While the maids perused the sample design book, Monica, in particular, enthusiastically recommended various options to Yuan.

“Madam, you have slender arms and legs, but since you have a fuller bust and hips, wearing too loose clothes will make you look less shapely. With your black hair, any color suits you, but bright colors like pink or yellow will accentuate your figure without looking too much.”

Tailor Michel and Monica, who were perfectly in sync, almost decided everything for Yuan before she could express her preferences.

In fact, Yuan found this more comfortable. She wasn’t averse to dressing up in pretty clothes and shoes, but having lived her teenage years without such luxuries, she was clumsy at choosing despite recognizing beauty.

Monica, a maid in her late twenties with a sophisticated look, boasted of her experience in dressing up young ladies of wealthy noble families in her youth.

Her stubbornness was so bull-like that whenever Yuan tentatively suggested that something might be too much, Monica would thoroughly explain why it was not and why she had to wear it, earning applause from the maids and an eventual surrender from Yuan.

The butler, observing from a distance, decided that if he only followed Yuan’s wishes, bringing in outsiders to the mansion would be fruitless.

Eventually, a collaboration between the eager tailor Michel and Monica, who wanted to switch from laundry duties to dressing up the lady, led Yuan to order over thirty outfits.

“Th-thirty outfits…”

“Madam, since it’s winter, we’ve ordered thick shawls, leather gloves lined with wool, and earmuffs and angora fur cloaks that you often use. All the small things are included! It’s not just thirty outfits!”

“Yes, madam. The mistress of the Lev family, whom I personally attend to, orders even more each year. And since these aren’t extravagant dresses for parties, they are much more practical and lighter.”

Soon, the dark green dress that Yuan had always worn was swiftly removed by Monica.

Yuan resisted, claiming she wouldn’t discard it as Louise had sewn it up several times, but agreed to hand it over when Michel promised to return it neatly repaired.

Wearing a lavender dress Michel adjusted on the spot, Yuan awkwardly stood as she watched her old green dress being unceremoniously packed into Michel’s trunk.

“Is it okay, butler?”

After sending off the gleeful Michel, who hopped into his carriage and sped away, Yuan asked worriedly.

The butler, marveling anew at her beauty, replied with a puzzled look.

“What do you mean?”

“There aren’t parties or guests to entertain here. I ordered thirty outfits…”

Looking guilty like a child who’d done something wrong, the butler reassured her.

“Madam, this place may be poor, but His Highness doesn’t wear a robe all the time, does he?”

Recalling Clad’s constant attire, Yuan rolled her eyes.

The butler reassured her again.

“So, madam, having ‘normal’ clothes for yourself won’t shake things up. His Highness has approved, after all.”

The worries clouding Yuan’s face cleared as she smiled faintly at the butler’s joking tone.

Both the mistress’s bedroom and the newly colorful wardrobe.

The butler felt a sense of pride, though it wasn’t his money, in seeing Yuan quietly happy every time.

Count Peliesse’s round shadow loomed in front of the palace of the First Prince. Having requested an audience in advance, he was anxious about any variables the capricious prince might introduce, and entered the palace as soon as the gates opened.
As expected, the First Prince Bolonico, dressed in a flawless white uniform, was stepping out of the palace, accompanied by at least fifty attendants. His neatly cut golden bob hair shimmered like sprinkled gold dust every time it moved. His somewhat sharp and upturned nose now turned towards Count Peliesse.

“Ah, who do we have here?”

“All glory to the great Euphris! First Prince Bolonico!”

“A noisy old Count in the morning.”

The Count clenched his teeth, bowing deeper. He had shown excessive courtesy, but that didn’t justify such humiliation. Prince Bolonico often resorted to childish personal attacks if he was displeased. He only used the Count’s proper name when he was in favor.

The prince, displaying typical symptoms of loving attention, needed such ridiculous theatrics. Count Peliesse bent his waist in half as if he hadn’t heard the insult.

“Please protect my niece from the dreadful former emperor, Euphris!”

“Bolonico, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“Former Emperor Clad Euphris has taken away my precious nieces! Without a wedding! I’ve never heard of such a marriage!”

Though it was Duke Compani who took them on the royal command, the Count framed it to suit the prince’s tastes.

“A wedding? For a mere prince in name only in the royal lineage? That would be too extravagant. Even finding brides for him is a waste of effort, right?”

Bolonico asked Duke Compani, who was standing behind him. Compani, already frowning at the sight of the Count, nodded and stepped forward.