Episode 10
“Miss!”
“Eek!”
Dahlia let out a shriek so loud that her shoulders jolted violently in shock.
In contrast, Leoneld’s expression did not change at all as he smiled brightly.
“You’re rather unobservant, Rosine.”
“Ah—! I’m terribly sorry! I saw Miss Lara coming from outside the window.”
“Miss Lara?”
It was a name she had never heard before. Dahlia turned her head to look at him.
“She’s the designer who will make your wedding dress.”
“A designer?”
“It’s part of my work. Supporting talented young people.”
“Ah.”
Only then did Dahlia recall one of the youth support initiatives run by the Lancaster Ducal House.
It was a program that supported and assisted the businesses of talented young people regardless of status, mainly focusing on commoners rather than nobles who already had sufficient capital.
“I thought it might be best to ask Countess Poisson, but since the wedding is being prepared discreetly…”
“I don’t even want anything from Poisson Boutique.”
She fanned her face with her hand and shook her head.
Poisson Boutique was currently the most popular in the capital—and accordingly, the most expensive.
Naturally, Dahlia had never even set foot inside it.
Given how well-known the financial situation of the Noaroze Count family was in social circles, even if she were to visit and simply look around, she would be lucky if she wasn’t turned into a laughingstock.
No one would even believe she could afford anything there.
“Once the wedding takes place, everything will change, Dahlia.”
Leoneld placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled brightly.
“Poisson Boutique won’t be an issue anymore.”
Yet instead of comfort, Dahlia felt a faint ache in her chest at his radiant smile.
“Hello!”
At that moment, Lara, who had just come up to the second floor, greeted them cheerfully.
“Your Grace!”
Her hair, tied up high, shimmered with a soft cocoa-like color as if mixed generously with milk. She smiled lightly toward Leoneld.
“Thank you so much for calling me!”
“Rather, I should be the one thanking you, Miss Lara.”
“Oh no, it’s my honor.”
Lara smiled with her eyes curved and lightly tapped his shoulder—not enough to hurt.
“Miss Lara is trustworthy.”
Trustworthy? How well did they even know each other?
Dahlia stared at Leoneld’s shoulder where Lara’s hand had touched, then shifted her gaze to her face.
She looked barely around twenty. Her green eyes sparkled with intelligence.
“Pleased to meet you, um…”
She hesitated briefly.
Dahlia then politely introduced herself first.
“I’m Dahlia of the Noaroze Count family.”
“Oh, yes! Dahlia! I’m Lara Felton.”
Lara grabbed her hand and shook it up and down energetically.
“No, Miss Lara. When addressing a noble, you should use the family name.”
Leoneld gently corrected her etiquette, glancing subtly at Dahlia’s reaction.
“Oh! I’m sorry. I don’t often meet nobles…”
Lara sheepishly knocked herself lightly on the head and gave an awkward laugh.
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Dahlia answered stiffly.
It had nothing to do with status. She simply wasn’t the type to chat and laugh with strangers.
“Then… let’s start by taking your measurements and then review the fabric and design book!”
“Alright.”
“Then I’ll leave you ladies to your discussion.”
Leoneld looked at them with satisfaction, then asked Rosine to prepare refreshments before heading down to his office on the first floor.
“Then, shall we go ins—”
Before Dahlia could finish speaking, Lara slipped into the room first.
She casually placed her bag on the table, as if she had been here many times before.
“I’ll start with your measurements, Lady Noaroze.”
With a suddenly more businesslike demeanor, she took out a measuring tape and various tools from her bag.
“…Ah, yes.”
Though she felt uneasy, Dahlia did not show it and quietly allowed Lara to proceed.
Lara turned her body this way and that, taking measurements, then tilted one eyebrow lazily as she went to sit on the sofa.
“I’ve finished your measurements, Lady Noaroze. Would you like to look at the design book?”
She handed over one of several design books from her bag.
“You can just pick the style you like here.”
“Hm…”
Dahlia took the book and slowly began flipping through it. With each page, her expression darkened.
“…Is this all?”
“Yes. Why?”
Lara tilted her head while sitting somewhat carelessly.
“You don’t like it?”
Dahlia did not answer. It wasn’t a matter of liking or not liking.
These were clearly wedding dress designs, yet they were far removed from current social trends—outdated and old-fashioned.
Deeply plunging necklines and silhouettes emphasizing the body were styles that had gone out of fashion nearly a century ago.
Even commoners followed social trends in their clothing.
There was no way Lara wouldn’t know the latest fashion.
“It’s not that I don’t like it…”
“Isn’t this enough?”
“What do you mean?”
At Lara’s strange tone, Dahlia frowned, unable to hide her displeasure.
“Since you’re not bringing even a single coin as dowry.”
For a moment, Dahlia wondered if she had misheard.
“…What did you say?”
“I said you’re not bringing any dowry. That’s what I heard. And yet you still want a fashionable dress?”
Lara emphasized each word, raising her tone at the end.
Dahlia let out a hollow laugh, stunned into disbelief.
No matter how poor her family might be, she had never done anything to deserve such an insult from a stranger who knew nothing about her situation.
And besides—dowry? Had Leoneld told Lara about that?
Her heart pounded with rising heat, but Dahlia forced herself to stay calm.
“Miss Felton.”
She spoke slowly.
“You’re quite talkative for someone who knows nothing about me.”
Though her stomach churned with anger, she forced her lips into a controlled, slanted smile.
“I don’t have much patience.”
“…Pardon?”
“I assume you know I’m marrying the Duke of Lancaster, yet you still dare bring up my dowry without understanding your place…”
She shook her head slightly.
“How foolish.”
“Foolish…?”
“That means I won’t be funding your business anymore. Not a single coin.”
“What? W-what did you say?”
Lara’s face immediately turned pale at the merciless tone.
“Leave at once, Miss Felton.”
“W-wait just a moment!”
“And if you dare say anything careless about me outside…”
Dahlia stood up abruptly and swung the door open.
“…I can’t guarantee how I’ll respond.”
She pointed outside.
“My personality isn’t as kind as the Duke of Lancaster.”
“Lady Noaroze!”
“Now get out. I don’t want to see your face.”
The pent-up irritation and anger finally erupted.
“Rosine.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Throw her out immediately.”
“Yes!”
Rosine, who had been waiting outside, immediately grabbed Lara’s arm and pulled her away.
Lara screamed and struggled.
“Wait! You can’t do this to me!”
“Who do you think you are.”
Dahlia scoffed without even looking at her.
After Lara was dragged down the hallway, Dahlia closed her eyes to suppress her anger.
“What happened?”
A moment later, perhaps having heard the commotion, Leoneld rushed into the room.
“Did you tell her about the dowry?”
His sharp, furious gaze locked directly onto him.
