The difference between Claire’s idea of ‘simple’ and Lizelle’s were entirely different.
The dress sketched on paper was a form-fitting, elegant design, but the problem lay in the back… It was completely open.
Lizelle couldn’t help but wonder if it was even appropriate to wear such a dress like that here.
“Is it too plain?”
“No!”
Lizelle quickly put the sketch down.
She didn’t like any of the sketches Claire prepared.
Every single one of them was so exposed that it made her uncomfortable…
Noticing Lizelle’s expression, Claire stroked her chin thoughtfully before speaking.
“Hmm. Then, shall we try on a few of the dresses I brought?”
“Yes, that sounds like a good idea.”
“Wonderful!”
Claire clapped her hands twice in an exaggerated manner, a wide smile on her face.
At that signal, the drawing room door opened, and a parade of garment racks began to enter.
Lizelle was stunned, her eyes wide in disbelief.
“…You said a few dresses.”
She took a step back, alarmed. Clearly, their definitions of ‘a few’ were also entirely different.
“Oh, it’s not many. Around fifty? And these are the ones I carefully selected, hohoho.”
Claire laughed joyfully as she directed the staff who were wheeling in the racks.
The racks kept coming, one after another.
The procession finally stopped after seven were brought in.
The room was now entirely filled with dresses.
“Let’s start with this one.”
Claire said, pointing to a voluminous bell-line dress. Thus began Lizelle’s ordeal of trying on a total of twenty dresses.
“I can’t do this anymore…”
Lizelle collapsed onto the sofa, utterly exhausted.
Trying on wedding dresses was far more labor-intensive than she imagined.
Unlike ordinary dresses, wedding gowns required significant effort to put on and take off, with each one taking over twenty minutes.
While Lizelle was visibly drained after hours of changing, Claire’s face was glowing.
Her energy was overflowing as if it had just begun.
“Hmm. Out of the dresses you’ve tried so far, I think the one that shows off your shoulders suits you best. What do you think?”
“Yes, yes! I’ll go with that one! I like it too!”
Desperate to avoid trying on any more dresses, Lizelle nodded quickly in agreement.
If she had to try on another dress, they would probably have to bury her in it.
“But there’s something missing… Why don’t we try just the dresses on this rack?”
Claire gestured toward a rack that had noticeably more dresses than the others.
Even at a glance, it held at least ten dresses.
No, no! If she had to try all those on, she’d die before she even made it to the altar!
Lizelle shot up and cried out dramatically.
“Claire! I trust your judgment! With your elegance and amazing skill, I know you’ll make me the most beautiful bride!”
“Oh my! Lady, you’re finally recognizing my talent. Hohoho!”
“Of course! So, I’m confident you’ll do an excellent job without me having to try on any more dresses, right?”
“You’re leaving it to me?”
Claire smiled slyly at Lizelle’s declaration.
Although that smile sent chills down her spine, Lizelle vigorously nodded, determined not to try on another dress.
“Yes. Please make it… simple.”
“Simple. Got it. Don’t worry, my lady. You’ll be the most beautiful bride in the world. Hohoho.”
Satisfied, Claire clapped her hands twice again.
Then, the staff came and took the hangers out.
Though Lizelle felt as if she had somehow been tricked, she brushed it off, relieved that the fitting process was finally over.
The process, which started late in the morning, didn’t end until early evening, but unlike Lizelle, who was exhausted, Claire was still in good spirits.
After, the two had teatime and talked.
It was a relaxing moment that took half a day to obtain.
“My lady, I hear you’ll be attending a birthday banquet in a few days? Shall I help you select a dress for that as well?”
Her eyes were sparkling with excitement, as if she found a new toy to play with.
“Thank you for the offer, but I already have a dress in mind.”
Lizelle quickly declined.
In truth, she hadn’t even begun to think about what she was going to wear. However, based on today’s experience, she knew agreeing to Claire’s proposal would mean another ordeal that might not end until midnight.
“Ah, what a shame. Hohoho.”
“By the way, what’s trending these days? I’d like to prepare a small gift for the banquet, but I’m not sure what’s popular.”
Lizelle, who was slowly regaining her energy, asked Claire.
Since she couldn’t go to a birthday banquet empty-handed, she thought about preparing a small gift.
However, having sold off all her luxurious items long ago and not having gone shopping recently, she was struggling to pick something suitable.
“What’s trending… How about this?”
Claire snapped her fingers.
The door opened once again. This time, one of the staff entered carrying a small box.
Lizelle flinched at the sight of the staff, memories of her earlier ordeal flashing back.
Shivering slightly, she watched as Claire took the box from the staff and opened it.
“The young lady Selena is coming of age, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then this would be perfect.”
From the box, Claire took out a brooch shaped like a rose.
Aside from a single ruby set at the center of the rose, it wasn’t particularly extravagant, but it held a certain significance.
There was a tradition of gifting roses to women on their coming-of-age day.
“It’s beautiful.”
“She’ll love it, I guarantee it.”
Claire confidently placed the brooch into a small box handed to her by the staff and gave it to Lizelle.
“How would you like me to pay?”
“Oh my, Lady, what an unnecessary thing to ask. This is my gift to you.”
“What? But…”
“This much is just a service for my top client. Hohoho.”
Claire smiled elegantly, covering her mouth with her fan.
Claire was already a well-known designer.
But if it was made known that she designed attire for the Halos family, her value would more than double.
“Well then, my lady, I’ll take my leave. Just trust me, I will make you the most beautiful and radiant bride in the world. Hohoho.”
Claire’s signature laughter echoed as she left the estate.
That evening.
Claire visited Chase.
She had to take measurements for his tuxedo and settle the payment for Lizelle’s dress.
“This is the design I’ve proposed for the dress. Once you set a budget, I’ll adjust the detailing and embellishments accordingly.”
Unlike her lively demeanor at the baron’s residence, Claire’s tone was subdued and professional.
She couldn’t afford to behave frivolously in front of Chase Halos, the sole duke of the empire.
Known for being cold and merciless, one wrong move could result in her losing her life.
“Budget?”
Chase’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Yes. Most dresses are designed within the budget set by the client…”
Claire broke into a nervous sweat, wondering if she’d made a mistake.
“There’s no such thing.”
“Pardon? Then…?”
“There’s no limit. Create whatever my bride desires.”
“…Understood.”
Though Claire was surprised by the phrase ‘my bride’, she maintained her composure.
She just smiled as usual.
And some time later, when Lizelle received the dress, her jaw dropped.
The moment she saw it, she immediately understood Claire’s promise to make her the most radiant bride in the world.
The off-shoulder, form-fitting mermaid-style wedding dress was simple yet elegant.
However, the bust line was adorned with dozens of pearls and rubies, and the dress itself was studded with pink diamonds throughout.
Even if she roughly counted them, there seemed to be hundreds.
It was literally the most sparkly dress in the world.
* * *
A few days later.
Lizelle, who was more concerned about her makeup and clothes than usual, descended the stairs of the mansion.
“Good afternoon.”
“Good afternoon, my lady.”
As always, she greeted the knight guarding the mansion.
Lizelle had grown accustomed to the knights of Halos guarding the baron’s residence.
Fortunately, there had been no incidents since that day, but the knights would continue to stand watch for the time being, just in case.
Today was the birthday banquet of Count Humphrey’s daughter, the event Chase invited her to attend with him.
Hearing that the Halos carriage arrived, Lizelle stepped outside.
“My lady.”
“You’re here?”
Spotting Chase standing by the carriage, she walked toward him.
