make it happen.”
“Viscountess Gerev?”
“Oh my, Countess Shured. I was so distracted that I didn’t know you were here.”
“Why did you come here after bragging that you had succeeded in making a reservation for the representative designer of the De Terre Salon?”
“Ha, the representative designer of that crazy salon sent a cancellation notice this morning.”
“Pardon?”
“They said they would pay ten times the reservation fees, and on top of that, they offered compensation.”
The viscountess fanned herself as if her fever had risen.
“At this rate, I’m going to have to send Beth in the dress I wore for the wedding!”
“I’m sorry, Madam. This place has no room either. My reservation also got canceled by the salon’s representative designer.”
“What? Madam too? The madam I met at Clyde Salon a while ago was like that too. What is this…”
The two madams’ sharp eyes turned to the manager.
The most famous designers in the empire are canceling their reservations right before such an important event! It was clear that there was a trap.
“Who on earth are you trusting for doing this?”
In the current society, the Shured family stood out the most.
“Who is so fearless in making such a provocation against our Shured family?”
That’s how Countess Shured’s arrogance grew.
The empress continued not feeling well, and the young princess couldn’t even do her duty before her debutante. Moreover, it was thanks to the fact that even the grand duchess and duchess seats were empty.
“I can’t believe I have to wear an out-of-date dress in front of the grand prince! I’d rather have charcoal on my face!”
Lady Shured screamed. “Manager, I’m asking you what kind of fearless person has done this! Who’s going to pay that huge refund!”
“That…”
The manager, who had been standing upright all along, opened his mouth.
“Duke Felicite.”
“What?”
“Pardon?”
W-who?
There was a moment of silence among the madams, who were fuming with anger.
‘That’ Duke Felicity’s family called the arrow of the Goddess? But Duke Felicite rarely attends social gatherings or festivals?
“Now, all the representative designers in the capital will be gathered around here.”
“If it’s her…”
The arrogant women had completely forgotten.
“Princess Siani Felicite.”
The fact that there’s only one princess in this Meteora Empire.
* * *
“Who is this? Lierra! I heard you’re so busy.”
“Ah, Legion. I can’t believe I get to see your face, which is hard to see even at gatherings.”
“I heard that the shoe design you designed this time was sold at a very high price.”
“Hoho, will I follow your footsteps by developing and exporting new materials?”
“Wait a minute, that’s Ayana! I heard you were scouted to the Barba Kingdom’s academy!”
Unlike the chaotic city, a reunion of the National Academy of Arts’ faculty was being held at Duke Felicite’s residence. If the total value of the designers gathered here was combined, a high-rise building could be built in the middle of the capital.
“The aide to the Duke Felicite himself contacted me, so how can I refuse?”
“You too? I canceled everything and rushed here as well.”
Even to those with high noses, Duke Felicite’s call was unexpected. It would be more so because there was no hostess, and Duke Felicite was the type of person who was very indifferent to social events.
“But did he really call us for the sake of the princess?”
“Everyone knows he’s already giving up on her, right?”
“Isn’t it because of the person called as his adoptive daughter?”
“That’s a relief then. If it were indeed Princess Felicite, I would have had a headache.”
“Have you seen her in real life?”
“No. I haven’t seen her either. Isn’t it worth knowing just by hearing rumors? She must have a dull face.”
A sigh flowed between them as if there was nothing to see.
“I’m sure her body won’t look good either.”
“They say her hair is a mess because she doesn’t take care of it very well.”
“No matter how good our skills are, what can we do? Don’t you think the model has to be good for the work to be good too?”
“Haha, that’s right. If you draw lines on a pumpkin, it will become a watermelon, right?”
At the time when they were laughing hard without knowing what was coming.
“The Princess is coming.” The servant who knocked on the door spoke solemnly.
Huh? Was it really the princess who gathered us?
This is giving me a headache.
Damn, if I knew this would happen, I would have refused!
They glared at the door with displeased expressions.
A woman who was born after killing her mother and turning the family into darkness. The unlucky woman is said to be annulled by her fiancé and treated like an ugly duckling by her father. What kind of dark, dim-looking woman would come in…
“Gasp.”
“Oh my gosh.”
However, the designers were frozen when they saw what actually appeared.
“…”
Voluptuous blonde hair. Mysterious red eyes, skin as clear as glass, and an expression that shows no emotion. As the woman passed in front of them, their eyes sparkled as if they had discovered a living gem.
“Greetings to the Princess.”
“Greetings.”
They bowed unknowingly.
The princess sat with her legs crossed on the red sofa at the upper seat. Although she was slender, her essential body shape and velvet sofa matched too well.
It was a time when even the arrogant designers were discouraged by her cold appearance.
“…Here.”
The woman’s lips slowly opened.
“Who’s the best?”
