Chapter 26
“Come on, take a seat,” the duchess said gently.
Carefully lowering myself onto the sofa, I offered an apologetic smile to the others.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting so long.”
“No need.” The young duke responded warmly. “Did you sleep well, Milena?”
The dressmaker stepped forward with a polite bow.
“Pleased to meet you, Lady Milena. I’m Patricia from the Bohém Atelier.”
“May I ask if you rested well last night?”
Even Lady Howard—of all people—added a line with that ever-irritating tone of hers.
But Cecilia, the one I was most concerned about, was different.
“…Good morning.”
Her voice was curt, almost distant. She lifted her teacup as if to drink, deliberately avoiding my gaze.
So she really has no intention of speaking to me at all…
‘Sigh. I understand if she dislikes me, but still.’
Did she really have to be this cold?
We had a good moment yesterday, didn’t we?!
Just as I was silently crying inside—
“I was worried,” the duchess said softly, “since you rushed up to the capital, you didn’t have proper clothing prepared.”
She smiled warmly at me.
“For now, we’ll quickly prepare a few dresses you can wear immediately. After that, we’ll place additional orders with the atelier.”
“I will prepare them as quickly as possible,” Patricia said, bowing her head.
The duchess beckoned me with a bright smile.
“Now, come here, dear.”
And just like that… Milena’s “private fashion show” began.
Standing me in the center, the duchess and the dressmaker leaned in, comparing fabrics with intense seriousness.
“What about this green fabric?”
“Oh my, it matches the young lady’s eye color perfectly.”
“Do you think so, madam?”
“And this floral pattern? It gives such a bright, lively feel.”
They kept glancing at me like hawks sizing up prey, their eyes razor-sharp.
And it wasn’t just them.
“Madam, what about this violet one?”
Lady Howard kept inserting herself, as if trying to prove her closeness to the duchess.
The duchess, unaware of anything, simply smiled brightly.
Before long, a mountain of dresses had been selected.
The duchess turned back to me with sparkling eyes.
“Now then, Milena. Shall we try this one first?”
“….”
Her gaze was so expectant it felt strangely pressuring.
“Someone, please bring these dresses to the fitting room.”
“Yes, madam.”
As the maids hurried off with the dresses, Lady Howard quickly approached me.
“Miss, shall we go together? I can help you change.”
She smiled sweetly—but there was something underneath it.
‘See? I’m close to the duchess. You can’t refuse me.’
That was exactly what it felt like.
Ugh. How unpleasant.
Suppressing a sigh, I deliberately put on an awkward expression and drew a clear line.
“No, it’s fine.”
“…Pardon?”
Lady Howard froze slightly, her smile stiffening as if she hadn’t expected rejection.
“I’ve been handling things on my own until now, so I’m still a bit uncomfortable having someone assist me,” I said politely, but firmly.
“I’ll ask for help once I’ve adjusted a bit more.”
“I… understand, my lady.”
She kept smiling, but her jaw tightened. I could tell she was grinding her teeth.
Well, of course she was.
She had just flaunted her closeness with the duchess—only to be refused outright.
Feeling oddly satisfied, I watched her subtle reaction shift.
Then—
“Hm?”
My eyes widened slightly.
The young duke, who had been silent all this time, was staring directly at Lady Howard.
His expression was unreadable.
But one thing was clear—
‘He doesn’t look pleased.’
As if sensing my gaze, he turned toward me.
The moment our eyes met, he flinched and stiffened.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
He quickly scanned the table, then casually picked up a nearby piece of fabric.
As if it were nothing at all, he spoke.
“Uh, Milena. What about making a dress from this yellow fabric?”
“Oh my, Elias.”
The duchess smiled playfully.
“You want to do something for your little sister, don’t you?”
…That’s not it at all.
He’s just trying to avoid eye contact and grabbed the nearest thing!
Suspicious.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
Then I repeated the word the duchess had just used.
“Little sister…”
My gaze drifted toward Cecilia.
A scene from the original story surfaced in my mind.
“Ha. Still don’t get it? How could someone like you ever be my real sister?”
Cecilia sat in silence.
Her expression remained calm, posture perfectly composed.
But I could see it.
Her slender fingers tightened around the teacup.
Just slightly—but undeniably.
The fashion show finally came to an end.
It was already lunchtime, so everyone decided to take a break and have tea together.
Milena’s hands trembled slightly as she dropped her fourth sugar cube into the milk tea.
‘Ugh… I’m running on empty.’
It felt like she had tried on at least ten dresses.
Why “at least”? Because after a while, she’d lost count entirely.
Just changing clothes shouldn’t have been this exhausting…
Also, the duchess had declared the moment it ended:
“All the dresses you tried on will be left here.”
And just like that, the atelier’s sales skyrocketed, leaving dressmaker Patricia glowing with joy.
While Milena was busy reviving herself with caffeine and sugar, a maid suddenly hurried over.
“Madam.”
She leaned in and whispered into the duchess’s ear.
The duchess’s expression brightened instantly.
“Good news, Milena.”
Hm?
Milena looked at her curiously.
A radiant smile spread across the duchess’s face.
“We’ve received a reply from the Tower. Someone will be coming soon to conduct the paternity test.”
Clink!
A sharp sound rang out as glass and cutlery struck together.
Cecilia had dropped her teaspoon.
All eyes turned toward her.
Startled, she quickly bowed her head.
“I’m sorry. My hand slipped.”
“Oh, Cecilia.”
The duchess’s voice was gentle but firm.
“As the daughter of House Luserte, you must always mind your manners.”
“….”
For a moment, Cecilia’s eyes darkened.
Daughter of House Luserte.
How long would she be allowed to keep that title?
