“I, I dare to, dare to beg you, Your Majesty, my Lady. I understand that the highest quality material is arriving soon, having crossed the Western Sea. Please, grant me the honor of creating a dress for you with it.”
Inspiration struck my mind like lightning.
As a creator, this was an opportunity I absolutely had to seize.
My life’s masterpiece—it was going to be born!
‘……Is that really what they want so badly they’d crawl on their knees for it?’
Charlize, who had arrived from modern society in her previous life, couldn’t fathom it.
Couldn’t they just ask without kneeling? Charlize would probably have even enjoyed the flattery, wouldn’t she?
Of course, Charlize didn’t realize that the events in this room had instilled bone-deep terror into the designer, her assistants, and the maids.
“I permit it.”
Loxidian, who had been watching in silence, gave his approval.
Designer Rona’s face brightened, while Charlize merely tilted her head in confusion.
Rona was moved, having seized an opportunity for inspiration like no other. She swore to be loyal to the Emperor for the rest of her life.
Loxidian grabbed his chin and tilted his head slowly.
‘She looks exactly like Mother.’
The late Empress, who was Duke Alzbeit’s daughter and mother to both Loxidian and Charlize, was famous in her lifetime for being the greatest beauty in the Empire, just as Charlize was now.
“For the next thousand years, there won’t be anyone as pretty as your mother.”
Their father, usually a blunt man, would go on such ramblings in front of her.
However, while their mother had a slightly softer impression with more downturned eyes, Charlize resembled their father; her eye shape was identical to his.
Looking at her now, Loxidian was vividly reminded of his late mother.
‘As expected, it’s incomparable to clothes made by designers used by the likes of Alzbeit.’
Loxidian held a firm belief that, even if she was a foolish younger sister, he couldn’t let her wear cheap attire.
If Noah, the aide standing next to him, had known he was thinking this, he would have corrected him—noting that there was no way the Alzbeits would let Charlize wear cheap things—but Loxidian hadn’t even considered the possibility.
Loxidian wore a crooked smile.
“Wow, clothes really make the person.”
“…….”
“Must be nice. You look slightly less hideous now?”
Charlize, who had been intently looking in the mirror, glared at her brother through the reflection.
That man really has a talent for ruining the mood, I thought.
Loxidian read Charlize’s thoughts clearly.
She must be cursing me, surely.
“The Imperial designer is quite excellent, isn’t she? So excellent that Alzbeit doesn’t even compare.”
“……With such a fine designer on hand, why do your clothes look like that, brother?”
Then why is it that you only wear clothes made by the Imperial designer, yet still look like that?
At Charlize’s retort, Loxidian bristled. No, he was simply dumbfounded.
“Ha! Where else in the Empire is there someone who wears clothes as well as I do? Little sister, no matter how much your eyes are just for decoration, try looking properly, yeah?”
“There is one.”
Charlize tilted her head.
Her expression was haughty yet calm.
“Duke Remut.”
“Huh?”
“Looking strictly at the way he carries himself in his clothes, he looks absolutely top-tier even without using any high-end materials. The best in the Empire.”
“…….”
Loxidian jumped to his feet in a rage.
“How dare you compare me to that piece of chaff?”
“When did I compare you? I just meant that, in my eyes, there exists someone that handsome as well.”
Charlize squinted slightly, tilting her head as if asking why he was acting like that.
“I didn’t say you were ugly. Why are you getting so worked up?”
“You’re defending that guy in front of me now?”
“……No, I told you, when did I?”
Charlize felt incredibly wronged.
* * *
‘What’s wrong with him?’
I was flabbergasted.
He asked if there was anyone other than himself who wore clothes well, and because I answered honestly, he’s now having a massive outburst.
What, did he want me to say, ‘Oh, of course, Your Majesty is the best! The greatest tyrant, the peak of madness! Thrilling! You’re the best!’?
I don’t know why he hates my fiancé so much, though.
I can at least admit there are other handsome men in the world besides him.
I started to speak, then pressed my lips shut.
‘Oh my.’
I saw a golden light flickering in Loxidian’s eyes.
Wait, wait a minute. Is that statement enough to make him go so ballistic he’s on the verge of a rampage?
‘Ha, is he a narcissist? Does he love himself that much?’
I frowned slightly and reached for my necklace.
Even though I was wearing the blue diamond necklace, I hadn’t taken off the one Charlize’s mother had given her. It was my most precious treasure and my lifeline; I couldn’t part with it.
……If I lost it, that tyrant brother of mine might kill me.
Perhaps realizing my intention, the tyrant brother seemed to regain his senses.
Fortunately, there was no need to use the necklace in front of so many people, and I didn’t have to watch him make such a fool of himself. I certainly didn’t want to see him explode, accusing me of embarrassing him.
