Chapter 3 – Part 8

When she got home, Liese picked out the neatest beige dress she had and put it on. As she pondered what to do with her hair, she realized the urgency of the moment and set off at a brisk pace.
 
Her appointment with the Duke was almost upon her.
 
She quickly brushed her hair and left the house with her hair untied. After all, there was no guarantee that her elaborate grooming would not be noticed by the stern man.
 
The duke’s servant was waiting for her on the hillside outside the orchard. He escorted Liese to the Fiori Gado, a street lined with shops selling luxury items such as boutiques and jewelry stores.
 
Men and women dressed like peacocks bustled up and down the street. Unaccustomed to the glitz and glamor of the city, Liese didn’t know where to look, wondering how people could walk so casually down a busy street where someone could cut off their nose to spite their face.
 
Arriving at the destination, a grand 10-story building adorned with massive columns, dozens of arched windows, and luxurious Ionic decorations, Liese’s escort signaled the entrance.
 
A woman was waiting for her at the entrance, seemingly prepared for this meeting. Introduced as Catherine, a shopping expert, she was a beauty adorned from head to toe.
 
“Welcome. I’m Catherine, who will be assisting Lady Brennan with her shopping today.”
 
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Catherine.”
 
“I’m even more honored, please come this way.”
 
Liese followed the woman’s lead, even though she had no idea what such a job entailed. Their destination was the top floor, which could only be reached by an elevator.
 
Before stepping into it, Liese cast a curious glance toward the Duke’s servant. Quickly catching on, he spoke in a polite, clerical voice.
 
“His Excellency is on an errand nearby and will join us shortly.”
 
“Understood. Thank you for guiding me.”
 
“Then, please enjoy your shopping.”
 
The servant bowed politely. Then the elevator’s wooden doors slid shut.
 
The enclosed space was filled with the artificial floral scent of Catherine’s perfume. Her eyes swept Liese up and down as if waiting.
 
As Marcus’s guest, the shopping expert was unlikely to be rude, but her curiosity about Liese was irresistible.
 
It was understandable. How strange that a woman important enough for Duke Balthasar to send her a telegram for her to take care of would show up in such scanty attire. Liese blinked wordlessly and waited for the door to open again.
 
“What kind of tea would you like me to make you? Since it’s after lunch, how about some fragrant rose or chamomile?”
 
Catherine asked in a sweet voice. Liese replied with a smile.
 
“I think I’ll go with chamomile.”
 
“That’s a great choice. I’d also like to offer you a simple biscuit, do you have a preference? If you’re watching your weight, I can make it with less butter and sugar.”
 
‘Watching her weight? ’ Liese’s mouth fell open for a moment, not quite understanding. She was objectively quite thin, so she wondered if she was hearing a joke.
 
But Catherine’s expression was serious, not hiding a hint of meaning. Liese smiled again, naturally.
 
“There’s no need to worry about anything specific. Thank you.”
 
“You’re welcome, then, and I’ll bring you some macaroons and pumpkin madeleines with grapefruit jam this way.”
 
When Catherine turned around, Liese’s eyes lost their playful glint and trailed down in surprise.
 
She’d grown up hearing her grandfather’s nagging voice in her ear, saying that she was too thin and that he feared for her health. Bachmann women were supposed to be lean, but they kept their weight under control. Maybe it was because being thin was the standard of beauty? Whatever the reason, it made her feel oddly self-conscious.
 
While her thoughts wandered, Catherine led Liese to a large turquoise velvet sofa in the center of the lounge. Liese was the only one being pampered on the top floor, which overlooked the street.
 
“He must have cleared the entire lounge for me.”
 
She couldn’t help but feel like she was in another world when she stepped onto the Fiori Gado.
 
It was a world completely detached from
 
Liese’s life as a somewhat modest noble in the countryside. It was a world she would never be able to assimilate into, no matter how much time passed.
 
Amidst the awe, Liese realized that she was hungry, having not eaten anything since morning due to taking her grandfather to the hospital.
 
