RRMD 11

Chapter 11

The Grand Duke was always strict, but when he was angry, he was beyond words. Giselle figured he must have scolded her so harshly that she’d rather quit everything and go back to tending her nieces.

But that wasn’t the only thing Giselle regretted.

More than anything, she wanted to help him fulfill his wish—to become closer to his daughter. After all, this was the first time since that incident five years ago that Alcayd had said something like this.

She thought that alone was enough, but seeing him now, holding the young lady in his arms and smiling… Giselle’s eyes welled up as well.

That was why this time she absolutely could not fail!

Just then, Alcayd turned his gaze toward her. She didn’t need to ask to know what that meant. He wanted her to lead them to the next place!

…And, of course, it also meant she mustn’t fail again. Reading her master’s thoughts, Giselle spoke up with renewed courage.

“…Ha ha, I’m sure this next place will please her! Absolutely!”

Her brief despair over the failure of the first stop was gone. Revived, Giselle beamed confidently.

Her plan was perfect!

If there was any place children her age would be dying to go to, it was, of course…!

“Ta-dah!”

They left the dessert shop and arrived at…

A boutique filled with frilly lace, fancy ruffles, and children’s clothes adorned with expensive jewels.

It was a high-end children’s clothing boutique, one that usually only did custom orders.

And today of all days—it was a precious holiday.

But the moment she mentioned the name Alcayd Atteleon, the answer had come back instantly: Come anytime, we’ll be waiting.

The boutique’s owner herself, a woman in her mid-thirties as dazzling as the merchandise on display, came to greet them.

“I heard a precious young lady would be visiting… but my goodness, the Grand Duke Alcayd Atteleon himself! What an honor it is to meet you.”

Her eyes glittered as she looked at him.

For who was Alcayd Atteleon?

The emperor’s own brother and the only grand duke of the empire.

Among royalty and nobility, none outranked him.

Though why on earth he’d want to buy dresses for such a child, I cannot imagine…

The girl’s attire, frankly, was pitiful.

The madam, experienced from years in the clothing business, could tell at a glance.

The child wore something sewn from fabric fit for commoners. Though the stitching was neat and the design cute, what did it matter when the material itself was cheap?

Of course, the child herself was adorable—pretty features, a bright, beaming smile that made one want to pinch her cheeks.

But to the madam, a mere commoner-looking child’s appearance was of no importance.

What mattered was that the Grand Duke Alcayd Atteleon had entered her shop.

If she could secure dealings with him, it would raise her boutique’s prestige far more than any gold.

So the madam bowed deeply, eyes shining.

Alcayd, long used to people who either feared him, flattered him, or sought connections with him, was unfazed. But Lor was different.

Seeing the madam’s gleaming eyes, Lor shrank back, hiding slightly behind Alcayd.

That lady… scary…

The way her eyes sparkled at Father reminded him of wild animals in the forest. Cats’ eyes had gleamed just like that when they were hunting.

A jeweled cat…

A cat dressed in fancy clothes…

That was exactly how Lor saw the boutique’s madam.

“This child needs some clothes.”

“We do have some sample pieces prepared for display, but our shop is primarily custom-made…”

“Let her try the prepared ones first.”

Alcayd sat down on the sofa. Lor hopped right up and claimed the seat beside him.

He realized belatedly—ah, the sofa was designed for adults, far too tall for a child. He should have lifted her up himself instead of leaving her to climb on her own.

Yet while he berated himself, Lor was happily swinging her feet, amused that they didn’t reach the floor.

Meanwhile, the madam set a catalog on the tea table before them.

Had Alcayd not already declined refreshments after their dessert outing, she would surely have brought a full tea service as well.

The catalog, filled with the boutique’s children’s fashion designs, looked like it had been illustrated by a skilled artist. The children in the drawings seemed so vivid they might step right off the pages.

Alcayd had never chosen clothes in this manner before—least of all for a child.

But as he flipped through, a pleasant thought began to form.

If Lor wore such clothes… if she smiled brightly and kissed him again, like earlier…

The corners of his lips twitched.

“Shall I take a look?”

It was Giselle, standing behind him, who spoke. Alcayd gave her a slight nod.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to notice his stray thoughts.

On second thought, choosing Lor’s clothes was probably better left to Giselle anyway. She had certainly seen far more children’s clothing than he had.

And yet…

Something about it bothered him.

But what?

While Alcayd was lost in thought—

“This one, and this one, and this one…”

Giselle, flipping casually through the catalog, pointed at several outfits.

“My, how remarkable! You’ve picked all of our most popular designs!” the madam exclaimed, hurriedly jotting down the selections.

She then beckoned an attendant, handing him the list.

“Shall the young lady try them on, then?” she asked brightly.

Normally, noble clients only looked at the catalog, placed a custom order with their measurements and preferences, and had the completed garments delivered to their estate.

The display outfits on mannequins were just for show.

But since Alcayd had just said the child would try them on, the madam was simply double-checking.

Alcayd gave a slight nod.

Lor only had the one outfit she was wearing now. Since there were no other children in the ducal estate, of course there were no spare clothes for her.

He recalled Giselle pointing out just yesterday that the girl didn’t even have a change of clothes for the next day.

“Very well. Assist the child in changing into the chosen outfits.”

They could take a few suitable pieces now and place a proper order later.

Alcayd leisurely turned the remaining pages of the catalog.

Wait a moment. This one… and this one too…

Every outfit looked like it would suit Lor perfectly.

And yet Giselle hadn’t chosen any of the ones he found appealing.

Wouldn’t those suit her too…?

Perhaps he should just tell them to bring out everything in the catalog.

Frowning slightly, he glanced around the boutique.

Meanwhile, Giselle and the madam kept chatting.

“Perhaps you could also recommend something, Madam?”

“Oh, the young lady would look beautiful in anything… Truly, I can hardly make a recommendation!”

“Hm.”

Alcayd’s lips softened almost imperceptibly, but so subtly that the madam didn’t notice.

“Your Grace, is there any design that catches your eye? Everything would suit her well—shall we just purchase them all?”

“No. That won’t be necessary.”

Giselle’s fussing only made him more firm.

The designs here were indeed cute and charming, but to Alcayd’s eye, the fabrics were lacking.

Even compared to the clothes he himself wore today, the quality was inferior.

Of course, he failed to realize he had dressed in his finest garments for what he considered his first date with Lor.

Alcayd decided: they would purchase just a few outfits for now, then later summon this madam to the ducal estate and have Lor’s wardrobe remade with finer fabrics.

Come to think of it, didn’t something useful arrive from the imperial household last time…?

As Alcayd sank into thought, Giselle and the madam anxiously watched his expression.

But he paid them no mind, too absorbed in pondering what fabrics would best suit Lor.

I thought it was unnecessary back then, but it turns out I’ll be using it after all.