Episode 10
“……Huh?”
Melissa looked up as she came to her senses, and Seres spoke sharply.
“That pathetic design—such a ratty, tacky outfit does not suit our family at all!”
“M-Mother….”
Melissa covered her mouth with both hands, then finally couldn’t hold back and shouted:
“Thank you! Thank you for personally teaching me what elegance is!”
“……What?”
Seres blinked in disbelief, but Melissa was already exclaiming with a delighted face.
“I-I’ll work hard! I’ll study diligently and transform myself into someone graceful worthy of this family!”
Full of determination, Melissa’s eyes sparkled as she asked:
“Where should we go to buy the clothes? Is there a store you often go to, Mother? Let’s go together!”
This is not what I expected.
Seres was flustered by the response that wasn’t in any manual.
The dozens of manuals Linburton had bought described that in such a situation, the proper response would usually be to cry and run away, or apologize profusely.
Or, the person might respond cheekily.
Then you could accuse them of disobedience and punish them.
But what should she do with this?
‘Stay calm, Seres.’
Though this was an unprecedented situation, Seres took a small breath and composed herself.
The bloodline of Aizenhart, tempered in crises, does not crumble at unusual reactions.
“Hmph. Ridiculous.”
Seres smirked as the manual suggested, brushing past Melissa with long strides.
“Follow me.”
She needed to buy time.
A small bead of cold sweat formed at the nape of her neck as she led the way out the door, Melissa behind her.
“Your Grace?”
The owner of the dress shop, Robelia, was flustered but quickly bowed her head.
“Welcome, Your Grace the Grand Duke!”
“Rise.”
Seres replied with authority, then sat on the sofa Robelia had gestured toward.
“I wish to look at clothes.”
“……Huh? Ah, yes!”
Robelia, surprised at the unusual situation, quickly glanced around.
She subtly praised the staff who had fetched the catalogs, then politely handed the booklets to Seres.
“Here are the catalogs.”
Robelia respectfully stepped back while sneaking a glance at Seres and the small girl accompanying her.
The Grand Duke of Aizenhart, Seres.
The lord of this fief, renowned for extreme frugality, rarely placed clothing orders at her store, even though her family had supplied the Grand Dukes for generations.
The only time clothes were occasionally ordered was for the youngest Grand Duke, Natalian, but after she left for the Magic Tower, the orders had become rare.
And now suddenly, Seres herself had arrived, claiming she wanted to order clothes.
‘What on earth is going on?’
Curiosity sparkled in Robelia’s eyes as she observed Seres, then her gaze fell on the small girl beside her.
‘Could it be…?’
Robelia’s mind raced.
‘Is this girl connected to her?’
The lovely girl, with warm-looking orange hair and clear green eyes, was looking around the shop in wonder, her cheeks slightly flushed.
‘Which family’s daughter could she be?’
Robelia’s keen eyes scanned Melissa as memories of a week ago resurfaced.
The historical day when the second young master, missing for a year, returned—he had suddenly placed a large clothing order.
Because the order was urgent, Robelia hastily adjusted and delivered existing dresses, but now she realized the styles and sizes didn’t match Natalian’s clothes.
And the outfit the girl was wearing now was one of those delivered dresses.
‘Could it be…?’
A glimmer of expectation lit up Robelia’s eyes.
At that moment, Seres closed the catalog and spoke:
“I want clothes for this child.”
This child… Lani.
A huge exclamation mark appeared in Robelia’s mind.
‘As expected, she’s the future bride!’
Her eyes shone suspiciously, but Seres didn’t notice and issued the command:
“Take her and let her try on suitable outfits.”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
Robelia’s excitement surged as she imagined the beautiful future bride of the Grand Duke’s family.
“This way, please!”
With renewed enthusiasm, she gently nudged Melissa into the changing room.
Finally, after the two had disappeared inside, Seres let out a long-suppressed sigh.
‘Now what?’
They were at the dress shop, but she still didn’t have a sharp idea for frustrating the girl enough to make her leave.
Then someone whispered cautiously in her ear.
“Your Grace.”
“Hm?”
Seres turned and saw Linburton whispering.
“First, have her try on the most expensive and luxurious outfits in this shop.”
“……?”
Purchase the most lavish clothes for Melissa?
Linburton quickly explained.
“Then, afterward, take her to the shabbiest shop and give her the most miserable clothing there.”
His eyes gleamed cunningly.
“That way, she will clearly compare it to what she wore here.”
“Interesting.”
Seres admired him.
He had studied the manuals more thoroughly than she did and now had the ability to apply them appropriately.
“You’ve surpassed your master,” she said approvingly.
“You flatter me,” Linburton replied humbly, bowing and stepping back.
A loyal servant’s duty is to anticipate his lord’s intentions.
He believed firmly that his most urgent task was to expel that mischievous girl as soon as possible.
‘Just wait, little thief!’
At that moment, the curtain of the changing room slid open.
“How about this, Mother?”
“Hm.”
Seres gave a brief glance.
A light white fabric with fresh pale green branches embroidered here and there suited Melissa’s green eyes perfectly.
‘Quite cute.’
But her voice remained cold:
“Next.”
“Yes!”
Melissa blushed and disappeared behind the curtain again.
After trying on ten or so more outfits, Seres stretched her stiff back and said:
“Nothing suits her.”
“……!”
Robelia was shocked.
Seeing her reaction, Seres spoke again, feeling a pang of conscience:
“We shall return another time.”
I see.
Robelia realized the Grand Duke’s intent. These outfits were not meant as the first gift for the future bride.
Her creative desire surged as she glanced at Melissa.
‘She’s already a daughter-in-law loved dearly.’
Melissa’s cheerful, happy expression had not changed since she first arrived.
Most people would tire after trying on ten outfits, but Melissa showed no sign of fatigue.
Instead, she seemed thrilled each time and praised the designs.
‘How is this lace made? It’s so delicate and beautiful!’
Even Robelia, confident in her craft, had never had anyone care enough to ask how it was made, so she ended up explaining the method while giggling.
‘What a lovely person.’
As they left the shop, Robelia placed her hand over her heart, feeling it beat quickly.
After the disappearance of the first young master, spring may finally have returned to the frozen Grand Duchy.
“Hm.”
Walking away from Robelia’s shop, Seres glanced down an alley.
In a dim corner, there was a rundown general goods store.
It seemed to sell items mainly for the servants of noble families.
“Let’s go there.”
“Yes!”
Melissa cheerfully called out as she followed Seres, and Linburton’s grin widened.
That cheerful moment for her would soon come to an end.
