Libette was in high spirits, having skipped breakfast. She headed to the dining room where Allen and his mistress Emily were.

“Elder brother, my dress is supposed to arrive at 11 o’clock.”

“I know.”

Allen secretly hoped that Grace might come.

“Wait, where’s Sara? Why are you two dining alone?”

Libette found it strange, having heard that Sara had returned.

“Oh, that maid will be leaving the house soon.”

Emily answered on behalf of Allen, who looked uncomfortable.

“I see.”

In truth, Libette didn’t care much about who Allen took as a lover. However, this time she had a favor to ask of Emily.

“Elder brother, what do you think about Emily attending to me at the selection banquet? I heard rumors that other young ladies will be bringing noble-born maids.”

Allen nodded at Libette’s words.

This wasn’t just any event, but a banquet to select the Imperial Crown Princess. Even the choice of attendants couldn’t be taken lightly.

“Emily can do it, right?”

As Allen spoke nonchalantly, Emily quietly set down her fork and knife and replied.

“I’d be delighted to. Not just anyone can attend such an event.”

“Oh my! Thank you. As expected, nobles understand each other.”

Libette smiled, grasping Emily’s hand tightly. Allen also thought he had made the right choice in taking Emily as his mistress.

‘I can’t miss this golden opportunity.’

The Imperial banquet was a place one could only attend with luck, and it was the perfect venue to network with noble gentlemen.

Above all, you never know what might happen.

‘Who knows? The Crown Prince might fall for me instead of Libette.’

Emily prided herself on her looks, believing she was no less attractive than Libette.

“Emily, if you need anything, just say the word.”

Allen spoke generously, seeming to be in a good mood.

“With Allen by my side, what more could I need?”

Allen wore a satisfied expression at Emily’s gentle words.

Indeed, a person’s background is important. She was a woman of a completely different caliber compared to Sara, who was always fussy and demanding.

“I need to take a milk bath before the dress arrives.”

Libette left the dining room excitedly.

‘Everything is going very smoothly.’

Allen had a good feeling about this. If only Libette could be selected as the Crown Princess, his life would be perfect.

‘If we become the family of the Crown Princess, they’d at least grant me a duke’s title, right?’

Then he would be no less than Terran.

Although they were from different countries, it irritated him to be outranked. This opportunity to be on equal footing with Terran would be perfect.

About two hours later, the dress Libette had been waiting for arrived.

Allen hadn’t even gone to the company, waiting for Grace to come. However, the people who brought the dress were Grace’s maid and another employee.

“Mr. MacDowell, hello? Do you remember me?”

Pauline greeted politely.

“Ah! Isn’t it Miss Pauline?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’ll come see you separately after helping Miss Libette into her dress. Our young lady asked me to deliver some documents to you.”

“Of course.”

“And this is Miss Grace’s chaperone, Mrs. Mary Cerutti.”

“Hello, Mr. MacDowell.”

Mary was shocked to see Emily standing with Allen, but tried to act as if nothing was amiss.

This was because Emily seemed even more surprised to see her.

She had thought Emily was married to her husband, but here she was as Allen’s mistress. Things had certainly taken an interesting turn.

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Cerutti. Your name sounds somewhat familiar.”

Allen greeted her kindly.

On the other hand, Emily beside him turned pale and began to tremble.

Sensing something was off, Allen looked at Emily. Following her gaze, he saw Mrs. Mary Cerutti standing there. Her posture and movements didn’t seem like those of an ordinary maid.

“Emily, do you know her?”

“No, it’s my first time… meeting her.”

As Emily anxiously replied, fortunately Libette appeared, making a commotion.

“Eek! Has my dress finally arrived?”

She was causing such a ruckus that Allen felt completely overwhelmed.

Libette led Pauline and Mary to the dressing room.

After that, servants carried in boxes containing the dress and accessories.

* * *

Lea and Terran welcomed the Wellington Count siblings.

As he had said, the Count siblings were very frugal and unpretentious. It seemed true that their financial situation wasn’t very good.

After all, for a fallen noble lady to marry without a dowry, participating in the selection was the best option. However, upon seeing Adele, Lea’s worries deepened.

‘Sigh! What am I going to do about this?’

Her plain and ordinary appearance was one thing, but with those thick glasses, it was daunting to know where to start.

Sonya would throw a fit if she saw this.

“Grace, I’ll talk with Arthur while…”

“Don’t worry. Lady Wellington has a lot to do in the meantime.”

