Chapter 9

“Why hello, Duke Lewelton,” Lady Rosé sang. “I never expected to see you here. If I had known you were coming, I would have made a reservation for dinner. It’s been ages since we’ve seen each other.” Then she turned to me. “And this child is…?”

She was lying. She knew exactly who I was.

“Good to see you again, Lady Rosé. This little girl is my daughter,” replied the duke.

“Is that right,” Lady Rosé said. “Well, I suppose you and I should try to get along. We’re going to become family, you see.” With a flutter, she hid her mouth behind her fan. She was stunning, like a bird with bright plumage. “I heard you had adopted a poor orphaned girl. She’s much prettier than I expected.”

“I’m not sure what you were expecting, but she is indeed very pretty,” Kallen said quietly.

Lady Rosé giggled as if she had heard something funny. “You have quite an admirable hobby, Your Grace. Charity work is so very important, is it not? After all, the poor are people too. I’m confident that if you raise her properly, she will develop a reputable character. Why don’t we form an alliance in this matter? To conceal her origins, I mean. Have you found her a governess yet? I know exactly the person she needs—strict and capable of training the worst out of her. This governess won’t shy away from administering a caning if need be.”

Lady Rosé’s words nearly made me faint.

Kallen lowered me to my feet, then kneeled and met my gaze. “Do you remember who I am?” he asked.

“The duke, Your Grace,” I answered.

He shook his head and whispered, “No, I’m your father. Come on, repeat after me.”

“Um…” I pressed my lips together, too shy to fulfill his request.

“Still too embarrassed, are you?”

I nodded slightly. I began to wonder if I should force out the words now, even though the moment had passed, but Kallen wasn’t finished speaking.

“Then let me trouble you for another favor.”

“What is it?”

“Could you tell that woman to leave this shop right this instant?”

Silence filled the room. I couldn’t believe my ears.

“Whatever do you mean, Your Grace?” Lady Rosé blurted out, her face ashen.

“Ah, it appears you don’t understand indirect address,” Kallen said, smirking. “I wish for you to leave my sight at once. I would also prefer that we never meet again after today. To put it bluntly, I’m telling you to get out.”

Lady Rosé’s jaw dropped to the floor, and mine followed suit.

“Did you hear what I said, my lady?”

“H-how could you say such a thing?” The corners of her mouth trembled as she spoke.

I felt as if I were watching a scene from a play. Come to think of it, Kallen was always like this—arrogant, but with an attractive raw energy. A bad boy, if you will. A conceited man that you can’t resist.

However, I found myself reveling in Lady Rosé’s misfortune. Perhaps I’m a little wicked myself.

“Say farewell, child,” the duke whispered. “You won’t be seeing her again.”

I paused briefly before looking up at the blonde woman. “Goodbye, old lady,” I said timidly, clutching Kallen’s coattails.

He howled with laughter. “Good girl. See? This is how to develop the attitude of an aristocrat.” He stroked my hair, mussing the pigtails that the maids had taken such care to tie.

Oh, no! It feels good, but my precious hair…

“Y-you little! Do you even know who I am?” Lady Rosé snarled and glared at me.

Am I her target now?

“No, I don’t,” I replied. “But I’m relieved not to be as pretty as you.”

“Excuse me?”

“If I were, I’d be married off when I’m still young. Isn’t that right?” I couldn’t bite my tongue any longer. I watched her face pale as her eyes darted between Kallen and me, then asked, “Or do you think that, with the way I look, I ought to be passed off to the circus?”

She bit her lip and glared, her eyes seemingly ablaze with blue sparks. I unconsciously clung even tighter to His Grace.

“Do you make a habit of eavesdropping like some stray cat on a windowsill?” the lady growled.

“Please stop threatening my daughter with all the social grace of a rabid wildcat, Lady Rosé. Now, I suggest you leave on your own two feet before I have to expel you.”

“This isn’t your home, Your Grace!”

Expel? Does that mean kicking someone out by force? Kallen scoffed at her absurdity and continued, “This entire street belongs to me. Who do you think owns this particular building? I assumed you approached me knowing this, but I must admit that I’m disappointed. I prefer someone intelligent and level-headed, you see.”

Lady Rosé tightened her trembling fists.

“That doesn’t apply to you, of course,” Kallen said to me. “There’s nothing I require you to know.”

Haha, wow. Thank you.

“Do I need to call the guards?” Kallen turned back to Lady Rosé, whose tone abruptly shifted.

“Your Grace— I mean, Kallen! What of our relationship? How could you do this to me?” she begged.

“Sharing a few meals does not constitute a relationship. I had no idea you had such an optimistic outlook. But if you really believed us to be dating, I’ll let you tell everyone you jilted me.” The duke’s tone was perfectly polite. “Would you now take your leave? I don’t want to ask you again. Are you not afraid of causing more trouble?”

His words, however, lacked any warmth. Lady Rosé choked up as she bit her lip, spun around, and stomped out of the shop.

“Was there an incident involving Lady Rosé?” asked Kallen.

“I overheard something she said,” I mumbled. I was afraid he’d dig deeper, so I quickly changed the subject. “I was wondering… How did you recognize me on the street?”

“You sparkled, just as you did when we first met,” Kallen said in a kind voice.

My cheeks flushed.

He’s a sweet talker, isn’t he? Does it come with being an aristocrat? Right then, Marianne began to descend the stairs from the second floor. She was wearing the same dress she’d arrived in.

