The more I whispered in his ear, the more the duke’s expression, which had been incredulous, gradually hardened strangely. When I finally finished speaking and sat down slightly apart from the duke’s side, he was letting out a small laugh.

The duke turned to me and said.

“……If it goes according to that plan, it would be perfect. But I’m not sure if the situation will really flow as you think.”

“Don’t worry. God is on my side.”

Hadn’t I already come back to life from death?

With knowledge of everything that had happened in the past, and all the weaknesses of those who had ruined me in my hands.

I smiled brightly at him as if to reassure him. The duke stared at me blankly for a moment, then averted his gaze with a sullen expression.

After finishing my conversation with Duke Haven, I left the mansion and returned straight to Duke Yusten’s mansion.

As I was climbing the stairs leading to my bedroom after passing through the back gate, I ran into Annie, who was cleaning there.

“Oh, miss. You’re back?”

“Perfect timing. Annie, can I ask you a favor?”

“Anything, just say the word.”

Annie said playfully, lightly punching her chest. I smiled kindly at Annie and continued.

“I’d like to use a carriage tomorrow morning……”

“……Ah. Should I contact the carriage guild again like yesterday?”

Annie asked in a lowered voice. I shook my head and answered in a slightly louder voice.

“No. This time I’ll use the mansion’s carriage.”

“Huh? Is that alright? Shouldn’t matters related to the head of the family be handled discreetly?”

“Yes, it’s fine. I’m going to get fitted for a dress to wear next weekend.”

“……Oh, my. You should just call the tailor to the mansion. Alright, I’ll let Mr. Carter know right away.”

Annie, still not seeming to understand my decision, grumbled slightly as she went down the stairs. I watched her for a moment, then continued up the stairs to my bedroom.

Then I sensed a suspicious presence from the corner of the hallway on the lower floor, which wasn’t visible from the landing where Annie and I had been standing.

I inwardly scoffed as I felt those tiny footsteps, barely audible unless one strained to hear, quickly receding.

‘Did you assign someone to follow me to find out the reason for my frequent outings, Danae?’

I had known someone was following me with a suspicious gaze since I entered the annex, but I deliberately pretended not to notice. Even that was part of my intention.

Probably in a few minutes, not only my uncle but also Danae would know that I was going out tomorrow to get fitted for a dress.

I headed to my bedroom with a cold smile. Really, I was looking forward to tomorrow.

The next morning.

After eating the breakfast Annie had prepared for me and taking a quick bath, I hurried to get ready to go out. What I chose was a sky blue dress with a slight grayish tint and a wide-brimmed hat. When I came out to the annex entrance with Annie after changing clothes, Mr. Carter, the coachman, was waiting for us.

The middle-aged man with gray hair and a kind face approached with a friendly smile and greeted me.

“Good morning, Miss Christine. Shall I help you into the carriage?”

“Thank you. I’ll be counting on you today as well.”

I took the hand of Mr. Carter, who was bowing politely and extending his hand to me, and stepped up one step of the carriage.

“Sister!”

Just then, I heard Danae’s voice calling me, along with the sound of hurried footsteps.

I turned to look at her with a deliberately startled expression and said.

“……Danae? What brings you out so early in the morning? Isn’t this usually your time for sleeping in?”

“Well, just. ……My eyes opened a bit early today. So I thought I’d have breakfast with you and chat a bit. ……But, where are you going?”

“Oh. I’m going to get fitted for a dress to wear next weekend. So, I’m sorry, but let’s have breakfast together next time.”

I spoke in a feigned kind voice as I felt her gaze sweeping over my attire. Danae dropped her eyebrows and said to me.

“Wow, how nice. Sister. Can’t I come along too? I also need a dress for next week’s party.”

“……There’s no reason you can’t. But don’t you have many tailors who only make dresses for you? Weren’t you going to have your dress made by them this time too?”

“Those people always make similar dresses, so it’s boring! I want to try wearing dresses made with new fabrics or styles too.”

“……Hmm.”

“Oh, sister. Let me come too. Okay? It’ll be less boring for you if I’m there, right!”

Danae’s childlike pleading was so cute and pretty. Which made it all the more disgusting.

I wanted to hurl insults at that face that was lying so nonchalantly while already knowing where I was going and what I was going to do today, but I held back.

I pretended to contemplate for a moment with a slightly troubled expression, then sighed as if I had no choice and said.

