4
“What did you say?”
“Anyway, neither of us intends to buy it first, right? Stop bothering the employee for no reason and either buy something else or just leave.”
To anyone else listening, it might have sounded quite cold.
But to the employee, those words were nothing short of salvation.
Nanael’s tyranny on the shopping street was already infamous.
On top of that, her reputation had grown even worse lately, with rumors that the princess caused chaos wherever she went.
Honestly, the employee had been terrified the moment they saw her.
So when Duke Ainluk stepped in personally, they were so grateful that tears of emotion nearly streamed down their face.
“This one seems better. Has anyone bought this before?”
Alferen pointed vaguely at an item in the pamphlet and asked.
The employee quickly shook their head.
“No! No one has bought it yet!”
“Then we’ll take this one. Bill it to the Ainluk family.”
“Duke! What are you doing right now…!”
As Nanael tried to protest, Alferen muttered coldly.
“You only brought me along for show anyway, so isn’t this enough?”
“But…!”
“It means I’ve already exceeded the time I can spare for Your Highness.”
Nanael flinched at his response, which seemed to have reached the limit of his patience.
Not only was he being cold to his fiancée, but he was even exuding a murderous aura.
That icy reaction bruised Nanael’s pride.
She knew full well that their engagement was merely formal and that Alferen had no affection for her.
If it weren’t for the holy water, they would have broken it off long ago.
She had things she wanted from him, so she couldn’t grovel completely, but his stiff-necked attitude still made her uncomfortable.
It was a reaction possible only because he was from one of the four great ducal families.
Even with hostages involved, he was someone the imperial family couldn’t touch recklessly, so Nanael swallowed her anger inwardly.
“I was thinking of picking that one anyway. You really know my taste well.”
Nanael smiled brightly, and the employee swiftly packed the shawl.
“Thanks for joining me even though you’re busy. I’ll head out first. I have some other things I want to browse in different stores.”
Nanael handed the shopping bag to her maid and left the store.
Alferen had been unceremoniously abandoned, but he didn’t mind.
Only after confirming that Nanael had completely left the floor did he tap on the curtain.
He tried to pull it aside, but it wouldn’t budge.
Smiling at this, he whispered softly.
“You can come out now, Deli.”
Then Rodellia asked quietly.
“What about the princess? Is she gone?”
“Yeah. She’s gone.”
“For real?”
“Yes. For real.”
After repeated confirmations, Rodellia gently drew back the curtain and poked just her head out.
She glanced left and right, then let out a sigh of relief as she escaped the fitting room.
“I’m not going to say thanks. I almost got into big trouble.”
Rodellia shot him a light glare and muttered under her breath while straightening her wrinkled clothes.
She must have been quite startled, as her face was flushed red.
Seeing this, Alferen twitched his hand slightly.
Then he asked casually.
“You didn’t do that on purpose, did you?”
“Do what?”
“The shawl. The third princess was trying to buy that one earlier too.”
Alferen nodded toward the shopping bag.
Rodellia jumped, stung by the direct hit.
“Wh-what kind of nonsense is that? I’m not some mind reader—how could I pick the shawl the princess was going to choose first!”
Rodellia rambled on with excuses.
“I’ve been waiting for this one for real. The moment I saw it, I knew it was mine. Look, it’s totally me.”
She even went so far as to pull out the shawl and drape it around herself, her over-the-top actions practically screaming that she was guilty.
‘What on earth is she thinking? I want to peek inside that adorable head of hers.’
Alferen shrugged his shoulders slightly, barely holding back his laughter.
The employee had clearly said that Lady Ferris had ordered it without even looking at the pamphlet.
What would happen if he pointed that out here?
Just imagining it was amusing, but it seemed like it might overload Rodellia.
The way she rolled her eyes around while making excuses was just too cute.
He considered teasing her a bit more, but on the off chance the third princess came back.
It felt like he should send Rodellia off safely at this point.
“Yeah. It must just be a coincidence.”
