Chapter 49 - Let’s Not Cross The Line

Chapter 49 – Let’s Not Cross The Line

“…But Lady Dorothea,” Madame Reavoir protested. Her voice was steady, but her eyes were trembling and she seemed quite flustered. “I already made a promise with Lady Maristella. I cannot change my words now. That will hurt—”

“Marie.” Dorothea interrupted Madame Reavoir’s words and called my name.

I felt a horrible knot form in my stomach, but that was a natural response. Was she really going to steal a dress now? I remained mute, shocked by the absurdity. Funnily enough, Dorothea seemed calmer.

I spoke in a flat voice. “Yes.”

“Will you give that dress to me?”

“We are friends.” I took the lead first this time. Dorothea’s face brightened up as she expected my next words to be favorable to her. A humorless smile formed on my face. “How can you take what belongs to your friend, Dorothea?”

I felt worse than usual, and I didn’t want to beat around the bush. The smile on Dorothea’s face dropped.

I kept talking quietly. “As friends, let’s not cross the line. If we switched positions, you would feel bad too. Right?”

“So you can’t give it to me?” she said.

“Technically, giving to you would be like me giving you a favor, Dorothea.” I stared at her, my face devoid of any emotion. “And if one continually gives favors, a person might think they are entitled to it.”

“…”

“Just like you.”

Dorothea treated me like she was entitled to my submission—no, that it was my duty to do it. I loathed that.

“Then, the meaning of the favor will slowly fade away, Dorothea. And I have no thought of yielding that dress to anyone. I really like it.”

“Marie,” she said.

“So just give up at this point, Roth. You’re not a child. Haven’t you grown up enough to seduce the Crown Prince?” I kept quiet for a moment and spoke again. “Or do you hate it when I get the dress that you really like?”

“No way, Marie. I really do think about you,” Dorothea insisted.

“Yes. Because, just like you said, we are friends.” I smiled and nodded. “Your friend really likes this dress. And she doesn’t want to give it up.”

“…”

“You understand me, right, Roth? I don’t want to give up this dress to you or to anyone. I don’t want to let it go because I think it’s pretty.”

I didn’t want to prolong this argument any longer, so I turned back towards Madame Reavoir. She quickly rearranged her expression into something friendly as soon as she made eye contact with me.

“Can you help me wear the dress, Madame Reavoir?” I said in a soft voice.

***

Madame Reavoir and the other boutique employees helped me put on dress, and I was delighted with the fact that it looked more flattering on me than I expected. The employees kept lavishing me with words of admiration, and Madam Reavoir was proud that her judgment was not wrong. Countess Bellafleur also couldn’t stop smiling and praising me for looking so beautiful in the dress.

It was a pleasant time for all of us in many ways. It would have been more perfect if it wasn’t for Dorothea futzing around.

Madame Reavoir’s face lit up as if she just remembered something. “Oh, Countess Bellafleur,” she said. “There is a dress that would look wonderful on you. It was stocked yesterday. It’s a dress from Giesta Kingdom.”

“Oh, really?” Countess Bellafleur said interestedly.

The Giesta Kingdom was known for its fashion industry, which supported forty percent of their population. Their clothes, especially their dresses, were considered the height of fashion. However, their export volume was not high, as their products were considered luxury items in foreign countries.

Madame Reavoir gave a smile. “Would you like to take a look at it?”

“Of course, Madame Reavoir,” Countess Bellafleur said.

“I will be right there after taking care of Lady Maristella. Until then, my employees will be here for you.”

“Of course, Madame. Take your time. You don’t have to rush.”

Countess Bellafleur slightly flushed in anticipation of seeing a new dress. Then, she turned her eyes to me. “I will be right over there, Marie. Is that alright?” she asked in a gentle voice.

“Of course, Mother,” I said, nodding. “I’m just going to change my dress and go over there.”

“Alright, Marie. I will be waiting for you.”

“This way, Countess Bellafleur,” a boutique employee said, signalling the Countess where to go.

Countess Bellafleur moved with the boutique employee to another location. I was left with both the mother and daughter of Cornohen. Their presence was burdensome.

I tried to keep my seat without saying anything, but after a strained moment, I opened my mouth to speak. “Did you get the tea leaves?” I asked Dorothea.

I was talking about the tea leaves from Xavier. Dorothea stared at me after hearing my question, then soon replied.

“Yes. Your maid sent it. I thought you would give it to me personally.”

“I wanted to send it to you as soon as possible, but I didn’t feel well that day.” I offered her a light smile. “How did it taste?”

“It was amazing.” It was a brief review, and then Dorothea’s voice turned doubting. “Did you really go all the way to Thurman Palace to get it?”

“Yes. I got it directly from the Crown Prince,” I answered with a tired laugh.

“You always act misleadingly. What if your friend, Odeletta, gets offended?”

“She knows. So don’t worry too much,” I said with a smirk.

“…”

Dorothea’s mouth remained shut at my answer. I couldn’t tell if she was simply looking or glaring at me through her squinted eyes, and I quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, how’s the dress, Dorothea?” I smiled, boastfully lifting the pearl-colored hem to display its beauty. “Isn’t it pretty?”

“…Yes. Pretty,” Dorothea answered, her face pinched in scowl. “But I don’t think it looks good on you.”

“Which part?”

“Just, everything. It doesn’t suit you.”

“…I see.”

Just tell me that you want this dress. I was rendered mute by Dorothea’s response.

She didn’t stop. “No matter how I look at it, the dress would look better on me rather than you.” She looked around everyone in the room with a pitying expression. “Don’t you all think so?”

“Lady Dorothea,” Madame Reavoir interrupted beside me. “Of course, this dress is so beautiful that it would look good on anyone… But you have red hair.”

“So? What does that matter?” Dorothea challenged.

“I think green, which is a complementary color of your hair, or purple would look better on you. Pearl doesn’t go well with red hair,” Madame Reavoir tried to explain patiently.

“Madam Reavoir, are you saying I don’t look good on that dress?”

“That’s not what I meant—”

Madame Reavoir struggled not to offend her customer, but Dorothea seemed to have been upset ever since she realized she couldn’t have the dress I was already wearing. She wanted to make it obvious that she was offended.

“What do you mean ‘no’? Is that why you gave Marie that dress instead of me?”

“…”

Madame Reavoir wore an incredulous look on her face at Dorothea’s black-or-white reasoning. Anyone could tell this girl was throwing a tantrum.

When Madame Reavoir didn’t say anything, Dorothea drove on with a confident face, thinking that her logic had worked.

“I didn’t know that was how you think of me.”

“Ah, My Lady. That’s not it…” Madame Reavoir protested.

“What do you mean? Then, are you saying I’m wrong?” Dorothea accused.

“…”

It was hopeless.