“……Fine. Alright. Let’s go together.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ll be waiting, so hurry and get ready.”

“Yay! Thank you, sister! I’ll quickly change into my going-out dress and be right back!”

Danae’s bright scarlet going-out dress fluttered dazzlingly as she ran off after answering in a cheerful voice.

As soon as she disappeared, I quickly got into the carriage. Annie, who followed me into the carriage, whispered in my ear with a sulky expression.

“Ah, why did you say she could come along! It’s obvious that when you go out with Miss Danae, she’ll bother you asking ‘Does this suit me? Does that suit me?’ And she’ll insist on trying on every fabric you choose for your dress, not giving you a chance to properly choose even one dress!”

“Yes. She’ll probably do that today too. ……Not realizing that such behavior is trapping herself.”

“……Pardon?”

“It’s nothing. And it’s fine. It’s not like this is the first time Danae has acted like this.”

I spoke in a gentle voice and patted Annie’s shoulder.

And a few minutes later, Danae, who had changed into her dress, and her maid Emma got into the carriage. Soon, with the sound of Mr. Carter’s feet stomping, the carriage slowly pulled out of the mansion.

The place Mr. Carter drove the carriage to, as per my instructions, was Rinket Castle in the western outskirts of the imperial capital.

This castle, with its wide pastures thanks to its mild climate, had long been one of the cities famous for its textile industry using wool on the continent. I had the carriage stop in front of a shop bustling with passing people. As Annie and I got out of the carriage first, Danae, who followed, grumbled.

“We could have just gone to a tailor’s shop in the capital. Was there really a need to come all the way out here?”

“Don’t complain, Danae. You’re the one who insisted on coming along.”

“……Still. Ah, this is annoying. My back hurts.”

When I chided her, Danae puffed out her cheeks in irritation.

Ignoring her complaints, I entered the shop. A tailor wearing a monocle, who had been sewing, stood up abruptly to greet me.

“Welcome! Have you come to have a dress made?”

“Yes. I should have sent a letter in advance yesterday.”

“May I ask for your name, my lady?”

“Christine Sapiel Yusten. And that young lady over there is my cousin, Danae Rubina Yusten.”

“Ah! Lady Yusten! We’ve been expecting you! Please, come this way!”

The tailor bowed deeply and guided Danae and me to the back of the shop.

There were lavish dresses in the process of being made, and luxurious dress fabrics, embroideries, and decorations of various colors on display. They were incomparably more extravagant than those displayed outside the shop for slightly better-off commoners. I pretended to be interested in the various luxurious fabrics and decorations the tailor was introducing.

“Oh, how pretty!”

Just then, Danae, who unlike me had been listening to the tailor’s explanation with shining eyes, suddenly pointed to a corner of the shop and exclaimed.

In the place she pointed to, there was a dress that was almost finished hanging. The sleeveless dress in silver with a slight blue tint, with its left shoulder part entirely decorated with crystals, was sparkling as it reflected the sunlight coming through the slightly open window of the shop.

Danae, staring at the twinkling dress as if mesmerized, asked the tailor.

“How much is that dress? Let me try it on right now, I’ll buy it.”

“……I’m sorry, miss. That dress already has a designated owner, so…… How about choosing another dress?”

The tailor answered her with a troubled expression. At this, Danae’s eyes narrowed sharply. She asked accusingly.

“Owner? I don’t know who this so-called owner is, but is she a young lady from a higher-ranking family than me?”

“Ah, no. That’s not the case, but……”

“Then there’s no problem. Just tell that woman that I bought it, so she should look for another dress.”

“That’s difficult, miss. This dress has been in production for that person for several months now. It probably won’t fit Lady Yusten’s body.”

“What do you mean by that? Are you saying I’m too fat to wear that dress?”

As the tailor seemed unlikely to easily comply with her wishes, Danae’s voice grew louder. The maids took a step back, watching the situation nervously.

I stepped between Danae and the tailor and said to her.

“Calm down, Danae. That’s not what he meant.”

“If that’s not what he meant, then what? Anyway, he’s saying the dress doesn’t fit me, doesn’t suit me!”

“Danae. Please don’t overinterpret. This tailor is just saying that dress already has an owner, so choose another dress. Don’t you understand?”

“Th-that’s right. That’s exactly what I meant.”

Gaining courage as I took the tailor’s side, he spoke in a small voice towards Danae.

However, seeming even more angered by this, Danae raised her voice even higher and shouted.