Chapter 57
The more dresses I tried on, the more exhausted I felt. So after this last one, I told the staff I wouldn’t be trying on any more.
After seeing that kind of reaction, I didn’t even feel like putting on another.
The final dress was pure white — like a wedding gown, with a full, flowing skirt, a narrow waistline, and bare shoulders. They let my hair down completely and then gathered it neatly into a half-up style.
I thought they just tied it with a ribbon, but instead, they crafted a large silk bow in the same color as the dress, adorning my hair as extravagantly as the gown itself.
As expected of the Empire’s top boutique.
They really were professionals. The only problem was that the model — me — wasn’t much to work with.
When the curtain opened again, I didn’t even bother to look forward; I just kept my eyes on the floor. There was no point. The Crown Prince’s compliments would be lukewarm at best, and I’d stopped expecting anything.
Since I was wearing long gloves, I couldn’t even fidget. I simply folded my hands over my stomach and stood still.
As expected, the Crown Prince said nothing. I was about to turn around and tell them I was done when suddenly, someone grasped my gloved hand.
“Wait.”
I looked up. It was Jereon, still holding my hand, his eyes fixed on me. I had no idea why he was staring at my face instead of the dress, but the glances from the others in the room were starting to make me uneasy.
“Your Highness, is something the matter?”
“Wear that one.”
“…Pardon?”
“Don’t change. Go back to the palace in that dress.”
“It’s a little too extravagant to wear outside.”
“I want to have tea in the villa. Keep it on until then.”
“But—”
“Keep it on.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
The boutique owner approached him, asking if that was the dress he’d chosen so she could prepare the invoice to send to the palace. Jereon instructed her,
“Send all the dresses she tried on earlier to the villa’s wardrobe.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And the jewelry from before — include that as well.”
“Yes.”
The staff continued to move only for us until we finally left the boutique. I could feel the stares of the noblewomen waiting nearby — their eyes practically glued to my dress. They fanned themselves rapidly, whispering among one another.
It was beautiful, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wasn’t someone who should be wearing something like this. I didn’t know the exact price, but rumor had it that a single ball gown cost more than a commoner’s annual income.
The value was evident — the skirt filled nearly the entire interior of the imperial carriage. Jereon climbed in after me, careful not to step on the fabric.
Why does he keep staring so openly like that?
Since it was a gift, I couldn’t exactly tell him to stop looking, so I just turned my gaze to the window, pretending not to notice his eyes on me.
When we arrived at the villa, the Crown Prince exited first and escorted me out. Holding up the heavy skirt and stepping carefully, one foot at a time, was exhausting.
Nancy, waiting by the entrance, gasped and hurried forward.
“Oh my! Lady Shanael! You look absolutely stunning!”
Not only Nancy — all the maids in the lobby burst into praise. Well, technically, the compliments were for the dress, not me. The gown drew so much attention that they only noticed the Crown Prince standing beside me afterward.
It really did contain everything women dreamed of — a full skirt, a cinched waist, a pure white hue, delicate exposed shoulders, and light, transparent jewels adorning it just enough to shimmer with every step I took.
“Let’s have tea on the balcony in the parlor,” Jereon said.
The maids who had been admiring the dress quickly bowed.
“Let’s go, Shanael.”
I felt his hand graze the small of my back as we walked. He matched his pace to mine — normally, I would’ve followed behind him, but walking side by side like this, being escorted by him, made me feel strangely like a princess.
We entered the parlor and walked to the window. When I opened the glass door, the view of the eastern garden stretched before us — full of blooming trees whose fragrance wafted in the air.
I sat down with the help of the maids.
Jereon, noticing my discomfort, asked quietly,
“What’s wrong? Is the chair uncomfortable?”
“No. I’m just worried the skirt will wrinkle. I need to keep it nice for the ball…”
“Don’t wear that one to the ball.”
“…What?”
What was he talking about? Wasn’t this for the ball?
