Lucas, who had said that, pressed his temple. He looked as if his head was pounding at the obvious.
"You're a commoner, Elena."
Elena held her breath. Although her last name was that of a noble family, her father and mother were actually commoners, a secret that wasn't a secret. Lucas nonchalantly touched on that sore spot.
"This isn't a scandal. Nobles and commoners can't mix."
'...Even though their bodies were mixed?'
Elena was so shocked that she couldn't say anything for a moment. Lucas whispered, stroking Elena's shoulder as she became quiet.
"Everyone should live within their means. And there is a place for everyone, Elena."
"..."
"Let's do as I plan. That's how you and I can live together. In our own places."
The voice that she had thought was soft sounded disgusting and repulsive for the first time.
'There is a place for everyone?'
Ariana was worthy of being by his side as a Marchioness, but she couldn't be. Because she wasn't 'fit' for it.
"Ha, haha...!"
Elena burst out laughing as she grabbed the blanket.
"You're much more attractive than your sister, Elena. How can sisters be so different?"
"Ariana doesn't know how to please a man like you do. Our fairy is the source of my vitality."
The voices whispered that she was much better than Ariana. She had secretly nurtured her dreams of becoming a Marchioness, flirting with those words. It was all ridiculous.
"How dare you..."
Elena muttered in a trembling voice. She had lived with all her might to prove that she was better than Ariana. Her heart was seething with anger at having that completely denied.
"Lady Elena. Or perhaps the Marquis..."
Wilhelm carefully opened his mouth.
"Did he tell you to shoulder everything?"
Elena looked back with surprised eyes, and Wilhelm let out a low sigh.
"So he's trying to cut off the tail of the name 'Miss' now that things have turned out this way."
Elena clenched her fists in anger at the precise expression.
"He told me... to confess that I attacked him. He said he would find me a good match abroad."
Wilhelm let out a low sigh.
"The moment you leave the system, there will be no future for you."
"...I know that."
Elena wanted to succeed in the system. What was the point of not succeeding in the wealthiest and most sophisticated country on the continent?
She didn't know about the Kingdom of Ende, famous for its art, but... that place valued loyalty between spouses, so she wouldn't be welcomed with that label.
"I'll succeed in the social circles of the system. There's no point anywhere else!"
"That's not the problem."
A pitiful light flashed across Wilhelm's gaze, but Elena didn't notice because she was shedding tears of pity for herself.
"The moment you leave the border, he'll try to get rid of the trouble. Because you know the truth."
"Are you saying that the Marquis will... kill me?"
"It's not impossible."
The moment she thought it was ridiculous, Lucas' face from yesterday came to Elena's mind. The mouth burst into laughter as soon as he heard the word 'wife.'
"I have devoted my entire life to the Lopez family. Miss, you have tarnished the name of the venerable Lopez family."
"If you know, do something about it!"
Elena shouted.
"What difference will it make if you just nag me?! They say growing old without any skills is the ugliest thing, and you were talking about you, butler! Are you going to just watch as the company you've worked for your whole life falls into ruin with the stigma of being a family of adulteresses?!"
"... No, Miss."
Wilhelm, who had been silent for a while, continued slowly.
"I can't just watch. I often reproach myself. I should have noticed it sooner."
"Then come up with something right now!"
Wilhelm remained silent for a moment as Elena shouted venomously. A few seconds later, he opened his mouth.
"I believe there is a way for Miss Elena to recover."
***
Madame Evelyn. She runs the dress shop known for being the oldest in the islands, and she was unusually tense today. It was rare for her, who mainly dealt with wealthy nobles, to be nervous because of a customer, but today was an exception.
The reason was simple. Sitting on the sofa across from none other than that Lady Ariana Lopez.
'How...'
Evelyn looked at Ariana, who was calmly looking through the catalog, with greedy eyes. The lady who was most frequently mentioned in the social circles these days, the Duke's lover, had a dress made at her shop. A wedding dress at that.
'If I could just get that lady to wear my dress, our shop's reputation would soar.'
She would definitely capture that lady.
Evelyn spoke softly, hiding her burning determination.
"You might feel burdened if I say this to you at first sight, but... Oh my. You are so beautiful."
"Ah."
Ariana looked at Evelyn with slightly dazed eyes.
"...Thank you."
Even the way she answered briefly as if she had heard the awkward words seemed extremely elegant. The mention of her being beautiful was not mere flattery. Evelyn exclaimed in admiration as she glanced at Ariana, who had turned her gaze back to the catalog.
'Oh my, oh my. The photo doesn't capture her beauty.'
Ariana had never been social, so even the socialites who were known for being popular didn't know her face very well. As a result, the first and last time most people saw her face was in the photo from the special report, 'The Stolen Bride' incident, that had turned the system upside down a month ago.
That side profile of her being carried on Dante's shoulder. It was no exaggeration to say that her debut in the social world was on the front page of the newspaper.
Ariana, who had stirred up the system with such a shocking scandal, had since been secluded in the Duke's residence, making the hearts of the rich burn. Many would have given up a pile of jewels if they could only find out what happened between Dante and Ariana.
'Then one day, she suddenly appeared and released shocking music.'
The Aria of the Adulteress. The victims of that crazy, addictive melody were scattered all over the system. Whether she was eating or working, Evelyn's brain was playing a part of the melody.
With a series of two scandals, the name Ariana Lopez began to be mentioned in social circles every day. However, Ariana still did not engage in any social activities.
'But I'm meeting the lady in person like this.'
And to make the dress Ariana would wear at her wedding!
Evelyn laughed, feeling a great sense of pride in her job.
'The Duke cherishes you so much...'
Evelyn quietly agreed as she observed Ariana's side profile. She was certainly a beautiful lady. Her calm and serene atmosphere even gave off a sense of mystery.
"I think a dress like this would be good."
Ariana had chosen an elegant dress with a hem that spread out like a bell and lace that was not too excessive. Evelyn nodded, thinking that it was a design that suited the dignity of a Duchess.
"But the decorative part... is a bit lacking. I'm not sure if it will fit within the price limit."
The last words seemed to be a soliloquy, as Ariana muttered softly. Evelyn's eyes widened. It was the first time she had heard of a price limit.
"Did you say a price limit, Lady?"
"Oh, you haven't received it yet. There's a limit of fifty million cardinas."
Then that's right. Evelyn cleared up all misunderstandings and smiled warmly. Fifty million cardinas, well. It's as if there's no ceiling. After all, there was no way that the Duke of Heigenberg would be stingy with the wedding dress of his beloved lover, whom he treasured in his mansion.
"Oh! Don't worry. All the dresses in this catalog cost less than fifty million cardinas, so feel free to choose as you wish, Lady."
"Ah."
At that, Arianna's face became troubled.
"What should I do?"
Evelyn's heart sank at her quiet soliloquy.
"It has to be over."
"Why... why are you doing this, Lady? Is there a problem?"
"It has to be over fifty million cadinas."
"...Yes?"
"His Highness has forbidden purchasing at a price below that."
A moment of shock crossed Evelyn's expression. The 'price limit' wasn't the upper limit...
'It was the lower limit?'
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment