~Chapter 49~
“Did you understand clearly, Penny? What are you supposed to do if someone comes looking for me and asks about the dresses while I’m away?”
I asked Penny again. I felt a bit guilty since both Penny and Nathan had to work late, but it couldn’t be helped. We had to leave first thing tomorrow morning.
“I’m sorry, but all reservations are fully booked at the moment,” Penny said, bowing politely.
Then she stepped closer and whispered softly into my ear:
“But if it’s for you, Lady, we’ll make room even if it’s not available. If you wait just a moment at home, we’ll contact you as soon as a spot opens up. But you understand, right? Absolutely no one else can know about this. Our little secret.”
Penny smiled warmly. Even if the devil appeared, it wouldn’t sound sweeter than that voice.
“All right, Penny. Somehow, I feel special, and my urge to buy things is surging. I knew you’d be good. Business is best run by someone who loves money.”
I smiled fondly and patted her shoulder.
“But don’t forget—if you get caught skimming money, you know what happens.”
I didn’t forget to issue a little threat.
“Of course. I’d never make the mistake of chasing small profits and losing the big money. As long as Lady Dalia doesn’t forget my investment,” she replied.
“Don’t worry. I remember everything. As long as this goes well, I’ll make sure you’re properly rewarded.”
I held Penny’s hand tightly.
I continued giving careful instructions for a while longer.
“Nathan, don’t talk too much. Just smile, okay?”
“Why? I have a mouth too.”
“Uh-uh, no.”
“Why? Because of my face?”
“Uh-uh, it’s not your face. The problem is your prickly personality. You have zero service spirit! The fact that you don’t wrestle customers by the collar is lucky enough.”
“I have the finest dresses, what do I need service for? I’m a noble too.”
“Who said anything about fawning? Just sell the things.”
“…Fine. Since Lady Dalia says so, I’ll listen.”
Nathan accepted my words obediently.
He had heard from Sophienne about what happened at the banquet. Nathan believed I had taken revenge for him.
It wasn’t true at all, but well… it was a harmless misunderstanding, so I let it slide.
“All right, just suffer a little in my place for a few days.”
I gave him my last encouragement.
It was frustrating not to be able to personally handle things just as the money was about to roll in. Still, with these preparations, he could manage while I was away for a few days.
“By the way…”
I turned toward the doorway. Simon was standing there, diligently writing something.
“Simon, what have you been doing there all this time?”
“You don’t need to worry about it,” he replied politely, giving a small smile before returning his gaze to the paper.
Don’t worry, huh?
But whenever Simon’s paper was involved, it never meant anything good. Usually, it was recording my mistakes, noting what I hadn’t done, or pointing out my impoliteness…
I slowly approached him. Focused as he was, Simon didn’t even notice me coming and continued moving his pen vigorously.
“Breathing rate, sixteen times per minute?”
“Eek!”
Simon jumped like a bear caught by a gallbladder hunter. He hurriedly hid the paper behind his back.
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
“Uh-uh.”
“No….”
I held out my palm and stared at him quietly. Without a word, Simon eventually placed the paper obediently in my hand.
“Twenty-four smiles, thirteen nose twitches, three looks of annoyance… What is this? Did Etienne tell you to spy on me?”
“No, it’s not spying. I was told to just check if you were well…”
So basically, he was treating me like a commodity. A survey of quantities or something… I should have taken a bigger run-up for the headbutt.
I crumpled the paper tightly in my fist. Simon’s hand rose as if to grab it but then dropped helplessly.
“We don’t need this. Go tell him I’m in a great mood and looking very happy.”
We decided to depart as soon as the morning sun rose. If we delayed, we might end up spending three whole days in the carriage.
I woke up early before sunrise, still half-sleepless from the night, and watched the servants preparing.
Yesterday I had been too angry to know what to do, but now, about to leave, I felt a prickling unease.
My luggage was loaded into an unfamiliar golden carriage. Both the carriage and the servants were from Vessus. I would be with them for the next few days.
In that time, the month I had promised Etienne could pass.
Divorce… or a convent…
Would I get to speak to Etienne again? He wouldn’t completely cut me off, right?
I kicked a stone.
The more I reflected with a clear mind, the more regret I felt.
Etienne hadn’t changed at all.
From the first time he had pointed a knife at me, to when he locked me in the convent, he had been the same. Bringing me to his mansion had only been to retrieve his property.
