(7) Secular Clothes

After going to the capital and properly getting the divorce approved again at the Grand Temple, she would send May back to her original position.

Asla didn’t want to show May her pitiful, despised self at the Ventus mansion.

Being pitied or viewed with sympathy.

Or worse, she couldn’t bear the thought of May being bribed by Margo to torment her.

“My lady, what’s wrong?”

The perceptive May quickly asked when Asla’s expression darkened.

“It’s nothing.”

As Asla shook her head, May tilted hers and extended a hand to Asla.

“Then, can you stand up?”

May carefully supported and helped Asla to her feet.

Asla found it amusing that May was treating her like some kind of patient, but somehow it felt nice.

So she deliberately leaned slightly against May and followed her lead.

May was much taller than Asla and healthier, so she thought the thin lady’s weight was like a feather and felt concerned.

May brought Asla to the dressing room, and Asla stopped in her tracks when she saw the closet full of outdoor dresses that she didn’t know when they had been purchased.

“They’re so beautiful, my lady!”

Beautiful flower decorations and lace fluttering, and at a glance, soft fabrics with precious jewels and embroidery.

Asla unconsciously stepped back, feeling a sense of rejection.

“I, I should have clothes that I brought.”

“You mean that one outdoor dress in your bag? I sent that to the hotel laundry.”

“The laundry?”

When Asla asked again, May frowned and nodded.

“There was coal tar stained inside the dress. Ugh, it was so dirty that I sent it to the laundry right away, but I don’t think it will come out. How did something like that get on it?”

As May grimaced, Asla recalled her personal maid who had obediently packed her outdoor dress in her bag this morning.

No wonder she hadn’t complained.

The maid had stained it with coal tar again.

It wouldn’t be the first time she had bled trying to remove coal tar stuck to her skin.

Thanks to the meticulous May who helped her avoid the maid’s trap, Asla felt very grateful.

“So I quickly ran to the master and requested him to order new clothes. They’re ready-made, but they’re all good quality.”

“Ah, my husband.”

Seeing May smiling brightly, Asla awkwardly smiled along.

She found it unfamiliar and burdensome that Enoch kept giving her gifts.

She thought about returning all these clothes. But because she was grateful to May for saving her from the horrible coal tar, Asla decided to go along with May’s doll play as she selected clothes for her.

‘But. Isn’t this really a bit too fancy.’

Asla looked around at the dresses and one-pieces hanging in the closet and nervously swallowed.

Having been born and raised as a princess of the Holy Kingdom, she had always worn neat clothes in white or silver tones.

She had never worn such colorful and elaborate dresses.

‘Just once. At the wedding, I wore a gold dress covered in ornaments.’

Since the wedding, she had continued to wear only white dresses at the Ventus mansion as before, so she was perplexed.

‘But what does it matter.’

Asla steeled herself and decided to change her mindset.

It had already been two years since the Holy Kingdom fell.

Though she was the last royal, she felt there was no need to maintain traditions anymore since she had nowhere to return to.

And since she was about to become an impudent descendant of the Holy Kingdom who would defy and question the divine command of the oracle, she decided to boldly abandon tradition.

Just then, May, smiling cheerfully, selected a short dress with elaborate silver embroidery on sky-blue fabric and held it against Asla’s body.

“I like this one.”

Asla decided firmly. Though that was her thought, she didn’t dare try on the more daring dresses from the start.

She chose it because it was at least in the same color scheme as the dresses she used to wear, and May nodded happily.

She chattered away as she helped Asla change clothes.

“The master may look strict, but he seems to have good taste in choosing clothes. All twenty outfits are truly elegant and beautiful.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, my lady. All these clothes are from the most expensive boutique in Dynus. Well, that’s to be expected from Duke Ventus, right?”

May skillfully dressed Asla in the sky-blue dress that came to her knees, then brought a pink ribbon sash to secure around her waist and even added a blue jeweled brooch.

“Oh my. You look truly beautiful, my lady.”

“Thank you.”

Asla smiled gently at May, sincerely conveying her gratitude.

She carefully examined her reflection in the full-length mirror.

It had been a long time.

Wearing such a light and bright outfit improved her mood.

“Shall we choose shoes too, my lady?”

“……Did my husband send shoes as well?”

“Yes. Of course!”

May laughed cheerfully as she went to fetch the shoe boxes.

Asla felt strange.

A husband who thoughtfully sent her dresses, shoes, and even accessories.

Why was he doing this when they were going to get divorced?

Was it true, as she had suspected, that Enoch didn’t want to divorce?

Unable to understand his intentions, Asla sighed softly.

Having matched cool blue sandals to complete her outfit, she went down to the hotel lobby at the appointed time with Enoch.

Spotting him standing in the white marble lobby, she opened her eyes wide in surprise.

While his handsome appearance remained the same, he was dressed unusually lightly in just a white shirt and pants.

She had never seen him dressed so casually before.

