I learned for the first time today that Ilion has a talent for making people feel embarrassed. Well, I’ve been learning a lot of new things lately, so it’s not particularly surprising.

Indeed, you seem prettiest when I see you in the books.

I inwardly chewed out Ilion while bringing up my business.

“Actually, I received an invitation from Marchioness Lancel! Would you like to see it? Isn’t the invitation so pretty?”

“So?”

Despite his consistent coldness, I stubbornly responded with a smile. Making my light voice as grating to his ears as possible.

“So, I’ll be going next Friday.”

The pen he was holding slipped. And finally, he raised his head to look at me.

“You’re… going there?”

Is it just my imagination that the words ‘With your status?’ seem to be missing? Look at that fierce expression.

For some reason, that furrowed brow hasn’t relaxed since last time. However, I pretended not to notice and continued speaking.

“Yes! Actually, I never had my debutante ball. So I’ve always yearned for high society. Wouldn’t it be nice to make some like-minded friends on this occasion?”

Once again, he sighed softly at my naive words and began tapping his fingers on the desk. He seemed to be contemplating something.

Well, I would be worried too if I were him.

How could they let an ignorant person who doesn’t even know the ‘S’ in ‘society’ loose in such a place? It’s worrisome enough to take them around on a tight leash, and now they want to send them alone?

He’s probably going to be on pins and needles all day wondering what kind of trouble I might cause.

And the next day, he’ll face me on the front page of the newspaper.

For example, spilling champagne on some lady’s skirt, or getting into a fistfight with some gentleman… Getting drunk and causing a scene would be good too. I’m still thinking about the headline, so look forward to it.

Swallowing my laughter inwardly, I quickly added a word.

“Sebastian said that since the invitation came to me, I can decide for myself.”

“Alright. You can go.”

Contrary to expectations, he readily granted me permission. Why? Does he have some reason to trust me?

“But I’ll go with you.”

“…Pardon?”

Right, I thought the answer was suspiciously quick. Of course, with all the distrust we’ve built up between us.

At his unexpected declaration, I suddenly felt uncomfortable, like a deputy manager going on a business trip with the department head.

“With… me?”

Wondering if I had heard correctly, I asked again, and the Duke nodded.

“Why, is that not okay?”

“O-Of course not. Wow… I’m so excited to be able to go with you, Duke!”

Damn, I came to throw a bomb, but ended up catching it instead.

Feeling the anxiety of a bomb about to explode on my foot, I barely managed to pull up the corners of my mouth into a smile.

“Lily, why am I so foolish?”

“…Well, it’s not unusual for you to act strangely, my lady, but what is it this time?”

Lily responded indifferently to my words.

“At times like this, you should say I’m not!”

I looked at Lily with a sullen face, but Lily lightly ignored my words and placed a bunch of items on the table.

“Here you go. The novels you asked for, newspapers, and the items you requested yesterday.”

It seemed she had gone to town during lunch break.

I picked up one of the novels from among the items Lily had brought and lay face down on the bed.

It wasn’t that I was just trying to kill time when I barely had enough to torment Ilion. Well, I can’t say that wasn’t part of the purpose…

Anyway, since I didn’t know what to do in high society, I had gotten these novels to at least get a sense of the atmosphere. Romance means high society, and high society means romance, right?

I started turning the pages slowly, planning to also pick out a few lines that would make Ilion cringe.

Deeply engrossed in the novel, munching on cookies, I finally came to the scene where the female protagonist makes her debut in high society.

And in the next predictable scene, the female protagonist was being bullied by the villainess.

‘My, look at that common accessory. Even a beggar wouldn’t take it if you gave it to them.’

‘Well, she’s from a poor family, what can you expect?’

‘Who invited her? It lowers the standards.’

Even though I had expected this part, each line stabbed at my heart. For some reason, it felt like I was seeing my not-too-distant future.

At least the female protagonist would be saved by the male lead. All I have is Ilion, who frowns and looks at me with disdain whenever I speak. Not to mention, he’s the one I fear the most!

“Maybe I should say I can’t go after all?”

“Stop saying strange things and come out quickly. The tailor has arrived.”

As I muttered to myself, Lily, who had returned to the room at some point, cut me off and pulled me along.

They say you dig your own grave, but I felt like I was not only digging my grave but also paving the way for the hearse to pass. All because I tried to tease Ilion…

In the end, I trudged reluctantly towards the reception room.

