The first floor of the store was quite spacious, with a floor made of white and black tiles. In the center, there were long sofas and tables.

As I looked around the hangers with various dresses and display cases showcasing items like hats and shoes, employees in navy blue dresses approached.

“It’s an honor to have Lady Owello visit us. If you had informed us in advance, we would have cleared the store, but currently, Lord Redford has rented the entire boutique…”

The manager bowed her head and trailed off.

She was trembling with a pale face, perhaps afraid of the consequences. She looked so pitiful, like a mouse in front of a cat.

To ease the awkward atmosphere, Sidney spoke up.

“I was told that Lord Redford made a reservation for 1 o’clock, so I came… How long do I have to stand here?”

The manager straightened her back and cautiously asked.

“By any chance, are you Lady Marien?”

“Yes. I came as a precious friend and bridesmaid for Marien.”

The gazes of the manager and the employees all turned to Sidney at once. Some were so surprised that they covered their mouths with their hands.

It was natural for them to be flustered when a woman without a surname claimed to be friends with both Logan Redford and Victoria Owello. Still, the manager quickly regained her composure and guided them to the second floor.

The second floor consisted of a small lobby with reception tables and sofas, and four rooms.

The manager spoke to a middle-aged woman who was talking with the employees.

“Madam Yvonne, Lady Marien and Lady Owello have arrived.”

With black hair, black eyes, pale white skin, and red lips, her skinny figure in a black bustle dress exuded a somewhat mysterious yet gloomy atmosphere.

She stared at Sidney intently, then approached with an unfathomable smile.

There was an unknown excitement in her indifferent expression and voice, as obsessive as her gaze.

“Lady Marien, I am Madam Yvonne. It’s truly an honor to meet someone so… beautiful.”

“As expected, Madam’s eye for beauty is unparalleled.”

Even though Victoria Owello chimed in, Madam Yvonne’s gaze did not leave Sidney.

It would be natural to be angry at the rudeness of not even greeting her, but Victoria smiled with satisfaction as if it were a matter of course and engaged in conversation.

“Lady Owello, by any chance, the dress you purchased last time…?”

“Of course, I gave it to Marien here as a gift.”

“This time, we can truly create something properly. First, let’s take measurements.”

Victoria and Madam Yvonne exchanged glances, looking somewhat solemn.

The meaning of that became clear as they entered the room labeled “VIP Room.”

While Madam Yvonne personally took measurements with a tape measure, the employees continuously brought dresses.

Victoria Owello selected some of them with a serious face. Her maid, Sarah, who had been silent the whole time, arranged the underwear and indoor clothes handed over by her mistress Victoria on an empty hanger.

Their coordination was so perfect that it was admirable.

“Lady Marien, do you have any preferred colors?”

“Not particularly. However, I don’t really like colors that are too bright or intense.”

“Marien, you may have to give up on bright colors, but you shouldn’t abandon intense ones.”

Victoria Owello held up a dress with a triumphant face as if asking, “Do you dislike this too?”

It was a navy blue dress with a hint of violet, resembling the color of the early evening sky.

“Lady Marien, would you like to try it on?”

“No, that’s not necessary…”

“Of course you have to try it on. You can’t tell just by looking.”

“Lady Marien, it will only take a moment.”

I detested such troublesome things.

However, how could I turn away from Victoria’s earnest gaze? I had no choice but to follow Madam Yvonne behind the curtain.

Sunlight flooded the VIP room. Logan Redford and Victoria Owello, seated side by side, were engaged in conversation.

They referred to Sidney Warden, who was changing into a dress behind the curtain, as “she.”

“I oppose this marriage. If she ever decides she doesn’t want it, I will actively help her.”

“You’re saying she wants to get married.”

Compared to Victoria, who was on edge, Logan Redford showed composure and scoffed.

“For now, yes. But when she finds out that you’re involved in usury among the many businesses of the Redford family…”

“She’ll be disappointed. Even so, she won’t reject this marriage or choose your precious cousin, Steve Deniro.”

Logan Redford, who was so confident, was extremely arrogant.

No matter how long he had watched over Sidney as her superior, could he be as close as a friend who was like family? Victoria Owello jutted out her chin and snorted.

“You’re quite confident.”

However, as if mocking her certainty, Logan Redford kindly offered an explanation.

“You know very well, Miss Owello. She’s someone who keeps her word and promises to the end, and doesn’t easily trust or rely on others, even if they’re the cousin of a close friend.”

“Seeing you so confident… I suppose I can tell you about what you’ve been up to.”

