Chapter 8
“Wow, Madam, you look absolutely beautiful!”
“So stunning!”
The maids, led by Olivier, gasped in admiration as they looked at me.
“Thank you, everyone.”
Even though I knew it was just a customary compliment, it made me feel good, and I burst into a cheerful laugh.
“As expected from Baron Lumière. There’s definitely something special about a famous designer. I never imagined it would turn out this beautiful.”
When I lightly turned my body to the right, the pink dress fluttered like petals in the breeze.
The design was beautiful, but there was something else I liked even more.
The dress was so light that it was hard to believe it was made up of so many layers.
Usually, a dress with such multiple layers feels heavy due to the weight of the fabric, but this one was different. Saying it felt like I wasn’t wearing anything would be a lie, but it was light and comfortable enough that I could even run in it without much trouble.
I was admiring myself in the mirror in the dressing room when I heard a small knock.
Maid Jessie, with her usual attentiveness, went to the door.
After exchanging a few words with the person on the other side, Jessie quickly approached me.
“Madam, the Count is waiting for you.”
“Really?”
Though I wanted to admire the beautiful dress a bit longer, I couldn’t keep Richard waiting outside.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Yes, Madam.”
I suppressed my regret and left the dressing room.
There was no one outside the dressing room. It seemed Richard hadn’t come up to the dressing room door.
That was a relief.
Richard had been distant since the previous dinner, so I was actually relieved not to see him too early.
It was better to have a little time to prepare myself before facing him.
“Madam?”
Olivier called out to me, probably wondering why I was looking around the hallway.
I smiled at her and shook my head.
“Nothing.”
“Alright.”
I turned my body and started walking out of the mansion.
As I exited the front door and passed through the garden, a large carriage came into view.
Richard was standing beside the carriage, checking the pocket watch he carried in his vest.
“Have you been waiting long?”
I asked Richard first. He put away his pocket watch and looked up.
“No. You came out quickly.”
“Yes, I came out as soon as I was ready.”
Our conversation was awkward, like two acquaintances who hadn’t seen each other in a while.
He seemed to notice this and turned his gaze away.
Just then, a servant opened the carriage door and lowered the step.
Richard got into the carriage first, and it was my turn.
As I was about to get in, carefully holding my skirt, Richard, already inside, extended his hand to me.
“Hold on and get in.”
It was an unexpected kindness.
I was so surprised that I stared at his hand for a moment.
Based on what I had seen of him so far, I thought he would just get in and sit down, but he did show some kindness.
“Are you not going to get in?”
Seeing me just staring at his hand, Richard urged.
“No, I’m getting in.”
I finally snapped out of it and took his hand.
Due to his long training in swordsmanship, Richard’s hand was large, rough, and calloused.
However, his touch was not as rough as his hands.
With his help, I got into the carriage and sat down facing forward. Richard sat opposite me. Sitting face-to-face felt a bit awkward, but I didn’t show it.
“Then I’ll close the door.”
One of the servants said and closed the carriage door.
“Let’s go.”
Richard immediately opened the small window to the coachman’s seat and gave the order.
Soon after, the sharp sound of the whip echoed, and the carriage started moving.
The silence that followed was as heavy as a stone.
“…Are you uncomfortable?”
Unable to bear the silence, I asked Richard.
He had his arms crossed and his eyes closed, but he opened them to look at me.
“What do you mean?”
“Your seat. You’re facing backward. Sitting like that can cause motion sickness.”
“I’m fine.”
Seeing Richard genuinely unbothered, I nodded.
“Well, if you say so.”
“How’s your anemia?”
“Oh.”
His question made me laugh unexpectedly.
I quickly returned my expression to normal, but I couldn’t undo the fact that I had laughed.
“Why are you laughing?”
Richard frowned.
I had a feeling I knew what was bothering him.
“It’s just, I’m thankful you thought of me.”
“…….”
Richard remembered that I had lied about having anemia and had ordered the chef to prepare foods good for anemia at least once a day. At first, I didn’t notice the change, but the chef later confessed while making my snack.
“Thank you for looking out for me.”
“Well, I am your husband, after all. It’s the least I can do.”
Richard grumbled, looking a bit awkward and unable to meet my eyes, which made me chuckle quietly.
Richard, embarrassed by my laughter, cleared his throat.
“The dress you’re wearing today suits you well.”
Then he shifted his gaze to the window, pretending to look outside.
They say even a whale will dance if praised, and hearing Richard’s compliment made me smile automatically.
“Of course. It’s the only dress designed specifically for me by Baron Lumière.”
“No wonder a bill arrived from Baron Lumiere. It was for your dress, Diarna.”
“…Was it expensive?”
“Well, more than usual.”
“Oh…”
When I ordered the dress, I didn’t think much of it since Richard would be paying, but now I felt a bit awkward. All the paperwork passed through his secretary and required Richard’s approval.
Hearing it was expensive, I regretted not asking for something cheaper.
“Don’t worry about it. If you want, you can have Baron Lumière make as many outfits as you like.”
“Really? Is that okay?”
Of course, I didn’t plan on buying so many clothes that I would drain Richard’s finances, but I asked just to be sure.
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
Although I was the Countess of Theodore, I had no rights to his wealth.
“I was just confirming.”
Realizing that, I felt a little greedy. Maybe I could ask for more later on.
Feeling satisfied with my thoughts, I lifted my head.
And my eyes met Richard’s, who had been watching me.
“If you have other expenses, tell the head maid. As long as it’s not for gambling, you can use it as your allowance, Diarna.”
It was a question I hadn’t had the chance to ask before, so I was relieved to have it answered during the carriage ride today.
Richard was more awkward than I expected, but he did make an effort to take care of me.
After that, we spent the time chatting or reading books.
A couple of hours later, we finally arrived at the capital.
The carriage entered the city through the city walls.
Richard seemed to be deep in thought.
I put the book I was holding aside and waited for the carriage to stop.
The carriage slowly came to a halt.
“We’ve arrived.”
Amid the sound of the horses stamping, the coachman’s voice was heard.
The carriage door was opened by a footman who had been waiting outside.
Richard got out first and offered his hand to help me out once again.
Carefully, I stepped out of the carriage, making sure not to step on my skirt.
Richard then guided my hand onto his arm in an escorting manner.
“Shall we?”
“Yes.”
Richard escorted me.
* * *
“Shall I announce your arrival?”
As we arrived at the entrance of the ballroom, the footman at the door asked with a pleasant smile.
“Go ahead.”
Richard gave his permission, and the footman blew an ivory trumpet.
The long, resonant tone of the trumpet sounded.
“Announcing Count Richard Theodore! Announcing Countess Diarna Theodore!”
Following this, the footman loudly proclaimed.
Richard, familiar with this, escorted me into the ballroom.
Due to the footman’s announcement, all eyes turned toward us.
This was precisely why I rarely attended balls.
The uncomfortable attention always focused on us.
Though it only lasted for a brief moment, it was never a pleasant feeling.
As Richard and I walked into the ballroom despite the murmurs around us, most people lost interest, while others approached with smiles, eager to build connections with the influential Richard.
Standing by Richard’s side, I received their greetings and congratulations that weren’t really congratulations.
As Richard’s wife, I greeted those who approached him.
Since I was a noblewoman before becoming the Countess of Theodore, I wasn’t unfamiliar with most of them.
I thought it would be a dull affair of endless greetings until it was time to leave.
However, something unexpected happened.
With a resounding trumpet blast, someone I had not anticipated appeared in the ballroom.
“Announcing Lady Eilen Heinz!”
It was Eilen Heinz, the protagonist of this world, who made her entrance at the ball.
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