Chapter 13

“Yes. That’s right.”

“…Alright. I’ll send a letter to the palace showing my willingness to attend right now.”

“Yes, please.”

Perhaps Arthur was unhappy with Grace’s decision, since he had asked her about it repeatedly. However, when Grace answered without hesitation, Arthur nodded, showing that he understood.

Then Arthur, who let out a small sigh, looked down and said, looking at Leon, who was still in Grace’s arms, “Leon, come down from her arms now. Her arms must hurt.”

“Yes, I’d better get off now!”

“Ah, yes.”

At Arthur’s words, Leon untangled himself from Grace’s arms, which hugged him without hesitation, and came down to the floor. Grace rubbed her arms, feeling the sudden absence of Leon’s body temperature, and feeling a bit empty. Arthur glanced at her. He came near and spoke to Leon who was beside him, “Leon, the next time you see her, say thank you and hold her hand.”

“Yes, brother.”

“Then, I’ll have to go now. Leon, you’re also about to learn military science with Lord Roland, right? I’ll take you to study.”

“…I don’t like military science.”

“But you still have to learn to be a knight of the Empire.”

Arthur gently swept Leon’s long, messy bangs, as Leon acted grumpy, his lower lip sticking out. He turned to Grace, who was gazing at Leon as if he were cute.

“I and Leon will go back now.”

“…Oh, yes. Take care. Leon, study hard! See you tomorrow!”

“Hehe, yes!”

“See you next time, Duchess.”

Like the first time he saw her, Arthur greeted Grace with an awkwardly stiff face, avoiding her gaze. Grace bowed awkwardly and bid Sir Oliver goodbye as well. Leon smiled brightly and waved his small hand, walking along with Arthur, who went ahead. Grace burst into laughter and stared at his tiny backside. Soon after, when Arthur and Leon were no longer visible, Sally, standing beside Grace, winked at her and said, “We should go back to the bedroom now, too. You have to get ready for the party.”

“… Yes, I got it.” Grace nodded slightly and followed Sally’s footsteps.

According to the letter, there were five days until the Wedding Celebration party at the Imperial Palace…

A little while ago, she had boasted to Arthur that she would go, but when she really decided to attend, her heart jumped with anxiety. In fact, rather than the curse, she was afraid of seeing her family again– they, who had driven her to her first death. However, it could not be avoided. She felt like she had to go through this to live her second life.

‘…I have to stay alert.’

Determined, Grace secretly bit her lower lip.

***

With Sally, Grace came straight back to her bedroom. Maybe since the servant set up the fireplace a while ago, but the bedroom was warm enough to melt her hands that were frozen from the cold air. Grace quickly took off her thick coat and sat on a fluffy chair by the window. Sally picked up Grace’s coat and stood in front of the closet.

While hanging it up, Sally looked inside for a moment and soon turned her head and shrieked.

“Madam!”

“Huh? What happened, Sally?”

“Where did you put the dress for the party? Did you put it in that suitcase over there?”

“Oh, yes. That’s right. I didn’t take it out because I thought I wouldn’t wear it right away.”

“Oh, I see! I’m sorry, I should have organized it earlier.”

Sally nodded at Grace’s answer and took out her bag, which she had left by her closet. She slowly opened it. A dark navy coloured dress with a silver ribbon was revealed. Sally exclaimed to Grace, slightly frowning at the shape of her overly modest dress, “No way, were you planning on wearing this to the party?”

“…Yes, I did.”

“Oh gosh! Isn’t it too simple for a party? Although I don’t know much about fashion, I know this is a long way behind.”

“……haha.”

At Sally’s dismayed voice, Grace smiled sheepishly and avoided her gaze. As she pointed out, the dress was a long way behind the capital’s fashion. That was because this dress was thrown away by her mother, Duchess Alberton, to her.

‘When I said I needed a dress for my coming-of-age ceremony, she threw it out of the corner of the closet.’

Grace smiled bitterly, recalling the still vivid expression of the annoyed Duchess Alberton. Sally, examined her face, and said with a short sigh, “… I’m sorry. I made another slip of the tongue.”

“No, it’s okay. It’s just what Sally said.”

Grace looked at the plain, shabby dress with a mixed expression. Sally gave a disappointed look at her, alternately switching her gaze to the dress in her hand. This was the true reason why she dressed frugally, and couldn’t match the standards of other noblemen. Sally sighed again, and let go of her anger.

“…I should have looked at it earlier. If I had known this, I would have called the tailor when you first came.”

“I’m sure you don’t want me to go in that dress, do you?”

“I’m sorry, but yes. If you wear this dress, the ladies who like to talk behind your back will be blabbering nonstop.”

“…haha.”

“I’ll call him tomorrow.”

Grace looked embarrassed when Sally muttered that she needed to buy several dresses and some new accessories. Sally’s concern for herself was delightful, but frankly, she wasn’t just that happy. In a few months, she wouldn’t be living here, so she wondered if there was a need to spend a huge amount of money to match dresses and accessories. She felt like she was bothering Duke Felix for nothing.

“… I, Sally,” she spoke up, wondering if she should use a little of her funds to buy a dress. Just when she was contemplating on what to say–

Knock knock.

“Is anyone inside?”

There was someone knocking on the bedroom door outside and calling Grace. Sally tilted her head, walked to the door, “Yes, the Madam is inside.”

“Oh, Sally, you happened to be there. If you don’t mind, could you open the door?”

“Ah yes. I will.”

When Sally opened the door to the answer, several servants and maids came into the bedroom. With their arms full of large velvet boxes, they began to stack them in front of Grace’s seat. Grace was surprised by dozens of boxes piling up one by one and asked them.

“W-What’s all this?”

The servants and maids answered the question with a light smile on their face. They arranged the boxes so that Grace could see them at a glance from where she was sitting, and when the boxes were all stacked up, they began to open one by one.

“Oh, my!”

“… my God.”

What showed up in front of her was dozens of dresses, leather for shoes, and jewelry made of various precious stones.

Light green, mysterious purple, summer shade, and rose pink coloured silk and satin, multicolored shoe leather, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and amethyst necklaces and earrings.

Grace asked, with a stupid look on her face, shocked by these clothes, shoes, and jewelry that were not just beautiful but also expensive, “What the hell is all this…”

“The Duke sent it to the Duchess.”

“A-All of this?”

“Yes, if you don’t like any of this, please let me know. I’ll get the sellers back.”

“Oh, no. It’s okay. This is already a lot. I don’t think we need to call a tailor now.”

“Then, choose the ones you like. We’ll make dresses and shoes for your size.”

Before she knew it, Grace was looking down at the things in front of her, with a puzzled expression, as the maid standing next to her grinned.

Everything was precious and pretty enough to seem too much for her to have. So, Grace looked around, but was not willing to pick. Sally said, patting Grace on the back of her hand with an excited face, “I think that rose satin over there, white calfskin, diamond necklace and droplet earrings would look best on you, what do you think?”

“….is that so?”

“Why, don’t you like it? Then, how about a combination of sky blue, mikado silk and blue leather shoes with the sapphire necklace over there? Wouldn’t it be perfect for your pale skin? Which one do you like better?”

“…oh, I think both are fine.”

Grace simply said yes to Sally’s suggestion because she had never chosen a dress or jewelry properly. Sally appeared slightly troubled at the answer, and soon said to the servants with a big smile, “Alright then, we can use everything here!”

“….what?”

“Please put the accessories in the safe over there. Oh! And please have a rose satin dress made first! I’ll measure her now and send the number right away.”

“Alright Sally.”

When Sally shouted this in an excited voice, the servants and maids began to organize the boxes without a single thought.