Leonhardt had prepared himself for Gustav’s anger.

But to be confined to his chambers because Daphne was babbling about breaking off the engagement—this was the first time he had suffered such humiliation.

However, Anaïs was the one suffering the most right now.

He needed to stay by her side to comfort her and give her assurance about their future, but instead, he was reduced to secretly exchanging letters.

All his feelings of defeat, humiliation, and rage were directed at Daphne.

“So you won’t be satisfied until you marry me and become a duchess? Fine, I’ll grant your wish.”

Leonhardt decided he would marry Daphne but was firmly resolved to treat her as nothing but a shell for the rest of her life.

“While I share passionate love with Anaïs and have jewel-like children, you’ll spend your days in tears. Grow old clinging only to the empty title of duchess!”

He immediately wrote a reply to Anaïs.

Then he handed it to the servant who had secretly delivered her letter, along with some gold coins.

⁕⁕⁕

The next day, the servant—already bribed by Gabriel—delivered it to Daphne first.

Her breathing intensified as she read the letter.

“Truly a once-in-a-century love.”

The letter overflowed with heartfelt emotion that surpassed even Werner and Christine’s relationship.

She almost felt sorry for unintentionally becoming an obstacle.

「My beloved Anaïs,

Please don’t worry. If you trust me and endure, our love will surely bear fruit.

As a token of my love, I’ll send you a dress for the Empire’s Founding Day celebration.

It’s the result of months of collaboration between me and the dressmaker—expect something special. I had them add so many jewels that the dressmaker begged me to stop.

By the way, it’s teal, which complements your red hair and will perfectly showcase your passionate nature.

Just imagining it makes my heart race.

Anaïs, my love!

On that day, you’ll be the most splendid and beautiful of all.

P.S.: Daphne is a woman who trembles at my every word. Don’t worry, I’ll make her acknowledge you, even if I have to intimidate her.」

Daphne was quite curious how he planned to intimidate her while confined to his chambers.

In her previous life, the dress Leonhardt had gifted was truly remarkable.

At a time when light colors were in fashion, the teal dress that contrasted with red hair was revolutionary.

While most dresses featured lace and ribbons as decorations, Anaïs had appeared proudly in a dress of a completely different level of splendor, adorned with jewels.

News spread that the young duke, who had never properly gifted anything to his fiancée, had designed it himself. The style became so popular that similar dresses became a trend afterward.

Thanks to this, Anaïs’s negative image improved, and she was able to solidify her position.

“Teal…… This should be interesting.”

After returning the letter to the spy with instructions to deliver it to Anaïs, Daphne walked to the console desk by the window.

The view from the third floor of the mansion, situated on a low hill, was quite beautiful. Through the large window, she could see the gazebo where she had spoken with Kartun.

“Fighting back alone while being mistreated? That’s arrogance.”

In retrospect, though his words had cut deep, there was no mockery in his tone.

Daphne hesitated briefly before writing a letter to the Emperor.

⁕⁕⁕

Christine had been so nervous preparing for Kartun’s visit that she fell ill with a fever.

As a result, Daphne had to go to the final fitting alone.

The dress shop was bustling with mothers, daughters, and sisters helping each other. They praised, occasionally teased, and burst into hearty laughter together.

In the waiting room sat husbands, fathers, and occasionally brothers who had accompanied them.

During major national events, the waiting rooms of famous dress shops served as places to build relationships and gather information through casual conversations.

Amid the groups of people, Daphne still sat alone.

“Lady Armin, I sincerely apologize for keeping you waiting. The customer before you suddenly changed her design, so it might take a bit longer.”

The shop manager apologized repeatedly and brought out premium tea and cake.

People who had been glancing over curiously realized that Daphne had come alone again today.

The gentlemen nodded slightly in greeting, and ladies she was friendly with exchanged brief pleasantries before leaving.

Left alone again, Daphne tried not to dwell on it, but familiar emotions kept surfacing.

The loneliness of being solitary in a crowd.

‘It’s always been this way.’

When Daphne was young, her nanny would accompany her when buying clothes or accessories.

Christine was either taking care of her sons or ill—one of the two. Naturally, she couldn’t expect anything from Werner, Ludwig, or Zenos.

And Leonhardt was too busy with his own fittings. She had asked him to come along, but he always made excuses.

‘After hearing he was too embarrassed, I stopped asking.’

After entering the academy, she no longer had a nanny and started going places alone.

At the academy, Daphne was welcomed everywhere. Her good academic performance and kind personality easily won her peers’ affection.

However, even the friends who spent time with her naturally joined their families during events. The same applied to Leonhardt.

Gustav often invited Daphne to join them. Barbara agreed but with obvious displeasure.

Watching Barbara’s reaction, Daphne could only politely decline.

Gustav wasn’t oblivious to the situation and could have scolded her and insisted, but that wouldn’t have made Daphne comfortable. So he stopped making invitations that would cause his future daughter-in-law discomfort.

Daphne carefully observed the people in the dress shop.

Compliments and exclamations of admiration spread smiles. Some pouted at giggling comments about ill-suited styles.

A family that could share not just the good times but also the not-so-good moments.

‘I once desperately wanted that….’

Watching them made her feel like an isolated island.

“Excuse me, miss?”

Daphne turned at the voice calling her.

It was a middle-aged lady.

She exuded dignity at first glance, and her clear eyes that defied the passage of time caught Daphne’s attention.

“I came to the capital for the Founding Day celebration, but I live so far away that I don’t know anyone here. So I ended up coming alone until the end.”

“Ah, I see.”

“I’m not familiar with what styles are preferred in the capital these days, which has been troublesome. The manager mentioned that you and I will be using adjacent fitting rooms—would you mind if we helped each other?”

If she had been the twenty-year-old Daphne from her previous life, she would have agreed before the lady finished speaking.

But now she was cautious to the point of being defensive. She was about to politely decline.

Yet somehow, the woman looked familiar.

‘Where have I seen her before?’

Daphne’s memory was exceptional—Gabriel had praised her for it. But she couldn’t recall who this woman was.

Noticing Daphne’s hesitation, the lady smiled kindly and said:

“I seem to have made an unreasonable request. I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable.”

Daphne thought another clue might help her remember. Between caution and curiosity, she chose the latter.

“Not at all. Actually, I came alone too and was feeling lonely. I look forward to your company.”

When Daphne smiled shyly, the lady smiled back.

“What a beautiful smile you have.”

“I’m Daphne Armin. May I ask your name, so I don’t offend you?”

“I’m Margo Eckhart.”

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Eckhart.”

“Just call me Margo. You’re my first friend in the capital, so I’d appreciate it if you’d be comfortable with me.”

“Then I hope you’ll speak comfortably with me too, Margo.”

The two entered the fitting rooms side by side.

Despite the slightly suspicious approach, Margo turned out to be a very pleasant and warm person.

Contrary to her initial request for Daphne to help with her dress, she meticulously examined her dress.

“The shoulders are slightly different on each side. This part should be cut lower.”

The dressmaker, who had grown complacent because Daphne rarely made many requests and usually accepted things without fuss, sweated profusely at Margo’s observations.

Thanks to her, the dress fit perfectly.

“My goodness, how can someone be so beautiful!”

Margo exclaimed with genuine admiration.

When she burst into praise, Daphne felt as if she was receiving the care she had always wanted from Christine.

For the first time since her return, Daphne smiled genuinely without pretense as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was beautiful, just as Margo said.

She looked exactly as she had in her previous life, before being pushed around and suffering hardships.

‘I’ll protect this.’

Then she met the eyes of Margo, who looked as pleased as a mother would be.

‘I want to live happily with good people like her.’