Chapter 69
Eugenia glanced around nervously and added softly,
“If you don’t like the brooch, I’ll get a pendant chain for it later. The gemstone won’t be damaged. So, don’t worry too much.”
But Joshua shook his head.
“No, I like it.”
He took his eyes off the brooch and looked straight at Eugenia.
His golden eyes were filled with a radiant light.
Selmia was no exception.
“It’s so pretty!”
Her voice was so high and clear that it was hard to believe she’d just woken up.
“I’m going to wear it on my chest every single day!”
Only then did Eugenia’s expression relax.
Her eyes curved into crescents, filled with laughter, and she sang back cheerfully,
“Then I’ll have to buy you a beautiful outfit to match the brooch, won’t I?”
“Yay! New clothes!”
The girl grabbed the brooch in both hands, lifted it high into the air, and began running around the room as if flying a plane.
Joshua watched his twin sister’s antics in stunned silence before shifting his gaze back to Eugenia.
“What’s gotten into you?”
“What do you mean, ‘what’s gotten into me’?”
Eugenia chuckled, lowering her gaze just a little.
She was supposedly setting the breakfast table, so her actions didn’t seem suspicious.
She continued speaking.
“Ever since we came here, we haven’t been able to go to the market together. I found a job right away, and we didn’t have time.”
When she raised her head again, her smile was as soft as a spring breeze as she looked at the children.
“Why? You don’t want to go out with me?”
Joshua thought her gaze lingered more than usual today, but he didn’t point it out.
Facing her head-on felt a little embarrassing, almost ticklish, but he didn’t dislike it.
“Hmph, whatever.”
He rubbed his nose roughly and replied gruffly.
“If you want to hang out, I’ll tag along.”
“Well, thank you so much, Lord Joshua.”
Eugenia split some bread and spread butter over it, handing it to Joshua.
“Here, eat up. And Selmia, stop running around and come have breakfast.”
“Okay!”
For the first time in a while, the three of them sat in a circle and ate together.
It had been a while, but this cheerful and warm morning had now become familiar.
* * *
After breakfast, Eugenia and the twins left the inn.
She hadn’t told them their destination in advance, and when her steps veered away from the market path, Joshua asked,
“Where are we going?”
“Oh, sorry. I should’ve explained. We’re going to the plaza today.”
Selmia simply smiled, happy to be out on a trip, but not Joshua.
He immediately furrowed his brows.
“Clothes from the market are way cheaper. Why go to the plaza?”
It wasn’t a concern he would’ve had if he were still living with his original status.
Eugenia swallowed the bitter feeling and forced a smile.
“Look at you. I’m rich now.”
She puffed herself up deliberately, and Joshua snorted.
“Yeah right. Like you’ve got money. Let’s just go to the market. It’s not like we’re gonna need fancy clothes anyway.”
She knew he wasn’t trying to belittle her—he was just worried in his own way.
Holding back a pang of affection, Eugenia placed her hands on her hips with exaggerated determination.
She needed to lighten the mood.
“Sigh. I didn’t want to use this method, but I have no choice.”
She let out a long, dramatic sigh, then made eye contact with Selmia and gave her a look.
“Selmia, grab him.”
“Okay, sis!”
Selmia rushed over and locked arms with Joshua’s left arm.
At the same time, Eugenia grabbed his right hand tightly.
“Joshua, you’re under arrest!”
“Under arrest!”
Eugenia shouted first, and Selmia echoed her with a giggle.
“Hey! Let go! I said, let go!”
Taken by surprise, Joshua found himself dragged forward helplessly by the two girls.
“This is so embarrassing! I said I’ll walk, so let me go already!”
And so, Joshua was dragged all the way to the plaza by the two girls.
They only let him go once they arrived in front of the grandest clothing boutique in the square.
Inside the boutique.
When Eugenia mentioned she wanted to buy clothes, the three of them were immediately guided to the fitting area.
‘I’m so glad they don’t discriminate based on appearance here.’
Relieved they hadn’t been turned away, Eugenia let out a quiet sigh.
