According to Anna, Mrs. Haley of the capital was a dress master who received VIP treatment at any mansion or palace, and it took years to make a reservation with her.

“Oh my, Mrs. Haley is really coming……”

“Are you that happy?”

“Of course. Mrs. Haley is truly the best. She’s perfect for you, young lady.”

Even the busy Mrs. Haley, when given the opportunity to make a dress for the most attention-grabbing future crown princess in the world right now, put aside everything and came to the marquis’s mansion.

“If Anna likes her, I’m sure I will too.”

From the moment she became the young lady who was teased for being big in a story she barely knew, until today…… Anna has taken care of Serena with motherly affection and fatherly trust.

“Mrs. Haley is famous for always making dresses that best suit the owner. Since you are beautiful, young lady, the dress will be a masterpiece.”

Though she had never had a family in her past life, Anna was the one who taught her what family love was.

“But it’s unusual. Did the marchioness really say I could use the third floor as I please?”

“Yes, I confirmed it with Lady Nora. When I said you were getting a dress fitted, she made various preparations and even called for tapestries and musicians.”

It wasn’t that grand of a preparation I had hoped for, but I didn’t dislike Miranda’s cooperation. Of course, it was unlikely that she had extended this consideration out of pure goodwill.

“I see, she must be very pleased about snatching my etiquette teacher.”

As Serena smiled mischievously, Anna couldn’t hide her laughter either.

“Lady Abigail has long since retired and is recuperating due to her old age. They say she doesn’t teach any young ladies anymore.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. She came to teach you because of her past connection with Her Majesty the Empress. Otherwise…… the marquis’s daughter would never have been able to meet her in her lifetime.”

Anna was very kind and warm to Serena, but not to everyone.

Sometimes her rational and cool gaze was so impressive that even Serena was amazed. Especially her skill in hiding it behind a gentle smile was quite remarkable.

The marchioness secretly looked down on Anna, who came from a rural place like Astel territory, but if she had known that she was the former head maid who had long served the Duchess of Astel, she would have behaved more properly.

“However, Lady Abigail is known for her good judgment, so from tomorrow on, she will devote all her attention to you, young lady.”

“That’s…… I’m not sure if that’s good or bad, honestly.”

“I liked you when you were active freely in Astel. But in this capital and the imperial palace…… there are many people like the marchioness.”

Serena nodded at the correct words.

“To avoid giving such people any excuse, it’s best to learn what you can.”

Anna’s advice was always for Serena’s benefit.

“I know. I…… don’t like it, but I think I need to learn at least the basics.”

She still couldn’t forget the voices mocking her at the engagement ceremony.

“I’m already tired of being ridiculed by people like the marchioness.”

If she showed any inadequacy at the royal wedding, she would face even harsher criticism. There was no reason to refuse if it was something that could be overcome through learning.

“Not everyone is like the marchioness. In fact, to my eyes, the marchioness seems like a person with a strong inferiority complex.”

“Why? Isn’t the marchioness a leading lady in high society?”

“She is now.”

The Marquis of Sherwood boasted great power among the capital’s nobles and was essentially fulfilling the crucial role of the Duke of Astel, who was almost always absent.

“However, the marchioness’s original family was just a humble barony. There were constant evaluations that she made an incredible rise by marrying the marquis’s only son.”

Serena felt she could understand Miranda’s attitude a little. If nobles who even mocked the crown prince’s fiancée were like this, there was no need to say more about how they would treat Miranda, who became a marchioness from a humble family.

“The current marchioness…… can only be said to have achieved this position through all her efforts.”

Anyway, the current Miranda was highly regarded as the top noblewoman leading high society and was even in charge of preparing for the bride’s side of the royal wedding.

“No wonder. I must look pathetic in the marchioness’s eyes.”

Anna neither affirmed nor denied. But to Miranda, who had risen to the peak of high society through bloody efforts from a humble family, Serena, who had everything from the start but made no effort, might indeed look pathetic.

“But that’s not the right attitude.”

“Yes, you’re exactly right, young lady.”

The six years spent in Astel territory brought great growth to Serena.

It was easy for the capital’s nobles who didn’t know this to think that the young lady who was humiliated at the engagement ceremony had wasted her time in the countryside, but that was merely the thought of foolish people who couldn’t see the inner self.

“However, it’s enough to correct the marchioness’s attitude after fitting the dress.”

“Okay.”

