26.
“You simply must choose your evening gowns quickly. They inevitably take time to craft, after all.”
Once again, a staff member waiting nearby swiftly spread open a style book.
Even Harriet, who had been waving her hands to protest that there were too many, found her gaze naturally captured by the illustrations of flamboyant gowns.
“You know the style the young ladies love these days? The one with layers upon layers of gathered tulle.”
“Ah, that gown? It is quite expensive because it is labor-intensive, but it certainly stands out and looks extravagant when worn.”
“Let’s look at that design. When one is young, one ought to wear the latest fashions at least once.”
“You are absolutely right. One should wear them when they look their most beautiful.”
Madame Louvard flipped to the page featuring such designs before Trisha could change her mind.
“This one is best. I think it would be better done in a soft pink.”
“An excellent choice. However, along with a bright gown, it is good to have one that carries a bit more weight. The moment I saw Miss Harriet, this gown came to mind. I have a fabric in a truly exquisite shade of green.”
Madame Louvard closed the style book without a sound. Her skill at naturally inducing the purchase of other designs was nothing short of remarkable.
*‘Surely Great-Aunt wouldn’t fall for a sales tactic like that?’*
Just as Harriet was about to force an awkward smile, Trisha nodded.
“Hmm, not bad. Though I should prefer the ruffles to be in a shade of green a bit deeper than the fabric itself.”
“I shall make that change for you. For this, not only would gold or emerald accessories look wonderful, but pinning on a pink corsage would also make it quite radiant.”
“Then add the corsage as well.”
“Yes!”
A nasal lilt seeped into Madame Louvard’s reply. The staff member standing beside her was busily writing down the items.
Harriet, who had been watching the scene blankly as if she had lost her soul, finally pulled herself together and shook her head.
“Great-Aunt! There are too many! Do you have any idea how many dresses we’ve picked out so far?”
Six outdoor dresses, two evening gowns, additional blouses, and even a corsage. This was more than enough to pay for a carriage.
However, Trisha seemed frustrated with Harriet.
“Do you think the capital required to succeed in high society costs a mere penny or two? Think about it. Would you be interested in a young lady who goes around wearing a single dress?”
“A-ah, no.”
“You said you wanted to succeed spectacularly, didn’t you? You said you wanted to gain the freedom to live without caring about what others think?”
“Yes.”
“If a young lady alone wants to achieve that in this world, she must have guts. You are barely preparing to stand at the starting line; do not tremble over this much.”
Harriet had been feeling guilty and apologetic for spending someone else’s money, but Trisha was right. The plan to re-enter high society and succeed required significant capital.
*‘I was naive. I believed I could somehow make it work with the money from selling a few gold trinkets.’*
Harriet cast aside the psychological barrier that had been obstructing her. To gain much, one must wager much.
*‘I feel like a gambler now, though.’*
She clenched her fists and said, “Thank you. I will gladly accept your help, Great-Aunt. I will surely repay this debt someday.”
She spoke with a sense of grim determination, but Trisha snorted as if it were ridiculous.
“Don’t make empty promises. I never asked for it in the first place.”
“But….”
“When one has as much money as I do, one can afford this. Besides, it’s been a while, so playing dress-up with a doll is quite amusing.”
Perhaps finding her own words embarrassing, Trisha followed them with a few coughs.
At that, Madame Louvard smiled subtly and said, “Playing doll dress-up with clothes from our shop—Miss Harriet, I envy you. Even ladies from the most prestigious houses would find such a thing difficult.”
“Nonsense. Hurry up and start taking the measurements. There are many places to go after this.”
“Yes, My Lady!”
She gave a bright, professional smile and helped Harriet to her feet.
* * *
“You will attend the tea party today, won’t you?”
The words flowed from his mother’s lips in the standard, refined cadence of the Empire. In such trivial things, Cedric often realized anew that she was of Imperial blood.
“Of course.”
His own pronunciation was likewise standard, as taught by her. A tone that did not roll the tongue excessively, without heavy accents, and whispered ever so slightly.
