<CHAPTER 14>

**”Please exclude all styles that are currently trending in the capital.
Lavish decorations or designs will only distract from Vivi’s appearance.
They wouldn’t even stand out against her face anyway.
So it would be better to keep the decorations minimal from the start.”**

Achero Rodrigo continued speaking while staring intently at Vivia.

It was as if he was imagining her wearing imaginary outfits, which made Vivia feel a little embarrassed.

**”Yesss, of course.
That’s an उत्कृष्ट idea.
I was actually thinking the same thing.”**

**”And for the dress she’ll wear to her first ball, I think a blue matching Vivi’s eyes paired with lilies would be nice.”**

**”Oh my! Just imagining it is already so beautiful.
Including the family symbol in a debut outfit has a special meaning, so it’s wonderful.”**

Marie was extremely skilled.

In just fifteen minutes, she had drawn dozens of designs and showed them to them.

*Amazing!*

Vivia blinked several times.

She wasn’t sure yet if they would suit her, but at a glance, they clearly reflected refined aesthetic sense.

**”Vivi, do you want to choose?”**

**”I’m not good at this.
Wouldn’t it be better if you chose, brother?”**

Having come far from Broten to an unfamiliar place, she found herself unconsciously relying on Achero Rodrigo more and more.

Almost like a real older brother.

**”If you choose, I’ll take a look.
Give it a try.”**

Achero Rodrigo said gently.

Vivia carefully flipped through the drawing book and thought.

Except for three or four, she liked all of them.

Since the designs were simplified as much as possible, she felt they wouldn’t look ridiculous even on her.

Whenever she showed one to Achero Rodrigo, he nodded without objection.

**”Well done.
They would all suit you well.”**

Achero Rodrigo handed the drawing book to Marie.

**”Then with these—”**

**”Madam Marie, all the alterations are finished!”**

Meanwhile, the staff returned, pushing a mobile hanger.

*They already altered all those clothes?*

Vivia was shocked.

Just how fast were their hands?

**”Vivi, which one will you wear?”**

**”This time, you pick.”**

At that moment, Vivia once again realized that the fashion of the nobility was a symbol of luxury.

Wasn’t it because of the trend of human dolls that she ended up entering the Pernolain family?

The staff didn’t stop at placing just one or two flowers.

Seven, eight…

As the number increased, Vivia’s expression gradually darkened.

**”Is this hairstyle currently popular in the capital?
I’m not very familiar, so I hope it’s not an inappropriate question.”**

**”Yes!
Young ladies who go out or attend balls these days all wear their hair like this!
You can’t even see flowers in winter unless it’s in a greenhouse, so isn’t it delightful to see them along with such beauty?”**

The flowers were pretty, but…

**”It might be troublesome, but could you leave just one and remove the rest?
I’d like to compare.”**

**”Of course!
It’s no trouble at all, Lady!
Which flower shall we leave?”**

Vivia fell into thought for a moment.

**”Please leave just this one.”**

**”Yes, yes!”**

The flowers began to be removed one by one from her hair.

Her head, which had felt heavy, gradually became lighter.

Only one flower remained.

A small forget-me-not tucked beside her ear.

Indeed, keeping the decoration simple made her appearance shine far more.

During the short time he had known Vivia, Achero Rodrigo had observed and understood her deeply.

Even more than she understood herself.

*Someone who knows me better than I know myself.*

Achero Rodrigo was that kind of existence.

**”This one flower is enough for me.”**

Vivia in the mirror finally smiled.

On winter streets where all colors seemed muted and even sound felt silenced,

Vivia walking with a fresh green hue looked like a flower blooming in winter—vivid and refreshing.

Walking arm in arm and leading attendants, the Rodrigo siblings stood out prominently in the street.

**”Isn’t that the Duke Rodrigo?
And the lady beside him…?”**

**”I heard he’s been looking for a marriage partner lately…
Could it be?”**

**”No way…”**

The nobles who recognized Achero Rodrigo gathered among themselves and whispered quietly.