“Why not?”
“I bought that one for me — because I want to see you in it. So wear another one to the ball.”
I was about to ask what he meant when the maids entered with tea and cookies. Normally they’d serve cake, but it seemed they avoided anything that might stain the dress.
It was the first time I’d ever had tea alone with the Crown Prince.
Sitting face-to-face like this made conversation surprisingly hard. It felt like a blind date with a stranger.
Even as he sipped his tea, Jereon kept staring at me.
“Your Highness, instead of just looking, why not say what you’re thinking?”
“Do my eyes look like they’re complimenting you?”
“Aren’t they? You’re surprised how well the dress suits me, right?”
I teased him to break the tension. Normally, he’d scoff and deny it, but this time Jereon simply smiled faintly and said,
“Yes, that’s right.”
“…”
“I can’t take my eyes off you.”
“You like the dress that much?”
“Yes. Enough to want to see it every day.”
“Then what did you mean earlier — when you said you bought it just so you could see it?”
“Do you remember what I told you about the meaning of the necklace?”
“…The necklace?”
“Your beauty — I want it to be seen only by me.”
His whispered voice from that day echoed in my ears, and my face grew hot. Don’t overthink it, I told myself. The Crown Prince had said plenty of misleading things before — things that always ended up meaning something entirely different.
He’d called me “his person,” only to clarify later that he meant it as a subordinate. He’d said he feared my death because of the novel’s plot, not because of me.
There was no way the Crown Prince could truly have feelings for a commoner like me.
Don’t let your heart race. It’s not the first time you’ve misunderstood.
I forced myself to calm down when Jereon suddenly asked,
“You’re not wearing the necklace today?”
“It’s expensive. I can’t wear it all the time.”
“Wear it every day. I wear mine every day — it’s meaningless if you don’t.”
“…Understood.”
He lifted his teacup with the hand wearing the matching bracelet and took a sip, then crossed his legs. He looked completely at ease, while I could barely sit upright because of the corset inside the dress.
It was far more restrictive than the gowns I usually wore in the palace.
At first, I’d thought it was simply beautiful — but now, I desperately wanted to take it off. Meanwhile, Jereon seemed oblivious to my discomfort, calmly eating cookies while openly admiring me.
“Your Highness.”
“Hmm?”
“If you like the dress that much… why not take it and display it in your room?”
“I don’t want that.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not the dress I like — it’s you wearing it.”
“I’m actually really uncomfortable right now. The corset’s so tight I can barely breathe.”
Nancy had at least left me enough room to eat and drink, but the boutique staff must’ve tightened it with all their might — desperate to make the sale.
“Women wear things like that and still dance, don’t they?”
“I don’t think I could. How can anyone dance in this?”
“Then wear another dress.”
“I feel bad asking this now after you bought me one, but… do I really have to go to the ball?”
“You don’t want to dance?”
“No.”
“Even if I dance with you? I’ll lead.”
“Still no.”
“You’re rejecting me now?”
“Well, you can’t dance either, can you? Secretary Hassel said you’ve never danced at a ball.”
Jereon froze mid-sip, then set his cup down with a serious look.
“I can dance. I just don’t.”
“That’s the same thing.”
“It’s not. If I wanted to, I’d be good at it.”
“Sure, let’s go with that.”
“You’re making me want to prove it. Fine — we’ll learn together.”
Oh no. I didn’t want to dance at all. I barely had time to write, let alone learn ballroom steps. Seeing me continue to refuse, Jereon’s blue eyes turned cold — like frost forming on glass.
So I quickly softened my tone to avoid offending him.
“I mean, I’d have no reason to use it anyway. You should learn, Your Highness.”
“Why wouldn’t you? You’ll dance with me at the ball.”
“Why me? You should be dancing with a noble lady, not me.”
“You mean it’s fine if I dance with another woman?”
“Well, it’s not like you’ll dance with a man, will you?”
