“It has nothing to do with me, because I’m not going to make my debut in society, and I’m not going to marry a nobleman.”
“Why…?”
“Because making my social debut would be like putting myself on the marriage market as a commodity, and I’m a flawed commodity to begin with. Even Newt will probably try to sell me as a second wife to an older man.”
Elaine thought back to Rubaine, who had tried to do it twice. Now that she thought about it, she didn’t understand why Lark had objected to it back then.
“If the future is one where I am sold to give birth to a child of a noble, I will refuse it. I would rather live alone.”
“Are you thinking of not getting married, or rather, not getting married at all?”
“If I don’t find the right person, I might live alone. It might be different if I fall in a fateful love.”
Elaine thought it would be nice to live in the countryside with Rabes, but Sergey took her words to mean something else.
‘Fated love? What am I supposed to do about that? No, whatever it is, I know I’m going to have to help her make her social debut or get married.’
Elaine’s statement that Lancer would have needed human affection was so shocking to Sergey that he was determined to give it to her somehow.
A faint suspicion that the things he couldn’t do for Lancer were the reason Lancer betrayed him, and a fear that Lancer who had been with him might have been unhappy drove Sergey to do that.
“Don’t worry, Elaine. You will definitely meet your destined love and live happily ever after.”
“Is that really so? Anyway, right now, enjoying the present happiness is more important.”
“Are you happy?”
“Of course! Thank you, Sergey. It’s all thanks to you.”
A proud smile spread across Sergey’s lips as he watched Elaine’s expression light up with joy.
* * *
And then, a few days later, Elaine received some shocking news.
“He said the staff from the clothes shop will come tomorrow to get your dress fitted, but you’re saying you haven’t heard anything about it either?”
“Yeah. This is the first time I’ve heard of it.”
Emily told Elaine what she had heard from Hubert that morning, but only after Elaine asked her several times, did Emily realize that it was news that she had no idea about.
“I’ll go ask the butler again.”
“Yeah. I think Emily misheard something. And what business do I have fitting the dress?”
Elaine couldn’t understand how a woman who lived at Count Lindell’s and was doing prayers every day would ever need to have a new dress fitted.
It sounded like something Count Lindell would pay for.
But Hubert’s answer did not change.
“You heard right, Emily. The staff from the clothes shop will come tomorrow to get Miss Elaine some dresses.”
“But Miss Elaine, she doesn’t know anything.”
“Huh? Are you saying that Master Sergey didn’t say anything?”
“I think so.”
Hubert put his hand to his forehead, let out a long sigh, and went to find Elaine with Emily.
“I guess the Master is so busy that he forgot to tell Miss Elaine. However, you don’t need to prepare anything, so if the staff of the clothes shop comes tomorrow, just choose a dress design you like and get measured.”
“But why? I don’t have to wear a dress.…”
“You didn’t even hear the reason why you had to wear a dress. Hahah…”
Hubert was stunned at his master’s indifference.
Sergey seemed to know everything, but he often missed the details, and it was Hubert who had to clean up the mess, but that didn’t mean anyone appreciated his efforts.
‘But what can I do?’
Hubert has always been in that position.
“You will have to make your social debut soon, Miss Elaine.”
“Yes? Me?”
Elaine asked, her bunny eyes widening.
“I–I don’t intend to make my debut. Oh, did Count Newt ask you to prepare me for my social debut?”
“No, Miss Elaine, you are making your debut in society as Master Sergey’s partner.”
“What?”
Elaine’s eyes grew bigger than before.
Before her eyes could pop out, Hubert continued speaking urgently.
“Our young master has also been busy since returning to his country, so he has not been able to make his official debut in the social circles of the Calais Empire. This is his first time attending an imperial banquet.”
“I see….”
“It would be ideal if he attended with the Count and Countess, but since that is not possible, he must bring a woman as his partner. However, the only young lady that the young master is close enough to invite as his partner is Miss Elaine.”
Elaine’s cheeks flushed at those words.
Hubert took the time to appeal to sympathy.
