Chapter 3 – Part 9

Liese carefully examined the colorful clothes that filled the racks. It wasn’t long before she settled on a desaturated light green dress.
 
She liked the muted color, and the golden thread embroidered on the fluttering hem was luxurious without being overwhelming.
 
Even at a glance, the design was not too tight or too loose, so it didn’t feel uncomfortable. Both shoulders and her collarbone were exposed, but compared to what she’d seen before, it was manageable.
 
She tried it on with Catherine’s help, and her instincts were right: the dress was flattering with just the right amount of curves.
 
“This dress looks like it was tailored with you as the model, it’s beautiful.”
 
Admiringly, Catherine fiddled with the hem. Liese curled her lips into a wry smile.
 
“Thank you. I really like it.”
 
She wondered what her grandfather would say if he saw her and how pleased he would be to see her dressed like a noble lady. Thinking of him in his hospital bed suddenly made her feel uneasy.
 
Despite being safely brought to the hospital, it felt uneasy to indulge in luxury items while her precious family was going through a difficult time. Even though she knew the difficulties associated with luxury, she couldn’t help it.
 
‘I’m worried about Charlie.’
 
With the extra money from the Duke, she was fortunate to be able to provide good clothes and food without worry. But what a growing child needs most is the attention and affection of a family.
 
‘With that incident at school, it must be unsettling for him….’
 
Liese rubbed at her watery eyes, realizing that even though she’d won a much-needed wad of cash, money wasn’t everything.
 
“Shoes and accessories are essential here. Then…”
 
As Catherine continued her sentence, she suddenly turned her gaze. A bustling sound could be heard from the entrance of the lounge. A staff member rushed over with an excited face.
 
“The Duke has arrived…!”
 
Catherine glanced back at Liese in excitement, then broke into a run. Liese was the only one of the women who looked uneasy among the silent cheers.
 
Liese’s footsteps echoed across the smooth marble floor in her uncharacteristically impatient yet heavy stride, and she placed a hand over her throbbing chest.
 
“It’s been a while since you’ve been here, and I was so glad to get your telegram.”
 
Catherine’s greeting could be heard from the entrance, barely visible from where Liese sat. It was followed by a familiar man’s low voice.
 
“How are you, Cathy?”
 
“Very well, as you can see, except for the time I’ve spent waiting on unruly guests who never called.”
 
He called her by her shortened name, so she knew they weren’t on bad terms.
 
Maybe he frequently visited the department store, which would make sense since he was inseparable from expensive luxury goods.
 
Or maybe he had visited for the sake of a lover. It was hard to imagine the Marquis being affectionate in a relationship, but…
 
“The lady is seated over there.”
 
Soon the sound of footsteps drew nearer, and Marcus came into view. The mere presence of a tall man visibly altered the airflow in the spacious lounge.
 
His soft blond hair was swept back to reveal his forehead, and he wore an impeccably pressed army-blue procoat. The vest, shirt, and crisp tie he wore underneath were tailored to his broad frame.
 
It was the perfect façade for the man who owned this other world.
 
Liese rose slowly from the couch. Marcus stood in front of her, his expression relaxed and devoid of the slightest hint of tension.
 
“Lieselotte.”
 
“…You’re here.”
 
Reaching out, the duke casually grasped Liese’s wrist. Immediately, he lowered his head and pressed his lips to the back of her smooth hand.
 
Liese blinked at the sudden contact and gasped soundlessly. As if reading her mood, his breath tickled the back of her hand. He leaned in and planted another quick kiss.
 
Looking into her eyes again, Marcus raised an eyebrow at the bewildered girl before pulling her hand away.
 
“Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by.”
 
Catherine, who had been holding back what she wanted to say and waiting for an opening, interrupted.
 
“You’ve arrived at just the right time, we were just about to look at the shoes and accessories.”
 
She clapped her hands over her mouth.
 
“She hasn’t picked anything out yet, and she’s having trouble choosing a dress.”
 
“Really? I hope you weren’t worried about my pocket.”
 
