Chapter 23
“Please speak.”
“What do you think about wearing the former duchess’s collection?”
My eyes widened at the unexpected suggestion.
Seeing my reaction, Bunois spoke in a gentle, soothing voice.
“I understand that you don’t want to stand out. But if I may be so bold… you shouldn’t avoid attention.”
So this was what people meant when they said she was perceptive.
How did she know I didn’t want to draw attention? I studied Madame Bunois’s expression.
I was afraid that if I attracted unnecessary attention, people would realize I wasn’t truly a marchioness’s daughter.
Sensing my anxiety, Bunois’s voice softened even further.
“If you want to show that you are under the protection of the ducal house, wearing the duchess’s gowns will help far more than anything I make.”
“Oh…”
I recalled the dress that had been exactly my taste.
As the head designer and chief seamstress of a top haute couture house, would saying something like this wound her pride?
But her face showed only a clear, serene light.
There wasn’t a trace of insecurity.
“Wouldn’t that leave you at a disadvantage?”
“No, my lady. I will be preparing accessories and shoes to match the dress.”
A spark of excitement flashed in Madame Bunois’s eyes.
She continued,
“And if it’s a work of Master Arduino, designing accessories to match it would be an honor for us.”
She gathered the sketches spread across the table.
Of course, I preferred wearing the duchess’s dress rather than having a new, cumbersome gown tailored. But…
“Won’t it stand out too much?”
Madame Bunois was the designer Dorian personally invited.
Even if she showed me a dress that was the very latest trend, I wouldn’t be surprised.
I would wear the duchess’s dress regardless of it being flashy, but asking for some reassurance seemed reasonable.
Bunois, perhaps sensing the uncertainty behind my question, smiled.
“It will stand out. It’s not just a dress—it’s a creation by Master Arduino. But isn’t that your intention, my lady?”
“…Sorry?”
“You said you’re the young lady of the Hübener Marquisate. You’ve been living in the territory, missed your debutante season, and the imperial ball will be your first appearance in society.”
Those were details she had received through Eva. I nodded casually.
“That’s right.”
“Then all the more reason to draw attention. To show that the Hübener family is still strong, and that you are receiving the duke’s favor.”
The phrase ‘prove that the Marquisate is strong’ caught on my ear. I glanced aside and asked,
“So that’s why the duchess’s dress is perfect?”
“Exactly. To be frank, the current fashionable designs are at their end. They are no longer beautiful—only gaudy.”
The dresses I had seen earlier popped into my mind. Gaudy? True. Why were the sleeves ten times bigger than my arms? You couldn’t even dance in them.
Her bold remark eased my discomfort. I nodded and asked something I’d been curious about.
“Is it really okay for a designer to say such things?”
Madame Bunois answered brightly.
“The essence of fashion is presentation. Art that becomes stagnant and self-replicating is bound to die.”
The neatly stacked sketches were handed to her attendants and placed into a leather case.
Clap!
Madame Bunois clapped once. Our attention naturally returned to her.
With a smile curling her lips, she said cheerfully,
“Would you care to lead a new trend together with me?”
“So… I’d like to go into the duchess’s dressing room…”
I trailed off as I watched Eva pour tea. Wearing round gold-rimmed glasses, she somehow looked different today.
Maybe because she wasn’t in her maid uniform—or because her hair was tied simply at the back.
Wearing a white blouse and a light brown vest, Eva set the teapot down.
“You can just go in. His Grace already gave permission.”
“I don’t know if he remembers…”
“He’ll be fine even if you bring it up again.”
But bringing it up was the problem… While I hesitated, Lewin, who had been wriggling beside me, called out.
“Mommy. Mommy.”
“Hmm?”
I lowered my head. Lewin held out his hand. His little fist was tightly clenched around something, so I placed both my hands beneath his.
A moment later, something light dropped onto my palm—a cookie.
“Wow, is this for Mommy?”
“Mhm.”
“Thank you!”
I beamed, and Lewin giggled. After he recovered, his babyish lisp had returned. I was curious about the change, but I couldn’t ask.
Eva, sitting across from me, wriggled excitedly.
“Young master! Me too! I want one too!”
