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After choosing the fabric and decorations, Dolorosa put on the sample dress Carol brought and the attendants temporarily fixed the materials onto the dress using pins instead of sewing.
“Ah, princess, you’re so cute!”
“Really?”
Dolorosa blushed, embarrassed by Rachel’s exclamation.
She was pretty in her plain white sample dress, but when she was wrapped in colorful fabric and accessories…
‘She’s like a doll that moves and talks!’
Heart-stoppingly adorable was the word for this.
Dolorosa, who could fill a mansion with her cuteness, was unfamiliar with compliments.
Beside her, Carol chuckled pleasantly.
“I’ve never seen the princess so embarrassed before, which is surprising, given how often she’s been told she’s cute by me and the Archduke himself.”
“Well, dad says I’m cute because he’s my dad, and Carol says I’m cute because she needs to sell dresses.”
She blushed again.
“But Lady Rachel called me cute without any reason or condition, so I feel kind of embarrassed…”
A smile tugged at the corners of Rachel’s mouth at the adorableness.
“You are so cute and adorable, Princess. I’m sure the Archduke and Carol think so, too. Not just because he’s your father, and not just because she must sell dresses, right, Carol?”
“Of course, of course.”
“Thank you, Lady Rachel.”
Dolorosa bowed shyly and finalized the order for the dress. She chose a blue fabric with beautiful flowers embroidered in gold leaf.
After removing the sample dress, Dolorosa bounced up to Rachel.
“Now it’s your turn, Lady Rachel!”
“I’m looking forward to it. I will trust the princess’s judgement.”
“Yes!”
Rachel changed into an unadorned white sample dress and came out from behind the curtain. She felt awkward, like she was wearing nothing but her underwear, but Dolorosa’s eyes lit up with admiration.
“Wow! Lady Rachel, you’re so beautiful! You look like an angel! Your eye and hair color match really well with the white dress. I feel like you’ll grow wings and fly away at any moment.”
“This is so embarrassing. I’m only wearing the sample dress.”
“That’s what makes it even more amazing! It’ll be even prettier if you use this chocolate-colored fabric here! And lace trim… Carol! Where’s the pink fabric you showed me earlier?”
“Here it is, Princess! How about a ribbon like this?”
“Wow, great! Carol knows my taste so well!”
Dolorosa and Carol clung to Rachel with excitement.
Dolorosa loved this kind of thing, but it was surprising that even Carol was excited.
“It’s not every day that I get to make a dress for someone so petite and mature, isn’t that right, Princess Dolorosa?”
“Of course! I can’t put lace and flowers like this on my father!”
Rachel giggled as she envisioned Cian draped in a pink dress, trimmed with ribbons and lace.
Dolorosa hummed a lullaby as she picked out the embellishments for Rachel’s dress.
She seemed to be having more fun now than when she’d had her own dress fitting.
Carol smiled wryly.
“I’ve been making Princess Dolorosa’s dresses for years now, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her as happy as she is today.”
“Yes! I’m in a very good mood today, very, very happy!”
“Oh, my.”
“Countess Rachel said she would trust me. It’s the first time I’ve ever picked out a dress for someone other than myself, it’s so much fun!”
Maybe for Dolorosa, choosing Rachel’s dress was like playing with a big doll.
Either way, she was glad Dolorosa had fun. Rachel didn’t complain and was a good doll to the child until her dress order was finished.
Rachel and Dolorosa, who finished ordering dresses, and Cian and Graham, who finished training, gathered again in front of the mansion.
Dolorosa rushed over and hugged Cian.
“Dad! I missed you!”
“Dolly, did you get your dress ordered?”
“Yes! I had so much fun today!”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Do you know how pretty Lady Rachel was? She looks so elegant in any fabric and with any embellishment! You’ll be amazed when you see her later, Dad!”
Perhaps because her excitement hadn’t subsided yet, Dolorosa’s voice was loud.
Graham chimed in.
“That’s right, my mom is pretty! I want to see too, mom!”
“I ordered something very pretty! Graham, you’ll be shocked when you see it!”
Cian laughed lightly.
“This is the first time I’ve seen Dolly this excited.”
“I really enjoyed it! I’ve never been so excited about ordering a dress, and besides, Lady Rachel and I are going to the dressing room together!”
“To the dressing room?”
“It’s for the dress I saw at Carol’s before. I’m going to go see that dress with Lady Rachel tomorrow!”
