~Chapter 76~
Monday morning.
The weekend, which could have been boring, had passed. But in the secret darkness that others didn’t see, an event had occurred that caught people’s attention.
The Countess Crenbel had fled in the dead of night.
Those gathered at the Enshuber salon chatted with cheerful faces. It had been a long time since such an issue had appeared.
“What on earth happened?”
“No one knows for sure. But the rumor is, the Count lost all his wealth through gambling.”
“Oh my! That’s illegal!”
“That’s why everyone’s keeping quiet. If you speak carelessly, you could get involved. And if His Majesty the Emperor becomes angry, it’ll be troublesome for us too. Plus, the Empress is about to give birth.”
Gwenndolyn, brought to the salon by her mother, heard this too. Her back stiffened as she sat on the sofa.
The Marchioness of Horace flinched and quietly spoke to her daughter.
“Act as if you know nothing. Pretend you don’t even know the name. Understand?”
Even the Marchioness, who had always been on Gwenndolyn’s side, was no longer.
She was shocked that Gwenndolyn had almost ruined the family.
Now, the only hope for the Horace couple was to keep Gwenndolyn quietly until she could be married off to Aska.
Gwenndolyn looked blankly at her mother and weakly nodded.
At that moment, the salon’s madam approached them with a bright smile.
“Oh, Marchioness! You’ve brought your daughter to visit! Are we here to fit a dress today?”
“We came for a wedding dress fitting. But quietly, if you please.”
The madam nodded knowingly.
“I actually have something to discuss quietly as well. Let’s go to the second floor.”
Exhausted, Gwenndolyn and the Marchioness followed the madam upstairs.
As soon as they sat down, the Marchioness asked.
“So, what is it you wanted to say? I want to hear that first.”
“Ah.”
The madam glanced at Gwenndolyn and smiled.
“Not long ago, Miss Gwenndolyn visited the store with some acquaintances.”
“Oh, really? And… why is that significant?”
“That day, Miss Gwenndolyn reserved the entire Enshuber salon and tried on all the dresses herself.”
The Marchioness raised an eyebrow.
She turned to her daughter. Gwenndolyn stared at her with a pale, expressionless face.
“My daughter tried on the dresses?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“It was Her Highness the Grand Duchess. Miss Gwenndolyn said you needed to find the right dress for the Grand Duchess, and she spent five hours trying on eighteen dresses.”
As the madam continued, the Marchioness had to hide her dismay.
She now understood what Gwenndolyn had done.
“Miss Gwenndolyn expected the Grand Duchess to buy at least seven dresses, and promised the rental and fitting fees. But that day, due to unfortunate events, everything was canceled. The store suffered greatly, Marchioness. We request at least partial compensation.”
This was Gwenndolyn’s informal contract with Enshuber. And she had broken it, remaining silent until now.
She came wagging her tail, offering to fit the wedding dress without knowing this.
The madam must have been furious.
The Marchioness struggled to hide her flushed face.
The salon was a place where rumors gathered. Often, events here spread as gossip.
If this story leaked, the Horace family would suffer immense embarrassment.
The Marchioness shut her eyes tight.
“Mother, let’s leave.”
Gwenndolyn said irritably. Nothing ever went her way, and it was maddening.
People were ignoring the truth: Baldwin and that woman didn’t suit each other.
Just watching Baldwin being taken away was maddening enough, and now even the dress shop madam was making a fuss over nothing.
“Gwen—”
“I don’t want to hear nonsense over something trivial. How can a wedding dress be made properly with this kind of attitude? It’s just money! And now in this situation—”
“Gwen!”
The Marchioness shouted sharply.
Gwenndolyn blinked with a pouty expression.
“Why are you like this, Mother? Did I say something wrong? The dress shop madam is trying to slander me—”
“It’s not slander! What if a strange rumor spreads? Do you understand the risk?”
“Then we could just close the store—”
“Gwen!”
Every word seemed chaotic. The Marchioness clutched her head. Just for being pretty and noble, she had no idea how scary the world could be.
The Marchioness gave one final warning.
“If you speak another word, you will wear a commoner’s wedding dress. Do you understand?”
Gwenndolyn looked at her mother with eyes full of resentment.
The Marchioness took a deep breath and turned to the madam.
The madam smiled awkwardly.
“Sorry, madam.”
“Ah, no, Marchioness.”
“Please fit Gwenndolyn’s wedding dress. Seven dresses at the agreed price will suffice.”
“Oh, thank you, Marchioness!”
The Marchioness held her stomach in pain as she added:
“Charge the remaining rental and fitting fees as well. But regarding this matter—”
“Of course, we’ll remain silent. Nothing happened, Marchioness.”
“…Thank you.”
The Marchioness pushed Gwenndolyn forward.
Gwenndolyn’s mind burned as she followed the madam.
Why is everyone blaming me? Why? Because the Countess Crenbel fled in the dead of night?
It was almost laughable.
From what she gathered, over the weekend, the Countess had sold anything valuable and fled with only the children.
Gambling?
Ridiculous. She had associated with the Countess without even knowing.
She’s tarnishing my reputation!
If she could see her face, Gwenndolyn would scratch it to pieces, as punishment for angering her.
Everything’s ruined because of that woman.
Gwenndolyn bit her lip hard.
There was no other way to process the cause of this epic defeat.
She turned her gaze out the window.
To escape this situation, she had to meet Baldwin.
She needed to speak to him directly. There must have been some misunderstanding.
She had to confess her true feelings—her passionate heart toward Constantin.
The opportunity will come, without fail.
Gwenndolyn clenched her fist.
Taking a deep breath, she hugged the books tightly.
Today wasn’t a casual gathering she could attend lightly.
She couldn’t make mistakes, nor did she want to.
She hugged the two books she had carefully chosen for the Countess Raynglass and the professor.
The gathering was held at the Empress’ salon. Though she couldn’t host due to childbirth preparations, she had lent the salon to fulfill her duties.
Maid servants, wearing uniforms embroidered with the imperial crest in gold thread, attended to the guests.
Many seats in the grand, majestic salon were already filled.
People’s gazes turned toward her.
“Oh, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
A noblewoman greeted her warmly. Familiar, but not Countess Raynglass.
She must have seen her at a bank banquet.
“You’ve arrived without delay. Please take a seat here. Marjorie will arrive shortly.”
“Thank you, madam.”
As she sat, the noblewoman whispered in her ear.
“I’m Sandra Meloclein, from the Rayglass family. She is an old friend of Marjorie, so please feel comfortable. Marjorie said she might be late and asked me to assist Your Highness.”
Thanks to Countess Raynglass’ consideration, she avoided being distracted.
Now she understood why Butler Rosiewood had praised Countess Raynglass so much.
“Your kindness is overwhelming. I don’t know how to repay you.”
“Not at all. Marjorie will be pleased just that Your Highness attended.”
“I hope the gift I brought pleases Countess Rayglass.”
“That alone will make her happy.”
Her tension eased.
Soon, Countess Raynglass herself arrived.
After greeting the people, she smiled at Gwenndolyn and approached.
“You truly came, Your Highness. Thank you for gracing us with your presence today.”
It was Gwenndolyn’s first proper social gathering, and perhaps her first chance to form a private relationship.
For a moment, she felt happiness.
