Arthur looked at Reyna with an awkward smile.

“Besides, today is the weekend. The court won’t be open today.”

“!”

Reyna became more perplexed, and she absentmindedly touched only her bangs on her reddened face.

“…Right. I guess I lost my sense of the days. When I used to work, I looked forward to weekends.”

Late rational arguments came to her.

If he had intended to take me to court, he wouldn’t have bothered to bring me to the court like this just to get a dress.
Once she received the legal complaint, she thought she would be taken by the knights and first imprisoned in the detention center. That’s what they thought.

Receiving the escort like this, it was unlikely they would come up to the court by carriage…

However, the sudden misunderstanding was just because Reyna was afraid of the court. The long-standing fear of standing in court for the imagined crime of insulting the royal family lingered in Reyna’s heart.

Arthur frowned apologetically. “…It’s my fault. I’m sorry.”

On the contrary, Reyna felt embarrassed and forced a smile. “What are you sorry for? It’s because you let me rest every day that I lost track of the days.”

“Keeping you inside the house.”

“No, I like being in that room. Besides, it’s my fault for doing something worthy of reporting. What can you do?”

Arthur chuckled. “I’ll make sure you won’t have to go to court except for marriage registration.”

“….”

Since the noble marriage decree was issued five years ago, marriage registration had been under the jurisdiction of the court. They knew it was a joke, and they laughed, but their thoughts expanded.

Marriage registration… Will the day come when I marry an ordinary man and go through marriage registration again?

Without a chance to think further, Arthur extended his hand to Reyna. “Are you okay? Can you get out?”

“Yes.”

Arthur escorted Reyna, helping her get off the carriage. Thud. Holding his hand, Reyna touched the ground.

In front of the weekend court. There was no one passing by. Reyna looked up again at the dress shop in front of the court. It was a seven-story dress shop. Extremely luxurious.

Clang… The door opened smoothly without a creak, only a clear chime. The dress shop was quiet, empty, with neither customers nor staff. Numerous mannequins displayed various beautiful dresses in the hall, but that was all; there wasn’t even a servant.

“…?”
Without any friction, only a clear chime resounded as the door opened smoothly. The dress shop was quietly empty, without a single guest or staff member. Numerous mannequins displayed various beautiful dresses in the hall, but that was it; there wasn’t even a servant.

“……?”

Reyna cautiously looked around the hall of the fitting room, holding her breath. It was Reyna’s first time visiting this dress shop.

Although Reyna occasionally had reasons to visit dress shops, the ones she usually visited fell into two categories. One was a place she went to convey the message, “Miss Christina liked the dress you sent, so please visit Julius Mansion,” and the other was a place she went to say, “If it’s warm, can’t you make it a bit cheaper? I need two sets, one for my grandmother and one for me.”

However, in any dress shop, Reyna had never seen an empty scene like the autumn dress shop, especially when debutante balls were not yet announced.

Moreover, all dress shops would likely be in chaos with orders and reservations.

Especially in such a large and formal fitting room, it was expected to be bustling with aristocrats preparing for major events.

Reyna wandered around the bewilderingly silent fitting room hall.

It was too splendid for there to be no one.

“Why is no one here?”

Arthur followed, entering and closing the door, saying, “Normally, they don’t open on weekends. I rented the entire hall.”

Reyna, surprised, looked at him. “The entire hall?”

Arthur grinned. “They know I don’t engage in external activities other than the general duties of a commanding general. It seemed impractical for me to have clothes fitted at a regular clothing store; that’s what the lawyer recommended. People in this fitting room are discreet. If you want, they’ll clear the hall like this. They’re professionals in that regard, subtly indicating.”

Ah.

Reyna’s gaze naturally turned to the glass beyond which the court was visible.

“Because it’s in front of the court!”

Arthur laughed. “Probably.”

Reyna marveled.

Information about judges was a critical issue directly related to safety.

She could understand the main customer base and operating method of this fitting room.

“So, there’s no one because of that… Ah, then how can I…?”

Arthur, who had been looking at the dress worn by the mannequin, replied without blinking.

“I’ll dress you.”

Reyna’s mouth hung open in surprise.

And a gradually chilling spirit rose on her face.

“……What?”

For a very brief moment, all sorts of thoughts swirled.

The corset he removed when she fell asleep. The events of ten years ago.

Are we friends or not?

Memories we promised to build during our time as a married couple.

Is this what it means?

Should I refuse?

Even though you rented the entire hall… Are you really doing this?

Didn’t you feel embarrassed when you took off my corset?

“Eek!”

Clatter, clatter.

Suddenly, a loud noise rang out as Marina and Brody stumbled down the inner stairs of the hall.
She filled her arms with dresses brought from the upper floor.

Nonchalantly, Arthur added, “Just kidding. I brought your maids with me.”