Lea and Pauline met Chainer whenever they had time. Of course, her grandfather was always present as well.

They had become close enough to enjoy picnics together, sitting in a circle on the lawn.

“Chainer, how’s the request coming along?” Lea asked cautiously.

Previously, after gifting Chainer a lace textbook, Lea had ordered her to make a lace dress she had designed.

“I finished it and brought it with me.”

“Already?”

Lea and Pauline were so surprised they couldn’t close their mouths.

A few days ago, Terran had informed them about the Rubeck Imperial banquet in September.

Lea wanted to wear a somewhat special dress to her first imperial banquet, so she asked Chainer to make the top with lace.

She had expected it to take at least a month due to the intricate and complex design, but it was completed in just a week.

“Ah! That’s child’s play for my granddaughter,” her grandfather chuckled, waving his hand.

The moment to finally see the finished product had arrived. With trembling hands, Lea took out the dress that Chainer had brought in a paper box.

“Oh my! Goodness gracious!”

Pauline exclaimed upon seeing the finished product.

The top, meticulously crocheted with golden lace thread, was more than just knitting. It was undoubtedly a work of art.

“It’s… so beautiful, I’m speechless.”

Lea kept exclaiming in admiration as she examined the dress from all angles.

It could have easily looked vulgar with the skin showing through, but Chainer had offset that feeling with elegant patterns.

It was hard to believe that it was made by human hands.

After admiring the dress for a long time, Lea carefully placed it back in the box and handed it to Pauline. She then gave Chainer a few gold coins.

“Thank you, Chainer. This is for the dress and your craftsmanship.”

“I don’t need money. It’s a gift, isn’t it?”

Chainer threw the gold coins Lea gave her onto her skirt. Lea picked up the coins again and gave them to Chainer’s grandfather.

“No need. What money? It’s enough that you’ve become friends with our Chainer.”

The grandfather also adamantly refused, making it impossible to give them any more money.

Lea realized it was time to tell everyone about her plan.

“Chainer, grandfather, there’s something I want to do. Of course, it depends on how well this goes.”

“What is it?”

“I want to do business with Chainer.”

“Business?”

The grandfather laughed heartily, as if she was joking. How could one make money with such lace scraps?

But Lea continued seriously.

“Lace scarves, gloves, and clothes made with less skill than Chainer’s are sold at high prices to upper-class ladies. But with this level of skill, even the empress of this country would covet it.”

Only then did the grandfather take Lea’s words seriously.

“Grandfather, don’t you want Chainer to do something meaningful? Do you want her to live under your protection forever, unable to become independent?”

“So, what’s your conclusion?”

“I’m not fully prepared yet, but I want Chainer to join the business I’m planning. So please think about it. If you agree, I’ll take care of Chainer.”

“I like it! I like it! I want to live with my sisters!”

Chainer’s eyes sparkled with excitement at Lea’s words.

“Sister will make lots and lots of money later.”

“Really?”

“Your father was good at business too, wasn’t he?”

Chainer sometimes surprised people like this.

On the other hand, Chainer’s grandfather seemed to be in deep thought.

He was more than pleased that his granddaughter, whom others pointed at as a fool, had become friends with such fine ladies, but he worried whether Chainer could really do well.

It seemed that Lea was a young lady from a noble family… If they knew that he and Chainer were gypsies, her family would surely object. People disliked gypsies.

“Well, I’ll think about it. Please wait.”

“I want to do it right away, Grandpa Rapha.”

“You should say ‘absolutely’ at times like this. Chainer, you still need to think about it. I’ll consider it positively, so please wait a little.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

As Lea smiled brightly, Pauline tilted her head.

‘Rapha? I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere before.’

It was the same name as a famous violent organization in the city of Lebon.

‘No, what am I suspecting? How could that powerless old man and the immature Chainer be…?’

It must be just a coincidence that the names are the same. Besides, would people from a violent organization leisurely enjoy a picnic in the park?

How vicious and rough those people are. Pauline shook her head vigorously, amused by her own strange imagination.

* * *

It was the day of the imperial banquet.

Lea had been thoroughly preparing for days, so she started getting ready from the morning with determination. She proceeded as planned with her hair, makeup, accessories, and dress.

‘I must absolutely capture the attention of the noble ladies at the banquet.’

That was the only thought in Lea’s mind. While pondering what kind of business she could do, meeting Chainer had opened the floodgates to her mountain of worries.

“Pauline, don’t put too many decorations in my hair.”

Lea tied her hair into one bundle and rolled it up into a round shape. This accentuated her slender face and neckline.

Her makeup highlighted her clear, clean skin while making her features stand out.

