Chapter 62

When two designers grabbed my arms at Cardan’s order, I was dragged away helplessly.

As soon as I got dressed and stood in front of the mirror, a deep silence weighed heavily on the dressing room.

In the mirror, stood Scissorhands in the movie that I had seen in my previous life.

(t/n: movie title is Edward Scissorhands????)

The dull-colored fabric made me look pale, and the gilded gold pieces were threatening.

“………I don’t think this is right.”

I couldn’t give up, so when I plucked up the courage again and spoke carefully, Knoxus also nodded.

“Yes, Master is right.”

Knoxus glanced at Cardan.

“Master looks good in any clothes, but I don’t think this is right. I don’t know much about clothes, but I know for sure that that’s worse than rags.”

He was excessively honest, enough to be executed. Usually, I would have tried to stop Knoxus’ slip of tongue while looking at Cardan, but I couldn’t bear it this time.

Fortunately, instead of being angry like fire, Cardan strode behind me and examined me carefully in the mirror.

“That’s a horrible look.”

But he must have a good eye.

Just when I was about to take the opportunity to suggest I wear the dresses hanging all over the dressing room instead,

“My design is perfect, and this is purely the Duke’s fault.”

“……?”

I was so dumbfounded that I looked at Cardan through the mirror and he flicked his finger.

“Can you increase the size of these clothes to fit me?”

Madame Rosette immediately beckoned the designers.

“Sure, I’ll have it ready right away.”

In an instant, the designers who ripped the outerwear from me began to mend the clothes with quick hand movements.

When Cardan, who took the dress, disappeared into the fitting room, I began to feel a little excited.

His funny figure was automatically pictured in my head.

It was a pity that I have no camera, but whenever I felt depressed, I thought I would feel better at once if I remembered this memory.

Soon the curtains in the fitting room were lifted. I had a compulsory smile, biting my tongue to keep myself from laughing.

“As expected…”

I opened my mouth to say a lot of words of soulless flattery, but I became speechless

I had no choice but to stand still, gaping my mouth.

“Why do you look so surprised, Duke?”

Cardan, who looks terribly beautiful, rolled up the corners of his mouth and asked.

“Uh…”

I couldn’t find the right words of flattery, so I was stupidly silent.

That’s not what I expected of Cardan in front of me.

The metal fittings of the clothes, which were like scissors hands when I wore them, became elaborate metal decorations when Cardan wore them.

The dull-looking fabric was also transformed into a high-quality fabric that left a strong impression on his body.

The clothing, which seemed like an assassination weapon for the prince, have changed to an avant-garde design that is elegant and does not lose its dignity.

There was a heavy silence in the dressing room. It was a different kind of silence from the one that fell when I came out.

The designers around them were all standing with lost expressions on their faces, and some even wiped their saliva around their mouths.

“It’s my fault.”

I muttered unconsciously as if I had given up.

Madame Rosette, who was standing next to me with the same silly expression, also nodded her head without realizing it.

Only Knoxus was staring at Cardan with a frown.

“Did the Duke do something wrong?”

Unfortunately, it seemed that Cardan had heard it.

“What did you do wrong?”

“……I have committed a crime of insulting the clothes with my insufficient appearance.”

I decided to admit it right away. However, if I wear it, I would not be able to serve the prince of the East continent wearing this suit.

“As expected, I don’t deserve to wear this.”

Cardan, who was approaching and stopped close to my nose before I knew it, squeezed my face slightly and made me look at him.

The gold pieces, which seemed to be barely touching me, hardened my body

I was scared to breathe because I thought I would get a cut even if I moved my shoulder a little.

“No. Now that you’ve learned how to wear it, you won’t insult your clothes next time.”

As Cardan, who smiled insidiously, came one step closer, a blade brushed my neck.

“Heuk!”

The cold touch made me jump.

There seemed to be an unspoken threat for my neck here if I didn’t listen.

“Never, I will never insult my clothes ever again!”

Only then did Cardan withdraw, smiling satisfactorily.

“Yes, make sure to wear it when you meet the Prince of the East.”

I had no choice but to swallow my tears and nod.

“Yes, yes, will there be such a possibility?”

I looked at the numerous scissors-hand hanging from the mannequin with cloudy eyes and recalled the reality I was facing.

I didn’t look at Cardan on purpose.

I thought I’d have nothing but false hope there.

It’s such a pointed hope that if I wear it well, it’ll be a pretty dress.

I was overcome with grief.

Ah, it’s the face that completes fashion.

***

“Again.”

The Empress Dowager chewed her lips and cleared the books.

“It’s her again.”

Her long trimmed nails bumped against the desk and made a sound.

The maids who were waiting next to her just bowed their heads.

No matter how angry the Empress Dowager was, she did not abuse her servants.

However, the pressure weighing heavily on the air in the room was enough to cool down the neck of even the most skilled maid.

“Officially, it is reported that His Majesty took the knights to wipe out the slave traders.”

