Once her sister leaves the house, she can afford all the time in the world. There was no longer any rush.

Lilia felt very good.

Everything was going according to her wishes. She hoped that everyone could achieve what they desired and live happily, but still…

“The happiest person should be me.”

If I am the happiest, then others can be happy too. If I’m not happy, others cannot be either. Indeed, that’s how it is.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Lilia’s clear and lovely voice responded to the sound.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and a woman with a stern face entered the room.

Seeing who it was, a triumphant smile flashed across Lilia’s lips and disappeared.

It was Mirabel.

The Lady Berium had taken Monica away and instead assigned Mirabel to her.

“Is there anything you’d like me to do?”

Mirabel spoke without looking directly into Lilia’s eyes.

“Something to ask…”

Lilia looked around quickly. Then, unlike her usual self, she made a request to her servant.

“Could you take care of my toenails?”

“…”

“These days, shoes that expose the toes are in fashion. So, if I’m going to wear such shoes, I can’t have messy toenails, can I?”

It was a command Mirabel did not want to follow. However, as she was a servant in this house and Lilia was the young lady, she couldn’t refuse.

Mirabel responded with an awkward smile.

“Understood. Please wait a moment. I’ll prepare the tools and come back.”

“Sure, take your time.”

Lilia said with a gracious smile.

However, as soon as Mirabel left the room, Lilia’s previously smooth and symmetrical smile quickly lost its balance.

“I told you before, didn’t I? That someday you might be bowing your head under my feet. You should have behaved better all along.”

She increasingly adhered to her inner thoughts.

“My name is Veronica.”
A renowned tailor in the capital. That very tailor who couldn’t make a wedding dress without a reservation right after a coming-of-age ceremony personally came to the estate of Count Verium.

“Duke Bellion specifically instructed to pay special attention. From now on, I will visit regularly once a week to make Miss’s dress. Also for the Madam and young Miss.”

Tears almost formed in the eyes of their grateful mother at Tailor Veronica’s words.

“Oh my, how grateful I am.”

She was the first to get her measurements taken.

Throughout the measurement, she lamented her recently gained weight to the tailor.

“I used to hear a lot that I was skinny when I was young. But now, if I don’t wear something loose, I can’t even breathe properly.”

However, what she overlooked was that Tailor Veronica was not Lilia.

“How about trying some exercise?”

Her mother’s disgusted face brought minor amusement to Liz.

But it was only for a moment.

When it was Liz’s turn to be measured, her mother’s onslaught was directed at her as if to vent her anger.

“Girl, is your belly sticking out? Tuck in your stomach.”

“……”

“And tuck in your chest too. Anyone would think you’re showing off how big they are.”

Sigh.

Liz’s sigh made her bangs flutter.

Having to get her measurements taken was annoying enough, adding her mother’s interference was nearly driving her mad. She wanted to just give up, but…

‘Endure. Endure.’

She couldn’t afford emotional exhaustion over something like this.

While the tailor was taking Lilia’s measurements, Liz took the opportunity to confront her mother.

“How can you act like this when it’s not even decided that I’m getting married?”

Her mother raised her eyebrows as if to ask what she was talking about.

“It’s not decided? It’s already decided.”

“Who decided? You? I remember clearly telling you I won’t do it.”

“I clearly remember saying you have to.”

Her mother spoke firmly. However, it seemed she realized that pushing too hard wouldn’t be helpful, so she soon wore a gentle expression to try to persuade her daughter.

“Listen, Liz. You keep worrying about the age difference, but they say the larger the age gap, the more you’re loved. Whatever you do will look cute and pretty, right? A person who’s just a year or two older is just a friend. A friend is just a friend, not a spouse.”

“……”
“How impressive is he? That man, you may not know, but can you imagine how dashing he was when he was young? I doubt there was a single woman in the capital back then who didn’t cling to him at least once.”

Liz’s expression remained sour.

“Let’s not do this.”

Suddenly, her mother tenderly grabbed Liz’s hand and spoke. It crossed her mind that this might be the first time her mother ever held her hand like this, but it was soft and warm.

“You wouldn’t know. Ever since your father passed away, our family has been disregarded. I’ve never told you this, but we even received a formal notice saying that if we don’t bring a man to inherit the title within five years, we will have to return our lands to the royal family.”

“You’ve mentioned that.”

Three times, in fact.

“…Have I?”

Her mother looked slightly awkward. However, she quickly tightened her grip on Liz’s hand, targeting her vulnerable spot.

“Regardless, our family’s humiliation remains unchanged. Do you know how much I regret not having another son in my lifetime? How hard and miserable it was for me to force my way into social gatherings they didn’t even want to include us in due to our provisional status?”

“If you don’t go to those gatherings, it won’t matter.”

“If I don’t attend even those, what joy would I have left in life? Your father roamed outside throughout our marriage and ultimately died from complications. You know, as people age, it’s important to keep socializing. Without that small joy, I would have succumbed to depression and died long ago.”

“……”

Her mother’s strategy was accurate. Liz felt her heart waver due to the warmth enveloping her hand and her mother’s fact-based plea.

Yes, the crown prince will soon return to the palace, become the emperor, and take an empress anyway.

So, Duke’s courtship will also end soon; there’s no need to emotionally harm myself by arguing with my mother.

Liz made up her mind.

“Alright, I’ll do as you wish, Mother.”