There were times when he found it amusing that such things were the only evidence they were family.
*‘It is difficult to find any traces of our life together, aside from things like this.’*
She, who had once claimed to love his father passionately, had started taking lovers when Cedric reached the age of ten. By the time he was fifteen, there were many days she did not return home at all.
The time she spent staying at the Duke’s estate had only increased after the death of Rowan.
*‘And she even brings her lovers here quite brazenly.’*
It was unpleasant, but he did not interfere. Who was he to object to a life his father had accepted? He had no intention of becoming her source of happiness in place of those lovers, either.
Now, he simply fulfilled his duties as a son by showing his face at the parties she hosted.
“Take good care of your mother, Cedric.”
His father had uttered those words even at the very end, but Cedric did not know how to do any more than he already was, nor did he wish to find ways to improve the relationship.
* * *
The tea party held today was attended primarily by the wives of the Imperial collateral branches.
Though their interests and ages differed, meeting regularly to consolidate their bonds was beneficial for maintaining the power of the Imperial Family. For Cedric, who had to endure their nagging, it was not a welcome gathering by any means.
“Jeremiah. When do you intend to marry off your son? A man as perfect as him certainly can’t be single simply because there are no women.”
“The unthinkable has happened, Aunt. He says he still has no woman he is courting.”
“Is that true, Cedric? Of course, you had just returned from the war and with what happened to Rowan, it wasn’t a time for romance, but now you should start receiving marriage proposals. Shall I act as a matchmaker for you?”
As expected, the topic of marriage arose.
Cedric did not understand why they acted as if the head of the house being single meant the family would collapse that very instant, but he felt no need to get angry. He knew that no one here could force the Duke of Kaylas to do anything.
Today, just as always, he deflected with politeness and feigned innocence.
“How could I trouble my Great-Aunt? I have been looking around, but I would like to remain silent until I feel prepared in my heart.”
“Marriage and illness should be talked about to gather more information. If I do say so myself…!”
“You know what will happen if word gets out. There are enough brazen ones throwing themselves at me as it is.”
Perhaps realizing she had become one of those ‘brazen ones,’ she eventually took a step back.
In that manner, Cedric endured the tedious time, sharing superficial conversation as he always did.
He only discovered someone who piqued his interest toward the end of the refreshments.
*‘So that lady was here as well.’*
The protagonist of the news he had heard recently was quietly sipping tea at the edge of the table. Since that news had been quite unexpected, he was curious about the circumstances behind it.
When the time for refreshments ended and it was time to stroll through the gardens, he slowly approached her.
As if it were the perfect moment to strike up a conversation, she was walking toward a secluded area.
“It has been a long time, Countess Felon.”
“Duke Kaylas?”
Startled, she soon put on an indifferent expression and asked after his well-being.
“Indeed, it has been a while. Have you been well?”
Trisha Felon had become the head of the House of Felon following the death of the Imperial collateral Count Felon and the stipulations of his will.
It seemed she had not officially announced it to those around her yet, but according to the information he had obtained, she had recently become a guardian to someone.
Considering that her relationship with her relatives was not particularly good, it was an unexpected decision. Especially since the subject was someone who was mocked in high society.
“I heard a guest has arrived at the Felon Estate.”
“How did you come to know that?”
“I heard it by chance.”
Trisha clicked her tongue. It seemed she had tried to delay the news from reaching the public as much as possible.
However, she did not bother to deny or hide it.
“My grand-niece is staying with me. Her circumstances are pitiable, and I once owed a debt to her parents when they were alive, so I became her guardian. I doubt this is a matter that concerns the Duke.”
Cedric smiled faintly.
Of course, it was not a matter that concerned him. He no longer felt any responsibility. Was this not merely the guilt he had tried to shake off by sending things like mufflers to someone who had rejected his offer of help?
He had spoken to Trisha now simply as a way to kill time.
“I only say so because I am glad that you, having lived alone for so long, have found family.”
“Well. I am looking at a guardianship period of about two years for now, but I do not know how things will turn out.”
“And what do you intend for Miss Harriet after those two years have passed?”