Chapter 5
It couldn’t be helped.
Diarin had the “fair bloodline,” which meant she could not clearly see the faces of the Akir royal family.
At least one fortunate thing was that she could still see Ezet’s black hair.
His eyes as well—though reading his emotions from them was nearly impossible.
Golden.
Cold, cynical Ezet seemed like someone who should have dark black, deep blue, or blood-red eyes.
But instead, his eyes were brilliantly golden.
They reminded Diarin of the icy sun over the North Moonstone territory.
Maybe that was why.
Lor, one of the divine beast wings, asked:
<You said North Moonstone has many monsters?>
“Yes. A lot. Since it guards one of the gates. That should be good for you two.”
<Master, when you say it like that, it sounds like we’re monsters! We’re legendary divine beasts! Sacred creatures! If we walked through the streets, people would cry and bow before us!>
Ol grumbled, but Diarin ignored him.
“Anyway, I should sleep. Tomorrow they said I have hours of skin treatments.”
And not just skincare.
Hair care, nail care, pink floral dye for her nails, full-body massages, and even a famous dress designer from the capital was coming.
This was a luxury Diarin had never experienced since arriving at the Concl estate.
Though after that, they’d probably force expensive lingerie on her too.
‘Well… that’s not so bad.’
If she had to wear it, she’d demand something covered in gold.
Before long, Diarin fell asleep.
The Next Day
Diarin stared at the ceiling.
‘…This really feels uncomfortable.’
Her familiars reacted immediately.
<Master’s mood is worsening, Lor.>
<When has this demon ever been in a good mood?>
<That’s true.>
Diarin ignored them.
She instinctively tried to move her hair behind her ear—
“Honestly! Be careful! I told you repeatedly! You’ll ruin your hairstyle, Lady Diarin!”
“Ah, yes.”
She obediently lowered her hand.
She stood before a massive silver mirror, dressed only in undergarments, petticoats, and a soft robe.
Behind her stood the famous designer, Monsieur Limud.
He muttered unpleasantly:
“This is why branch family girls are so troublesome…”
His assistants busily arranged dresses.
‘Monsieur Limud.’
He was an elite designer who only served high nobles of count rank or above.
Diarin immediately realized that Duke Concl had clearly instructed the servants well.
Still, Monsieur Limud didn’t seem happy.
‘He probably thought these dresses were for Elise.’
Elise was Duke Concl’s true daughter, around Diarin’s age.
That explained why all the dresses on display were designed for young noblewomen.
After expecting Elise and seeing Diarin instead, his disappointment made sense.
‘Well, whatever.’
Diarin had already made her decision.
The most expensive dress here.
As a former archmage, greed for beautiful and valuable things came naturally.
There were dresses glittering like treasure.
Strong fabrics, diamond decorations, masterful cuts—
‘Wait… I’m evaluating these like a mage again.’
She refocused and chose the dress that looked most expensive.
An assistant quickly approached.
“Miss, would you like to try this one? Please wait just a moment—”
“Oh, Lady Diarin Conclister.”
Monsieur Limud interrupted smoothly.
“This dress does not suit your eye color.”
“My eye color?”
“Yes. Instead…”
He presented a blue-purple dress.
“This one would be much more elegant.”
It was pretty.
But not luxurious enough.
Today’s goal was simple:
Choose the outrageously expensive one.
Diarin tilted her head.
Monsieur Limud smiled knowingly.
“Let’s continue looking, Lady Diarin Conclister.”
“Very well, Monsieur Limud.”
Diarin then pointed to a golden dress with long flowing shoulders and intricate gold and silver vine embroidery.
The moment she did—
“Excellent taste, Lady Diarin Conclister. However…”
He pulled it away.
“This intense gold would wash out your complexion. This dark gray dress would suit you much better.”
The gray dress looked so modest it resembled priest robes.
‘Why not just wrap me in church curtains?’
Internally sarcastic, Diarin smiled.
“How amusing.”
Monsieur Limud raised an eyebrow.
“Amusing?”
“Of course. Choosing dresses. Seeing your masterpieces feels like admiring art.”
“Haha. You flatter me.”
Pleased, he handed her a decent-quality white dress.
“What about this? Pure white, elegant, graceful.”
Diarin glanced at it and nodded obediently.
Monsieur Limud thought smugly:
‘Good. At least she knows her place.’
“Excellent! Dress her immediately!”
After Dressing
Diarin wore the white dress, matching makeup, lace hat, gloves, shoes, and jewels.
She looked stunning.
Even Monsieur Limud was irritated.
He had intentionally given her a mid-level dress, yet she still looked breathtaking.
But this was Duke Concl’s estate.
He couldn’t push his malice too far.
“Magnificent, Lady Diarin Conclister. It’s as though this dress was made for you.”
His assistants applauded.
Diarin looked in the mirror.
“Is that so?”
“Of course. Shall we finalize this one?”
“Fine.”
Monsieur Limud immediately wrote the bill.
He doubled the original price.
He was certain the head maid would approve.
Once Diarin signed, he no longer bothered pretending politeness.
Instead, he hurried off to please the head maid.
Moments Later
“Now then, Head Maid, see for yourself.”
Monsieur Limud expected praise.
Instead—
“What is this disgrace, Monsieur Limud?”
The head maid’s icy voice froze him.
He turned toward Diarin—
And was horrified.
All the elaborate styling was gone.
No accessories.
No decorations.
No elegance.
Diarin wore only the plain dress.
Even the folds he had carefully arranged were ruined.
Without the extra styling, it looked cheap and ragged.
‘W-When did that happen?’
<I did it, pathetic human.>
Lor’s voice echoed, audible only to Diarin.
The head maid exploded:
“I specifically instructed you to dress her properly, yet this is your effort?!”
Having served the late Duchess Concl and Elise herself, the head maid felt deeply insulted.
“Who chose this ridiculous rag?”
Monsieur Limud hurriedly answered:
“Lady Diarin personally preferred bright styles and selected it herself…”
“Oh?”
Diarin calmly turned from the mirror.
“That can’t be true. I hate white clothing the most.”
She looked directly at the head maid.
“You know that, don’t you?”
And indeed—
Everyone in the estate knew Diarin never wore white.
Which meant this designer had not only insulted Diarin—
He had insulted House Concl itself.
“MONSIEUR LIMUD!”
The head maid’s eyes blazed with fury.
