"Sir Lawrence is a capable man. If you leave it to him, you won't be bothered."
That man is talking nonsense again. Even so, for some reason, a bloody smile came out of the corner of my mouth.
Brandt, who was rolling his eyes around, made eye contact with me, who was smiling faintly. If I thought his eyes were shaking for a moment, would I be mistaken?
"Of course, you will look the most beautiful even if you only wear one chemise."
...I guess it was a mistake.
***
Time flew by. There are two reasons why time passes quickly: one is that each day is too much fun, and the other is that we don't want the set deadline to come. For me, these two cases happened at the same time.
It was a pleasure to be able to put on beautiful dresses, jewelry, and makeup every day for several days when Sir Lawrence was looking for a decoration that suited me. The sight of colorful shoes showing off various forms and displayed in front of me was fantastic, even when I thought about it again. I probably wouldn't be able to show off all the many combinations I've tried in those few days, even if I had just gone to parties all my life.
On the other hand, the more I prepared firmly, the closer Madame Janet's ball came as a burden. In Brandt's words, 'people are eagerly awaiting' Duchess Albrenovitch's social debut. Of course, I was also working hard and honing my education and attitude befitting the Duchess with the help of Malcolm and Kreisel, but the more I learned, the more I became aware of my shortcomings.
As I went to bed yesterday evening, I desperately hoped that tomorrow would not come. I wished Sir Lawrence to go back to the day he came to this mansion and start the day again.
"Ma'am. It's fantastic!"
Of course, that didn't happen.
In the mirror stood a beautiful Duchess in a shiny, dark green dress. The upper body had a moderate neckline while keeping the body in shape, giving it an elegant look, and the skirt had a thick fold and a rich ruffle hanging down. The shiny blonde hair was quietly braided and then decorated with jewelry with red jewels and fresh flowers. Underneath, the lively figure with a shy blush on her white face was like a small bird. Today is here, and this was fantastic.
"It's all thanks to you, sir."
"Sure. My skills are truly fantastic."
Sir Lawrence exclaimed with a proud face. Drunk on himself, he added with a flutter.
"Your appearance is also beautiful. Especially this gentle and lovely hair, which you popularized when you were a lady, no one will look as good as you."
He approached and whispered so that no one else could hear him.
"In fact, the hair that was only the size of the old house was very ugly even though I raised it."
Sir Lawrence's heartfelt words made me laugh unknowingly.
Finally, Sir Lawrence stuffed a perfectly fitting choker around my neck, wearing silver shoes and carrying a beaded fan.
"Wait."
Also, Sir Lawrence, who was about to praise himself for his great sense of choosing a choker, opened his eyes wide.
"Can't I wear another necklace besides this choker?"
"Well, I don't know. There is no better choker for your decoration now..."
I put my hands together and looked eagerly, and Sir Lawrence scratched his head.
"Please show me. I will see and judge."
"Betty, go to my room and get the necklace that His Excellency gave me."
I don't know what kind of affair it was, but suddenly I wanted to wear the necklace he sent me the day after the first night. When Betty opened the chest in front of Sir Lawrence, he also opened his mouth at the splendor of the necklace.
Aside from the large jewels inlaid with grains, the necklace that showed off different colors depending on the direction of viewing seemed to go well with any outfit.
"I've been touching jewelry all my life, but I've never seen anything like this. If I'm not bothering you, I'd like to ask you how you saved it."
Sir Lawrence silently tore the choker off my neck and stuffed it with a necklace.
As I came down after a long period of dressing, a pure white ivory carriage was waiting in front of the mansion. Brandt was standing in front of the carriage I had never seen before. Even though he cared so much about his wife, he was still wearing a black military uniform. The edges of his coat were embroidered with gold thread, so I could barely guess that I was going to a ball.
I deliberately raised my head slightly to ask him to look at the necklace. But he didn't say anything the whole time I approached to see what he was dissatisfied with. I had no choice but to open my mouth first.
"Thank you for the necklace. Sir Lawrence also praised it."
"You're talking so quickly."
I was taken aback by the nonsensical answer. I thought about it, so much so that I wanted to grab his collar and shake it, and ask why it was uncomfortable to plant again.
Sir Lawrence walked out from behind the employees who were going to accompany us, looking smiling. Hey, now is not the time to look like that.
"My lord, how does Madam look? I dressed her up nobly like a flower that had just bloomed. Isn't that amazing? Oh, of course, me."
"Is it necessary to go this far?"
Brandt's quick answer made everyone present freeze. He pointed at me and picked them up one by one.
"Hair, costumes, jewelry, fans, shoes... This is too..."
At his call, my eyes also fell from top to bottom.
'Is it too extravagant after all?'
In the meantime, it was funny that he didn't point out the necklace he gave me.
'An expensive necklace is the most expensive.'
Brandt, who was looking me up and down and couldn't continue, put his hand on his forehead.
"...Isn't it too beautiful? Does a man's wife need to go to such lengths? I'm a bit...this."
All those who were hardened by the words that burst out with him opened their mouths in shock. I was the most surprised one. I could understand what kind of this man was talking about now, and my face turned bright red. But he seemed the most serious in the world.
"The person who asked me to dress up more prominently than anyone else was the Duke."
"But don't you know that the Duchess is a beauty that stands out even when she stands still?"
"I know that's because my ears hurt even when you say it..."
"If you knew that, you should have done it in moderation. It's too much."
How could he say such a thing with such a serious expression? I wrapped my hands around my hot cheeks.