A maid put newspapers from various media companies on the Empress Dowager’s desk.

The Empress, who looked at them with her eyes, spat out a wild smile.

“Some idiot believes it.”

“…….”

“Didn’t I ever tell you? The emperor is only a well-cut blade, and the one who wields the sword is the duke.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Forget it.”

The Empress Dowager handed over the books to the maid.

“Recall all the relief donations.”

“I see.”

The maid glanced at the books.

“But I’m glad I earned several times more than I invested.”

The Empress Dowager nodded briefly.

Instead of keeping it in slave bases, the profits from the business were hidden and transferred between the food materials supplied to the Empress Dowager every week.

There was also a way to take it back to Esland, but it didn’t suit the character of the Empress Dowager.

She has to grab this money herself so that she can truly lead this great event.

It was not once or twice that she wanted to leave Esland behind and devour the empire alone because of her stupid brother, as if his brain was made of muscles.

“Does the Duke feel the same way?”

The queen rolled up her lips.

It’s not hard to control men who are overflowing with arrogance over less distant topics.

The Empress Dowager, shaking her head, gestured to another maid.

“Look into the movements of the Prince of the East.”

The slave market’s work was unfortunate, but the blow was not big enough to ruin her plans.

If she can ruin the alliance with the East continent, which the Duke has thrown away because of her pride, the Empire will be easily torn down.

The Empress Dowager’s mouth stretched with a contented smile.

***

It occurred to me again.

Even if I escape, maybe the empire would work well under Cardan.

Of course, on the premise that he doesn’t fall for the princess of Esland like in the original.

That’s true, Cardan was now showing a dazzling diplomatic technique that I had never seen before, putting his face to receive the Prince of the East, whom I was supposed to be in charge of.

“How’s the tea, Prince Lionel?”

Cardan smiled softly as he pushed the tea caddy toward the prince.

“It may be a little unfamiliar because it’s made of dried blueberries.”

His face with his eyes bent and smiling were so enchanting that even the male servants and the prince blushed.

I even wore the scissors-hand costume, but like Cardan, I was determined to flirt with luck.

“It’s my first time drinking it and it tastes very good.”

Meanwhile, the prince, who seemed sensitive when I saw him for the first time, was surprisingly smiling.

The prince, who swept up his colorful blonde hair, glanced at the tea caddie.

“But what do you mean blueberry, it’s my first time hearing that name?”

I sat like a bag of barley. I had no chance to intervene the whole time, but now, finally, I saw my chance.

“Ah! It’s a special product of Baron–-”

“It is a small fruit that originally only occurs in the southern continent. But recently, Baron Hanae has brought seeds and cultivated them, and it became popular in the Empire as well.”

As soon as I spoke, Cardan intercepted my lines.

I’m back on the sack again.

“Come to think of it, I think I’ve heard about it. I heard it’s a very difficult crop to grow, which is amazing.”

When the Prince of the East sympathized, Cardan again smiled enchantedly and gestured to the servant.

“I prepared dried blueberries and tea as a gift, and I hope you can enjoy it comfortably when you return to the East continent.”

The servant moved quickly and presented a carefully packed box in front of the prince.

“Trade with the southern continent will be difficult in terms of location, so why don’t we take this opportunity to expand trade between the eastern and western continents?”

In the flow of the conversation, Cardan’s strategy became obvious at a glance.

It’s the same strategy as the sales ladies who hand out samples at big supermarkets.

It’s a scheme to catch a man for free and then sell him out several times over.

Berry products were also very popular in the empire, so it was only a matter of time before it caught the taste of the aristocracy in the East.

“I also hope that the relationship between the East and the West will become stronger.”

The prince glanced at me.

“As I mentioned in my letter to His Majesty, I hope to meet a good match with this visit……. May I ask for your help?”

The question was directed at Cardan, but the prince kept his eyes on me.

I saw through the prince’s intentions right away.

He’s in the Empire looking for a marriage partner.

The calculator in my head began to run wildly.

Isn’t this a perfect opportunity for asylum? I can obtain citizenship, my social status is guaranteed, I get a house, I get a fortune.

Marriage was a bit of a chore for me, but it’s funnier to find romance that even the main characters couldn’t achieve in this world.

As long as the prince’s personality is good, they will get along well, and even if his personality needs improvement, we can just stay like strangers.

“If it’s a relationship you’re looking for, I think I can be of help, Prince Lionel.”

I was a little excited and quickly put down my tea cup, and the scissors-hand costume shook.

The prince’s gaze fell on the metal fittings that filled my forelimbs, and at the same time, a faint look passed over his eyes.

Now that this has happened, I have no choice but to actively take action so that there is no room for attention to my clothes.

I bent my eyes and imitated Cardan’s smile as much as I could.

“I’m single, so I know the feelings of unmarried imperial women.”

I won’t let this golden opportunity slip by without saying anything.

As soon as I opened my mouth, Cardan intervened.

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