Chapter 140

It was a bright summer with no shadow and no wind. It was said that the heat of the Capital was at its peak.

The summer I felt in Bellstein seemed to be less than a tenth of the one I felt in here.

“I can’t breathe. Let’s change into a cooler dress.”

Soliaphe and Luciel both wore short-sleeved dresses, but the fabrics at Bellstein were not as diverse.

“I’ll cool us down.”

Luciel lightly gathered mana and cast a wind spell.

Whoosh.

Soon, the cool breeze that Luciel summoned blew gently into the carriage. Then Lariet’s eyes shone at the sight.

“Oh my, Luciel can also do magic.”

“I learned it from my grandfather.”

“Ah, from Sir Gillard? My god, he says he doesn’t teach anyone.”

“Well, that’s not the case for our Luciel. This child has a talent for magic.”

As Soliaphe proudly patted Luciel’s head, Lariet’s praise poured in again, and Luciel smiled in embarrassment.

(Note: Lariet is Soliaphe Little Sister and the Countess of Serian)

In the meantime, the wagon arrived at Charlotte Street. At the entrance to the Street, signs promoting summer discounts were hung all over.

As the most famous downtown of the Capital, it was full of vitality and there were many things to see.

Elegant and beautiful items caught the attention of customers in colorful desserts cafes and chic bakeries, magnificent and luxurious restaurants, general stores, and jewelry stores that were as grand and beautiful as mansions.

Luciel was caught off guard by the sweet scent of desserts for a moment, but soon after hearing Soliaphe’s words, she moved forward.

“Come on, let’s change the dress first. I’ve booked other places besides Florine’s boutique. Rose, where was it?”

“Yes, it’s the newly opened Beatrice Haute Couture. Everything is perfectly reserved. I will take you there!”

Rose, who took the lead over the maids and escort knights, seemed somehow excited. The store we arrived at was a store lined with people, reminiscent of a small social party.

As they entered the store, the attention of those who had been standing for a long time was focused on Luciel and the others. The escorts and maids of the Count Serian and the Duke of Bellstein alone were about a dozen people, so it was a fairly large party.

In addition, Duchess Soliaphe, who is not very active outside, Countess Serian, who is called the Rose of Arte, and Bellstein Princess, who is as cute as a Snow Rabbit, gathered the public’s attention.

“Wait, that’s the Duchess of Bellstein, right? Somehow, the Duchess seems younger and fuller of life.”

“Countess Serian is her younger sister. Both sisters are beautiful……! Besides, even the Princess is as lovely as a snow rabbit.”

“Was the last wedding reception in Bellstein that splendid?”

“Yes, I’ve heard it too, it was said that it was as grand and beautiful as the Imperial Palace. I want to visit it someday.”

Luciel was proud of the positive evaluations she heard from the people.

In front of the Haute Couture, it was crowded with people lining up to escape the heat with parasols and fans, respectively. Not only the maids but also the nobles seemed to line up themselves.

Luciel found a familiar face among the waiting guests. No, she had to notice. Because the person was strangely staring at herself for so long.

‘It’s Penelope, isn’t it……?’

Penelope was not with the Marquise, as usual, she was with another noblewoman.

‘Do the stores in Charlotte Street accept people from the Marquis now? If not she must have found another way.’

As Luciel guessed, she smiled slightly at Penelope and hug Soliaphe’s arms.

“Next reservation guests, please come in.”

The clerk came out and guided them to the entrance, where only reservation guests were allowed to enter.

“Guests who have made a reservation, if you show the seal of your family……”

The clerk was surprised when Soliaphe showed a pendant engraved with Bellstein’s black dragon.

“Ah! I’m sorry. I didn’t even recognize the precious guest! Duchess of Bellstein. Thank you for visiting us. I will take everyone in your company inside.”

The clerk became more polite and kind and presented her with a white rose. Gossip was heard along with the envious gazes of the people.

“Beatrice is famous for her high self-esteem, but as expected, not even her can show off in front of Bellstein.”

Seeing Luciel entering the store first, Penelope seemed to be strapped to the edge of her seat.

‘It’s a pity I can’t see her face.’

Luciel thought to herself and looked at the inside of the Haute Couture that unfolded in her eyes. The store was quite large on the outside, but even more spacious on the inside.

The clerk who guided them to a different hallway from the regular customers kindly said.

“VVip customers can use this room. Professional tailors, designers, hairdressers, and clerks are waiting for you, so please let us know if you need anything else.”

The room we were introduced to was a room with a soft and comfortable sofa, table, dressing table, and even a private bathroom, it was luxurious enough to be called a parlor of an aristocratic family.

“Oh my, I can’t believe I’m coming here without having to wait. Thank you, Sister.”

Lariet said while covering her blushing face.

“Is this place that famous?”

When Soliaphe asked with a small voice, Lariet violently nodded her head.

