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Chapter 108

"This will be her first ball, so if it's not too much trouble, I wonder if you could offer her some guidance."

"...?"

Emilia's eyes went wide.

"Um, Kayden...!"

She called him in a scolding tone.

Perhaps because she'd already called him by name several times in front of the Marquess and Marchioness today, it came out more naturally than before.

She grabbed his sleeve and shot him a sharp look.

But Kayden merely looked down at her with a calm expression, as if to say what's the problem?

Seriously.

Emilia's face plainly showed her disbelief.

What he'd just done was the equivalent of saying "Let's have dinner sometime" and immediately replying "How about tomorrow?"

But just then—

"Then shall we do that?"

The Marchioness's voice came brightly.

Emilia turned to her in surprise.

"We'll be in your care, Marchioness. Please look after my wife."

"Not at all, Your Grace. I think I'll enjoy this."

"If there's anything you need for the preparations..."

The conversation flowed naturally between them, leaving Emilia standing there in bewilderment.

Then the Marchioness smiled warmly at her.

"Then I'll see you again tomorrow, Emilia."

"Huh? ...Yes."

Emilia nodded, still looking dazed.

---

The next day, the Marchioness indeed returned to the ducal residence.

To teach Emilia etiquette and help her prepare for the ball.

Though Emilia had said she wanted to attend, she'd only learned etiquette from books—so the Marchioness's help was truly welcome.

However...

Emilia asked the Marchioness with concern.

"I heard you're not in the best health—are you sure you're alright?"

"This is nothing. My husband worries too much."

The Marchioness said lightly.

"I'm relieved to hear that."

As Emilia spoke with relief, the Marchioness smiled warmly and offered her tea.

"By the way, Emilia. My husband worries a lot too, but—"

She leaned in with a meaningful smile, as if sharing a secret.

"I think His Grace will be even more so—if anything, he'll only get worse."

"Cough!"

Emilia choked on her tea.

"Oh my! Are you alright, Emilia?"

"Yes, yes. I'm fine."

Emilia waved her hand hurriedly, her face flushed.

Then she quickly denied it.

"Ah, I don't think that'll be the case."

At least not for her.

The term of her marriage to Kayden had only been extended by a little.

Soon, another woman would stand by his side.

Emilia quickly calmed the sting in her heart—even sharper than her scalded tongue.

"Oh my, oh my. You're so shy."

But the Marchioness seemed to find it endearing, giving her a knowing look.

Emilia felt both guilty and conflicted.

"Well, now that we've had tea, shall we get ready for the ball?"

She said with a confident expression.

"I'm currently staying in the territory for recuperation, but in my younger days, I spent time at the palace—so you don't need to worry about imperial etiquette."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. It was when His Majesty was still a prince."

At that, Emilia paused, then asked cautiously.

"Then do you also know about the Emperor's former love?"

The Marchioness's eyes went wide.

"Oh my, how do you know about Adeline?"

"I just happened to hear about it."

Unable to explain in detail, Emilia evaded the question.

The Marchioness tilted her head curiously but continued.

"Actually, I briefly served as Adeline's etiquette tutor."

"Really?"

Emilia was genuinely surprised this time.

"Yes. Adeline was from the Holy Kingdom of Hypria, so she was quite unfamiliar with imperial etiquette."

The Marchioness recalled that time.

"She was a kind woman—just like you, Emilia—but her health was frail."

"Was she very ill?"

"The last time I saw her, she could barely move her arms."

The Marchioness murmured, then suddenly snapped to attention and spoke seriously to Emilia.

"Emilia. You must never mention Adeline in front of the Empress."

"Yes, I won't."

Worried that bringing up the Emperor's former lover might offend the Empress, the Marchioness seemed concerned.

Emilia nodded, and the Marchioness sighed in relief.

"Good. So, have you chosen a dress for the ball?"

"Of course."

"May I see it?"

"Ah, I haven't fully decided yet—would you help me choose?"

Emilia asked a little shyly, and the Marchioness felt something was off.

Still, she readily agreed.

"Let me see it first."

And the moment they stepped into the dressing room, the Marchioness understood what had felt strange.

"Emilia. Do you mean to choose one of these dresses?"

"Yes."

Emilia said carefully, seeing the Marchioness's smile vanish.

"Phew..."

The Marchioness took a deep breath.

The dresses in the room were all beautiful, of course.

But what noblewoman would attend the Founding Festival ball without having a new dress made—choosing from what she already owned?!

As the Marchioness's face paled, Emilia asked in alarm.

"A-are you alright, Marchioness?"

The Marchioness grabbed her shoulders and stared at her.

"We're going to a dress shop—right now."

---

Arriving at the shop, Emilia hesitated as she read the sign.

The Marchioness tilted her head.

"What's wrong?"

"No..."

Emilia shook her head, trailing off.

Of all the dress shops, it had to be this one.

"All the dresses in your dressing room were from Halliway, so I assumed you liked them—was I mistaken?"

The Marchioness looked crestfallen, and Emilia quickly waved her hands.

"No, no! You're right—I was just surprised you noticed."

"Oh, is that so?"

A relieved smile spread across the Marchioness's face.

"Then let's go in."

"...Yes."

Emilia swallowed nervously and entered the shop with the Marchioness.

---

"Oh my! It's such an honor to have the Duchess visit in person!"

Fortunately—or unfortunately—the shop owner, Madame Halliway, welcomed her warmly.

"To have you entrust us with your Founding Festival dress—what an honor."

Madame Halliway's eyes sparkled.

And she got along famously with the Marchioness.

"With such fair skin, any color would suit her, but I think a soft tone would be best."

"How about ivory?"

"Oh, that's lovely!"

"With silver embroidery, off-shoulder design..."

Professional terms flew back and forth between them.

Just as Emilia was feeling left out and bewildered—

Madame Halliway, having finished the discussion, turned with a sparkle in her eye.

"Shall we take your measurements now?"

She brought out a measuring tape and began.

As she worked, she chatted.

"Finally, I can make a dress that truly fits the Duchess!"

At that, the Marchioness looked puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

Seeing her expression, Madame Halliway eagerly explained.

"Oh, you didn't know? His Grace came to the shop alone once and bought out a whole collection of dresses for the Duchess!"

"Oh my!"

The Marchioness's eyes lit up.

"Thanks to that, our sales have increased, and we've even had more male customers! Though most of them came after being scolded by their wives!"

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