Chapter 087. What are you doing, not holding on?
After Robin left the guest room, Deborah soon followed behind him.
Ten minutes had unknowingly flown by while having a conversation she never expected.
What on earth was going on that he had Robin summon her to the inner courtyard? Anxiety made her steps quicken without realizing it.
The moment she finally arrived at the inner courtyard surrounding the mansion’s exterior, Deborah began quickly scanning her surroundings.
Not long after, what entered her sight was a single black carriage.
With a hesitant heart, just as she was cautiously approaching, the carriage door opened, and the man she had been looking for stepped out from inside.
Deborah quickly walked toward him.
“……You sent for me.”
Fearing someone might see, Deborah kept glancing around even while speaking.
At that wary appearance filled with caution, a light “pfft” laugh escaped the man’s lips.
“Get in for now.”
“…….”
Deborah stared blankly for a moment at the man’s face as he tilted his head toward the open door.
Then her gaze shifted again to the interior of the carriage he was pointing to.
After alternating between the two, her eyes finally settled, naturally, on the man’s face.
“Get…… in?”
The slight frown and repeated question meant she didn’t properly understand the current situation.
Well, suddenly calling her to the courtyard was already strange, and now telling her without any explanation to just get into the carriage—anyone would find it suspicious.
So she was asking for at least a brief explanation, but the man showed no intention of giving one.
“Just get in first. I’ll explain on the way.”
“…….”
At his repeated same words, Deborah eventually let out a long sigh.
Soon, as if resigned, Deborah approached the carriage.
Naturally intending to climb in herself, she lifted one foot onto the step—
At that moment, something was suddenly thrust toward her.
It was, well…… a hand.
“…….”
Deborah stared down for a moment at the man’s hand extended toward her.
It was her first time experiencing this, so her mind went completely blank on how to react.
“What are you doing, not holding on.”
“…….”
Even at his gentle urging, Deborah couldn’t readily extend her hand.
It was true that the man’s behavior—acting as though escorting a lady—felt awkward and flustering, but more than that…… she was embarrassed to show her rough, battered hands in front of him.
In front of someone who had only ever seen delicate, smooth hands, she didn’t want to reveal hands like these.
That was a separate emotion, distinct from the feelings of the night.
So the man calmly waited for the hesitating Deborah without rushing her.
Even though his arm must be getting stiff from holding that posture.
In the end, the one who lost again was Deborah.
Raising one hand, Deborah carefully placed only the tips of her fingers on his, and the man gently held her hand, helping her climb into the carriage.
A graceful and courteous escort, exactly as one would treat a lady.
Unknowingly, a ticklish feeling stirred at the tip of her heart.
“Let’s depart.”
Having already taken the front seat, he knocked on the front of the carriage to signal departure.
Slowly, the carriage carrying the two began leisurely leaving Elpengreen.
* * *
A narrow alley inside Charlotte Square.
The “Mariella Bell’s Boutique” visible between cream-colored stone buildings was a place so famous that no one in the upper class of the capital Denberr would be unaware of it.
Every shop lining this alley was a high-end boutique frequented by the upper class, but the reason “Mariella Bell’s Boutique”—or simply “Mariella Boutique”—was the most renowned was something else entirely.
Unique and creative designs that led the trends.
Every captivatingly beautiful dress was meticulously crafted in every detail, from design to sewing, passing only through Madame Mariella’s own hands.
As a result, the problem was that supply couldn’t keep up with the overwhelming demand.
Because making a single dress took far too long, the number of orders she could accept was limited, which was a huge blow for any merchant.
Yet ironically, once that fact became known, a very peculiar situation arose.
“A premium created by scarcity.”
As everyone competed fiercely to secure her dresses first, at some point “Mariella Boutique” became a place where only royalty or extremely wealthy nobles could even set foot.
For that reason, Madame Mariella no longer felt nervous in front of most people.
Just a few days ago, she had personally visited the palace at the princess’s summons.
Having been in close audience with the kingdom’s most noble person, who could possibly be more intimidating than that—
Yet even she, today of all days, could not find any calm.
And for good reason.
It was none other than “Raymond von Cheister.”
The Duke of Cheister, whom all her regular lady customers praised in unison.
The fact that the Duke of Chaser himself was visiting the boutique made it only natural to feel nervous.
‘What on earth could the Duke of Cheister be coming here for…….’
At first she thought he might be accompanying one of her clients, the young lady of Cheister, but the message delivered was far too strange for that.
Close the boutique for the entire day tomorrow, and clear out everyone except a few tight-lipped staff.
Every single request was suspicious.
Well, she couldn’t possibly refuse the Duke of Cheister’s demands, but even if she could, she probably wouldn’t have followed through anyway.
The “compensation” the duke had offered was an astronomical sum that made her eyes spin.
Recalling that amount while lost in various speculations, the corners of Madame Mariella’s mouth naturally curled upward.
Well, whatever the reason, did it really matter?
All she had to do today was lavishly entertain a precious guest who would enormously fatten her own purse.
Everything else was unimportant—just close her eyes, block her ears, and stop thinking.
The moment her resolve wavered was exactly three hours later.
* * *
Stepping down from the carriage, Deborah kept looking around the unfamiliar street she was seeing for the first time.
-……Where are we going right now?
-You’ll know when we get there.
His promise to explain on the way had been a complete lie.
Throughout the entire ride, the only words Deborah heard from him were just that.
After traveling for a long while in silence, they arrived at a completely unfamiliar place.
She didn’t know exactly where this was, but there was one thing she could tell from the atmosphere.
That this was not a place someone like her belonged.
Luxurious stone buildings that were obviously high-end at a glance.
Rare jewels and gorgeous garments faintly visible through the windows.
She couldn’t understand at all why he had brought her to what was clearly an upscale shopping district for the upper class.
“Let’s go.”
The man, having walked around the carriage, took a large step forward.
“…….”
Deborah quickly read the sign of the building where the carriage had precisely stopped.
‘Mariella Bell’s Boutique’
……A boutique? Isn’t a boutique a place that deals in dresses for ladies and noblewomen? Why such a place…….
Her thoughts grew even more confused, so she remained rooted to the spot.
The man walking ahead glanced back.
“What are you doing, not coming quickly.”
“…….”
Deborah blankly stared, as if entranced, for a moment at the man’s handsome face turned toward her.
Only then did she realize that this was the first time the two of them were together somewhere other than the mansion.
A strange fluttering sensation in her chest.
Finally, Deborah began taking a step toward him.
Opening the mahogany door and stepping inside, a gorgeous and spacious parlor came into view first.
The moment the faint scent of rosewater floating in the air reached the tip of her nose, someone’s voice rang out.
“Welcome. I’ve been waiting.”
A slightly high-pitched voice.
Deborah, who had been constantly looking around the interior, naturally turned her gaze forward.
The woman, elegantly dressed in a white dress, appeared perhaps ten years older than Deborah?
At a glance, her refined and stylish appearance made it vaguely clear that she was the owner of this boutique.
The woman who had been warmly greeting the entering man suddenly flicked her gaze toward Deborah following behind.
A momentary widening of eyes.
The woman who had been looking at Deborah dressed in maid uniform with puzzlement quickly glanced further behind her.
As if searching for someone else who might be following.
Realizing there was no one, her confusion seemed to deepen for a moment, but it lasted only briefly.
Soon she had returned to her usual gentle smile.
“May I ask whose dress it is for…….”
Madame Mariella smiled brightly at Raymond, who was quietly surveying the parlor.
Little did she imagine that the smile on her face would vanish in an instant not long afterward—
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