<CHAPTER 32>
As Consistent as Ever
‘Why didn’t I think of that?’
Generally, climate and environment played important roles in herb cultivation.
If the appropriate environment couldn’t be created, other physical methods had to be found.
Such as the fertilizer Zekter mentioned.
If there was a fertilizer that could make Duckworth’s flower bud bloom…
“Mordian, that fertilizer should work.”
Unlike other fertilizers, Mordian, which emitted a subtle floral fragrance, was used to help plants grow rapidly.
As she saw a clue to a problem that hadn’t been easily solved, Evelyn felt as if clouds had cleared and sunlight was pouring down.
Whether he had the same thought, the boy let out a light exclamation.
“Ah! The fertilizer imbued with mana, right?”
“Yes, exactly that.”
“But they said obtaining Mordian is as difficult as plucking a star from the sky?”
As Zekter said, obtaining that fertilizer was as difficult as making Duckworth’s flower bud bloom.
Evelyn, who had been lost in thought for a moment, soon muttered as if talking to herself.
“It’s not necessarily impossible.”
“Huh?”
Looking at the boy who tilted his head, she wore a triumphant smile.
“I might be able to obtain Mordian soon.”
A morning as peaceful as ever.
Knock knock—
With a light knocking sound, a familiar voice came from beyond the bedroom.
“My Lady, may I come in for a moment?”
“Yes, come in.”
Once permission was granted from Evelyn, Rarie entered the room and approached the bed.
“My Lady, Young Count Valentino has sent you a dress!”
At the maid’s voice filled with anticipation, Evelyn poked only her head out from under the covers.
“A dress all of a sudden?”
“Come now, I told you before. That they would visit the boutique today.”
“Ah, now that you mention it…”
Letting out a short sigh, Evelyn finally rose from the bed.
She recalled the conversation she had with her fiancé on the way back from the orphanage some time ago.
“I’ll send you a dress that suits you soon.”
“No thanks, what’s with the dress.”
“Then let’s go look together.”
“No, you must send it!”
She had tried to refuse because the dress room was already packed with dresses gifted by her parents.
Hmm. It seemed he sent it after all.
Upon receiving a dress from Aksion, Evelyn wore a somewhat troubled expression for a moment.
“Since it’s a gift, I should try it on, right?”
“Of course! I’ve already invited the boutique staff to the reception room.”
At her dedicated maid’s words with shining eyes, Evelyn lightly nodded her head.
“Then let’s get ready quickly and go to the dress room.”
After finishing her preparations, Evelyn sat on the sofa in the dress room waiting for the maid.
Before long, Rarie appeared with the boutique staff.
“Radiance eternal upon the Valtian Empire. We greet Viscountess Inevassel.”
Evelyn blinked in surprise at the appearance of someone she had never expected.
“Oh my, I didn’t know Madame would come personally.”
Madame Angela was the chief designer who owned the most famous boutique in the Valtian Empire.
The dresses she made received acclaim for their sensual designs that broke away from existing frameworks, emphasizing elegance and sophistication.
Therefore, many noblewomen and ladies eagerly awaited Madame’s works.
‘I heard it takes at least half a year just to make a reservation?’
The average price of one dress was 500 manet, equivalent to three months’ rent for a building in the city center.
He… he…
‘Surely he didn’t threaten Madame Angela, did he?’
Evelyn had all sorts of thoughts about what means her fiancé had used to obtain Madame’s dress.
Perhaps he sent his subordinates to Madame’s boutique, as befitting the head of the underworld.
Ahem, was that too much speculation?
Madame, who showed a bright smile toward her, readily opened her mouth.
“Young Count Valentino commissioned it personally.”
“Huh? Aksion personally?”
As Evelyn’s mouth fell open, Madame added further explanation.
“He said that on that day, he wished for his fiancée to be the most beautiful?”
She delivered such embarrassing words quite well.
Recalling her fiancé who grew more shameless by the day, Evelyn put on a sulky expression.
Perhaps thinking she was shy, Madame Angela spoke in a confident voice.
“Please leave all preparations to me. I’ve brought a dress that would suit Lady Inevassel.”
At Madame’s signal, the boutique staff presented a custom-made banquet dress.
With their help, as Evelyn put on the dress, Rarie exclaimed in admiration.
“My Lady, you are so beautiful!”
“You truly look like a goddess reborn from mythology.”
Madame also wore a satisfied smile at her enchanting appearance.
The wine-colored velvet dress emphasized the body’s silhouette, creating an elegant yet feminine atmosphere.
Evelyn, examining her appearance in the mirror, blushed slightly at the praise directed at her.
Having passed through Madame Angela’s hands, the dress seemed more captivating the more she looked at it.
“But this is a bit…”
Isn’t it too revealing?
The dress had a deeply cut design on the lower left side, with her leg boldly exposed along the slit.
Though it was a sophisticated design fitting current trends, Evelyn felt somewhat awkward.
‘It’s really pretty, though.’
Somehow judging that it would be too much for her, she was about to request alterations.
“It certainly suits the atmosphere of the banquet.”
“Huh? The atmosphere of the banquet?”
When Evelyn asked with an expression of not understanding, Madame tilted her head to one side.
“Isn’t the banquet the Lady is attending ‘Banquet Blooming at Midnight’?”
Evelyn calmly nodded at Madame’s words, saying she had been informed so by Young Count Valentino.
p>“Yes, that’s right. I understand it’s a masquerade ball.”
For an instant, Madame Angela seemed to show a troubled expression, then whispered quietly in Evelyn’s ear.
“Generally, it has a free atmosphere, but…”
According to what Madame informed her, it was like this.
Banquet Blooming at Midnight was free as befitting an unofficial banquet, but interpreted differently, it was just as sticky.
Meaning, in the banquet hall’s VIP room, various sounds could be heard… ahem.
“I understand what Madame means.”
Evelyn let out a small cough from embarrassment.
The slit dress was an excellent design considering the banquet’s atmosphere, but alterations seemed necessary after all.
“But the slit is too cut—”
“No, My Lady! It’s a rare opportunity to show off your beautiful leg lines!”
What do you mean no?
At the maid’s face dissuading her as if the world were collapsing, Evelyn wore a somewhat bewildered expression.
Usually, Rarie would express regret to her master who insisted on modest dresses.
She must want to show her beautiful appearance to people.
“Then how about reducing the slit part a little?”
Madame Angela, who had been silently watching them, quickly sorted out the situation with quick wit.
It was to maintain the dress’s original design while making modifications according to Evelyn’s taste.
“Very well, Madame. Then would you help me?”
The banquet hall, located on a secluded corner of the capital square.
Grand and intense orchestra melodies flowed out beyond the banquet hall.
As befitting Banquet Blooming at Midnight, the splendid lights were busy showing off to each other.
“It’s much more splendid than I thought.”
Evelyn, looking up at the banquet hall she was visiting for the first time, soon put on her mask and got down from the carriage.
Then a man with a familiar silhouette approached her with long strides.
“What brings you here so early.”
She had hurried to not be late for the appointed time, but it seemed Aksion had arrived even earlier.
“Why did you come so early?”
The man, who was about to answer Evelyn’s question, suddenly sealed his lips firmly.
Then for a long while, he stared at her dress and furrowed his thick eyebrows deeply.
“What is that, that outfit?”
As consistent as ever with his manner of speaking.
What else could it be, it’s what you gifted me.