So it wasn’t surprising that he treated me like a simple possession.
If anything, the problem was that he had treated me slightly better than before. I alone had gotten my hopes up and been disappointed. Of course, him taking my lips without permission… that was definitely a huge mistake.
“I… should apologize, right?”
I’m a reasonable person; I know how to apologize when I’m wrong.
I’d tell him I was going to look into the deal between Vessus and me a bit more, ask him to wait just a little, and promise I wouldn’t sulk in strange ways anymore.
Also… sorry for the headbutt.
I slightly lifted my skirt. Once I decided to go, I grew anxious. At that moment, Vessus suddenly appeared and blocked my path.
“Where are you going?”
“I just need to step out for a moment.”
“We’re about to leave. If we delay, the sun will set on the road, and the drivers will have trouble.”
His tone was warm, but firm. He meant I shouldn’t go.
“There’s still time before the scheduled departure. The sun hasn’t even risen.”
“But all the luggage is loaded. There’s no reason to delay.”
I glanced at the carriage. As he said, all the luggage was already loaded.
Should I just go?
I clenched my fingers.
I don’t want to.
“I’m going to the restroom.”
“Huh?”
“Want me to tell you what I’m doing in there too?”
“No… sorry. Go ahead.”
Vessus stepped aside with an embarrassed expression. I passed him quickly and hurried toward the palace.
Sorry. About yesterday. Sorry for hitting you.
I hurried up the stairs, thinking about what to say.
“Huff, huff.”
Finally, I reached the fourth floor, where Etienne’s room was.
Who is this dress even made for? Not for a display doll!
It had been fine walking slowly with the help of the maids, but running was impossible.
The full skirt kept slipping down and tangling around my feet, and the heavy fabric made my ankles feel like lead.
“Ugh, I should make Nathan a comfortable dress and sell it. Or make women’s pants? Anything would be better than this.”
Thinking about money, I arrived at Etienne’s door. My heart pounded. I couldn’t tell if it was from running or from seeing Etienne.
But something felt wrong.
“Why is no one here?”
No servants, no maids.
Could he be out of the room?
I nervously grabbed the doorknob.
I flung the door open. The room was empty.
My heart dropped to the floor.
Was I going to leave without seeing Etienne?
Then, from behind, a familiar voice spoke.
“Lady Dalia?”
“Simon! Where’s Etienne?”
“He went out this morning. I thought he’d gone to you, Lady Dalia, but you didn’t meet him? Ah… he must have had other business.”
I bit my lip.
So it didn’t matter whether I left or not.
I bit my lip tightly. For some reason, tears threatened to spill.
My heart felt emptier than words could express.
Where did he go?
“Well, he must have had urgent matters. Can’t be helped. Then, when Etienne returns, please tell him I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?”
“Yes. And that I was actually grateful for his care… say it like that and he’ll understand.”
Simon gave me a puzzled look as if he couldn’t comprehend my words.
But I didn’t elaborate further. If I did, I might embarrassingly cry.
Instead, I smiled cheerfully.
I left Simon behind and trudged down the stairs I had just run up.
“Well, can’t be helped. Maybe it’s for the best. I’ll just use the time apart to tidy up my own dark thoughts.”
Vessus was waiting by the carriage, ready for departure. With a conflicted heart, I took his hand and climbed aboard. He held the carriage door and looked at me for a moment.
“Did you say goodbye to Etienne properly?”
How did he know? This is why I dislike perceptive people.
“No, he stepped out for a moment,” I replied nonchalantly, as if I had no intention of hiding it.
“Oh, what urgent matter makes him leave so early without a proper farewell? That’s a shame.”
“It’s fine. By the way, did you say goodbye to Sophienne, Vessus?”
Vessus stared at me briefly, then smiled silently.
Why? Feeling guilty, perhaps?
Then, from behind, a voice I didn’t want to hear reached my ears.
“I didn’t expect you to take care of me as well. I’m honored, Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”
A gorgeous blonde with a doll-like face appeared before me.
“Sophienne Belmain?”
I looked between the two of them.
I thought they were going to have a romantic farewell.
But both of them were looking only at me.
Why? What are you looking at? What do you want?
Puzzled, I saw Vessus speak.
“Dalia, if you’re okay with it, I’d like Sophienne to accompany us on this inspection.”
“Uh… um.”
I narrowed my eyes, trying to guess his reason.