“Exactly. That’s what I’m saying!”
Rodellia huffed as she stuffed the shawl back into the shopping bag.
Alferen smiled leisurely and held out his hand.
“I’ll escort you.”
“Don’t you have training to go to?”
“It should be over by now.”
When Alferen skillfully told his little white lie, the naive Rodellia instantly believed him and grabbed his hand.
“I was just about to go alone anyway—my legs are starting to give out.”
“You’re scared, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m not!”
Rodellia pouted her lips and tugged at his arm.
Helplessly dragged along, Alferen let out a soft chuckle.
She’s just so cute, no matter what.
* * *
The long-awaited day of my debutante had finally arrived.
The look I’d put together in the villainess’s taste was the epitome of extravagance.
It felt awkward, since it was miles away from my usual preference for clean, simple designs.
“Is this a bit over the top?”
“Over the top? Not at all. It suits you perfectly! May’s been dreaming of a day like this forever!”
My close attendant, the maid May, snorted emphatically and launched into a passionate rant.
“Honestly, miss, you’re way too frugal! Ladies from other houses won’t even wear a dress twice, but you? You wear the same ones over and over again.”
“Comfort is king.”
“Anyway, May’s always been disappointed that she couldn’t play dress-up with you like a doll.”
“Don’t people usually keep thoughts like that to themselves, May?”
“Fine, pretend I said it in my head, then!”
May declared boldly as she added more lip gloss to my lips.
May had been by my side since we were children, more like a friend than anything else.
That’s why she treated me so casually, without any barriers.
She had her quirky sides now and then, but she was a joy to have around.
As soon as the finishing touches were done, there was a knock—Adrian.
“Oh, wow, heavens! Who is this? Has an angel come down to earth? Wait, no—of course, our Delly’s been an angel all along!”
Adrian poured out compliments the moment he saw me, and the butler chimed in right away.
“You’re absolutely right. You look stunning, Miss Rodellia. To think you’ve grown up so beautifully…”
When he went so far as to dab at his eyes with a handkerchief, I felt awkward.
“Everyone, enough already. If anyone overhears, they’ll start badmouthing me!”
“If anyone dares badmouth Delly, they’ll meet their end by my hand, every last one.”
Adrian responded with an icy edge, and the butler backed him up.
“Leave the cleanup to me. I’ll handle it so quietly, not even a mouse or bird will notice.”
“This won’t do. You’re too pretty. At this rate, every weirdo there will have their eyes glued to Delly. Good thing I came prepared for this.”
Adrian rummaged around and pulled out some utterly ridiculous hat.
The wide-brimmed thing, crammed with tiny flowers all over, had a design that rivaled the tackiness of baggy work pants.
In short, it was a design that could never, ever match a ball gown.
‘Where on earth did he even buy that thing? The person who sold it seems worse than the fool who bought it.’
I was doubting my eyes at his cursed fashion sense when Adrian approached.
That’s when May spread her arms wide, blocking the way in front of me.
Her face looked like she was ready to face death itself.
“You’re not seriously thinking of putting that weird hat on her, are you?”
“That’s exactly what I’m thinking.”
“No way. It doesn’t match my styling at all.”
“Step aside.”
Adrian said it with a sharp grin.
Warnings delivered with a smile are always the scariest, after all.
After holding her ground for a few seconds, May pulled a pitiful face and turned to me for help.
Her eyes were desperate, pleading that she’d finally gotten the chance to make me look this pretty and couldn’t let it be ruined.
Honestly, even I thought that hat was a bit much…
In the end, it fell to me to convince my brother.
“Brother, I like how I look right now.”
“But…”
“Anyway, if any weird guys try to approach, you’ll block them all for me, right? I’ve been counting on you and only you.”
At my coy words, Adrian’s expression softened completely.
A moment later, he spoke with a teary, emotional look.
“Delly, I had no idea you trusted me that much.”
Truth is, I don’t.
But if things kept going like this, I’d end up having to wear that weird hat, so I had no choice.
