The man standing on the balcony with a low railing gazed out into the distance, basking in the gentle sunlight.
Below him was a garden. The white and blue flowers, blooming profusely, swayed leisurely in rhythm with the breeze that blew softly.
Perhaps it was the color blue. Although the shapes of the flowers and the layout of the garden were entirely different, for a fleeting moment, the image of lupines flickered before his eyes.
Beyond that, the face of a person standing there, looking at him in surprise, also rose to his mind, clear as day.
“Your Grace.”
The man, gripping the railing as if to crush it, awakened from his reverie.
As his sharply defined jawline tilted slightly, the man’s eyes were revealed. They were a vivid red, like a drop of blood on a white sheet of paper.
“Have you found out?”
“She was a maid of Princess Bedford.”
“…Not even my maid. You mean to say you had an affair with my fiancée’s maid?”
“Yes, it seems there were quite a few witnesses. Although the interior of the Bedford mansion is strangely quiet… From what I’ve gathered, the maid and the Crown Prince have been meeting secretly for over two years without the fiancée’s knowledge.”
Veins began to bulge on the back of the man’s large hand. At the same time, a chilling aura spread around him, Nobert Ashbon.
“Surely, there was no mention of this in the last report.”
The man standing respectfully before Nobert, with his hands clasped, squeezed his eyes shut. The question he had feared had finally come out.
“Is my statement incorrect?”
“…I will accept the punishment, Your Grace.”
It meant he had known. He had known yet failed to report it.
Ha, after a surge of anger and betrayal, Nobert let out a hollow laugh.
He was not unaware that it was hidden for his sake. However, it was a consideration he had never wanted. In the end, it had only become an obstacle.
“Prepare your words. I will decide your fate after I return.”
“Y-Yes? Where are you going?”
Nobert did not answer.
Soon, a piece of stationery on the balcony table caught the eye of his flustered subordinate.
“Could it be…! That’s impossible, Your Grace. Even if I leave right now without a moment’s rest, will I make it in time?”
“At least I will arrive before the meeting starts.”
He truly meant to rush to Edinburgh without a moment’s rest.
The Duke Ashbon’s aide wanted to stop his lord somehow, but knowing he could not, he kept his mouth shut.
It was impossible to hold back Nobert Ashbon once he had made up his mind. Trying to do so would only increase the severity of the punishment he would receive.
Thus, he simply slumped down on the balcony that Nobert had left, letting out a sigh.
The wind that blew at that moment caused the letter envelope on the table to flutter and fall to the ground. The stars and moon drawn on it seemed to mock him, and the aide crumpled the unfortunate envelope in frustration.
***
Until someone arrived at the Filling Heights jewelry store, Amira was doing her utmost to transform Ariella’s outdated dress into something presentable.
As Monica, the seamstress maid, held the fabric in place, Amira scrutinized it with hawk-like eyes, adding her opinions. Then Monica would chime in with her own suggestions.
The two were so serious that the actual owner of the dress, Ariella, could only roll her eyes in confusion.
Only after they reached a consensus on points she did not understand could she finally speak.
“If we leave it like this, it seems like the waist will be too tight. Is that alright?”
“Really? There’s plenty of room! These days, it’s trendy to tailor dresses to fit the waist. Some young ladies even tighten them to look slimmer. But you, my lady, have such a slim waist that you don’t need to worry about that at all.”
Upon hearing this, Ariella recalled that the dresses she had seen at the party worn by noble ladies all had fitted waists. The dresses Lizzy had been wearing lately were the same.
In comparison, the fit that Monica had provided was not just loose; it was almost baggy. However, for Ariella, who had always worn dresses with even more generous cuts, it felt somewhat embarrassing.
“And what else is trendy?”
“Hmm… These days, dresses are generally not big and heavy, but the embellishments are extravagant. The neckline is deep, the waist is fitted to emphasize curves, and petticoats are preferred to be less puffed out. Instead, they showcase their charm with jewels or lace.”
“Then when were the dresses I bought last season in style?”
Most of the dresses Ariella owned had thoroughly covered chests and minimal decorations. Moreover, the shoulders and skirt volumes were quite large.
