Rachel’s maids brought clothes to Ariana’s room. They were the ones that Helena had outgrown and put away in storage.

She did not refuse this time and obediently changed into the dress, then headed to the reception room as Rachel had instructed.

It was the first time she had ever been in the reception room of the Duke Bronthe’s mansion for any reason other than cleaning.

Victoria, who was sitting on the sofa, waved with a smile when she saw Ariana.

“Sister, come here.”

Helena seemed displeased by Victoria’s attitude, but she did not openly scold her.

‘What are they up to?’

Considering Helena didn’t show her true colors, there must have been something to keep her mouth shut.

Even as Ariana walked toward the sofa with a relaxed expression, she did not let her guard down.

Helena only glared at Ariana for sitting next to Victoria, but soon turned to Victoria and spoke.

“I hope the Emperor of the North arrives at the capital before we leave. Then we can head to the capital together.”

Victoria sent a reproachful look, but Helena continued.

“I don’t know why he’s coming to the capital, but he must be coming to see Grandfather? Then he will naturally visit our Bronthe mansion as well. Other noble girls will be really envious. The Emperor of the North doesn’t just visit any family.”

Helena was certain that if the rumored Emperor of the North came to the capital, he would naturally come to see the daughters of Duke Bronthe. And she thought there was no chance Ariana would be invited to meet him.

Knowing why Helena was saying this, Ariana suddenly became curious.

‘What would she look like if she knew that the Emperor of the North had already entered this mansion and had encountered me several times?’

Ariana recalled the overly beautiful face of Cyrus.

His smoky eyes and bloodred pupils exuded a dangerous decadence, his red lips against his pale skin oozed sensuality.

The face beneath his cold moonlike silver hair was breathtaking, but the cruelty in his eyes was sharp enough to raise the hairs on the back of one’s neck.

She wondered if Helena could even breathe properly in front of Cyrus.

“You all are here.”

Rachel entered the reception room with a pleasant expression. She gave Ariana a warm smile.

“Ariana, you look nice in that. Make sure you dress properly from now on. Understand?”

It was as if Ariana had been wearing maid’s clothing and roaming around because she wanted to. Ariana obediently replied.

“Yes, Mother.”

“A tailor will be coming soon. Ariana, you have much to prepare for this year’s social season. Once midMarch passes, we will be heading to the capital, so learn the manners of a noble lady from your sister by then. Understand?”

“Yes, Mother.”

Rachel smiled satisfactorily at Ariana’s docility. Ariana felt her mother’s smile was as slithery and uncomfortable as a snake.

‘If I were the old me, I would have smiled like a fool at that woman’s kindness.’

Her position of having to suspect and guard against her mother’s kindness even more the kinder she was, was bitter. Ariana erased the dry wind in her heart with a faint smile.

“The Empress will like you, Sister. You’re really pretty.”

Victoria placed her hand on Ariana’s hand and spoke affectionately. Ariana clearly saw Helena’s face twist.

“Yes, thank you. But Helena will certainly stand out more than I will.”

At Ariana’s words, Helena smiled smugly.

Rachel, seeing Helena’s inability to control her expression, slightly narrowed her brows but soon smiled gracefully and said.

“Ariana, Helena ‘Miss’? She’s your sister. Don’t call her ‘Miss’ elsewhere, just call her sister affectionately.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Helena, you should also get along well with your sister.”

“……Okay.”

Soon after, the tailor, along with his assistants, arrived. He was the most famous tailor in the capital.
While the assistants were measuring the daughters’ sizes, Rachel checked the fabrics and catalogs that the tailor had brought as samples.

“This one and this one for the eldest, this one, this one, and this one for the second, and this one and this one for the third.”

As Rachel chose the fabrics and designs, the tailor tilted his head and said,

“The ones for the first and youngest princesses will suit them well, but I worry that the second princess’s outfit might look too mature for her age.”

“Our second daughter has a mature side, so she will like this color. I’m her mother, so I know best.”

“Of course, you do.”

The tailor answered, as if to please Rachel, and looked back at the three princesses being measured.

The brownhaired Helena, the skybluehaired Ariana, and the dark blonde Victoria. The three Bronthe princesses were exceptionally beautiful, but Ariana boasted the most remarkable beauty of all.

The fashionconscious tailor had also heard rumors about the Duke of Bronthe’s second princess. Not long ago, a visiting noblewoman and her ladies had gossiped about an incident that had happened at the Duke of Bronthe’s garden party.