Theo forgot where he was going and returned to cling to the building. He cautiously peeked out from behind and glanced at the garden. He saw Charlotte talking and laughing with Luna.
“Phew…”
Thankfully, it didn’t seem like she was crying.
He trudged away again; his steps were heavy.
The mansion was too quiet and boring. The nanny was always busy, leaving him alone most of the time.
Cassius was usually too busy, and he rarely saw him except when he came to deliver breakfast. The other servants didn’t get close to him either.
Theo, with a face full of longing, glanced behind him.
“Is she really a witch?”
No matter how much he thought about it, she didn’t seem like one. Still, in Theo’s small, confined world, his nanny’s words held an absolute truth.
Back in his room, Theo grabbed a toy and played with it for a while, then collapsed on the floor.
“This is boring.”
Charlotte also played by herself every day.
Wouldn’t it be fun if they played together?
“No, no way!”
Theo stomped his feet in frustration.
“Get it together, Theo! You’re supposed to protect this mansion!”
But suddenly, he slumped. He remembered the gentle touch that would comfort him when he was lying down, the whispers that soothed him. “Let’s stop being sick now. You should have good dreams, Theo.”
It was the first time in his ten years of life that he felt so confused and uncertain.
Chouette Atelier.
Charlotte frequently used the services of this atelier, which had become her go-to for new clothes. When Madame Chouette arrived at the mansion, she ran into Cassius.
“Greetings, Your Grace.”
“Charlotte summoned you?”
“Yes, Your Grace. She mentioned wanting to order some new outfits,” The madame bowed with a surprised expression.
It was the first time that Cassius had spoken directly to her since Charlotte became the Duchess, despite her visiting the mansion several times before.
Doesn’t he usually show no interest in her at all?
Cassius couldn’t stop thinking about Charlotte. The supplements she had bought during her outing in the city, how Theo had thrown them on the floor. He couldn’t stop thinking about it. Also, the story about her wanting to sell her dresses because she was short on money.
He had instructed the butler to adjust her budget, but even so, she continued to bother him. Running a hand through his hair, Cassius sighed.
“Why does she keep throwing me off like this?”
Recently, Charlotte had been confusing him. She didn’t seem to want anything from him and acted as if she were dead. Moreover, she had been doing things she didn’t do before. It felt like Charlotte was putting on a performance against him.
He couldn’t help but recall her genuine concern for Theo.
I sincerely hope Theo gets better.
And perhaps because of her sincerity, Theo was growing healthier by the day. This was the proof that Charlotte wasn’t using any other tricks on Theo. So, this must be an appropriate price to pay. He spoke quietly.
“If the Duchess wants something, don’t worry about the cost. Just take care of it. And the money can be collected from the butler.”
Madame Chouette’s eyes widened in disbelief, as though a fortune had just been dropped in her lap. She swallowed hard and bowed deeply.
“I’ll serve her with utmost dedication!”
Cassius nodded and left the mansion. This should have cleared his head, yet Charlotte remained a shadow in his thoughts. He couldn’t forget the image of her holding onto Theo’s hand so desperately.
“Hah…”
Now she’s finding new ways to get under my mind, Cassius thought, clicking his tongue.
“Greetings, Duchess. I’m Chouette Mondemain, owner of Chouette Atelier. I grew up in a small village in the Lorraine Empire of the Western Continent, so my pronunciation in the common tongue may be a bit clumsy. I hope you’ll understand,” Chouette said nervously.
Over the last six months, none of her staff wanted to visit Charlotte after meeting her once. So, she came herself.
“She seems like a witch. How could she always find faults in everything? I was kicked out just because the color of the dress I was wearing was considered old-fashioned.”
“Oh my, she didn’t like my hairstyle either.”
“Goodness, she called me vulgar.”
The staff all shook their heads in unison. However, it was difficult to completely dismiss the Irthesia family. The Duke of Irthesia controlled the northern region, a powerful family that served as the sword and shield of the north.
The north shared a border with the territory of the Snow People, and there had been ongoing wars with them. Thus, Irthesia’s position was secure.
Irthesia had been producing swordmasters for generations, and the current Duke was the youngest swordmaster in history.
No matter how popular Chouette’s dresses were, she couldn’t afford to fall out of favor with Irthesia. That’s why she came in person.
The reason she had avoided coming herself until now was because she thought Charlotte, being sensitive, wouldn’t appreciate her imperfect pronunciation.
Chouette swallowed nervously as she bowed her head. Please, let everything go smoothly today…
Just as she squeezed her eyes shut, Charlotte’s soft voice reached her ears.
“Oh my, your pronunciation is better than mine.”
Was she mocking her?
Chouette quickly lifted her head, but Charlotte was smiling brightly. There was no sign of displeasure on her face.
Why…? Was she going to start yelling now? Chouette nervously clasped her hands together.
“Thank you, Duchess.”
“No, it’s me who should be thankful. You came all the way here.” Charlotte said, her tone as light as her smile.
Chouette blinked in confusion.
No matter how she looked at Charlotte, the rude and sensitive woman the staff had described did not seem to be here. Charlotte’s smiling face looked as though sunlight was shining upon it, and her clothes were neat and modest.
Moreover, contrary to the rumors of her wearing extravagant and harsh makeup, Charlotte had a gentle, simple appearance.
It seemed that the rumors were wrong.
‘There must have been some exaggeration,’ Chouette concluded in her mind.
“However, before we begin with the dresses, there’s something I would like to ask.”
“Please, feel free to speak, Duchess.”
Chouette said with a nervous expression.
Charlotte wanted to make a request? A request? Her knees suddenly went weak, and her face turned pale.
If Charlotte truly wanted something, she could take even Chouette’s life.
“I want to dispose of all the dresses I currently own, Chouette.”
“…All of them?”
“Yes.”
“W-why…?”
“I don’t think I’ll wear them anymore. I want to get rid of the jewels attached to them too, and I’d like you to handle it.”
Chouette’s lips parted in shock.
‘As expected!’
Charlotte was indeed a terrifying person. Cold sweat trickled down her back. Most of the dresses Charlotte was currently wearing had been made by Chouette. To sell them all meant that Charlotte was indirectly expressing her dissatisfaction with the dresses Chouette had made for her.
When Chouette squeezed her eyes shut, the world seemed to spin before her.
“…Are you sure you want to sell all of them?”
“I’ll keep a few casual ones, but yes, everything else.”
“Y-yes! I can do that!”
Chouette answered with a trembling voice. How could she refuse?
She swallowed hard.
‘And now… she’s speaking so politely to me…!’
The realization made Chouette’s skin crawl. How angry must she have been to speak like that?
Sweat gathered in her palms as Chouette gripped the hem of her dress tightly. It felt as though her breath was being caught in her throat.
“And I’d like new dresses made as well. Something that doesn’t lower the status of the Duke’s family, but isn’t too extravagant either.”
Charlotte’s words sounded to Chouette like, “I’m giving you one last chance.”