Finally, it was time to wear Chainer’s masterpiece.

The top made of golden lace daringly revealed skin and was cut low in the back, exposing bare skin down to the waist. Yet, it never looked vulgar.

She paired it with a voluminous green satin skirt. The outfit itself was so splendid that it caught the eye without the need for excessive accessories.

“Wow! Our young lady, you’re just… too beautiful for words.”

Pauline gazed at Lea with her hands clasped together. Anyone who saw would have mistaken her for worshipping a goddess.

“This lace is subtly sexy, isn’t it?”

“Yes, is it a bit too much?”

“No, your hair, skirt, and accessories are all simple. Above all, your beauty is of the highest quality.”

“Oh my! Pauline, everything looks pretty to your eyes, doesn’t it?”

‘Please, let Chainer’s lace be a success.’

Lea reassured herself once more and waited for Terran to come pick her up.

Perhaps because it was her first imperial banquet with him, her heart was beating uncontrollably. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Lea was curious about Terran’s impression. Of course, she wanted to know his reaction to the lace dress, not her appearance.

Finally, Terran appeared in his formal attire.

“Ta-da! Lady Grace, what do you think, Your Grace?”

As Pauline spread her arms wide in pride, Terran stood still without moving. Soon, Lea and Terran admired each other.

She was so surprised to see Terran, who usually only wore black uniforms, appear in a white formal suit today.

She knew he was strikingly handsome, but she didn’t know he could make someone’s heart flutter this much.

Meanwhile, Terran almost didn’t recognize Grace. Having only seen her gentle and delicate side before, her sensual and mature appearance paralyzed his thoughts.

She was truly, terribly beautiful. Especially the golden lace top caught his eye at once. It was daringly sexy yet elegant with its sophisticated patterns.

“You’re beautiful.”

He wanted to praise her with more words, but he couldn’t dare to, feeling that there might be jealous groups everywhere.

‘I don’t want to go to the banquet anymore.’

He didn’t like the idea of taking such a beautiful woman to the banquet and showing her to others.

“Let’s go.”

As Terran held out his hand, Lea gently took it and said,

“You look wonderful, Terran.”

As her unusually shining violet eyes and plump lips came closer, Terran unconsciously swallowed.

He escorted her like a gentleman. But was he seeing things wrong? Grace’s back seemed to be bare.

“Wait!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Did they leave the dress unfinished? There’s no fabric on the back.”

“This is how the dress is supposed to be.”

“Supposed to be… like this?”

It was a bit hard to accept. He would have to cover Grace’s back with his body throughout the banquet.

Men like him would openly admire her white and smooth back. Terran suddenly felt a throbbing headache.

Moreover, every time his hand touched Grace’s back, it tingled as if shocked by electricity. It was an audacious dress that showed no consideration for a fiancé in his prime.

Terran silently uttered the impression he had from the moment he first saw the dress.

‘I want to tear it to shreds.’

A sense of perversity welled up, wanting to tear apart the lace that tantalized people, forgetting about the banquet, and ravage and ruin the beautiful female body.

Terran felt a heat rising from below. He had never been this excited in his life, but it was hard to be with Grace.

“What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

Grace’s innocent smile, oblivious that she was the cause, was quite vexing.

* * *

The imperial banquet was held in grand style. It was a banquet that invited the cream of Rubeck’s nobility and foreign dignitaries.

The hottest news among them was that Duke Courtois, famous for not enjoying banquets, would attend with his fiancée.

It was rumored that the Emperor and Empress were the most pleased about the Duke’s attendance at the banquet.

‘Ah, I’m nervous!’

Although she had attended various banquets with her father when she was young, this was her first time as an adult.

Finally, the doors to the banquet hall swung open. People entered one by one as the chamberlain introduced them.

“Duke Courtois and Lady Bizac of the Viscount family.”

At last, the two were called. Lea entered the banquet hall slowly, arm in arm with Terran.

As expected, the gazes of the dignitaries lined up on both sides focused on her and Terran at once.

It was exactly as Lea had imagined. The noble ladies and young ladies of the capital had dressed up as if they had been waiting for this day.

“I can’t believe Duke Courtois attended a banquet.”

“I know, I heard he hasn’t left his house since the war ended.”

Most of the comments were about Terran. But that was only for a moment.

Lea felt as if her skin was being scraped by the gazes pouring onto her.

“Look at Lady Bizac’s dress.”

“It’s quite daring, isn’t it?”

“The gentlemen attending today won’t be able to keep their wits about them.”

Lea was relieved.

‘So far, so good. I hope there’s no harsh criticism…’