“If you don’t know this place and live in the Imperial Capital, you’re a spy. Sister. This is a paradise for women, this is a place where you can dress up as a full course from head to toe by the hands of top-notch professionals. The downside is that it is very expensive and difficult to make a reservation. There are only three VVip customers.”

“……It’s so spacious inside, but I don’t think everyone in line will fit in.”

“Well, not all of us can come in even if we stand in line. They limit the number of customers they receive inside to double digits to prioritize comfort.”

“It’s inefficient, isn’t it”

“Have you not seen the envious gazes of other nobles, Sister? Oh, how openly the Countess Marsheri looked at us. Exciting!”

“……”

Lariet made a fuss with a lot of laughter. Soliaphe had a gloomy expression on her face, and Luciel looked as if she had stepped into a world of something extraordinary.

Soon, as a welcome, tea and finger food was brought. As personnel in charge were assigned to each person, and a full-scale makeover began.

Three hours later.

Compared to what Luciel received today, the care she had in Bellstein was something not even included in the beauty management axis. She had three types of massages and skin treatments, and now she’s getting her hair done.

‘It’s hard to be pretty, isn’t it?’

Still, it felt good to lie side by side with Soliaphe and receive attentive care.

Luciel looked at her clear skin in the mirror, it was as if she had almost newly shed a new skin altogether.

Her soft silver hair had been nourished and groomed and rolled round for waves.

There was still more beauty care left for the adults, so Luciel, who finished early, was resting with Rose in the parlor eating ice cream.

“Little Madam, are you bored? Should we choose a dress first?”

“Yes, that would be good.”

Luciel and Rose called the clothes clerk and headed to the children’s dress display area. Luciel chose a lemon-colored summer dress. The orange ribbon looked cute and refreshing.

“You’re cute. Should I bring a lot of pairs of shoes to match this dress?”

“Ah, yes. Thank you, Rose.”

“I’ll bring you the accessories.”

The clerk said so and went up to the accessory display floor.

At that moment, Penelope appeared in Luciel’s eyes. It seemed that she was only able to enter the store and select items now.

Luciel looked at her. She was going to a place where there were no people on purpose and approached a child who was alone.

She pushed the child away and snatched the hat she was wearing, looking into the mirror as she put it on.

“Kyaa! Wh-what is this?”

“Choose something else. This is what I had my eyes on.”

“N-no. This is the item I bought after waiting patiently for a long time……!”

“I was going to buy it the other day, but you cut in line. This is a limited edition, so it won’t even come out anymore!”

“That. Then you can buy another one…….”

The little girl’s body slightly shrunk and her voice gradually weakened.

“But I want this one.”

Cleverly avoiding the eyes of the clerks, I could see her doing such nasty things to a child smaller and easier than the others around.

Seeing the consistently selfish and childish Penelope, Luciel shook her head and approached. She cast a Wind spell, and the hat on Penelope’s head was blown away by the wind.

“Huh? What, why is wind blowing all of a sudden?”

“Here you are. It suits the Young Lady very well.”

Luciel who picked up the hat, gave it to the child. A child who was about the same height as her nodded a thanks.

“T-thank you.”

“You……aren’t you the Princess? What are you doing now?”

Luciel turned around and smiled, and Penelope while shaking spilled out.

“Princess, what the hell are you doing stealing someone else’s things?”

“What do you mean by stealing other people’s things? I saw it at this store. Can’t I choose what I want?”

Penelope stared at Luciel, holding a stiff neck. Luciel smiled lightly and said.

“Then why don’t we just choose a new product and pay for it? Oh, is that rumor true?”

Luciel took a step closer, scanning Penelope’s face with meaningful eyes.

“I heard that Cavill cannot enter Charlotte Street, nor can they enter the Imperial Palace…….”

At Luciel’s words, Penelope frowned.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I came today as a member of the Niels family, my mother’s family. Not Cavill.”

“……That rumor seems to be true. Rumor has it that the Marquis of Cavill has fallen….I was looking forward to meeting you at the Imperial Literature Salon, it’s a bit disappointing.”

“What? You little brat! it’s all because of you. Because of the rumors that I grabbed your hair! It’s all because of the damn Bellstein. Don’t you already know that?”

As Luciel smiled lightly, Penelope finally approached her with a brave stance. She muttered with a face full of anger as she pushed Luciel into a corner.

“Literary salon, I will definitely go, so don’t you worry about me!”

“…….”

She was ready to strike, but Luciel wasn’t afraid. If violence is used here, who’s really going to suffer?

“Little Madam……!”

At that time, Rose and the clerk who were looking for Luciel, approached, Luciel said, “Ugh,” and sat down and cried like a child.

“Luciel?”

At the sound of her cry, Soliaphe and Lariet, who had just finished their care, came out to find Luciel.