Doing such a thing would only lead to Sidney’s disappointment. However, out of resentment and spite, Victoria Owello made an empty threat.

“If you could have, you would have done it long ago.”

Realizing that everything had been seen through, Victoria Owello calmly admitted.

“Because she trusts you, that’s why I couldn’t say anything. But if you ever…”

“That won’t happen.”

The moment Logan flatly denied it, the curtain opened, and Sidney Warden appeared in a navy blue dress.

Logan and Victoria forgot their snarling and made dumbfounded faces.

Sidney, who noticed Logan, was not much different.

The one who broke the suffocating silence was Madam Yvonne’s excited voice.

“For a beauty with distinct features like Lady Marien, a dress with a elegant design and intense color like this will…”

Madam Yvonne closed her mouth, overwhelmed with emotion, then exhaled softly and continued.

“…overwhelm everyone with a graceful and captivating presence.”

Sidney blushed, flustered by the unprecedented praise.

Victoria Owello couldn’t close her mouth as she noticed Logan’s ears turning red and the corners of his mouth twitching, despite his shameless attitude just a moment ago.

As the owner of a boutique, it was the most basic of basics to observe the customer’s expression and atmosphere.

However, Madam Yvonne was desperate to have Sidney Warden, the muse she had dreamed of, try on even one more dress.

“Lady Marien, this time, let’s try on this dress. It’s not common to find a fabric in this dark green with a hint of scarlet.”

Sidney waved her hands as she looked at the three dresses Madam Yvonne was holding.

“No, I think I’ve tried on enough…”

“Oh my, Marien. You’ve only tried on one dress so far, what are you saying? If you want to show your face at banquets or tea parties as the Duchess in the future, you need to prepare properly. Don’t you agree, Lord Redford?”

Victoria Owello scolded her seriously, and when it seemed like her intention wouldn’t be conveyed, she nudged Logan with her elbow, seeking help.

Logan Redford, who had been lost in admiration of Sidney’s captivating appearance, startled and chimed in.

“Hmm, Miss Owello is right. If you really don’t want to, there’s nothing we can do, but… take your time trying them on.”

With even Logan joining in, Sidney sighed as if half giving up and nodded.

Seizing the opportunity, Madam Yvonne clung to Sidney and drew the curtain.

In an instant, the smiles on Logan Redford and Victoria Owello’s faces vanished as if they had never been there.

Their eyes, dripping with lingering attachment, stared at the white curtain. Logan Redford was the first to speak.

“Duchess… Surely not the Duchess of Holden?”

“Are you crazy? How could I trust my friend to Ernest, who can’t even protect his own woman properly like Uncle…”

Ernest Holden, the heir to the Holden family, was a flawless man except for one issue regarding women.

He was very negative about marriage due to his own self-loathing, believing that he wouldn’t be any different from his father, the Duke of Holden.

“I agree. Ernest Holden may act kind, but he’s a man who thoroughly calculates gains and losses even with his wife and children. I suppose Steve Deniro wouldn’t be much different?”

“Are you any different?”

For the nobles of Asnel, marriage was nothing more than a device that benefited their family and themselves, regardless of age or gender.

But who would accept Sidney Warden at the risk of danger? However, Steve Deniro was different.

He had good political skills and little prejudice, enough to overcome his own weakness as a bastard and establish his position.

However, all of this was only considering the conditions Sidney Warden possessed.

If one placed value on Sidney Warden herself, such calculations would be meaningless to Logan Redford, who only wanted to have her.

Logan smirked, raising one corner of his mouth as if it were ridiculous.

“I don’t start fights I can’t win.”

His determined gaze and attitude showed confidence that only Logan Redford himself could protect Sidney Warden.

However, even with the power and wealth of the Redford family, it would be far from an easy path.

“You can’t always win.”

“I do my best to win… without being picky about the means and methods.”

Even demons would collect interest from them. That was what the nobles said about the Redford family, who had amassed wealth through usury.

How disgusting it was for them to grovel in front and point fingers behind their backs.

They were no different, squeezing their powerless fief people to fill their own stomachs.

It was the same for herself. Victoria Owello smiled dryly and bitterly, as if letting go of everything.

“Everyone does their best.”

Her father, who believed in the class system as a matter of course, her brother, who said that all humans are equal and there is no hierarchy in occupations, and Victoria herself, who only watched over them.

It wasn’t a matter of who was right or wrong. Their beliefs were simply different.

“So Miss Owello’s best is running away? Think carefully about who will be pleased as the relationship between you and your father grows more distant.”

Could it be any more scathing? Sparks flew from Victoria Owello’s eyes.