They’d probably prefer an expensive dress anyway.

“I’ll create the masterpiece of my life, my lady. Just trust me.”

Right now, I could even be your footwasher. Truly.

This is my chance to start successfully in the capital—what wouldn’t I do for that!

It was a moment when even a thousand years of anger would vanish.

“Ah, it would be good to have His Highness the Crown Prince’s clothes made as well, don’t you think?”

“Pardon?”

Why is the Crown Prince coming up now? Ha, this isn’t going to be easy. I unnecessarily tugged at my veil again. She’s not doing this because she recognized me and wants to mess with me, right?

No, that can’t be. If she had recognized me, she would have kicked me out already. Would she just sit and watch?

Completely unaware of my shrinking heart, Rozenne continued nonchalantly.

“Ah. I’ve said something sudden again. I mean exactly what I said, Madame Iris. I plan to attend the event with His Highness the Crown Prince. We need matching outfits for that day. After all, if we get them from the same place with similar designs……”

Rozenne smiled with her eyes.

“Won’t it be obvious what kind of relationship we have?”

“Ah……”

“Actually, part of the reason I came today was to make this request. Tomorrow, I’ll secretly visit your dress shop with His Highness the Crown Prince. We need measurements for good clothes, right?”

I hadn’t even recovered from the shock of seeing Rozenne…… and now the Crown Prince is making an appearance. The one who’s supposedly married to my past life character(?), that Crown Prince.

Why is everyone doing this to me?

“If it’s too burdensome, just say so. I do have alternatives. I just wanted to give you an opportunity out of consideration for Her Majesty the Empress……”

“No! I can do it!”

Even if this is poison, I have to drink it. You can do this, Iris.

How did you get this far in three years?

Are you going to run away scared over something like this?

That won’t do.

I just need to avoid being discovered. Look, even Rozenne doesn’t recognize me right now. I just need to handle this job discreetly and then be careful afterward.

“If you do this job well, I’ll give you a generous bonus.”

Money is the best—I’ve learned that over the past three years.

You need money to buy hair dye and colored lenses, right?

“I’ll do my absolute best to serve you.”

I bowed with a bright smile.

Treat the client like royalty.

And wealthy clients even MORE like royalty!

※※※

I took measurements of the ladies while Rozenne watched. Occasionally, she was seen talking with the imperial head maid.

Are they talking about me?

Did she figure out my identity? She seems too calm for that.

My heart was constricting painfully, but I quietly finished my work and returned to my small, precious mansion. I took off my hat and caught my breath.

“How was it? Huff, honestly, Iris, your acting skills are really terrible. I couldn’t breathe all day because I was afraid you’d be discovered.”

Our employee is truly honest.

Laurel grinned at me. When I first met her in Lorentz, she tried to scam me but got caught. After repeatedly bumping into each other, we grew fond of each other and ended up working together.

Laurel was a very honest and decent person who was loyal to money. As long as her salary wasn’t cut off, Laurel wouldn’t betray me.

Even in that small province, there were power struggles and territorial disputes.

As Iris’s dress shop grew, we faced opposition from various quarters, and there were attempts to recruit Laurel with large sums of money.

Each time, Laurel rejected those offers.

〈I don’t trust money that can be earned in an instant. Only scammers offer that kind of money. I prefer steady, reliable income that comes in regularly. Besides, someone who has scammed once will scam again.〉

Ha, truly wise.

Perhaps because she used to be a scammer herself, she doesn’t fall for sweet talk. And she was just as honest.

“Is my acting that bad?”

“They call that ‘foot acting’ in slang.”

I know what foot acting means.

“……Did you get caught?”

“I’m not sure about that, but I’ve secured the contract. And tomorrow, Lady Rozenne will come to our dress shop with His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“……Why?”

To get matching outfits.

Laurel added with a sour expression.

“Will you be alright?”

“This is an opportunity to promote our dress shop. It’s like making a very successful debut in society. Who knows, if we do well, maybe we could even make the wedding dress when Lady Rozenne and the Crown Prince get married? She wants us to make the clothes they’ll wear to the upcoming debutante ball.”

“……I think you’ll be caught and get a thrashing from Duke Liberk before that happens.”

I’m worried about that too, but what can I do?

“But you couldn’t refuse either, right? You still need to pay off the loan quickly. The contract payment hasn’t all come in yet, has it?”

“That’s exactly it.”

I had to push myself a bit to get this prime location. I thought I could repay everything with the full amount coming in from this contract. And that’s true. But if everything went that smoothly, everyone would be doing business in the capital instead of the provinces.

Since I was considering expanding to the capital based on this contract, I temporarily closed the dress shop in the province and took out a loan.

I promised to repay it as quickly as possible.

That was also why I had no choice but to eat the poisoned apple Rozenne offered.

“So, what do you think about you taking the measurements for the lady and the Crown Prince? If I get too close, they might see inside my veil.”

“That would be better.”

“Once this job is over, I absolutely, absolutely will avoid any dealings with the ducal family and the Crown Prince as much as possible. I swear.”

“I hope so too. Really.”

Laurel and I exchanged meaningful glances. After contracting with me, Laurel had been at the forefront of helping me operate under a hidden identity.

So she knew my true identity.

Actually, she found out. On the day I opened my first dress shop, Laurel and I drank celebratory wine. I must have had too much because I got completely drunk and apparently made a drunken confession.

〈I’m not… actually, I’m not Iris~ My real name is Ires, Ires~ Originally, I was a noble lady, you know~〉

I must have a tendency to become excessively honest when I drink. After that day, I quit alcohol completely. If I drink again, I’m a dog, a dog.

Anyway, Laurel stayed by my side and eventually came all the way here with me.

“Don’t forget, Laurel. We’re together even in death.”

“……Why are you saying such scary things? I’m going to meet a nice, gentle man, get married, and have children. You should find someone good too, boss, seriously.”

She must really be a T.¹T/N: it’s an MBTI thing

※※※

The day of the appointment with Rozenne arrived. From early morning, I got dressed up and nervously waited for Rozenne and Vairen.

While I was organizing the fabric I had ordered, sorting through the measurements taken yesterday, and creating patterns, the two of them appeared together.

Arm in arm.

Seeing them come together like this, their relationship must be going well. Then why is Vairen acting like that?

My curiosity only deepened.

“We found it well. Vairen, this is Iris.”

Rozenne introduced me sweetly. Gently shaking the Crown Prince Vairen’s arm, Rozenne looked lovely to anyone watching. No wonder she’s the female lead.

Yes, I don’t understand what wind blew to make Vairen declare me his crown princess and still not marry Rozenne, but according to the original story, these two should already be married.

Vairen stared at me with a cold face.

His face was sharper than when I last saw him and a darkly sunken expression.

It was a chilling coldness, as if he had lost his light. Vairen greeted me.

“……I’m Vairen. You probably know what I do.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I stopped staring blankly at him and quickly bowed my head. I’m just a dress shop madame, and Vairen is the crown prince. We’re not the same as before.

“Her Majesty the Empress selected this shop. I told you they agreed to make our clothes too, right? Let’s take measurements, choose designs, and then go for a meal.”

Rozenne said cutely.

Vairen stared at her with that knife-wind-like gaze. What’s with that look? Shouldn’t these two be deeply in love with pink hearts floating around them?

The way he is looking at her right now is so intense that someone could die and no one would notice……

I gulped.

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

Vairen spoke coldly. His voice matched his frigid expression perfectly.

“I’ve told you already, Rozenne Liberk. I have no reason to do such things with you. I made a deal with you, and we only need to exchange what was promised.”