“Henet, as Damion’s close friend, what do you think?”

The mischievous question spread even to Henet. He answered without hesitation.

“It’s true. She seems honest and really likes Damion.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’m telling you.”

Henet, who had once doubted her, defended Ansi to the best of his ability. At his sincere words, the club members also began to chime in, raising their eyebrows.

From the party at the Bailees’ Duchy to the boat trip on the Venue River, followed by the accounts of the meals and walks Damion and Ansi had shared a few times. The incident of the newlyweds’ conversation witnessed by those who attended the wedding was the icing on the cake.

With the lovestruck groom at the center, the club members’ conversation continued endlessly.

Damion watched the changing public opinion, sometimes quietly observing and sometimes playing along.

Although the image of Ansi in that public opinion wasn’t genuine, Damion was at least certain that she wasn’t a woman who would harm him.

“This is madam’s personal seal used for important documents, and this is the simplified seal of Orphe used for general documents.”

Butler Nouvel presented a seal case containing two seals. The one on the left was large and intricate, while the one on the right was small and simple.

Ansi examined them with her eyes, then nodded her head with appropriate courtesy.

Even for important documents, as a newly minted mistress, Ansi had little to handle yet. So the seal on the left wouldn’t be used much.

But the right one was different.

That insignificant seal of Orphe, used for general documents, was what Ansi needed most right now.

Next, Nouvel handed over a few sheets of stiff paper.

“These are the documents regarding madam’s personal budget. It’s about 5,000 ruos per month, is that alright?”

“It’s excessively much.”

Nouvel gave a small smile.

“2,000 ruos will be paid directly to madam, and the rest can be withdrawn from the bank at any time using the seal on the left.”

“Is my husband’s… Damion’s permission not required?”

“The master wishes for madam to live freely. Therefore, such restrictions do not exist.”

“I see. Thank you for the explanation.”

Ansi smiled brightly, hiding her tension.

“You’re welcome.”

As Nouvel left the room, Ansi dropped the smile from her face.

Damion de Orphe was not guarding against her at all. If he were, he wouldn’t have brought her the seal and an excessive amount of money when they hadn’t even been married for a few days.

But his carelessness was fortunate for her.

Ansi picked up the seal on the right and examined it. The pattern engraved on the small seal was a simplified variation of the Orphe coat of arms.

After quietly examining it with her eyes, Ansi put the seal back down and closed the case. For now, she planned to test whether the use of money really wouldn’t reach Damion’s ears before proceeding.

Ansi called for Simon.

“I’m going out.”

“I’ll accompany you, madam.”

“There’s no need…”

Ansi, who had begun to answer right away, trailed off.

Honestly, it was inconvenient to always have a servant by her side. She had enjoyed her solitary time before, and her habits over the past year had made it even more so. It was also necessary to maintain a suitable distance in terms of the restrictions on her future activities.

But if she separated from the start, it could arouse unnecessary vigilance.

After some trust was built, it would be fine to move alone.

“I’m going to buy some clothes, come with me.”

“Ah! Shall I call someone from the dressing room?”

“No, I want to get some fresh air.”

“Yes. Do you have a store in mind?”

The dressing rooms Ansi knew were the ones she used to go to when she was Baroness Rubellsa, but upon reflection, they were places that required a reservation at least two weeks in advance.

However, Simon proudly informed her.

“Both of those places are where the master recently invested in, so you can visit without a reservation.”

Ansi slightly raised one eyebrow.

He even invested in dressing rooms?

According to her research on Damion, he had invested in flowers, hotels, yachts, and cars. They were all modern keywords that would make the fashionable young masters and ladies go crazy.

But Zerdiang and Raoul had a slightly different vibe from the places he had invested in so far, so Ansi found it a bit puzzling.

However, she quickly dismissed the thought.

There was no point in trying to understand the eccentric investment tendencies of a young master who had lived a flowery life.

He must have invested in countless brands besides Zerdiang and Raoul. Or maybe their clothing tastes just happened to match well.

Ansi soon left the mansion with Simon and boarded the carriage.

Damion’s mansion was located on Northweden Street in the north. As they followed the Venue River that crossed the capital from the upper right to the lower left, the bustling downtown area revealed itself around the center of the capital.

