I got rid of all the carefully crafted plans for life after divorce and the list of countries I wanted to visit, which I had made in the past.
I was determined not to waver or regret whatever happened in the future, especially if I was with Aiden.
A confident smile appeared on Erin’s face.
“….”
However, as she was about to write on the paper, Erin’s head tilted in confusion.
She couldn’t think of anything she wanted to do with Aiden in the future.
“Why does my mind feel so empty?”
Soon, she realized that she had never actually thought about how she wanted to live with Aiden.
Since it was futile, she considered such thoughts to be a form of torture.
She had always fantasized about where to go and what to do after the divorce, but on the contrary, imagining a future here for the next 10 years was an unknown world to Erin.
It was the first step into a world she had never stepped foot in. Erin’s lips automatically turned upwards.
Even though nothing comes to mind yet, that’s why I’m even more thrilled.
In fact, Erin didn’t think that nothing would happen at all this way.
But it was much more exciting than just getting divorced and living carefree.
She felt excited and full of energy.
“[To live happily with Aiden for a long, long time.]”
Erin wrote down the first sentence on the blank page.
***
The news that the Count and Countess Chartes had returned just a month after leaving to find Julia reached me just the day before yesterday.
When the invitation to the welcoming party from the Count Chartes arrived without a chance to catch my breath, I thought this was bound to happen.
Although the invitation contained many phrases, the most essential part was this section:
“[A joyful day has come to Chartes. Please attend and welcome our lovely daughter.]”
Julia Chartes had returned.
The capital had already been aflutter with the news for the past couple of days.
It was even said that the Count Chartes had already introduced her to the Emperor.
The Count’s joy knew no bounds.
Countless rumors came rushing in all at once.
It was inevitable to be curious about Julia’s appearance all this time.
But I didn’t go to see her.
I made an effort not to act conscious of her.
It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t nervous at all.
Now, I had no intention of conceding Aiden to Julia Charte.
“But if I hadn’t intervened, Julia would have taken over….”
Erin felt a slight pang of conscience at the thought that she had stolen Aiden.
Therefore, she hesitated a little.
Erin picked up her pen to write a reply. She was willing to attend the party and sincerely congratulate Julia Chartres on her return.
“I am certainly curious as well.”
Besides the descriptions in the original work, Erin knew nothing more about Julia Chartes.
So, she wanted to meet her in person at least once.
After finishing her replies, Erin got up from her seat.
“Mona, let’s go out.”
“Yes. Where are you going?” Mona hurriedly followed Erin and asked.
“I have an important place to be.”
There was determination in Erin’s face.
***
Erin had visited a famous dress shop in the capital. Mona quietly followed behind her, wondering if this was the sort of grand place she should be visiting.
“Welcome, you are the Duchess of Lienster, aren’t you?” the lady recognized her and greeted her with a flushed face. “I would like to order a dress,” Erin replied.
“Of course. Please have a seat here. Just let us know the style you desire,” the lady enthusiastically guided her, her mouth curved in a welcoming smile.
Erin was the most highly esteemed guest in all the shops in the capital. The mere act of creating a dress for her elevated the status of the dress shop.
The more often she visited, the more the lady made every effort not to miss her.
“Do you have any particular style in mind?” the lady asked, already recalling dress sketches she had specially prepared for her. Considering recent trends and the weather, she was about to recommend a few of the most suitable dresses.
“Something expensive, flashy, and pretty,” Erin replied.
Erin looked directly into the lady’s eyes and answered each question firmly. She was very serious.
“Ah… a different style than usual?” the lady asked, momentarily flustered.
“Yep. I have a reason to make a statement this time. I want a dress that will leave everyone speechless,” Erin emphasized her desire.
Startled by the unexpected request, the lady widened her eyes and then smiled brightly. “Hoho. Just trust me. I will make you the center of the world,” she assured.
“Okay. I trust you with it,” Erin replied.
“Yes, leave it to me,” the lady affirmed.
Erin raised one corner of her mouth in a smirk. Her reason for wanting a noticeably extravagant dress was simple – she didn’t want to be outshone by Julia Charte.
