When Pride Falls at Your Feet (19 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 32

She had no intention of running away anymore, not at this point. Besides, she didn’t have the ability to investigate separately while avoiding him. Emilia quietly stared at her own reflection in the window.

Now, without any conscious effort, her expression had naturally become calm. She gazed intently at her eyes reflected in the glass, as if confronting her own inner self, then quickly turned her head away as though rejecting what she saw.

By now, the carriage had already passed through the main gate of the duke’s residence. It soon came to a halt, and Emilia stepped outside, entering the mansion under the escort of the waiting butler.

“You’ve arrived.”

Enrico, who had been standing by the window, slowly turned around. Brilliant sunlight streamed in behind him, scattering radiantly against the dim silhouette of his back. Gone was the cold indifference with which he had once dismissed her; now he greeted her with a gentle air. Emilia blinked calmly, meeting his gaze.

“The dress for the ball is ready. Try it on.”

He gestured toward one side as he closed the distance between them. The room she had just entered was lined entirely on one wall with mirrors. In the center stood mannequins displaying gowns on either side, and behind them was a curtained-off area. The room was so spacious that it felt more like stepping into a full-fledged dressing room.

Emilia obediently nodded and approached the waiting maids. For a moment, she felt an odd prickling sensation at the back of her neck, but the strange feeling quickly vanished. The maids moved in perfect unison. Emilia quietly surrendered herself to them as they entered the curtained space, arms laden with gowns and accessories.

The first dress was made of navy fabric adorned with white gems running vertically, featuring a design that left both shoulders completely bare. The skirt, resembling a ballerina’s tutu, billowed like the stars in a night sky, exuding a light, airy grace.

After fitting her with delicate accessories studded with tiny transparent gems, the maids ushered Emilia out from behind the curtain.

She saw Enrico seated on a chaise lounge before the mirror. His hand, which had been about to light a cigarette held between his lips, froze mid-motion. He stared at her for a moment, blinked briefly, then slowly scanned her from head to toe with an appraising gaze.

‘There’s no doll-playing quite like this.’

She nearly let out an involuntary laugh but suppressed it. Emilia quietly endured his uncomfortable scrutiny. At his casual wave into the air, a maid brought forward a mask crafted from blue feathers.

The mask, designed to leave only her mouth exposed, looked extravagantly ornate thanks to its long plumes. Enrico tilted his head slightly, then removed the cigarette from his lips and tossed it onto the table.

“Next.”

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