Liese nibbled at the refreshments on the white coffee table. The pumpkin madeleines had a fluffy texture like castella and tasted amazing. With a cup of hot chamomile tea, she felt like she was melting.
 
“My lady, let me help you undress.”
 
Two employees approached Liese as she savored the madeleine, and she was caught off guard as they spoke. Liese, distracted, looked bewildered as she saw the coral-colored silk robe that was handed to her.
 
“Do I need to undress here?”
 
“Of course. I’ll take your measurements and bring you a dress, shoes, and jewelry to match.”
 
She was undressing in a room that was open on all sides, with dozens of windows lining the walls and no curtains drawn!
 
Behind their kind smiles, the question lingered: What’s uncomfortable when there are only women around?
 
Caught up in her thoughts, Liese reluctantly stood up, surrendering herself to the situation. Changing clothes felt awkward, as she hadn’t experienced being dressed up for quite some time.
 
A flowing robe was slipped over her body with minimal underwear. The thin robe, which only reached halfway up her thighs, made her ears prickle with heat.
 
While Liese was dazed by the unfamiliar surroundings, Catherine and her staff approached in unison, dragging along several mobile display cases filled with dresses and accessories.
 
“We’ve only brought in designs that are popular right now. We have everything from muted colors to passionate reds to elegant blacks, so feel free to try them on.”
 
Liese stood in front of the rack of dresses. She was overwhelmed with options.
 
She picked up a navy blue dress that looked modest enough, but put it down in horror when she realized that the part of her back that should have been covered had been cut out.
 
Her hands stopped in midair. The entire staff glared at her, waiting for her to decide.
 
After much deliberation, Liese chose a modest silver dress with long sleeves and ankle-length sleeves. But when she realized the fabric was see-through, she gasped in horror and put it back on the hanger.
 
Then Catherine picked it up again and exclaimed.
 
“You made an excellent choice!”
 
“Uh… wait.”
 
Before she could say anything else, the robe was removed, and the women dressed her. A full-length mirror on wheels rolled quickly in front of Liese.
 
“You look like a mermaid who just came up from the sea.”
 
“Your skin is so flawless, you’ll look good in anything you wear.”
 
Compliments erupted from all sides. Liese stared at herself in the mirror, wondering if she could get any redder.
 
The areas she wanted to cover were covered with opaque, flimsy fabric. It wasn’t much consolation, of course.
 
“What do you think? Do you want to try the necklace?”
 
Before she could answer, she pulled her hair up behind her back and began to tie it back, revealing a straight neck and shoulders.
 
“Well… I mean, I really appreciate you picking out a pretty dress, but….”
 
Liese covered her chest with her arms and looked very embarrassed.
 
“Can I try it on with something not as revealing as possible?”
 
“Uh, the dress you’re wearing doesn’t show your chest or back at all. It’s a little clingy, but it covers your legs, arms, and wrists perfectly.”
 
It was as useless a consolation as covering her n*ked body with sheer mesh.
 
“I wish it wasn’t as thin and see-through as dragonfly wings.”
 
“Try standing up straight, without hunching your back and shoulders forward. It’ll take the awkwardness away.”
 
But that didn’t change the see-through material.
 
Liese blinked in confusion, and Catherine shrugged her shoulders as she removed the dress. Liese shuffled back into the silk robe she’d been so embarrassed to wear earlier.
 
“I hear you’re preparing for a competition, not just another event. You’ll have to try on dozens of dresses in the meantime; do you intend to stick to similar designs?”
 
“I’d like to avoid anything drastic if possible. Actually, it’s my first ball or banquet….”
 
“Nonsense; the more you do, the more drastic you have to be.”
 
Catherine smiled gently, as if soothing a child.
 
“How many young ladies can come up from the capital dressed from head to toe, and if you’re going to be at the side of His Excellency the Duke of Balthasar, you’re going to have to look your best.”
 
Duke Balthasar. His name snapped Liese out of her otherworldly daze. She hesitated, then let out a silent sigh.
 
“Fine, but I’ll pick out my own dress this time.”
 
“Sure. Feel free to browse.”