“…Dolly, you want to wear that dress.”
“Yes!”
“Hmm.”
Cian narrowed his brows, lost in thought for a moment, and then spoke heavily.
“But Dolly, dad thinks Lady Rachel might be uncomfortable in that dress. You know that dress is one that must be worn together.”
“But…”
Dolorosa lowered her head.
Rachel tilted her head.
‘What kind of dress is it? Is it so erotic that it’s hard to look at it? Like the transparent dress from the story of the naked king. If that’s the case, it’ll definitely be troublesome.’
But she couldn’t say she wouldn’t wear the dress without even seeing it.
“I don’t mind. Don’t blame the princess.”
“You haven’t seen what kind of dress it is, have you?”
“We’ll go and look at the dress first, and if I’m not comfortable with what I see, I’ll tell you then.”
“You absolutely must tell me honestly.”
Dolorosa interrupted.
“That’s right, Lady Rachel. You don’t have to force yourself to wear a dress just because of me! I don’t want to trouble Lady Rachel.”
Rachel couldn’t refuse if she was forced to wear it. How many people would dare disobey the words of the Archduke and princess?
Even though they could boss her around like a commoner, they still cared and worried about her. She was grateful for that.
Rachel laughed lightly.
“All right. Thank you both for your consideration.”
“Then we’ll come pick you up tomorrow at the same time.”
* * *
The next day. Before going out, Lylus paid a visit to Cian.
“You called for me, Bishop?”
“Thank you for seeing me. I have something to tell you, so I stopped by for a moment.”
“A request?”
“Please do not ride out into the city today in the Archduke’s carriage.”
Cian’s eyes narrowed.
“You’ve seen the future?”
“Yes. Something creepy is going to happen today.”
“Something creepy. Are you saying that I shouldn’t go out today?”
“No. Today is a very important day, and you should go out as planned. Something is going to happen that will have a huge impact on your life.”
It was a difficult thing for a normal person to understand. A normal person would likely be intimidated by the ominous yet important words.
But this was Cian. Lylus knew he wouldn’t avoid something important because he was scared.
After a moment of thought, Cian spoke again.
“I hope Dolorosa is not in danger.”
“It is something that Princess Dolorosa must go through if she is to be safe and happy.”
“I see. Since you say I should not ride in the carriage of House Dicarsignac, I must go out as Alias.”
“You are correct in your judgment.”
“Thank you for your advice.”
“I, for one, am grateful that you listened to this old man.”
Blindfolded and cloaked as Lylus had advised, Cian summoned a carriage used for stealth and set off into the city with Rachel, Dolorosa, and Graham.
Watching the carriage pull away, Lylus clasped his hands together.
This was going to happen anyway, but this way, the Archduke will be more forthcoming. He’ll act on instinct, without being tied down by his status or situation.’
Looking to the future, Lylus spoke in a low voice.
“Yenis. If you are uncomfortable with the presumptuous meddling of your left hand, feel free to call down lightning. I’ll gladly oblige.”
Lightning did not strike. Instead, a sparrow sat on Lylus’ head and chirped.
Lylus chuckled.
“How generous of you, Yenis. That’s why I like you… Hey!”
The sparrow, having finished defecating on his shiny silver hair, flew up into the air.
It seemed that Goddess Yenis was unaccustomed to receiving confessions from her left hand.
* * *
Jing-
“Welcome! Oh my, the princess is here!”
Carol, greeting Rachel, Dolorosa, and Graham as they entered the dressing room, tilted her head. She didn’t see Cian.
She poked her head out to see if he’d been delayed, but all she could see through the open doorway was a figure draped in a black cloak, no Cian.
“Didn’t His Highness come with you?”
“Dad said he was busy.”
“I see.”
Cian had left many times before, saying he had to go to work while being fitted for clothing.
She didn’t mind if he didn’t come, since he was only paying the bill anyway.
Carol shrugged without giving it much thought.
“Would you like to see the dress first?”
As Carol clapped her hands, the staff brought out a mannequin from behind the curtain.
Rachel’s eyes widened.
Carol spoke, delighted with the reaction she’d expected.
“Let me explain. This is a couple dress I specially designed for this social season. It’s the perfect dress to show off the relationship between two people: mother and daughter, sisters, aunt and niece!”
The two dresses were identical in shape, color, and decoration, everything except for size.