“As you know, my lady, the young master is very shy. If you do not accept him, he will probably skip this royal banquet, and Count Lindell and Countess, who are abroad, will also become more worried.”
“But if I become Sergey’s partner, people will laugh at Sergey and look down on him.”
“Ahem! The Count of Lindell is not a family that people can laugh at or look down on. And neither are you, young lady.”
Emily chimed in at Hubert’s words.
“That’s right! What’s wrong with you, Miss?”
“Yes. It is hard to find someone as beautiful, intelligent, and kind as you. And you are the only one who can handle the personality of Master Sergey.”
“That’s right, Miss Elaine! Only you can do that!”
Although Elaine was embarrassed by the two people’s enthusiastic reactions, she tilted her head because of another question.
“What is Sergey’s personality like? Sergey is kind and affectionate, right?”
“Yes?”
“Yes?”
Hubert and Emily’s faces instantly stiffened at Elaine’s remark.
But Elaine had no intention of taking back her words.
“I have never seen a man as affectionate as Sergey.”
“It’s because Miss Elaine hasn’t met many men.”
“Yes, that’s right—No, no, What am I saying now?”
Hubert quickly shut his mouth. For him, keeping Elaine by Sergey’s side was the only way to survive.
“Uh, anyway, Miss Elaine, would you like to be Master Sergey’s partner? I would like to ask you this.”
“I, I would be honored. If he doesn’t mind…”
“I’m sure Master Sergey is just waiting for the day when he can attend the party with you.”
Even though she thought Hubert’s words were a bit too much, Elaine ended up smiling shyly and nodding.
Today was another day for Hubert, as he was sweating it out cleaning up the aftermath of Sergey’s actions.
And the next day, just as Hubert had said, the clothes shop staff came to Count Lindell’s house.
“Nice to meet you. I am Merida Lemos, head designer at the clothes shop <Loragerie>. Please call me Merida.”
A stern-looking middle-aged woman introduced herself.
Elaine didn’t know her, but she had heard of Loragerie, the clothes shop Merida worked at a few times.
‘The price is very expensive, but even if you pay all that money, the shop won’t sell it to just anyone.…!’
In short, it was a prestigious clothing shop in the capital.
Elaine’s shoulders slumped involuntarily.
“Nice to meet you, Merida…I’m…My name is Elaine Newt.”
After revealing her name, Elaine swallowed nervously.
The shop did not make clothes for the lower-class government officials or nobles who were caught up in dirty scandals.
Elaine thought that in a clothes shop like that, there was no way that Merida wouldn’t know about her being called ‘Newt’s stain’, so she would probably make a displeased expression and turn around and leave.
However, Merida started working after receiving Elaine’s greeting without any change in expression.
“I would be happy to have a leisurely conversation and get to know your taste, young lady, but I am pressed for time due to a backlog of costume orders. Please forgive me for rushing.”
Contrary to her scary appearance, she treated Elaine with respect.
Elaine was a little flustered, but she sat down calmly and followed the instructions of Merida and the other costume shop staff.
She had only been dressed once before when she was at Newt, but the people at Loragerie seemed much more professional and friendly.
And since Elaine had never thought about a dress that would suit her, they patiently helped Elaine choose without getting annoyed even once when she hesitated indecisively.
“Miss Elaine is the type that can pull off a variety of looks, but I think you’d feel most comfortable in a dress like this, with all the cute details.”
“Since you debuted in society a bit late, this kind of mature atmosphere will suit you well. The design is simple, but the materials are luxurious.”
“How about this design? It’s a style that’s gaining popularity these days and I think it would suit you well, Miss Elaine.”
While not ignoring Elaine’s modest style of wearing a couple of sets of saints clothes and keeping her hair tied back or tied up in a ponytail, they recommended styles that they thought would suit Elaine.
At first, Elaine was unable to hide her awkward and embarrassed expression, but she gradually began to smile at their cheerful attitude and Emily’s supportive comments.
Then Elaine remembered a dress she had admired only once in her life.
* * *
