#064. It’s Hard to Forget You
Honestly, I don’t really care if the rumors about the Grand Duke and me being on bad terms don’t die down.
The Grand Duke isn’t the type to break off an engagement over petty gossip, and even if he did, I could just live quietly without attending social events in the Empire. That would be enough for me.
But since the Grand Duke wants to put an end to the rumors for my sake, I should go along with it.
We need to give the impression that we’re incredibly happy together and enjoying this outing so much we can hardly contain ourselves—for everyone who’s watching.
Which means this outing can’t be a one-time thing if we want the impression to stick.
Ah, if only the other side would just give up spreading those stupid rumors quickly.
Outings just for show aren’t that hard, but they’re not exactly fun either since there’s nothing behind them.
“Are you ready?”
As I was lost in thought, the carriage came to a stop in front of the boutique. The Grand Duke reached his hand out to me, and I took a deep breath and smiled as brightly as I could.
“How do I look? Do I look happy?”
Unlike me, who wasn’t sure if I was smiling properly, the Grand Duke gave a soft, flawless smile and lightly kissed the back of my hand.
“Yes, you look great.”
Good. I carefully stepped down from the carriage, making sure my smile didn’t fade.
“We’ve been expecting you.”
The boutique staff came out to greet us as I stepped out.
…How many times will I have to repeat this? Being a Grand Duchess really isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
I sighed inwardly. The workload is lighter now, but I think I was happier when I was the Chancellor.
With those thoughts in mind, I sat down inside, and dozens of similarly styled dresses were displayed in front of me.
This always happens when choosing clothes. I wonder if I’d even notice if a dress different from the one I picked was delivered later? As I was entertaining that suspicion, the clerk began her explanation.
“These are this season’s most fashionable designs. How about this one?”
“I’m not dressing her in something that every dog and their owner are wearing. Put the common stuff away and bring me something more unique.”
Five dresses were set aside. But since there were still so many left, it barely made a difference.
“Then how about this design? It’s one of our boutique’s signature pieces.”
“If it’s your signature, hasn’t it been the same every year? If everyone’s already familiar with it, there’s no merit in choosing an outdated trend.”
“Then how about this newly released design?”
“Who designed that one?”
“A rising new designer. His name might not be familiar to you yet, Your Grace…”
“So, no track record. It would be a problem if people thought I dressed Blanche in just anything. I chose a boutique with history—shouldn’t the clothes reflect that?”
Even to me, his comments were unreasonable. Doesn’t want trendy, doesn’t want traditional, doesn’t want new. But the clerk maintained her professional smile without missing a beat.
“Then how about a reinterpretation of a classic design?”
“Hm, sounds good. Let’s see it.”
I was so relieved that I didn’t have to be the picky one.
Before we came in, I’d been worried about keeping a pleasant expression the whole time, but after seeing how picky the Grand Duke was being, all I had to do was sit and smile. What a blessing.
With a genuine smile of relief, I watched the clerk present dress after dress.
We had been conducting our showy shopping for some time when a deep voice—not the Grand Duke’s or the clerk’s—cut through the room.
“Well, well. If it isn’t His Grace the Grand Duke.”
We were seated in a private room with the door open so that everyone could see we were shopping here.
The voice came from someone standing just beyond that open door, looking our way. The Grand Duke didn’t even turn from the clothes he was looking at, his cold gaze unwavering as he addressed the speaker.
“Look who it is. The Marquis of Chase.”
“It’s an honor that Your Grace remembers my name.”
A slight smirk tugged at the Grand Duke’s youthful face.
“You’re hard to forget. Not many dare to speak to me without permission.”
The Marquis’s face twitched ever so slightly. I remained seated beside the Grand Duke, smiling serenely.
“…Pardon me. I didn’t expect to see Your Grace here, so I misspoke.”
“Another surprise and you’ll be using informal speech next.”
This was the most blunt I’d ever seen the Grand Duke. It probably wasn’t just because the man was older. Was he one of the sources of the rumors?
Still, the Grand Duke’s reaction was excessive even considering that. This was probably…
I gently placed my hand near the Grand Duke’s elbow.
“Your Grace, Blanche still wants to look at more dresses.”
As I’d guessed, he immediately looked down at me with a meltingly warm smile.
“Ah, forgive me. I promised to devote today entirely to Blanche, and yet I got distracted.”
Exactly. The Grand Duke wanted to plant the image that his overbearing personality could be tamed by his Grand Duchess.
I didn’t think it was the best image, but if that’s what he wanted, I could go along with it.
“As you heard, I’m rather busy today. Unless you have something urgent, it’s best you carry on with your business.”
A clear dismissal. Yet the Marquis, though stiff-faced, offered a courteous bow. In fact, it was overly formal.
“My apologies. I hope I’ll have the opportunity to greet you again another time.”
His gaze landed firmly on me as he said it. A passive-aggressive jab that he hadn’t been able to greet me as well. I ignored it. Who told him to cross the Crown Prince? If he had complaints, he should voice them louder.
“Show me that dress again. Yes, that one… What do you think about adding some lace to it?”
Apparently, the Grand Duke had the same idea as I did, pretending not to notice.
“That would enhance Her Highness’s loveliness even more. One moment, I’ll show you—please bring the lace accessories.”
The clerk responded professionally to his more detailed instructions.
I didn’t care whether they added lace or made the whole dress out of it, but I nodded like I was fascinated.
Today’s shopping ended with us purchasing a dress and a few accessories that wouldn’t be used at the upcoming hunting festival.
We chose high-priced items, so the boutique likely got paid well for participating in our little performance.
Fortunately, since I had only needed to sit there and smile, I still had enough energy to speak after getting back in the carriage. So, I finally brought up what had been bothering me.
“Was that Marquis Chase the source of the rumor?”
“Who knows? He’s one of the suspects, at least.”
The Grand Duke replied indifferently while flipping through a list of boutiques we were scheduled to visit.
I hesitated, wondering whether I should speak, but decided it was better to understand the situation clearly.
“I thought everyone spreading those rumors was hostile toward me.”
“Yeah, they probably don’t like you.”
That wasn’t incorrect. They certainly didn’t look kindly upon me. But that’s not exactly what I was getting at.
“And I thought they liked you.”
The Grand Duke finally put down the list and looked me in the eyes. He chuckled lightly and asked in a boyish tone,
“Did you think I was someone everyone adored?”
Adored? That word doesn’t suit a monarch. I carefully chose my words.
“More accurately… I thought everyone would obey you.”
The explosive growth of the Retaile Empire happened during the previous emperor’s reign.
Now, the current emperor has ruled stably for over ten years, and the Grand Duke is the only legitimate successor—extremely competent and healthy to boot.
That should naturally solidify the imperial authority. So it only makes sense that the Crown Prince would command immense respect.
It seemed like a reasonable assumption that the nobility would be walking on eggshells around him.
“Your Grace is the undisputed next Emperor.”
Even someone like Fania, who hasn’t officially debuted in high society yet, knows to be careful around him. So why would a seasoned noble act so arrogantly? I truly didn’t understand.
“That’s exactly why.”
The Grand Duke shrugged.
“They probably think that if they suppress me now, they’ll be able to control the next emperor.”
I let out a dry laugh without meaning to.
“Well, that’s…”
…a stupid idea.
But even though the Grand Duke was the only one who heard, I didn’t voice the rest of that thought.
I couldn’t be sure it was wise to criticize imperial nobles so openly. They say, Speech is silver, silence is golden. That proverb probably hasn’t changed even after fifteen hundred years.
