Chapter 24
Elinor purchased four dresses she could wear immediately and requested that three of them be delivered to the palace.
She returned to the Crown Prince’s residence wearing the remaining one at the pleading of Madame Renouard.
“Please, leave that terrible dress here instead of bringing it with you.”
Madame Renouard insisted she would fix it and send it to the Crown Prince’s residence herself. She also remarked that the fabric itself wasn’t bad, but the design was outrageous, and she shuddered at it.
“Of course, the Crown Prince’s residence is tightly managed by Madame Ferretto. You must be having a hard time, my lady.”
Naturally, Madame Renouard had some understanding of the situation. Madame Ferretto was a very famous figure.
While spending time with Madame Renouard, Elinor learned more details about who Madame Ferretto was.
She had originally been the late Empress Helen’s lady-in-waiting. Later, she brought her distant niece, Julia, into the empress’s service, gaining the emperor’s attention.
In the end, Madame Ferretto, the wife of the Marquis, was the source of the misfortune between Empress Helen and Renatus.
Thanks to that, she had maintained a close, trusting relationship with the empress and ultimately became the head lady-in-waiting of the Crown Prince’s residence, tying even the late empress’s son into her influence.
‘It was useful time spent. This is too delicate a topic to hear directly from the Crown Prince himself.’
Elinor wore the dress tailored at Renouard’s boutique and went to the Crown Prince’s residence.
She was returning the remaining money pouch to Renatus and expressing her gratitude. He had given generously, leaving enough for one more dress.
“Sir Alber, I have come to see His Highness, the Crown Prince.”
“If it is something important, I will bring you to the reception room.”
“That’s alright. I don’t want to interrupt during official matters.”
Elinor tried to enter the office but paused for a moment and whispered to Alber:
“Did you fulfill my request from yesterday?”
“Yes.”
Alber answered with the same slightly reluctant expression.
“I have arranged for the reply to be received outside the palace. I will let you know when it comes.”
“Thank you.”
Elinor answered brightly and moved forward again. At some point, she had begun to walk as quietly as possible.
‘If he looks busy, I’ll come back later.’
Elinor peeked from behind the wall and saw Renatus sitting at his desk.
He was wearing glasses and signing documents that looked like reports. He remained like that for quite some time.
‘I’ll come back later.’
Elinor was about to leave after watching Renatus, when suddenly:
“How long do you intend to keep spying?”
Startled by Renatus’s voice, Elinor looked at him. His gaze had reached her from quite far.
“…I’ve been caught.”
Elinor stepped slightly out from behind the wall, embarrassed. The dress swished around her waist.
Renatus’s eyes flickered for a moment as he looked at her. Was it perhaps not suitable?
“That dress is…”
“Not good?”
Elinor stepped carefully one step forward.
“I wore a simple white one.”
Of course, she had chosen the white dress with the frilly, old-fashioned lace from earlier. She suspected Madame Ferretto would pretend not to notice, gritting her teeth.
Elinor had selected a round-neck, puffed-sleeve white chiffon dress. Madame Renouard had strongly recommended it, saying it was not only modest but also cute, which suited her very well.
Usually, Elinor had a pure, lily-like aura, but today she looked like a cute little lily-of-the-valley. She carefully held the straight hem of the dress and looked at Renatus.
The lace on the hem fluttered lightly. Renatus’s gaze seemed to waver along with it.
“…It suits you.”
“You were slow to answer. It’s fine to be honest.”
“No, I was just trying to find the proper words.”
But it was too ordinary an answer for that. Renatus finally realized his mistake. He should have answered first and saved the impression for later.
“You should have answered quickly. Don’t misunderstand.”
“Yes.”
Elinor smiled faintly and continued speaking.
“I came to report my outing today. I bought four dresses, and this is one of them. I even have enough left to buy one more.”
Elinor took out the money pouch and handed it to Renatus. He stared at it.
“I came to return it.”
“Without buying one more?”
“It seemed wasteful. I originally planned to buy only three dresses, but ended up with four.”
“Quite frugal.”
He still didn’t take the pouch. Waiting, Elinor asked softly:
“Do you not intend to take it?”
“No.”
Then Renatus placed another pouch on top of Elinor’s hand.
It felt heavy, and Elinor was startled. Renatus looked at her and slightly raised the corners of his mouth.
“Let’s buy five more, Lady Elinor.”
“Your Highness, that is extravagant.”
Elinor protested in embarrassment.
“Everyone will think it was bought by you. Your reputation might—”
“It will rise, won’t it? As a devoted husband.”
“……”
“Although we are not married yet. Isn’t that what we are hoping for by doing this?”
When he reminded her of the intention again, Elinor had no more words.
Renatus then stood and approached her.
“Do not refuse, Elinor.”
Elinor nodded and clenched her hands around the two pouches. Renatus was now right in front of her.
“Did nothing happen during your outing?”
Elinor hesitated, wondering if she should confess about meeting Celeste.
“I met Lady Boel, and she discovered that I will be marrying Your Highness.”
“Hmm, and?”
Renatus’s expression seemed completely unconcerned, and Elinor was briefly flustered.
“Of course, she would have known soon enough, but becoming enemies with the Boel family like this…”
“Are you worried?”
“Yes.”
“About me?”
“Yes.”
Elinor nodded, as if asking why he asked the obvious.
“I may have to cooperate with Empress Julia.”
“Well, possibly.”
Renatus nodded in agreement, but it was Elinor who became more anxious.
“Aren’t you worried?”
“Have you forgotten? Your father already sides with the Empress.”
Renatus shrugged.
“I am still the Crown Prince. Nothing changes even if the Duke of Boel intervenes. As long as I act properly.”
“Of course, but…”
His words were so theoretical that Elinor couldn’t help worrying. She promised him earnestly:
“I will do my utmost to support Your Highness.”
Startled by her sudden seriousness, Renatus laughed.
“Suddenly?”
“Because we are in this together.”
“Hmm, yes.”
Renatus nodded, lowered his head, and met her eyes closely.
“So, you worry about me like this?”
Elinor nodded, and Renatus smiled faintly, raising his hand.
He gently adjusted the strands of hair that had been messy, and Elinor flinched, looking cute.
“You can’t replace the Crown Prince without reason.”
Renatus whispered softly.
“Until now, my being unmarried was at least a flaw… but now that I have someone, that is meaningless.”
The gaze on him made him thirsty. He had felt this several times, most recently when she entered the room.
He slowly licked his lower lip and finished his words:
“So you only need to follow the setup, my lady.”
“Setup?”
“Because we love each other.”
Renatus whispered and moved closer to Elinor.
She finally realized the closeness was unusual, and her eyelids trembled.
The movement, like butterfly wings, looked beautiful. Renatus pressed his lips to them without hesitation.
“The setup is that we are married, of course.”
Because we love each other.
The premise, like a spell, naturally drew them to each other. Their lips slowly met.