I thought she was in the dressing room, trying on new clothes…

“When did you get here, Kallen? Oh, you were with the child.”

His Grace examined Marianne from head to toe. “You’re here to try on new dresses, but you’re wearing the same clothes you wore two weeks ago. Not to mention that you came down from the second floor, which is accessible via the back door, and you neglected the child entirely. The only conclusion could be—”

Kallen spoke slowly, but Marianne interrupted him with a cacophony of strange noises.

“Don’t! That’s enough! Scrutinizing someone without so much as a hello is rude, you know. Turning a blind eye sometimes won’t hurt, you know? It’s like you have a sixth sense. It creeps me out.” Marianne’s cheeks grew red as she grumbled. “Ladies go to dress shops for a variety of reasons, all right?”

“Listen, Marianne. I know you enjoy your little love affairs, but please refrain from using the dress shop as a site for your trysts. It puts me in a difficult position.”

“After bewitching all the ladies in the capital, you’re one to talk. Are you saying that because I’m a woman, I’m not permitted to date?”

“You’re a saint, remember? It’s troubling when someone in such a venerated position dates freely.”

I found myself in agreement with the duke.

I mean, isn’t a saint like a nun?

“Well, who was the one dating a woman like Lady Rosé?” Marianne teased, attempting to shift focus. “Do you know how many people she’s told that you two are an item? Though, I must admit, it’d be entertaining if she became the duchess. She’d cause quite the uproar.”

“I’m not sure if we were ever together, but if we were, we’ve split up.”

“Huh? When?”

“I was jilted.”

Kallen and I exchanged brief sidelong glances, causing me to snort. It was as if we shared our own little secret.

“Did you acquire everything she needs?” he asked Marianne.

“Of course. Don’t you see all of that over there?” Marianne replied, jutting her chin at the mountain of gift boxes piled beside the entrance. “That’s…”

It was my last chance to put a stop to this. “I’m glad Lady Marianne brought me out today, but I’m worried about spending so much at the dress shop…”

The black-haired siblings stared at me.

If Marianne actually spends one hundred gold coins on my clothes, I might have a stroke.

“How much did you spend?” Kallen asked her.

“I set a budget of one hundred gold coins and requested a variety of jewelry and silks. Why?”

The duke shook his head disapprovingly. “You’re in the wrong, then.”

See? Phew, I’m glad I had the courage to speak up. I managed to avert the fate of being tossed out for bleeding the duchy dry.

“You should’ve set the budget at two hundred gold coins,” Kallen demanded. “We also need to put down a deposit for next season’s dresses so that the boutique can prepare the finest silks. What would the kingdom’s people think to see a duke’s daughter traipsing around in ragged clothes?”

“Aha! See? As expected of my older brother!”

Excuse me? I twisted my finger into my ear, wondering if I had misheard.

“Then let’s increase the budget!” Marianne beamed.

Let’s increase what now?

“I-I’m fine with Lady Marianne’s childhood dresses. There are five of them at home!” I insisted.

“How do you plan to fill your dressing room with only five dresses?” Marianne tilted her head. “Besides, you don’t have nearly enough gowns for the parties you’re meant to attend.”

“But… I don’t wish to burden you…”

“Don’t worry,” Kallen said. “You’re not burdening anyone. This is part of my duty as your guardian.”

My head started to hurt. Since when did splurging on dresses become a guardian’s duty?

“How many dresses have you had tailored, Marianne?”

“Around twenty for now.”

“Good. Tell them to bring out the next batch.”

“I-I’m a little tired,” I groaned. “Forgive me, but I can barely keep my eyes open.” I was truly exhausted. Shopping was an incredibly draining venture. Fortunately, my appeal seemed to work.

“You’re tired? Then I suppose we have no choice.” Kallen turned to the senior clerk. “Save the rest of the dresses for next time.”

“Yes, Your Grace. We will make them our top priority.”

With the assistance of the staff, I changed back into the brown dress I had worn when I arrived. I left the dressing room and found that Kallen was waiting for me on the sofa.

“Come here,” he commanded.

“What about me, Kallen?” Marianne, who had just begun sorting through the dresses, inquired.

“You should return to the temple and pray. Fulfill your role diligently every now and then, will you?”

Marianne clicked her tongue. “I suppose.” Then she turned to me and waved, smiling widely. “You’ll play with Auntie again soon, won’t you?”

“That won’t be happening. You’re abominable at caring for children. A child isn’t a toy. I understand what you hoped to accomplish, but don’t take her out without my permission again.” Perhaps it was because Kallen had found me wandering the streets alone, but his tone was stern.

Marianne smiled and waved goodbye, completely ignoring him. “Don’t mind my brother,” she said. “I’ll see you again soon. Next time, be sure to call me Marianne!”

I smiled and waved back. But when my eyes met Kallen’s gaze, I pressed my palm into my forehead, feigning a headache once again.

* * *

As I got into the carriage, I remembered the balloon, and the lump in my throat returned.

What am I going to tell Jade? I had been genuinely delighted to receive such a gift.

But if I return to the manor having misplaced it, won’t Jade think I was lying? After we finally managed to get a bit closer…

I suddenly heard a groan. “H-help…”

A red-haired woman began to stagger toward us, stumbling with each step. Kallen’s hand quickly clamped down on my shoulder and drew me behind him.

“Help me, please…” she groaned, reaching out her hand.

Her face… There’s something strange about it.

With a thump, the woman with the ashen face abruptly collapsed to the ground.