The two dressing rooms were located there.

Ansi visited Zerdiang first. Just as Simon had said, the designer let her in without a separate reservation.

Though the reaction was somewhat lukewarm.

“Ah, Miss Rubellsa…?”

“It’s Mrs. Orphe.”

At Simon’s correcting words, the designer nodded her head uncomfortably.

Ansi knew she wasn’t pleased with her visit.

“The price of fabric has risen so much these days. There aren’t many varieties, but… will that be alright?”

The designer’s tone was roundabout and rejecting. Noticing this, Simon frowned and was about to retort when—

“It seems you don’t like me wearing your clothes.”

Ansi said, looking at the designer intently.

Hit where it hurts, the designer hastily denied.

“T-that can’t be.”

“It’s true that the overall fabric prices have risen, but the prices of Bellisan imported fabrics used at Zerdiang have actually gone down due to trade facilitation, haven’t they?”

Ansi calmly stated the facts. Simon’s face turned red and blue upon realizing that the designer had truly intended to reject Ansi.

However, Ansi didn’t show much change in emotion.

She understood the designer’s reaction.

From her perspective, when Ansi wore the clothes from here, there would be more to lose than to gain.

Although Ansi’s reputation had been somewhat restored by becoming Mrs. Orphe, the perception of Rubellsa remained the same.

It was just a bit bitter to see that embarrassed expression filling the face that had always been joyful whenever she frequently visited as a regular customer before.

The voice that used to brightly call her ‘Miss Rubellsa!’ now drawled ‘Miss Rubellsa…?’, reminding her of her position.

So she had to try harder.

She needed to be in a position where she wouldn’t be ignored by them using her previous reputation as an excuse. Only when she was thought of first by the name Orphe rather than Rubellsa could her revenge begin.

“I’m sorry, but I like Zerdiang’s clothes. So please show me the fabrics and designs. In about a month, Madam, you won’t regret today’s choice.”

“Regret? Why do you say such a thing, Madam? It’s disappointing.”

The designer deliberately laughed affectionately, anxious that her true feelings had been exposed.

Just then.

Ding. The bell attached to the door rang.

Ansi’s eyes widened as she turned her head towards the door.

The other party, who entered with a beaming smile, was the same.

“Elize.”

At her call, Elize’s expression hardened. The designer called out to her brightly in a completely different voice than with Ansi.

“Miss Bailees is here! Come this way…”

“Does Mrs. Orphe also buy clothes here?”

Elize asked in a cold voice.

The designer rolled her eyes and answered.

“Ah… she’s… about to buy now. A lot of good fabrics have arrived, so please come in quickly…”

“Then I won’t buy.”

“What? Ah, Miss, why are you doing this?”

The designer stuttered in bewilderment at the unexpected statement. Elize glanced at Ansi.

“Because I don’t want to wear the same brand of clothes as Mrs. Orphe.”

Ansi’s eyes wavered.

The atmosphere froze at the clear jab. The designer and Simon looked at Ansi’s reaction with embarrassed faces. Nina, Elize’s dedicated maid, was the same.

“Nina, handle the cancellation penalty and come out.”

Having said that, Elize immediately went back outside.

“Ah, Miss!”

An uncomfortable silence flowed through the dressing room. The designer couldn’t openly stare at Ansi, so she glared at Simon as if asking what to do.

“I’ll bring her back.”

Ansi said with a deliberately nonchalant face.

But one side of her chest ached greatly.

‘As I thought, Elize hates me.’

It was the same at the Bailees’ party where they met again. She pretended not to see Ansi and took away those who were beside her.

However… the unwelcome guest here wasn’t Elize, but herself. If one person had to leave, it should be her.

Ansi hurriedly stepped outside.

Amidst the people on the street, Elize was just striding forward. Ansi hesitated at the angry back, but called out to her again.

“Elize!”

“Don’t come!”

Elize turned around and spat out a sharp voice.

When she hated it so much, would approaching and grabbing her be more of a nuisance?

“Come back, Elize. I’ll go somewhere else.”

Elize didn’t answer. She seemed to dislike even exchanging words.