Looking at the filled book storage, she recalled the first moment she encountered him in the library. Back then, she was trying to avoid him… Now, being here as the future Duchess, the reflection brought a fresh surge of emotion.
Marlene guided her to another room connected to the library. The room, featuring a large desk in front of a window that received ample sunlight, had a cozy atmosphere, but the interior decorations were slightly disordered, as if it was being refurbished.
“This will be the office for you to use as the Duchess. It’s still being renovated, but it will be ready within this week.”
“How will the Duchess’ education be conducted?”
“Since His Highness is the first Duke of Elyos, there’s no precedent for a Duchess’ education. Hence, we plan to conduct it based on the education that the former Empress received when she was a duchess.”
“Will Marlene be conducting the education?”
“Yes, I will. The education will begin here after lunch, starting from next week once the office renovation is complete. For your information, I’m from the Delphi Count’s family. Before serving His Highness the Duke, I served the Roman Duke’s family and the former Empress.”
Marlene’s eyes held a distant light as she recalled the time she served as a chamberlain in the imperial palace during the former Empress’s reign. A wellrefined woman with shining black hair appeared in her mind.
A noble lady who was born as the only daughter of the Roman Duke’s family and climbed to the position of Empress. She often saw glimpses of the former Empress in the Duke, who was called a perfect royal blood.
Having finished her recollections, Marlene now looked at the woman she would serve.
She was examining a manual for the Duchess placed on the desk. The sight was like a faint watercolor painting rather than a vibrant oil painting. Her slender figure and delicate features seemed fragile at a glance.
At a glance, she was the opposite of the Duke, who could overwhelm others just by his aura. But Marlene suspected that this woman was not as weak as she appeared.
She didn’t ask, but there seemed to be a reason why she hurriedly came from the Count’s house with only one bag. Moreover, there was no letter inquiring about her from the Fleur Count’s house.
Occasionally, her wavering eyes lost in thought reflected complex emotions that were hard to express. Yet, seeing her calm down soon after, she felt like a wildflower that had weathered the storm alone, not a flower carefully cultivated in a greenhouse.
She hoped that the future Duchess, who seemed to have many stories, would find stable happiness in the Duke’s house. Believing that her happiness would soon be the Duke’s happiness, Marlene sincerely wished for it.
“It’s about time for Madame Pomme Nouveau to arrive at the dress room. It would be best if we head there.”
With a gentle smile, Marlene guided her to the dressing room connected to the Duchess’ room.
There, designer Madame Pomme Nouveau of Charlotte Dressing Room and her assistants were already waiting.
Madame Pomme Nouveau had closed her dressing room and hurried over from early morning, eager to meet the person who had stirred the empire. It was right to drop everything and go if it was a call from the Duke’s house, not from any other noble house.
“Nice to meet you. I am Fongpumnu, running the Charlotte Dress Room. It’s an honor to meet Her Highness, the prospective Duchess.”
“Nice to meet you too. I’m Idel Fleur.”
Lady Fongpumnu scrutinized the woman who stepped into the dressing room, from head to toe without missing a beat. This was her occupational disease as a haute couture designer. It was a longestablished habit developed from examining her models and clients.
The woman who greeted her with a calm expression was a beauty rarely seen in the empire. To Lady Fongpumnu, who was accustomed to gorgeously dressed women visiting the dressing room, a beauty with a fresh yet noble dignity felt special.
‘She has a straight and upright posture. Balanced shoulders and an excellent décolleté line, her waist is slim too, she won’t even need a corset.’
Looking at the body of the prospective Duchess, dressed in thin negligee for measurements, Lady Fongpumnu was sure. The clothes tailored to the measurements of a perfect proportioned mannequin would fit her body without any special alterations.
“You have an ideal figure.”
Lady Fongpumnu set down the measuring tape she used and took a satisfied sigh. Looking at Idel’s long arms and legs, she was suddenly inspired and proposed with twinkling eyes.
“In addition to day dresses and evening dresses, would you like to try on a tailored suit?”
“A tailored suit? Isn’t that something only men wear?”
As Marilyn, standing next to her, asked tilting her head, Lady Fongpumnu replied with a smile on her face.
“Until now, yes. But society is changing. Women have started to work productively just like men. There’s a need to step out of the restricting dresses for a while.”
Lady Fongpumnu finally found a muse to represent the new trend she had been thinking about.
“Are you not enrolling in the Imperial University, Your Highness? It must be challenging to wear cumbersome dresses every time you have an outdoor activity.”
Walking towards the hanging clothes, Lady Fongpumnu pulled out a tailored jacket for women, which was still in the fitting stage.
“You will wear a tailored jacket and pants or a skirt that preserve the natural curve of the body and offer comfort.”
Lady Fongpumnu lightly draped the tailored jacket over Idel’s shoulder. Just wearing a jacket changed the atmosphere in an instant. It felt more proactive and refreshing than before.
“I like it. I want to have a tailored suit, as you suggested.”
“Among the noble women of the empire, or all women in the empire, you, Ms. Idel, might be the first one to wear a tailored suit.”
It was not a problem to lead the fashion trend by modifying within existing norms. But creating a new trend by breaking the existing norms was a story of another dimension. Lady Fongpumnu cautiously confirmed Idel’s intentions again.
Idel, who took a moment to think before answering, had eyes as strong as trees containing bluegreen alloys.
“I like it. Something no one else has tried. It’s the same with my enrollment in the Imperial University. Marilyn, will my wearing this be an inconvenience to His Highness?”
“No. His Highness would want you, Ms. Idel, to do as you wish.”
Charlotte Dress Room, where all the nobles of the Empire were eager to tailor their clothes. It was Duke Hart who brought in Fongpumnu, the representative designer there, with a blank check.
From underwear to outerwear, hats and jewelry, shoes……. Recalling the Duke who had ordered to fully provide all the clothes necessary for the Duchess, Marilyn was filled with confidence.
“I will come back in a few days to fit the clothes to be custommade.”
Eager to dress her new muse in new clothes, Lady Fongpumnu’s cheeks flushed with excitement.
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
