I rose from my seat in the café.

Vasili, who had been bustling about, strode over to me.

It occurred to me that he might not know who I was.

If he didn’t know, I should tell him. But when I tried to explain, the words choked in my throat.

“Can I say I’m the Duke’s daughter?”

The words were not easy to utter, having never said them before.

Noticing my hesitation, Vasili became even more arrogant.

“What are the servants here doing? Ignoring a child like this!”

Vasili tapped my shoulder with a displeased look. It didn’t hurt, but I involuntarily stepped back.

“These are things you shouldn’t dare touch! Get lost!”

“That’s not it…”

“Ah, so you don’t understand what I’m saying? Who is your guardian?”

It was then that Vasili asked with a sharp voice.

“Why ask about a guardian?”

A gentle voice came from behind. Clements stood there, grinning.

“Ah, young master!”

Vasili hurried over, clasping his hands in a respectful posture.

“Young master, you’re becoming more handsome by the day. No wonder shops are eager to show you their works. Thank you for inviting us again.”

“It’s your skills that everyone recognizes, Madame.”

“Oh, such kind words, truly an honor. Now, feel free to look around at the outfits I’ve specially prepared for you and the Duke.”

“Shall I?”

Clements walked over, specifically next to me.

“By the way, who is the guardian of this child?”

The Madame appeared flustered as she grasped my shoulder.

“I apologize, it seems she’s a servant’s child. I told her to leave, but she wouldn’t…”

“Unhand her, Madame.”

Clements said with a pretty smile, a contrast to his warning tone.

A chill ran up the back of my neck.

“Yes, yes?”

“Take your hand off my sister.”

The word ‘sister’ stabbed into my heart.

It seemed I was not the only one shocked by this.

Vasili trembled, dropping the tray he was holding.

“Sisister? What does that mean?”

“I apologize. I apologize. How dare I, lowly as I am, fail to recognize Her Grace…”

Madame Vasili reappraised the young girl who had grasped Clements’ hand.

‘Her Grace, the Duke’s daughter…’

Hadn’t the Duke only adopted three sons?

And the girl was not even dressed in expensive, jeweladorned clothing, which only increased her doubts.

That was because Diane disliked clothes with ornate decorations, but Madame Vasili had no way of knowing this.

‘Did Her Grace touch that tray? Did the young master see it?’

Flat on the ground, Vasili prayed desperately. She hoped her past actions had not harmed her future.

“Are you alright?”

Ignoring Vasili, who lay flat on the ground, Clements softly asked the young girl.

“She touched that tray earlier.”

A chill ran down Vasili’s neck. He realized then—his life was ruined.

“No, I didn’t.”

A voice of salvation emerged. Surprised, Vasili lifted his head. He felt as if a halo was shining behind Diane.

“Really, dear?”

Clements paid meticulous attention to every word from the child. Only then did Vasili realize.

He should bet his life on pleasing Her Grace!
“It’s an honor, an honor to be able to make your dress. It will take some time to craft, craft the dress. First, would you like to look at the catalog?”

“When did I permit you to speak, madam?”

Clemens abruptly interrupted Basil’s words. His menacing glare seemed to channel the Duke’s aura as if he was about to order a knight to behead Basil.

“Cl, Clemens, I want to see that!”

Then, Her Highness pointed at the catalog she had brought. To Basil, it seemed as though a halo was shining from behind Her Highness.

Responding to the child’s words, Clemens quickly snatched the booklet that had been in his hand.

“Okay, take your time looking.”

Unlike the abrupt manner in which he took it from the madam, he carefully placed it down for the child, as if worried that she might hurt her knees.

At that, Basil sighed in relief. Though he had made a mistake, he was certain.

That Her Highness would like his masterpiece!

After all, if the Duke took so much care to heed a single word from Her Highness, he wouldn’t be able to do anything to him.

‘Even though I didn’t bring any samples…’

It was undoubtedly his mistake.

Thinking that only the Duke’s clothes would be of interest, he hadn’t brought a single dress for the young lady.

The catalog he did bring was hastily grabbed from his shop, fearing its designs might leak while he was away.

But it was precisely because of this that he had confidence. His works, into which he had poured all his diligence and effort over the last 10 years, were nothing short of masterpieces!

He never thought it would save his life in this way.

“How about this?”

Sitting next to the child, Clemens kindly pointed at a dress with a smile.

Cautiously rising to his feet, Basil silently grinned inside.

‘This season’s new arrival!’

As expected, the Duke had an eye for fashion.

It was a dress design he had been obsessed with since the year before last, one that every highsociety lady coveted.