WARDV 28

CHAPTER 28

“This fabric is very difficult to come by, but this dress really brings out its qualities…”

Leticia barely listened to the explanation as she glanced over the dress in front of her and the shopping bags full of wigs one by one.

Each shopping bag contained off-the-rack dresses from different boutiques, and every one of them was shimmering.

But the dress placed in front of her showed no such effect.

‘Hmm, not this one either?’

A few days ago, Leticia had decided to enter the fashion business.

Since then, she had been touring the capital’s famous boutiques in search of good designers.

To be exact, designers whose designs would make money.

However, none of the dresses she’d seen at other boutiques sparkled.

‘They only started sparkling after I decided to purchase them.’

Noticing Leticia’s lukewarm attitude, the designer hastily offered a suggestion.

“Would you like to try it on first? Clothes often look better on than they do on the hanger.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary.”

Just as the designer was about to feel disheartened, thinking she was rejecting the offer, Leticia’s voice continued.

“Wrap it up for me, that dress.”

She needed something to wear anyway.

The designer’s mood instantly shifted from despair to delight at her words.

“You really do have an excellent eye, madam! I’ll get it ready for you right away…”

But at that moment—

Leticia’s previously indifferent gaze sharpened.

The dress, which had shown no reaction earlier, had begun to shimmer.

Now she was certain of the hypothesis she had been toying with.

‘So, monetary value can’t be determined by design alone?’

Design was art.

And like any work of art, its commercial value was determined not by its artistic merit, but by the consumer.

‘Then there’s no need to look for monetary value in the design itself.’

Designs just had to be reasonably attractive and not too eccentric.

‘The key is image.’

Becoming a brand that people want to own.

A brand that elevates its owner’s sense of prestige merely by being associated with it.

That was the goal of brand image building.

‘In that case, established designers might actually be a hindrance.’

The designers at well-known boutiques already had fixed images.

Bringing them on board would make it difficult to break those established perceptions and build a new image she desired.

‘I need to find a rookie designer—someone not yet famous, but with decent skills.’

Just as Leticia revised her plan, an employee came out with the dress she had just purchased, neatly packaged.

“You can give it to me.”

Wig naturally stepped forward, and the employee hesitated for a moment before handing over the shopping bag.

“Thank you for visiting. Please call us to your estate next time!”

Leticia left the boutique, with the madam seeing her off enthusiastically.

As they walked away, Wig asked,

“That designer didn’t meet your expectations either?”

“No. I think I’ve been approaching this the wrong way from the start.”

“In what way?”

“If I want to build a brand image for my business, I need to bring in a rookie designer, not someone already famous.”

Only then did Wig realize her true intention and let out a small exclamation.

“Then… how will you find such a rookie designer?”

“Good question. That’s the challenge…”

While thinking alongside Leticia, Wig suddenly had an idea.

“What if we post a hiring notice at the design workshops?”

“Oh?”

There were several well-known design workshops across the empire, each training new designers and graduating fresh talent every year.

Those places would be filled with undiscovered rookies.

“Great. Can you post the announcement at the workshops right away?”

As the two finalized their next move—

Leticia suddenly felt a strange gaze on her back.

‘…Hm?’

Wig noticed it too and turned around, but aside from passing pedestrians, there was no one suspicious in sight.

“What is it? Did you see a ghost or something?”

“W-What? A ghost in broad daylight?!”

“Oh, you don’t know? Ghosts blend in better in crowded places.”

“Aaack! Stop, stop saying that!”

“What? You afraid of ghosts, big guy?”

Leticia laughed and climbed into the carriage, with Wig following and taking the seat next to the driver.

As the carriage began to move, a shadow silently emerged at the spot they’d just left.

The figure watched the departing carriage for a moment before turning away and disappearing.

That evening.

After hearing Lockhard’s report in his office, Paydan asked again,

“So Leticia’s planning to start a clothing business?”

“Yes, that’s what she said, clear as day.”

“She really wants to start a business… despite only having helped me out a few times? How fearless.”

Paydan muttered, his eyes sharpening.

Lockhard, gauging his mood, cautiously asked,

“What would you like to do, Your Excellency?”

“Sigh Lockhard. Do you think I had her followed just out of curiosity?”

The sharp counter-question made Lockhard gulp.

And then came silence.

A silent pressure to figure out the answer on his own.

After some quick thinking, Lockhard gave the response and solution he believed Paydan wanted.

“Then… how about we make a move before she can recruit a designer?”

“How?”

“We could snatch up the designers first—if, of course, Your Excellency permits…”

At that, a satisfied smirk tugged at the corner of Paydan’s lips.

“As expected, you catch on quickly.”

Lockhard finally let out a breath and awkwardly smiled back.

But Paydan’s brow soon furrowed again.

“What are you smiling for? If you get it, go take care of it. Time’s ticking.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

With that, Lockhard bolted out of the office like he was escaping.

Left alone, Paydan turned his gaze to the window with a cold smirk.

Raindrops began to fall—one, then another—from the overcast sky.

A spring rain, signaling the start of the season.

At that same time, Idris stood in front of the greenhouse located on the grounds of the Grand Duke’s estate.

Construction had begun last early autumn, and after enduring the winter, the greenhouse was finally completed just before spring.

The structure, blending transparent glass with stained glass panels, was visually stunning even from the outside.

Not just butterflies in search of flowers, but anyone with a sense for beauty would find it captivating.

After thoroughly inspecting the interior, Idris’s gaze landed on a single stained-glass butterfly.

He stared quietly at it before issuing a command.

“Find a gardener who can focus solely on the greenhouse.”

Usually, a gardener managed both the greenhouse and the rest of the gardens.

Hiring one exclusively for the greenhouse was unusual.

But the butler simply nodded in silence.

He understood well how much meaning Idris had placed in this greenhouse.

Just as the conversation about landscaping neared its end, Heather arrived.

“Your Highness, there’s news from Pettran.”

“Ah.”

It was the news he’d been waiting for.

Idris quickly took the letter Heather handed over.

As always, the contents were the same: they had not found Aria.

His golden eyes darkened.

‘…It’s not even surprising anymore.’

Yes. It was nothing new—something he had grown used to.

Yet today, he felt anxious and uneasy.

‘Was it last night’s dream?’

On cloudy or rainy days, Aria would always appear in his dreams.

Over the past ten years, her face in those dreams had become increasingly blurred.

‘And now…’

Last night, Aria’s face had been hazy, like it was covered in mist.

Recalling the dream, Idris unconsciously clenched the letter tightly in his hand.