Chapter 09
The carriage carrying Kylas and Ruelia stopped in front of the most dazzling shopping district in the city.
Rutilus Tailor Shop.
A cloud-shaped sign painted pink with gold lettering hung prettily above the entrance.
The small tailor shop that Count Emil’s daughter had received as a coming-of-age gift from her parents had already expanded into the very heart of the shopping district.
“Wow… it’s gotten even bigger.”
As the carriage door opened, Ruelia parted her lips slightly in awe.
Brilliantly colored flowers, the kind you’d expect to see grown in a greenhouse, lined the stairs, releasing a rich fragrance.
The sign, the railing, even the doorknob—everything was top quality.
For some reason, it felt overwhelming.
Is it really okay for someone like me to go inside a place like that?
As a commoner, she felt like she might shrink just by stepping in.
“Is this the place?”
Kylas, who had been wearing a serious expression and reading documents the entire way, finally looked outside.
He turned his head to examine the building they were about to enter.
“Yes, this is it.”
“Who owns this place?”
Had he still not looked into information about the woman he liked?
Ruelia quietly watched Kylas’s expression.
He looked clearly dissatisfied.
Maybe choosing such a high-end tailor shop had been a mistake. Kylas wasn’t someone who spent money on luxury, so this probably didn’t suit his taste.
“As far as I know, it belongs to Count Emil’s daughter. The same young lady who attended you at the knight family meeting.”
She subtly used Lady Emil as a shield.
Since he supposedly had feelings for her, she hoped his reaction would soften.
“Emil? Is this a place that received investment from the Bellona Trading Company?”
“No. I heard it was built and expanded entirely with the count family’s own funds.”
“Is that so? Then let’s go in.”
See? It worked.
Seeing the duke’s expression soften, Ruelia finally let out a quiet breath.
This would be her first real encounter with Count Emil’s daughter.
While she was here, she planned to gauge how deep the duke’s feelings were.
By understanding their relationship, she could plan how to help his love life going forward.
I hope the young lady has even a little interest in His Grace.
If so, everything would probably go smoothly.
Thinking this, Ruelia instinctively stood up to get out of the carriage first.
“Ruelia.”
Suddenly, Kylas stopped her.
He had already stepped out of the carriage and did something he never usually did, as if escorting a noble lady.
“Your Grace?”
Ruelia stared blankly at the hand extended toward her.
Kylas looked straight at her, holding the same steady posture.
“Aren’t you getting out?”
He urged her on.
“Ah, yes. I should.”
Ruelia carefully moved her body toward the outside of the carriage, passing right by the hand he offered.
But she didn’t manage to step down.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Kylas lifted his hand and blocked her, looking incredulous.
“Pardon? You told me to get out—”
“You’re going to step down on your own without taking the hand offered to you?”
“……”
What was wrong with him all of a sudden?
If this had happened before, she would have taken his hand without hesitation.
But Ruelia had never been treated like a lady by the duke before. Not because he lacked manners.
She’d never felt disappointed about it either.
Aide and superior.
Both of them had simply fulfilled their roles too well.
“Well… if I take Your Grace’s hand, won’t people misunderstand?”
“What?”
Melissa’s words from earlier lingered in her mind.
Mistress…
The duke she knew would never keep such a woman.
But the world wouldn’t see it that way.
Wasn’t noble society the kind of place where rumors spread before a fan could even be unfolded?
And Lady Emil, who ran a tailor shop catering to socialite ladies, would hear those rumors even faster. That would be bad.
“We’ve never done this before, so if your attitude suddenly changes—”
“What does other people’s opinion matter? By that logic, we shouldn’t even attend Bellona’s banquet together.”
“Well… that’s true.”
“Exactly. And if you’re going to attend banquets, you need to get used to this much.”
“That’s right.”
Ruelia nodded enthusiastically, already more than halfway convinced.
Kylas, satisfied, lifted the corner of his lips coldly and added,
“And even if people misunderstand and rumors spread, it wouldn’t be a bad thing.”
He glanced briefly at the tailor shop.
Then at the surrounding stores.
Ruelia followed his gaze toward Rutilus.
In the second-floor window, the shadow of an elegant hand moved faintly. It had to be Count Emil’s daughter.
“You’re absolutely right.”
Ruelia admired the deeper meaning behind his words.
She had always known he was smart. She just hadn’t expected him to use strategy even in love.
A jealousy tactic.
That was something she could gladly help with.
“I’m glad you understand.”
Kylas looked pleased with Ruelia’s cooperation.
The resignation letter clearly hadn’t been her true intention.
Perhaps it had been one of Count Bellona’s schemes. An attempt to drive a wedge between them.
That snake-like woman should give up by now.
If not, destroying the Bellona Trading Company would solve the problem.
Once something entered his territory, he had no intention of letting it be taken.
Especially capable talent.
“Then, let’s go.”
At his signal, Ruelia carefully placed her small hand on his.
A faint scent of ink lingered on her skin.
Her hand, calloused from holding a quill so often, was surprisingly soft. Warmer than a hot-water bottle tucked under blankets on a cold winter night.
A strange texture that made him want to squeeze it.
Kylas unconsciously tightened his grip.
Ruelia glanced nervously at where their hands overlapped.
Something feels… strange.
She hadn’t been treated like a lady by Kylas before, but she wasn’t unfamiliar with escorts in general.
The knights of the ducal house never held her hand this tightly.
Kylas wasn’t clumsy with ladies, so that couldn’t be the reason.
Did I do something wrong?
Her eyes darted around before she hurriedly added,
“Thank you.”
Kylas briefly furrowed his brow, then loosened his grip.
He sighed to himself and shook his head slightly.
“Your Grace?”
“Let’s go.”
His expression returned to normal.
He gently led Ruelia forward. The earlier awkwardness was completely gone.
He guided her smoothly all the way to the entrance of the tailor shop.
“Welcome, Duke Aber, and my lady.”
The doorman recognized them and bowed deeply.
For a moment, Ruelia felt as if she truly were a noble lady.
It was a dangerous kind of stimulation.
Rutilus was just as luxurious inside.
But the treatment was terrible.
Despite being VIP guests, they hadn’t met the boutique’s designer or owner yet.
Kylas was already in a bad mood. Sitting back with one leg crossed, he complained while Ruelia flipped through the catalog.
“What excellent hospitality.”
“It seems we came too suddenly.”
They hadn’t been able to make a proper reservation and had come after sending word in haste. That was probably why.
Still, this kind of treatment was probably a first for Kylas in his entire life.
He really must like the young lady.
To endure this kind of service and keep waiting.
The power of love.
Ruelia kept her eyes on the catalog.
“Wow… this is beautiful.”
The admiration slipped out naturally.
Was this Count Emil’s daughter’s work? The dresses were so gorgeous they were almost mesmerizing.
“If you see something you like, pick it out. So we don’t waste time once the owner arrives.”
“Ah, yes.”
He probably meant for her to choose quickly and leave.
Ruelia flipped pages, then stopped.
It was the simplest dress, with almost no decoration. It wasn’t complicated, so it seemed possible to make it within fifteen days.
“I like this one.”
Just then, the person who would take their order appeared at the reception room door.
“I apologize for the delay, Duke Aber.”
Brilliant blonde hair, calm green eyes, and a neat, elegant gait.
Lady Isla Emil.
Her first impression was quite good, and Ruelia tightly held onto her pounding heart.
At last, the man she served and the woman he loved were meeting face to face.
How would the duke react?
Full of anticipation, she turned to look at Kylas.
“Such arrogance from a mere count’s daughter.”
Ruelia went blank at Kylas’s shocking tone.