Originally, she thought fitting dresses and accessories was the most troublesome thing, but seeing Miranda who judged people by their appearance, it wasn’t something to be ignored.

“Now, let’s go. The empire’s best dress master is waiting.”

Anna pulled Serena’s hand with an excited voice. She had always been disappointed that the always slender and beautiful Serena only wore dresses with simple designs, but today she would fulfill that wish.

Serena didn’t know, but the number of dresses Anna had requested from Mrs. Haley was exactly 25. Including hats, gloves, shoes, and fans, it was going to be a long day.

After receiving tea as requested by the marchioness and exchanging a few pleasantries, Abigail rose from her seat.

“Um… madam, I’d like to ask your esteemed opinion on our Laura.”

As the old lady headed towards the entrance without saying a word about Laura, an anxious Miranda spoke up.

“The tea was fragrant. I enjoyed it.”

Abigail only repeated words similar to before.

“Wasn’t there anything lacking in Laura? No matter how strictly I educate her, there’s no better teacher than you. As it happens, with the duke’s daughter staying here, having a study companion would be more helpful…”

“Lady Marchioness.”

Unlike her benevolent smile, her voice interrupting Miranda was firm.

“I am already old and in need of recuperation. I’ve only come to offer advice to the future crown princess due to my connection with Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Of course. But the duke’s daughter is quite clumsy with etiquette, so I thought it would be more helpful if Laura studied together.”

Miranda had only Laura as her child, and unlike her past self, Laura was fully qualified to receive the best education and cultivation. Especially, if it became known that she received etiquette education alongside the crown princess, the level of marriage proposals would be different.

“Madam, I think the duke’s daughter…”

“Oh my, look at the time.”

Abigail ignored the marchioness who was desperately clinging and looked at the setting sun.

“Being old makes it hard to stand for long.”

It was a roundabout refusal.

“Please contact me again when the Duke of Astel’s daughter is ready. Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

Miranda was anxious, but unable to detain her further, she forcibly smiled and saw Abigail off.

“Pearls before swine, indeed.”

Miranda, who spat out the cynical words, looked up at the third floor. It was ridiculous that just two weeks before the royal wedding, the absurd story of fitting a dress was happening in her own house.

Lucas, who had returned to the imperial palace, couldn’t sit still as he felt increasingly restless. He was 16 when he left the palace and now he was 20, so all the things he needed while growing up were obtained outside this palace.

“Cedric, was the imperial palace always this boring?”

“Probably… yes.”

Cedric answered honestly even to the sarcastic question.

“And I have to live in a place like this for the rest of my life?”

“Yes.”

Hoo, Lucas let out a long sigh. At first, when he left the palace, there was the grand cause of going to the empire’s battlefield.

It was a duty that the heir to the throne had to go through at least once, and since the engagement ceremony turned out that way, it was easy to leave.

“I understand her feelings now.”

“Pardon?”

The emperor and empress urged him to return many times, but Lucas’s wandering only ended after 6 years. So this time, he won’t be able to leave anymore.

“My fiancée, Serena, I mean.”

Lucas recalled Serena’s vibrant appearance in Astel. And he pondered over the endless freedom he had promised her. Could that promise really be kept by Lucas’s will?

“She was beautiful, running freely in Astel. I… promised her I would preserve that image.”

“Then, shouldn’t you just keep that promise?”

Cedric was a man so stubborn it bordered on foolishness, but sometimes he said the right things.

“You’re right.”

Lucas, who had been lying down listlessly, suddenly sat up at those words.

“I just need to keep my promise.”

If the woman Lucas fell for was with him, this palace would inevitably change. For Lucas, who had to live here for the rest of his life, that fact felt like a lifeline.

“Even if she has to become the crown princess… as long as it’s what she wants, she should be able to do anything freely…”

“What? That’s impossible.”

Once again, Cedric always said the right things.

“It might be impossible through ordinary means.”

Lucas’s dark eyes glinted with an unusual light.

“Your Highness, I don’t know what you’re planning, but you mustn’t cause trouble before the royal wedding. I…”

“Right, it’s still before the royal wedding!”

Completely contrary to Cedric’s intention, inspiration suddenly struck in Lucas’s mind.

“She’s not yet the crown princess, but still Serena Astel.”

Lucas’s lips curled up. It was clearly an expression of plotting something unusual, but Cedric couldn’t dissuade him any further.