Marcus glanced at Catherine, then back down at Liese.
 
“Did you not like anything? ”
 
“No, I liked everything; I just didn’t know what to buy.”
 
The corners of Liese’s mouth twitched at the obvious lie.
 
Since she was promised that dresses and jewelry would not be taken back even after her period of pretending to be the duke’s lover ended, the more expensive items she picked up, the more profitable they were.
 
That’s why she couldn’t excitedly choose a luxury item that she had never touched in her life. She never bought things she didn’t need, and she also felt reluctant.
 
Like the night before, when she was paid to show off her body in nothing but chemise, the idea that she was doing something immoral, mixed with a sense of remorse for her family, confused Liese.
 
“The designer personally brought me this product out of consideration for my prestige, but if I wasn’t sure, I wouldn’t have said I would buy it all.”
 
“…….”
 
“After the summer, you’ll have to sell them back to help pay the bills.”
 
Marcus whispered the last part so quietly that only Liese could hear it. His voice was sneering, as if he had read her mind. A rebellious glint flashed across Liese’s face.
 
“I wasn’t used to unnecessary spending, so I couldn’t make a decision.”
 
“Luxuries are essentially unnecessary. There are plenty of people who would never touch a piece of clothing or jewelry they wore once at a banquet again, and I expect you to do the same. Because you have no choice but to do that.”
 
“…….”
 
“You weren’t seriously thinking about being a burden to me, right?”
 
They giggled like they got the joke. “You’re so cute,” he said, turning to Liese.
 
“Bring me some brandy.”
 
Marcus ended the conversation by saying this to Catherine. They walked away with satisfied expressions, as if they were seeing a man and woman who had just started dating.
 
They were now alone in the center of the lounge, with its overstuffed sofas and low table.
 
“Did you have fun shopping?”
 
Marcus asked casually as he settled into the couch. Liese sat a couple of inches away from him.
 
“I’ve been having an interesting time, although I’ve only picked out one dress.”
 
“And by one, do you mean the one you’re wearing now?”
 
“Yes.”
 
A slow gaze swept over the light green dress. Marcus took in her straight shoulders, the chiffon trim over her full br*asts, the cinched waistline, and the hemline that tickled her ankles.
 
Moving back up, his eyes lingered a moment longer on Liese’s collarbone and the base of her neck. It was the only exposed area, and he offered a brief comment.
 
“I didn’t realize you had bold tastes.”
 
Bold? Liese gave him a look of disbelief. She wonders what he would have said if he’d seen what she’d worn before.
 
“It’s chosen as the least outrageous design. If you don’t like it, I’ll find something more modest.”
 
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. It looks good on you.”
 
Marcus threw it back at her. The uncharacteristic compliment left Liese speechless.
 
“I thought you would choose a plain, tightly wrapped dress like a monk’s robe.”
 
Well, that’s true..
 
“Should I apologize for not living up to your expectations?”
 
“Or maybe you should just pick something even worse to wear and defy expectations altogether.”
 
Liese turned away from him in disbelief. It wasn’t her style anyway, but she vowed to avoid anything revealing.
 
Marcus watched her sulk, then shifted his gaze to the clothes and shoes Catherine had prepared. She looked pretty serious about what she was thinking.
 
Liese considered eating the rest of the madeleine but decided against it.
 
The man sitting next to her was making her appetite run away, and if she ate anything in this uncomfortable atmosphere, she felt like she would have indigestion. She was close to being full, and aside from feeling a bit lightheaded, she was tolerably fine.
 
Suddenly, Marcus stood up. Liese tensed instinctively at the sudden movement of the burly man from his perch. She wondered if the man, who had no business overpowering a slender woman, was going to do something nasty.
 
Despite her fears, he picked up a small pair of shoes from a traveling display case. They were pure white and made of soft satin.
 
As she watched in disbelief, Marcus knelt down on one knee in front of Liese and began to remove her sandals and slip the new shoes on her bare feet.
 
“I can put them on.”