From tonight’s dinner onward, rumors about the Rodrigo family would spread widely.

*And within a few days, everyone in the capital will know that the lost sister has returned.*

Vivia glanced at the attendants.

She couldn’t help but feel uneasy about having handed all the luggage over to them.

Throughout the day, Tim silently attended to her side.

Despite acting under Achero Rodrigo’s orders, he showed no sign of secretly serving her.

He appeared simply as someone carrying out orders from above, unrelated to Achero Rodrigo.

After leaving the boutique, Vivia, with Achero Rodrigo’s help, purchased shoes, accessories, and perfumes.

Each item was astonishingly expensive.

Achero Rodrigo paid for everything without hesitation.

*These are not my belongings.*

*These are not people who serve me.*

*And the person beside me…*

Vivia glanced at Achero Rodrigo.

Sensing her gaze, he looked back at her and smiled beautifully.

*He is not my family.*

Facts she had to remember for the day she would eventually leave.

A chill seeped into her chest.

Even if her body was comfortable, her mind could not be at ease.

Under the sunset sky, the two walked side by side.

At a slight distance apart.

Their long shadows stretched out, barely missing each other without ever meeting.

**”Vivi.”**

**”Hm?”**

**”I was curious earlier too—what color do you like the most?
It would help when decorating your room.”**

**”I don’t know.”**

**”You don’t know?”**

**”Yeah.
I’ve never really thought about it.
What I truly like…
I don’t think I’ve ever considered it that deeply.”**

**”Did it require that much thought?”**

Achero Rodrigo asked with a soft smile.

**”Thinking takes time, so it’s unfamiliar to me.”**

Vivia smiled faintly.

Achero Rodrigo, who had lived his entire life as a noble, would never know.

That somewhere in the world, there existed a life where even thinking was a luxury.

That having someone listen to your opinions could be a first-time experience.

Was it just her imagination?

For a moment, it seemed like Achero Rodrigo’s expression stiffened.

But the surroundings were already dim with evening shadows, making it hard to tell.

He soon smiled playfully.

**”Let’s go with this.”**

What he chose without hesitation was a light green velvet dress.

*This?*

It might suit summer, but in winter it was a noticeable color.

Though puzzled, Vivia accepted the dress.

Inside the fitting room, the staff helped her change.

Standing before the full-length mirror, she gently touched the hem of the dress.

Compared to the other dresses on the hanger, the skirt line of this one was relatively straight.

Even the dress Marie wore had an excessively voluminous skirt.

That was likely the current trend in the capital.

The woman in the mirror wore an awkward expression.

*It feels strange.*

It felt as if she was no longer herself.

Not long ago, she had been starving, and now she was wearing clothes more expensive than a lifetime salary of a maid in the Pernolain family.

Now that she wore it, she understood why Achero Rodrigo had made those requests to Marie.

Vivia was still thin from not eating well, and her complexion wasn’t very good.

*If this had more lace and frills and a fuller skirt, I would’ve been buried under it instead.*

The fresh green dress, like the color of a green apple, made her complexion look more lively.

Perhaps in the future, once she fully embodied a noble’s elegance, things would be different—but for now, this was the best choice.

**”My goodness, His Grace chose perfectly!
It looks like it was made for you from the beginning.”**

**”With how well it suits you, who would think this isn’t a custom-made dress?”**

The staff showered her with praise.

**”Lady, may we help with your hair as well?”**

A staff member asked politely with a smile.

**”Yes, please.”**

**”This way!
We’ll make it quick since you’re busy.”**

Vivia sat at the vanity inside the dressing room.

The staff skillfully began arranging her hair.

They gathered half of her hair, lifting it up.

**”You already have such beautiful natural waves, Lady, so there’s no need for extra styling.
I’m quite envious!”**

Two staff members began placing large flowers into her hair.

*In winter? Real flowers? How did they even get these?*

A look of confusion appeared on Vivia’s face in the mirror.

*How much money would it take to obtain these?*