FDSML CH 03

Chapter 3

If I show up wearing this at the debutante ball, the villainess’s eyes will definitely blaze.

Just imagining it gave me chills, but if I want Alperen to break off the engagement, there’s no helping it.

Even if something wasn’t that important at first, the moment you feel like someone else snatched it away, you want it more.

Especially the Third Princess, Nanael—she’s insanely possessive and competitive.

An ordinary person might think our tastes just happened to overlap, but there’s no way Nanael would.

By now she’s had plenty of time to overthink and decide I’m deliberately provoking her.

Which, to be fair, I am.

I couldn’t steal the dress since it was already being made, but when it came to accessories, I had the money and means to claim them first.

Feeling proud that everything was going according to plan, I got ready to go out.

“If I’m doing this, I should do it right.”

There were still a few items left to secure first.

When I reached the shopping district, I headed straight for the department store.

“I’m here to pick up my order.”

The attendant looked startled the instant she spotted me.

“Oh! Lady Ferris. You came to collect it in person? We actually got word this morning and were preparing delivery…”

Well, few young ladies fetch their purchases themselves. They usually have them delivered.

Besides, the item had just been released today.

I’d placed the order the moment the doors opened, without even looking at the pamphlet; no wonder she was surprised.

I sat on the sofa and gave a bright smile.

“I wanted to see it as soon as possible—and check the condition myself.”

“Of course. I’ll bring it right away.”

The attendant left, and as I sipped the welcome tea, I heard a familiar voice from the next room.

“The urgent matter you dragged me from the training grounds for is… choosing a shawl?”

Alperen?

His slightly annoyed tone made my ears perk up.

What’s he doing here? He should be training right now.

I was just about to greet him, delighted—

—when Nanael’s sharp voice cut in.

“Fix your face, will you? We’re picking something for my debutante ball. The training grounds are close by; stopping for a minute is nothing.”

Gasp! Nanael!

I hunched down on the sofa and held my breath.

Then Alperen’s flat voice followed.

“I was in the middle of important military training.”

“And who do those soldiers protect? The imperial family—me, for example. Your Grace, you’re so stiff and inflexible.”

Looked like she’d dragged him here against his will.

For someone who takes work seriously, that had to be uncomfortable.

Not that she cared.

If they spot me here, I’m in trouble.

If Nanael sees what I’m buying, we might start Round One before the ball even happens.

I’m not ready for that yet!

I sank into the sofa and carefully traced escape routes with my eyes.

Fortunately, the lounge was divided into several areas. With luck, I could slip away unnoticed.

“My lady, your item…”

“Shh. Hand it here.”

I took the package from the attendant and crouched down.

She looked puzzled but tactfully stayed quiet.

I moved like an agent on a secret mission—

—only to lock eyes with bored-looking Alperen.

“Deli?”

He brightened and walked over.

Startled, I waved frantically for him to stop, but he was already right in front of me.

A far cry from the stiff attitude he’d had with Nanael.

Ugh, why is he like this right now?

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

Thankfully, the villainess seemed absorbed in fabric samples.

I yanked him behind a clothing rack, out of her line of sight, and only then breathed in relief.

Once I get past the debutante ball, I can stop doing this.

Then, above my head, came a quiet question.

“Why are you hiding?”

“Huh?”

“Are you scared of the princess?”

I let out a hollow laugh at his naive question.

The Third Princess’s viciousness was infamous throughout the empire.

She treated lesser nobles like lackeys and found ways to torment even high nobles who displeased her.

I’d avoided her claws so far only because I belonged to one of the four ducal houses…

…but I’m about to ram into her head-on, so I have to be cautious!

I shot Alperen a resentful look and muttered,

“Scared? Of who? I just got caught while trying to rush off for something urgent.”

“Yeah?”

He chuckled and glanced at my shopping bag.

Since the clerk had put everything back in for inspection, you could see right inside.

Feeling guilty for no reason, I hid the bag and inched toward the exit.

“Did you come to buy a shawl, too?”

If he hadn’t kept pace with me and kept talking, I could’ve escaped quickly.

Those long legs are not for this!

Sweating bullets, I tried to wrap things up fast.

“Yeah. Just picking up an order. I’m leaving now, so stop following me. Your fiancée’s waiting. Bye!”

“Says the one who keeps singing ‘break up with her.’”

“Ack! Keep your voice down…!”

Seriously! What if the villainess hears you?

My heart pounded.

I fidgeted like a cornered mouse.

“Duke? Huh? Where did you go?”

When Nanael called for him, my heart dropped.

If she finds me like this…

Ha, I’m done for…

I froze up, unable to do anything.

Alperen tugged me toward the fitting rooms.

He gave my cheek a light pinch, pulled the curtain closed, and murmured,

“Wait here.”

Thanks to his quick thinking, I avoided running into Nanael—

—but it also meant I was stuck until they left.

Leaning against the fitting-room wall, I sighed.

Still, Alperen wouldn’t tell me to wait for no reason.

What is he planning?

“What were you doing? Are you going to be this uncooperative?”

At Nanael’s irritated tone, Alperen shrugged.

He stood with his back to the fitting rooms, and Nanael handed him a pamphlet.

“I think this one looks good.”

His gaze slid to the pamphlet.

Whether by chance or fate, it was the exact same item Rodelia had bought.

When Alperen didn’t react, Nanael called over a clerk.

“Did someone buy this before me?”

“Ah—Lady Ferris just purchased that item…”

“What?! It was released today! You’re saying she bought it within half a day of it arriving?”

The moment “Lady Ferris” left the clerk’s mouth, Nanael’s voice turned razor-sharp.

Right then, the fitting-room curtain started to quiver.

The clerk, flustered, tried to explain.

“She placed her order as soon as we opened today…”

“Don’t tell me you secretly gave House Ferris the pamphlet first.”

“That’s a misunderstanding!”

Alperen ignored their argument and kept his eyes on the fitting room.

The curtain shook like there was an earthquake inside.

Catching sight of a fist clenched tight like a lifeline, he couldn’t help but laugh.

“Pfft.”

Nanael rounded on him with a fearsome scowl.

“You can laugh at a time like this?”

Even at her snarling demand, Alperen couldn’t wipe the smile away immediately.

Deciding Rodelia might actually faint if this continued, he moved to wrap things up.

Suppressing his amusement, he said,

“Looking again, I don’t think it suits Your Highness. Let’s choose something else.”