“First, we’ll take your measurements.”
“But we’re just buying ready-made clothes?”
Eugenia asked hesitantly, and the staff replied kindly.
“Yes, but we’ll tailor them to fit.”
“I see.”
This was a place she had learned about through gossip among the laundry maids.
They had said the owner was kind, they had a wide range of ready-made clothes, and they offered same-day alterations. She’d remembered it just in case.
The staff took out a measuring tape and began taking Joshua and Selmia’s measurements—height, shoulder width, etc.
Eugenia quietly observed the process, then murmured softly as if the thought had just struck her,
“You two have really grown a lot.”
They say children grow overnight, and it was true.
She hadn’t noticed since they were always together, but now that she was paying attention, both of them had gotten much taller.
‘I’m glad I brought them.’
If she had tried to surprise them by buying the clothes alone, it would’ve turned out to be a laughable disaster. She smiled bitterly at the thought.
The staff diligently jotted down the measurements, then bowed slightly and said,
“I’ll bring out a few outfits that might suit them. Please wait a moment.”
As soon as the staff left, Joshua stomped over with an annoyed look.
“This place is expensive, isn’t it?”
“Probably pricier than the market.”
“Eugenia, what money do you have to be shopping here? It’s not too late, let’s just—”
“No. We’re buying them here.”
Her firm tone made Joshua pause.
Eugenia spoke again, more resolutely this time.
“We have to. You can’t wear market clothes anymore.”
“What are you talking about…?”
She gently rested her hand on his shoulder and looked him straight in the eyes.
“We’re going to meet your great-aunt. We can’t greet her in shabby clothes.”
“…What?”
Joshua’s eyes shook.
He swallowed hard several times, as if trying to process the unexpected news, before finally whispering,
“We can… really meet her? For real?”
“Mm-hm.”
“R-Really? Truly?”
“Yes. Really. We’re going to see her this evening.”
Eugenia smiled softly.
Then she turned to Selmia, who had been standing frozen and beckoned her over.
It was only a few steps away, but Selmia quickly rushed to stand beside her brother.
She was the first to tightly grab Joshua’s hand.
Watching them, Eugenia opened her mouth to speak.
“So…”
But she couldn’t finish the sentence.
Her throat was tighter than she’d expected.
“Master Joshua, Miss Selmia.”
She cleared her throat a few times and forced a smile.
“You must greet her politely and with good manners. You can do that, right?”
That evening.
Eugenia entered the Herace estate with the twins.
Since this was an unofficial visit, they couldn’t come through the wrought-iron front gate.
‘Soon, we’ll be able to walk in through that gate with our heads held high.’
Meanwhile, the children were full of awe as they admired the grand estate.
“Wow, it’s huge.”
“Yeah, it really is.”
Eugenia walked toward the sunroom, accompanied by the children’s murmured excitement.
“Lady Jacqueline Hannah Herace is waiting for you inside.”
She was so used to speaking casually now that formal speech didn’t come easily.
“Ah, what am I doing? I shouldn’t be speaking so informally anymore,” she muttered with a wry smile.
“I’ll take you inside. They’re waiting.”
As she deliberately raised her speech level, the kids’ expressions shifted subtly.
Selmia’s eyes welled up as if she were about to cry, and she raised her voice toward Eugenia.
“Sis! Don’t—”
But Joshua gripped her hand tightly and stopped her.
“Sherry. Later. There’s something we have to do first.”
“…Okay. Got it, ShuShu.”
What had Selmia been about to say?
Eugenia wondered for a moment, but there was no more time to dwell on it.
She gave the children a final once-over.
The lavender-toned outfits they had bought at the plaza suited them perfectly, as if tailor-made.
After returning to the inn with the altered clothes, Eugenia had attached the brooch—at the neck for Selmia, and at the waist for Joshua—before bringing them here.
They still looked clean and neat, so there was no reason to delay.
She reached for the door handle to the sunroom.
“All right. Let’s go in.”
The children nodded with solemn faces.
Eugenia opened the door, and together, they stepped inside.