I never imagined that the planting was bad for this reason. He was truly an unpredictable man from the first meeting until now.
"I don't have enough time to come and fix it now. Next time, I will definitely reflect your requirements, so please be lenient today."
Sir Lawrence was quite satisfied that his work had been well received, strangely, and he comforted Brandt.
"It can't be helped."
Brandt held out his hand to me with a disapproving face.
"Let's go, Ma'am."
I was escorted by him and boarded the pure white carriage. However, the maids who usually rode with me boarded the outside or in another carriage following us.
"Why are you carrying the servants separately?"
"If you were like me, your husband made it so beautiful for others to see, would you like to show it?"
I asked him fiercely, as if he really didn't know. I shrugged.
"I'm going to want to show you. I'm going to show them that my husband is such a wonderful person."
"I don't do that."
Brandt said bluntly.
'This man, no way...'
I thought that the reason why he wanted to keep me locked up in our house might not be simply because of his past situation with Edita. Isn't that the man who looked like that in the first place? I thought it would take a lot of effort for such a person to do this for his wife's first debut in the social world.
The carriage began to move forward with a sway. The view of Ludens passed quickly outside the window. The silence between us did not last long. This is because I had been curious about it for a while.
"But why did you show respect? You originally shot me in the first place."
"It wasn't a private place with only public employees. I will continue to respect you publicly. A wife who is respected by her husband is also respected by others."
I don't deny the fact. He's a strangely honest man.
He was so curious that I deliberately fiddled with the necklace.
"The necklace looks good."
"Yes, it's really beautiful. Sir Lawrence said he had never seen anything like this before."
"Of course. I chose the most beautiful one."
Brandt coughed and looked out the carriage window.
"I also got a new carriage. It catches everyone's eye from the moment it appears."
Even though I knew that Brandt was talking nonsense, I replied obediently
"I really like it. I've never seen a white carriage like this. It's like a swan."
Brandt, who was looking back at me, saw my smiling face and twitched his lips. I should have laughed as it was, but he turned his head awkwardly.
***
Brandt's statement that it catches everyone's eye from the moment it appears was not false. The nobles' carriages were all gorgeous and beautiful, but among them, our carriage, which had a simple and luxurious appearance, definitely attracted attention. Naturally, we got out of the carriage and stood at the center of their gaze.
Brandt even smiled softly and led me to the ballroom. The nobles could not drag the carriage into the inner palace, so they had to walk along the well-maintained boulevard to the Eastern Palace of the Physiological Gel. Thanks to this, we were able to show off our hawks to our heart's content. It was only natural that tears were pouring down like raindrops on Brandt and me.
The menstrual gel palace was dazzlingly decorated with flowers and beads from the exterior. The interior decoration was also secular enough to be like this in the imperial palace. It was clear that it was Madame Janet's taste.
As soon as I entered the ballroom, I was surrounded by people. Brandt brought his lips close to my ear.
"His Majesty is not here."
"Yes? It's a ball held at the Imperial Palace, but he's not coming?"
"I don't know if it was a banquet, but he was always absent from the ball held by Madame Janet."
I was puzzled, but it was a pity that I was ahead of him. I thought I would be able to see the Emperor for the first time in a long time, but he didn't come. If I had known in advance, I wouldn't have been so disappointed.
I was ridiculous to myself as to when I began to feel affection for him comparable to a real family. Brandt suddenly grabbed my hand. When I looked up, he wrapped me around as if to soothe me.
"Lady Edita, or rather, our Duchess, is here."
A middle-aged woman with curly hair raised in a round shape approached us. I could immediately recognize her wearing a red dress that hurt my eyes. I saw her portrait to the point of getting tired of it.
"It's been a long time, Madame Janet."
I took a step ahead and hugged her. Madame Janet, who was pretending to greet me as usual, hugged me as if she had been waiting. It was the attitude that I thought I would come out like this.
'I've been waiting for this, I've been waiting for it.'
It was a gesture considering that she had been with Edita since she was a child, and it was the right answer.
"Nice to meet you."
"Duke Albrenovic is here. Thank you so much for being here."
Madame Janet closed her eyes and greeted Brandt.
"My Duchess may not know, but I don't often participate in balls and banquets. I made a special trip for my wife today."
Janet shook her head with a thud. I looked up at Brandt, who was neither negative nor affirmative, with a little excitement.
That's right. If a man likes to party, that would be even weirder.
"Oh, who is this? Aren't you the Duke and Duchess Albrenovic? Madam, don't just eat it alone. Introduce it to us."
A group of noblewomen approached with a noisy noise. Contrary to his friendly tone, the expression on his face as he looked at me was bloody. This was the kind of brutality that only women could feel...
Let's see where it is, and five or six experienced noblewomen who were full of energy quickly surrounded us.
Janet unfolded her red fan and pushed my back forward.
"Madam?"
"I'm still. I'll introduce you in a cool way."
Madame Janet whispered to me in a panic and said as she stretched out her fan to the side.
"Everyone. It is an honor to have a precious person who took her first steps in the social world at Janet's ball today."
Janet's crisp voice made everyone at the ball pay attention to me. My heart was pounding at the amazing gazes that seemed to hear the sound of my pupils rolling.
"Then let me introduce you, Alb..."
"Duchess Albrenovic. His Majesty's only daughter and my wife."
When Brandt stepped forward after Madam Janet finished introducing me, the breath I had been holding back burst out of my mouth. Before I knew it, Brandt strode over to me and hugged my tense shoulder.
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