‘I’d rather this ability remain unknown as well.’
Loxidian swept his hair back.
His expression was still full of disapproval, but it didn’t look like he would flare up again.
“Forget it. Just make sure you wear that properly when you come to the banquet.”
“Oh, and the necklace?”
“What?”
“This one.”
“…….”
The tyrant brother didn’t answer, giving me a look that asked why I was even bothering to bring it up.
Does that mean this is mine now?
Soon, he told me to keep the necklace in a disgruntled voice, and I felt a flutter of excitement. It seems the memories and information Charlize possesses really do have some influence on me, however small. To think I’d feel happy just because Charlize got to have something she wanted.
‘Well, if he gave it to me, couldn’t I just sell it later?’
It felt like I had received a message saying, ‘Charlize, you have been gifted an asset.’ Anything given by my grandfather would be easily tracked or monitored, so having something like this wouldn’t be a bad thing.
……Should I sell this after the banquet and add it to my fiancé’s debts?
Wouldn’t he like that?
“Hey, are you listening?”
“Huh?”
“Ha, you can’t even focus?”
I smiled awkwardly and took my hand off the necklace.
“What was that?”
“I said I’ll come pick you up personally on the day of the Goddess’s Blessing banquet, so make sure you wear that properly.”
“……Huh?”
I froze. What?
‘Picking me up? The tyrant brother is going to escort me to the banquet?’
What is an escort?
The role of a partner at a banquet implies they must stick together until the night ends. In other words, I would have to be joined at the hip with that guy throughout the entire event!
“I refuse.”
The words spilled out before I could stop them.
I realized my mistake the moment the air grew cold.
“What?”
“No, I mean—I refuse. Why would you escort me? Did you forget? I have a perfectly fine fiancé.”
“Ah, that piece of chaff who doesn’t care what happens to you?”
“…….”
Well, that’s undeniable.
I was left speechless by the fact-bomb my brother dropped. Truly, I think my fiancé wouldn’t even care if I were hit by a carriage right now. He’d probably just feel relieved, thinking, ‘Finally, she’s gone.’
“You have nothing to say to that, do you?”
That may be true, but I didn’t want to see him grinning like that.
Watching him look at me with such intensity, as if my defiance only made me more appealing, just made my stomach churn. That guy? Seriously?
“Come to think of it, not only does that guy lack a proper outfit for the banquet, but I’ve also ordered a strictly enforced dress code for the day. The banquet must be one of dignity. Therefore……”
My brother crossed his arms with a flourish of confidence.
Wow, he was such an eyesore. Handsome, yes, but still an eyesore.
“There is no way that piece of chaff will ever set foot in the banquet hall.”
Ending with a mischievous smirk, the tyrant turned and walked away.
I glared at his retreating back, then froze in my tracks.
“…….”
I found myself locking eyes with Noah, who was standing nearby, staring blankly into space.
He had a dazed expression, as if he had been drifting for some time. Only when he met my gaze did he seem to regain a shred of his composure. Given his brilliant blue hair and the cynical, scholar-like demeanor he usually maintained, seeing him look so vacant startled me—my irritation involuntarily ebbed away.
*What on earth is wrong with him?*
Loxidian must have noticed the state of his adjutant as well.
He clicked his tongue, a low, sharp sound, and grabbed Noah by the scruff of his neck.
“What are you doing, Adjutant? Follow me.”
“Ah… I understand. Your Majesty? I, I can walk on my own two feet.”
“Sure. Shut up.”
My brother dragged Noah out by the collar.
Did he treat even his most loyal aide like that? I clicked my tongue inwardly. How could anyone remain loyal to a tyrant despite such treatment? I didn’t know why Noah was acting so strangely, but I felt a flicker of sympathy for him.
Silence settled over the dress shop the moment my brother departed. I looked around and exhaled a long, heavy sigh.
*Between my brother and Grandfather, they are both desperate to tear my fiancé apart.*
At this point, I could clearly understand why my fiancé acted like a kitten, ready to shriek at the slightest breeze. I wondered how many people had tried to manipulate him using his fiancée as a means to an end.
Of course, it made me a hypocrite to admit it, but I wished he would accept me differently than he did the rest.
“And know this: I plan to announce the wedding date between you and Duke Remut at this upcoming Imperial Banquet.”
“You just keep quiet and win his heart. Use that beauty of yours to ensnare him, if you must. Tsk, how long do you intend to just chase after him so pathetically?”
Grandfather’s words flashed through my mind, accompanied by the tyrant’s uncharacteristic fussiness over whether my fiancé would even appear at the banquet.
It was a situation that naturally pulled another sigh from my lips.