“I leave her in your capable hands, Lady Bizac.”

Arthur, Adele’s brother, expressed his gratitude, and Lea responded with a graceful smile.

Lea took Adele to the dressing room.

“Lady Wellington, I am Grace Bizac.”

“Please, call me Adele.”

“Shall I?”

“I’ve never seen a beauty like Grace before. Even as a woman, I’m captivated by your beauty.”

Adele, clutching a book to her chest, couldn’t even look at Lea’s face properly.

She glanced furtively from behind her glasses, her face reddening.

“When I saw Grace, I thought Ophelia had come back to life.”

“Pardon? Ophelia?”

Did she mean Ophelia from ‘Hamlet’? As far as I know, she’s a tragic character.

She was said to be a bookworm, and it seemed she had a habit of projecting everyone into book characters.

“Adele, if you take off those glasses, can you see well?”

For Lea, the immediate practical issues were more important.

“No, I only wear them for reading. They don’t cause much problem in daily life.”

“That’s a relief. You can’t wear glasses to the selection banquet, you know.”

Lea’s confidence hit rock bottom. Although they say the Crown Princess isn’t chosen based on looks alone, in the current state, it was Libette’s victory.

‘No, Adele must have some hidden charm.’

Having read many books, she must be intellectual, eloquent, or possess deep knowledge and wise thinking befitting a lady.

‘If only pretty women became Crown Princesses, there would be no need for a selection banquet in the first place.’

Lea steeled herself. She decided to do her best to embody the elegant and graceful Carmen that Adele desired…

However, it didn’t take long for Sonya’s face to turn black upon seeing Adele.

On the other hand, Adele burst into tears of joy when she saw the red dress.

“It’s exactly as I wanted.”

“That’s… fortunate, My Lady.”

Sonya stammered. She then frantically began giving orders to the maids.

“Bring all the cosmetics we have, and the accessories too, and what else was there…”

She seemed quite shocked, giving errands without any order.

Lea couldn’t just stand by anymore and approached Sonya, gently grasping her shoulder.

“Sonya, let’s take it one step at a time.”

“But this is really…”

“Sonya, you’re the one who made dresses for the Empress of Saint-Bourg. You can recreate anyone to fit the imperial dignity in any situation.”

Lea encouraged Sonya, her eyes wide open and the corners of her mouth twitching. Then Adolphe stepped in.

“My Lady, please don’t worry. Many royals have passed through our hands.”

“I trust you both.”

‘We must ensure Libette isn’t selected.’

Lea was just as desperate.

* * *

It wasn’t until late afternoon that Lea could spend some intimate time with Terran.

The two walked hand in hand through the small garden.

“I wonder if I should help Sonya.”

Lea’s mind was completely preoccupied with work.

“Grace, it’s also important to trust your people and give them time. If you step in and give instructions for everything because you’re not satisfied, your employees won’t trust you.”

Lea looked at Terran as if he had hit the nail on the head.

Honestly, she wanted to check on everything Sonya was doing right away. But she remembered hearing similar words before.

[Lea, if a merchant guild leader doesn’t trust their employees and doubts everything, the employees won’t do their best in their assigned tasks.]

Father had said the same thing as Terran, so why had I forgotten such an important principle?

“You’re right, Terran. I was being hasty.”

“I didn’t mean for you to blame yourself. I just thought that commanders and business leaders aren’t that different. Soldiers give their all when their superiors show trust.”

“Trusting and waiting isn’t as easy as it sounds.”

“It’s not easy.”

Terran gently smoothed Lea’s hair that was fluttering in the wind.

Gazing into her violet eyes had a strangely mesmerizing effect. Even while talking with Arthur, his attention was constantly drawn to her.

It was then that he realized.

‘So this is what it means to fall in love.’

The phenomenon where you only see one person and your mind is plastered with their face.

The feeling of wanting to cherish something so precious. Not fearing even death when together.

So when he thought about her coming to the Basel Forest teeming with thieves, his heart jolted as if struck by electricity.

On the other hand, selfishness also surged. If she didn’t do business, she could spend more time with him.

“Grace, why are you so keen on expanding your business?”

“Huh? Well, doesn’t everyone want to succeed while doing what they love?”

“Success? You mean business success?”

“Y-yes…”

“Why bother when you have me?”

Terran was puzzled. At first, he had supported her efforts to dream and achieve something.

It’s true that he found her constant efforts attractive, unlike her past self who only relied on him.

But the scale was growing increasingly larger.

“Is there perhaps another reason?”