~Chapter 59~
Enshuber Salon.
Anyone in high society had heard of this place. And today, it was involved in this mess? That was disappointing.
As soon as we got out of the carriage together, everyone’s eyes turned to us.
“Oh my, it’s the Duke’s family!”
“The Duchess is here too! Is Constantine also a regular at Enshuber?”
I could hear the whispers around us.
Lady Rosemarlin, Gwenndolyn, and Lady Crenbel heard the whispers too. They opened their fancy fans and waved them like peacocks, surrounding me as if we were close friends.
The Madame of Enshuber Salon came out to greet us herself.
“Lady Gwenndolyn, you really kept your promise!”
“Of course. Is everything ready?”
Gwenndolyn asked with pride.
Let’s see what she’s prepared.
Since we were at the dress salon, I guessed they would either force me to try on many dresses or make me wear a bad one and laugh at me—or maybe both.
I could already see it coming.
“Yes, My Lady. We have prepared every dress for you to try on. Every single one in the salon.”
Every dress?
I made a surprised noise before I could stop myself. Gwenndolyn smiled with satisfaction.
“Thank you.”
“We’ve cleared the schedule, so feel free to try them all on. All of you,” the Madame said.
After the Madame finished, Gwenndolyn turned to me.
“I heard your wedding dress was made in only three days because your marriage was so sudden. You must have regrets.”
Actually, I didn’t regret it at all.
For someone like me who never dreamed about wedding dresses, it was a perfect wedding. Clear purpose, no useless traditions, only what was needed.
“I think so too, Gwenndolyn,”
Lady Rosemarlin agreed right away.
“I should have helped you prepare. Duchess, I’m sorry. If I had been there, the wedding wouldn’t have been rushed. Baldwin just isn’t romantic.”
Why say all this? Just to show off?
Honestly, Lady Rosemarlin was never even invited to the wedding. Baldwin didn’t want her there.
“…It’s fine since you didn’t know about it.”
After my tired reply, everyone looked at Lady Rosemarlin, almost as if to say, “You really didn’t know about your own son’s wedding?”
She started fanning herself even harder, her face turning red.
That’s what you get for pretending you knew.
“B-Baldwin told me, but the message got lost… I just didn’t get it,”
she stammered.
“Baldwin didn’t tell anyone about the wedding. So you couldn’t have heard,”
I said, making it clear she was included in “anyone.” Everyone caught my meaning.
Was I too harsh?
Lady Rosemarlin looked like she was about to cry. She just glared at me without saying a word.
There was an awkward silence.
Everyone was watching her reaction.
Gwenndolyn stepped between us.
“Anyway, let’s all make up for what we missed at the wedding today.”
She came over, grabbed my arm, and gently pushed me forward.
“Today, Duchess, you will try on every dress. We’re only here to help you choose. It seems you don’t know what suits you best.”
“So thoughtful! No wonder people admire Lady Gwenndolyn,”
the Madame clapped.
Gwenndolyn looked so proud, like a trained bear being praised.
Was it really that great? Madame just looked like she’d found a rich customer.
“Oh, it’s nothing, Madame. Today’s star is the Duchess.”
Gwenndolyn smiled at me.
“Actually, Duchess, I’ve been worried. Our Baldwin doesn’t really like that style of dress.”
Our Baldwin?
That word annoyed me. The way she talked, as if she wasn’t just a friend…
Frowning, I said,
“Baldwin never said that, Lady Gwenndolyn. He’s never complained about my clothes.”
“Of course. That’s why you dress so badly,”
she replied, clicking her tongue.
“Right, Gwen. The Duchess still has a lot to learn. I’m so glad you’re helping,”
Lady Rosemarlin added.
Lady Crenbel joined in,
“Lady Gwenndolyn’s sense of style is famous in Estus. Today’s lesson should be easy.”
As they all talked, I glanced at my own dress.
“The Duchess’s sense is still lacking,”
Lady Rosemarlin said.
“It’s all about what environment you grow up in.”
She wanted payback for her earlier embarrassment.
Ella had worked hard to pick this dress for me. Even though I told her not to try too hard, she made sure it was perfect for my rank and the occasion. It was a bright, beautiful color, just right for the weather.
Still, they all acted like I was lacking.
See, Ella? No matter what I wear, they’ll complain.
“I’ll tell you what kind of dress Baldwin likes, Duchess. As a friend…”
Gwenndolyn rolled her eyes, almost desperate for everyone to know she wanted to be more than friends.
“I just want Baldwin to be happy.”
“Thank you, Lady Gwenndolyn, for taking care of my husband,”
I replied, putting special emphasis on “my husband.”
Gwenndolyn’s eyebrow twitched. Now I saw why she was really here.
She didn’t even try to hide her feelings this time. She was desperate for me to notice.
She wanted to hurt me.
But the real one who was hurt was her.
This woman liked Baldwin.
I sighed.
By now, everyone was tired of the fuss over trying on dresses. I was tired too.
Every dress needed different underclothes, which took a lot of time and energy.
One by one, the others were losing interest.
Even Madame ran out of things to say and sighed.
Still, Gwenndolyn sat straight and glared at me.
“This dress has an A-line skirt for a simple look. It’s a great design for daily wear. It would even suit the Lady Dowager,”
the Madame said.
Gwenndolyn glanced at Madame.
“It doesn’t suit her at all. Are you tired, Madame?”
Even she looked tired, her pale face even whiter. Honestly, I didn’t care about the dress—I just wanted to rest.
“The dress is too puffy. It makes your shoulders look too big. Baldwin doesn’t like things like that.”
Every sentence, she brought up Baldwin. Did they really have something? He’d never mentioned another woman to me. If he had, he wouldn’t have married me.
So—was this a one-sided love?
“Let’s try the next dress. How about this one?”
Gwenndolyn pointed to a dress that was very revealing.
By now, I had been patient enough.
“Lady Gwenndolyn,”
I called.
She stared at me, as if saying, “Cry, come on, beg me.”
“I think this is enough. Everyone else looks tired too.”
“No one’s tired!”
she shot back.
Lady Crenbel and Lady Rosemarlin quickly sat up straight.
As if.
“I’m doing this for Baldwin and for you, Duchess. Maybe you should be more patient? Beauty always takes patience,”
Gwenndolyn said in a teaching tone.
Now it was clear.
At first, I thought Lady Rosemarlin was behind all this.
But now I understood: she was just Gwenndolyn’s puppet.
“You’re right,”
I agreed. Gwenndolyn looked confused.
But I couldn’t hold back anymore. My whole body ached.
“Then I’ll come back with Baldwin and pick a dress with him.”
Gwenndolyn flinched.
Her eyes were full of cold anger as she glared at me.
“If you really want to match Baldwin’s taste, it’s faster for him to pick for me, not you.”
She looked even more upset.
“No way!”
“Why not?”
I blinked innocently, as if I didn’t know what was going on. That just made her even angrier.
