~Chapter 101~
Part 2 Epilogue (3)
I don’t know what state of mind I was in when I finished organizing the box and left Dane’s room.
Camilla didn’t want to hold onto that dress any longer. She went back to her room, gasping for breath.
“Don’t think about useless things.”
She could just ask Dane honestly. After all, he was now her husband, and she could ask anything she was curious about.
Knock, knock.
The light, spaced-out knocking told her exactly who it was.
When Camilla said he could come in, the door clicked open, and Dane stepped inside.
“Camilla. I heard you stopped by my room.”
“…Ah, yes. I’m planning to go out tomorrow with Eugenia and Lucy.”
“Really? Do you need anything?”
“It’s a secret just between girls.”
Camilla smiled like that, then cautiously called Dane over.
“Um, Dane…”
‘What was that dress in your room?’
She wanted to ask desperately. But when she tried, her lips wouldn’t move.
“…What kind of style of dress do you like?”
The words barely escaped her, and Dane’s eyes widened.
“Are you planning to leave it for the coronation? You should probably ask someone else about that. Or… is it for the upcoming Cardinan delegation welcome party?”
“For the party. But that’s just an excuse. I wanted to spend some time getting to know Eugenia better.”
“…If Eugenia is rude to you, just tell me immediately.”
“Hehe, no need to worry.”
Eugenia had been unusually polite lately, almost to the point of being burdensome.
“By the way, Dane…”
Camilla hesitated, then tried to speak again. Dane smiled and kissed her forehead.
“I like whatever dress you wear.”
His hands lightly supported her waist as if dancing.
“Empire-style dresses are like fluttering butterflies, so pretty.”
He meant the emerald empire dress Camilla was wearing now. Her eyes went wide.
“Even with a corset, it would look like a beautiful flower bud.”
Her cheeks turned red. Before she knew it, they were sitting far too close together on the sofa.
“But actually, what I like most is…”
A kiss.
Dane’s eyes narrowed as he looked deeply at her.
“You, yourself.”
Camilla’s face flushed.
“-Dane!”
“So, choose whatever you like, my wife. Everything will look beautiful anyway.”
The newlyweds were far too passionate. Camilla swallowed her words and could only wrap her arms around his shoulders.
‘I must be a fool.’
She couldn’t say a single word she wanted to. Finally, the day of their appointment arrived. Camilla got ready and stepped outside.
Her waist ached, and her head hurt, but she couldn’t break the promise to go out.
“New sister-in-law!”
Lucy threw herself at her.
Camilla lifted the dazzlingly cute Lucy, who wore a pink dress.
“You look so cute in that outfit.”
“Woong!”
“And Sir Dunburton too.”
He wasn’t in his usual knight uniform. Just a light lime evening dress with a rapier at his waist.
“…Grand Duchess, you’re cute too.”
Camilla’s eyes went wide, then she smiled brightly.
“Thank you.”
On the way to the shopping district by carriage, Lucy chattered without pause.
Mostly about how skilled she had become with her sword, what she played with her mother, and what she learned about the Cardinan Kingdom in the Eastern continent.
“Cardina! It’s the most prosperous! Boom, boom! Our Je-gugi and Ma-ssang-ma-ka!!”
“Your Highness, speak politely to the Grand Duchess.”
“Um, yes… ma’am…”
Camilla smiled quietly. Each of Lucy’s words eased her thoughts a little.
“Ah! Look!!! There’s a bar over there!!!”
Lucy pointed outside the carriage.
“Camilla made it!!!!”
Seeing the construction, Camilla lifted the corners of her mouth slightly.
“I see.”
Back in Escalus, Camilla began to systematically deal with the harm Baron Mowin had caused.
Dane left the handling of the arena funds and Mowin family assets to Camilla.
She decided to use them for the welfare of those harmed by Mowin, investigating affected commoners and supporting welfare projects.
Even the orphanage being built outside now carried Camilla’s influence.
“You’re observant, Lucy?”
“Hehe!”
Eugenia watched Camilla and Lucy quietly.
“Grand Duchess, you seem more relaxed than before.”
“Hmm?”
“Ah! That’s right! Camilla!!! You’ve softened!!”
Camilla’s eyes went wide at the unexpected comment.
“You look much calmer now than when we met at the party.”
‘Ah.’
When she was preparing for revenge, Camilla had been tense like a thorn.
When she met Lucy, the revenge was over, but not everything else.
Now, there was no need to be on guard.
“It might be because Sir Dunburton and Lucy are nearby.”
She smiled quietly, and Lucy beamed.
“Lucy.”
“Hmm?”
“Call me Lucy, since you’re my new sister-in-law! I’ll even allow casual speech!”
“…Shall I?”
Smiling at each other, they arrived at the dress shop. Madame Sollic personally greeted them, lifting the dress hems and welcoming all three.
“It is an honor for our house to welcome the new Grand Duchess and Grand Princess of Escalus, along with Miss Dunburton.”
Following Madame Sollic, they entered the shop.
Eugenia had rented the shop to browse freely, so they were the only customers.
“I’d like to look at dresses suitable for the delegation party.”
“Here’s the catalog.”
Madame Sollic opened it. Each chose a dress and received recommendations. Time passed like flowing water.
“As expected, Sir Dunburton, this suits you perfectly.”
“Grand Duchess, with your fresh green eyes, bright green or soft ivory dresses suit you best.”
“Really?”
Lucy eagerly pointed at a page.
“Camilla!! This one, this one!”
It was an ivory satin dress with luxurious gold vine patterns.
“Look! Look! It suits Camilla so well!!”
“Yes, it’s beautiful.”
Madame Sollic nodded as Eugenia agreed.
“Grand Princess, this matches the custom pattern His Highness Dane ordered every year!”
Camilla’s eyes went wide. The air grew slightly tense.
“Custom pattern?”
“Oh, I must have been mistaken. Please forgive me.”
Madame Sollic bowed deeply, hands trembling.
Camilla remembered the dress in Dane’s room. She asked Madame Sollic dryly:
“…Well, I want to know what’s going on.”
“Grand Duchess.”
Eugenia tried to stop her, slightly flustered.
“His Highness, even as Grand Duke, personally ordered dresses for the late Grand Duchess each year? Including this year?”
“I don’t know exactly who it was for, but whenever he returned to Escalus around the birthday, he visited our shop.”
‘He personally ordered women’s dresses every year? Dane?’
The dress Camilla saw in the room wasn’t suitable for Grand Duchess Renelia—it was youthful and small.
‘…Almost like Nina’s size.’
A cold tension began to fill the shop.
Ding!
The door opened. A woman entered proudly, holding her head high.
“M-Milliam. Is this okay? Did someone rent the shop?”
“Urgent matters, I must come immediately.”
Other voices protested, including the staff, but the intruder spoke sharply:
“Are you ignoring me? I was the Grand Duchess’s tutor!”
Camilla’s green eyes darkened and glimmered intensely. Lucy glanced at her, covering her mouth in surprise.
“Hmm?”