Lewin stretched out his short arm, grabbed a cookie from the table—just one small cocoa cookie, but his whole hand was full—and hopped over to Eva.
“For you!”
“Oh my goodness…”
Eva pressed a hand to her forehead and let out a dramatic sigh.
Then she received the cookie with both hands, as if accepting precious treasure.
“A personal gift… What an incredible honor! I must keep this as a family heirloom!”
“I’ll order a special box for it. Crystal, with preservation magic.”
When I chimed in, Eva burst into laughter. Since traveling with her, it seemed her dramatic flattery had rubbed off on me.
No… not rubbed off. Lewin was always an angel—I’d just become more honest.
Lewin smiled brightly seeing Eva so happy. He circled the long table and returned cheerfully to my side.
He stood on tiptoes and sat down again.
Every time I saw him alive and well, I felt overwhelming gratitude. I gathered him in my arms and rubbed my cheek against his soft hair.
“Grow up healthy and strong, my dear Lewin.”
“Yes!”
His voice was like a little songbird’s. I couldn’t resist pulling him in for another tight hug.
Lewin burst into giggles.
“Cute.”
“So cute.”
Eva and I sighed at the same time. Lewin ignored us and kicked his dangling legs as he began eating his cookie.
One day, I wanted to ask Eva about Lewin’s original speech pattern… but preparations for the ball were hectic, and whenever I remembered, Lewin was always nearby, so I couldn’t ask.
First things first—survive the ball!
I pushed the cookie plate toward Lewin.
“Anyway, Eva… could you tell him for me?”
“Tell him what?”
“The duchess’s dressing room.”
I brushed crumbs from Lewin’s mouth and steadied his milk cup so he wouldn’t drop it.
“Me? I could tell him, but His Grace would be happier if you visited him yourself.”
Eva said it without changing expression—though the wording was very easy to misunderstand. My hand almost slipped on the milk cup.
I calmed myself.
“He must be busy, but since he’s always so kind, he’ll probably ask about the preparations.”
I set down Lewin’s cup and picked up my teacup. A white porcelain cup decorated with a neat chrysanthemum.
“I don’t want to take up his time for nothing.”
I traced the warm surface with my fingertips.
“In that case, I’ll tell him.”
Eva shrugged. I smiled awkwardly and sipped my tea.
Strange… only floral teas today.
Warmth spread through my stomach.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
That evening, Eva returned with Dorian’s message. As expected, he said I could look around as much as I liked.
“Don’t worry too much. Hartmann will go with you.”
Eva examined the dresses the maids brought in—mostly pastels in cool tones.
“What about you?”
“I’m a baroness… and I hate social events. Too many people.”
Eva selected a few. A green one, a blue one, and a deep emerald dress with sharp, vivid red accents.
“I picked ones designed by Arduino that would suit you and the ball.”
“The last one stands out.”
I smoothed the hem of the last dress. Wherever the light touched, it glimmered beautifully.
“It looks like a rose thicket.”
“Yes! The duchess who owned this gown was a beauty with dazzling blonde hair and red eyes.”
The image of the woman who wore it flashed in my mind.
I spread the dress. Unlike the straight-falling lines of the other gowns, this one flared more widely at the bottom.
“The design’s a bit different.”
“It was altered especially for the former duchess. Back then, Master Arduino was still alive, and since she asked him personally, he agreed gladly.”
So that’s why it looked somewhat modern. I pictured the duchess wearing it—
—but not knowing her face made imagination difficult.
They said I resembled her. Was that true? If I wore this dress, I wondered what the guests at the ball would think.
Madame Bunois’s words resurfaced.
I wouldn’t look like a rose thicket just by wearing it, but I’d definitely draw eyes.
The design and colors appealed to me completely.
Despite being dark green and red, the sheen kept it from looking heavy.
The vertical white rose-patterned lace embroidered across the bodice, the delicate petal-shaped cutouts at the sleeve ends, and the light, supportive frill that prevented the skin from showing.
It was one of those garments that made you want to wear it even if you knew it wouldn’t suit you.
“What do you think?”
“An excellent eye paired with decisive taste.”
Eva clapped like an excited girl. I nodded.
“Good. Then move this dress to my room. I need to show it to Madame Bunois.”