Even if it was superficial, it was instinctual not to want to lose to Julia.
In the original, descriptions of Julia’s beauty went beyond praise to liken her to a goddess.
The frequent mention of her beauty gave a formidable presence, even though Erin had never seen her.
So she had an increasing desire not to be outshone even before meeting. She wanted Aiden to look at her and her alone at the ballroom.
It was when she returned from the dressing room with Mona, who was helping her change into her outdoor clothes. With a sly smirk, Mona asked, “You’re trying to impress the Duke, aren’t you?”
“What?” Erin asked, taken aback.
Mona squinted as if she knew everything, and said, “Lately, everyone working at the mansion knows there’s something special between you two. How much does he mean to you that you’re putting effort into a dress that you normally wouldn’t bother with?”
Mona teased Erin with a mischievous look. In truth, Mona was half right and half wrong in her assumptions. However, Erin didn’t feel the need to explain. She found the idea that the employees, including Mona, thought this way not entirely unfavorable.
***
Despite thinking she had made thorough preparations, Erin’s concerns multiplied the moment she saw Aiden’s face at dinner.
For a brief moment, Erin hesitated. “What should I do about Aiden?”
Every time they attended parties, gatherings, or social events, Erin had always paid attention to Aiden’s attire.
She enjoyed dressing him up herself, and Aiden liked the attention she gave him during those moments. But this time was different.
She didn’t want to make an effort to dress up Aiden.
“What if Julia Charte takes a liking to him at first sight because of my efforts? Even though he always looks so dashing, seeing Aiden in formal attire still dazzled her to the point where she hadn’t fully adapted. No matter how well Erin watched over him, Julia Charte taking a liking to Aiden at first sight was an unavoidable problem.”
Erin was in distress.
This time, should she make Aiden look a little less extraordinary?
How could he not look extraordinary no matter what he wore?
“What kind of clothes does Aiden like the most?”
Erin looked at Aiden intently and asked, wanting to gauge his reaction.
“If it’s what Erin likes, then I like everything,” Aiden responded without hesitation.
“Then how about your hair? Do you prefer the natural style with the front hair down or the neat style brushed back?” Erin inquired.
“What do you like best, Erin? That’s the style I like the most,” Aiden replied.
Lost in thought, Erin reached out her hand.
As Aiden’s hair slipped through her fingers, her eyes flickered for a moment.
Erin brushed Aiden’s hair from left to right, creating a 2:8 parting.
“Ah…” she felt like sighing.
Why does he still look so handsome? With a hope that Aiden’s looks wouldn’t only be obscured in Erin’s eyes, she spoke, “Even if it’s beautiful in my eyes, it might seem strange to others, right?”
Aiden tilted his head.
“That doesn’t matter,” Aiden said firmly.
His expression showed that he didn’t care about what others thought.
“The appearance Erin likes the most is the style I like the most,” Aiden was sincere.
Always exceeding Erin’s expectations, he also said the words she most wanted to hear.
“Ah, really…” Blinded by Aiden’s answer, Erin felt both satisfaction and a sharper pang of conscience.
***
Over the course of several days of indecision, Erin finally made up her mind.
In the end, she yielded to her own desires.
After all, what Aiden wanted was the appearance Erin liked the most.
And today, she wanted to see Aiden, who usually shone brightly, a little less radiant and somewhat plain. Still, she didn’t go overboard.
‘No matter what I do, Aiden won’t become unattractive.’ Yet, there was a fleeting temptation to give Aiden a 2:8 parting in his hair.
However, the trap was that Aiden would still look handsome even with a 1:9 parting.
Erin settled for a somewhat plain and subdued look.
‘Even like this, he still looks cool.’
She couldn’t draw on his face; she had to endure to this extent.
She worried that Aiden might find it strange, but he was only interested in Erin’s appearance.
He didn’t notice any difference in his own attire. However, that didn’t mean that nobody noticed the change.
The employees immediately noticed Aiden’s different appearance, but their quick wit prevented them from mentioning the change.
Nevertheless, a few of them couldn’t help but make eye contact with Erin.
In response, Erin flashed a meaningful smile at those employees and placed her index finger on her lips.