Even at their first meeting, in the hot southern Holy Kingdom’s midsummer, he had worn a jacket with all buttons fastened.

She had thought he was a rigid man who valued etiquette to a stifling degree.

As she approached him while staring intently, Enoch also gazed at her.

“You look much better.”

Enoch’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, then narrowed them again.

“Did those words come from my mouth?”

“……I said that.”

“Then I’ll say it too. You look much better as well.”

After saying this, Enoch extended his hand to Asla.

She looked at his large hand and slightly bit the tender flesh inside her mouth.

Why was her heart fluttering like this?

Perhaps some love for him still remained in her heart, making her waver at even his small compliment.

She felt foolish, but it couldn’t be helped.

The years of loving him…… had been too long.

Hiding her trembling feelings, Asla accepted his escort and boarded the carriage.

While wondering how far they were going that they needed to take a carriage, Enoch sat across from Asla.

As the carriage started with a jolt, Enoch looked her over with a strange gaze and began speaking.

“I thought you wouldn’t wear the dress I sent.”

“……Did I seem like someone who values the Holy Kingdom’s traditions that much? You misunderstood.”

Displeased that Enoch had judged her to be stubborn, Asla pouted, and he narrowed his eyes in response.

“You didn’t wear them before. Saying you had to maintain the kingdom’s traditions.”

“Hmm? Yes, I didn’t wear them.”

Asla felt the conversation was becoming awkward and disjointed even as she answered.

“……Right, that’s what I’m saying.”

Enoch pulled up one corner of his mouth in a disappointed smile, then looked out the window and continued.

“The clothes I sent home all this time, I thought they were less important to you than the traditions you had to keep. I’m glad you’ve changed now that you’re talking about divorce. I think such rigid and stifling culture can be discarded. It’s fine to let it go.”

“……”

“White clothes suit you well, but those secular clothes suit you too.”

At first, Asla thought he was speaking nonsense, but as she gradually realized what he meant, her head grew hot.

She felt too confused and shaken.

If his words were true, it meant he had sent her dresses other than white ones.

During her stay at the Ventus mansion, she had never received any clothes from him.

The fact that Enoch hadn’t just suddenly given her gifts today, but had already done so before.

‘Ah.’

Asla felt as if her blood was running dry.

There was only one culprit.

‘Margo Ventus.’

She felt both sorry for and resentful toward Enoch who was looking at her.

Even if he sent such gifts, she couldn’t receive them because Margo had occupied the Ventus mansion.

She felt shabby for not being able to properly receive gifts from her husband, and she hated the indifferent Enoch who didn’t even check personally after sending the gifts.

‘I didn’t want gifts, I wanted you to come.’

Asla was about to move her lips to ask exactly when he had sent them, but she looked up as the carriage came to a screeching halt.

Unlike Asla who was puzzled that the carriage had stopped after barely moving, Enoch elegantly stepped out first, stretching his long legs through the door opened by the coachman.

When he extended his hand to Asla with a look that told her to get out, she opened her eyes wide.

“Have we arrived already?”

“……It’s a walkable distance, but I thought you might collapse if we walked.”

Asla was dumbfounded and looked out the window at the back of the carriage.

The Luitel Hotel was visible, just a few blocks behind.

A distance so close it hadn’t even taken a minute by carriage.

She began to doubt whether this man who treated her like a critically ill patient and acted like a fool was really Duke Enoch Ventus.

Asla narrowed her eyes and alternately looked at his large outstretched hand and his face.

She wanted to ask why he was acting this way, but enchanted by his pitch-black eyes looking up at her, she kept her mouth shut.

After hesitating, she lightly placed her fingers on his hand, and Enoch gently grasped them and pulled her out of the carriage.

A large artificial lake and an impressive restaurant building built in front of it came into her view.

The cool breeze that gently blew felt very pleasant as well.

Without taking her eyes off the artificial lake sparkling in the bright afternoon sunlight, she said:

“The Tulia Empire is truly wealthy. To think they can create artificial lakes even in cities outside the capital.”

“……You’re also a citizen of the Tulia Empire, how long are you going to act like a foreigner.”

Enoch clicked his tongue and motioned to her as he moved toward where the restaurant staff was guiding them.

Asla silently followed, looking at his broad back.

‘How long, indeed.’

With a bitter smile, she followed and discovered the place Enoch had reserved.

A large marble table was placed on the terrace with the closest view of the artificial lake.

Pleased with the sophisticated tableware and table setting, Asla happily headed to her seat.

Sitting across from Enoch, she watched him discussing the order with the waiter before turning her gaze toward the lake.

A water bird that loved lakes was gliding gracefully over the surface.

You are free.

Asla enviously watched the water bird for a while, then turned to Enoch after the waiter who had taken their order disappeared.

“After the divorce, I could choose a nationality other than the Empire’s, right?”

Enoch, who was bringing a water glass with lemon slices to his lips, stopped.

He quietly stared at her with the glass still at his lips.