When I went down to the reception room, I found that the spacious room was filled with dresses of various colors. Seeing the scene I had often imagined in novels unfold before my eyes, I couldn’t close my mouth.

The telegram was sent just this morning, yet so many dresses were delivered so quickly with just a word – I was newly impressed by the status of the Duke’s family.

“It’s truly an honor to meet you like this.”

A man dressed in a well-fitted suit, befitting a fashion-sensitive profession, greeted me.

Judging by how Lily had been making a fuss on the way to the reception room, he seemed to be quite a famous tailor in the capital.

After a brief greeting, with Lily’s help, he measured my body with a tape measure and started trying on samples one by one.

“I received a call from Sebastian, but a week is really tight.”

The tailor smiled a bit awkwardly as he spoke. I could understand why he felt that way. In fact, invitations for such large parties should arrive at least two weeks in advance.

That way, the invitees can prepare too. However, even the host probably didn’t expect to invite me.

The news of my engagement to the Duke had only been announced a week ago, and until then, the world didn’t even know there was a person named Ravenne Rischefeld.

The Marchioness must have hurriedly sent the invitation to the Duke’s mansion as soon as she heard the announcement.

I’m now the hot topic in high society, so she probably wanted to invite me even if it was rushed.

By the way, when will we try on all these clothes?

It was a shame for the tailor who kept asking how this or that looked, but I, who had lost motivation from the start, muttered dryly.

“I want extremely elaborate embroidery and extremely elaborate jewel decorations.”

To be honest, it was just difficult to discuss the fabric and color.

After all, what I wanted was the image of an aristocratic lady dripping with money, steeped in luxury and vanity.

If possible, I wanted to be so covered in money that you couldn’t even see the person because of the dress. That would be just right to stick in Ilion’s mind.

For that, I could even wear armor made of gold.

“With the tight schedule, elaborate embroidery might be difficult right now.”

“Is it not possible? Then how about making it from gold…”

As I was about to suggest armor made of gold, I met eyes with Ilion entering the reception room.

Although I was momentarily surprised by his sudden visit, I smiled brightly as if nothing had happened and twirled once in front of Ilion with the sample dress I had been trying on.

“I was in the middle of choosing a dress suitable for the banquet. How’s this dress? I’m thinking of decorating it with gold and rubies, and adding a large ribbon. Wouldn’t it be pretty?”

The tailor looked puzzled at my suddenly active behavior that was so different from before. Well, that’s understandable.

But you know, mister. You know how hard it is to make a living. Let’s just put up with each other a little, even if it’s dirty.

However, Ilion fixed his gaze only on the tailor, as if he couldn’t see me making a fuss right in front of him.

“Make the dress navy blue, and keep the decorations to a minimum. Sebastian, prepare a diamond set for the accessories.”

“Understood, Master.”

Sebastian, who was standing beside him, nodded.

“…What? Is that all? But, but I want to wear this dress!”

I exclaimed, holding up to the Duke’s face not just a pink dress, but a terribly dazzling, intense pink dress that would catch the eye even from 10km away.

But the Duke looked down at me calmly, not even blinking at this eye-searing pink, and opened his mouth.

“Whose money do you think is buying your dress?”

What, he’s really going to be like this? Seriously?

I stared at Ilion, dumbfounded.

It was a line that the Ilion in the novel would never have imagined saying.

He acted like he would give his liver and gall to the saintess! Did I ask for his liver? Did I ask for his gall? Do I have to hear such words just for asking to buy one dress?

However, even after hearing such words, I didn’t have the courage to argue back, so I just rolled my eyes and reluctantly mumbled in a small voice.

“Du…ke…”

“What?”

Really! Who said this petty guy was their favorite? Huh? Who?

Admiring the great generosity of the man with the second-highest position in this empire after the Emperor, I forcibly pulled up the corners of my mouth.

“Of course, it’s you, Duke.”

“Good that you know.”

The Duke said that and left the reception room.

Damn it! As I stood there, unable to contain my anger, clutching only the pink dress, Sebastian approached.

“Please don’t take it to heart too much, my lady. It’s probably because this is the first official occasion you’re attending since your engagement, so the Duke is doing this on purpose. Besides, Marchioness Lancel likes pink, so she’ll probably wear a pink dress on the day. Wouldn’t it be awkward for you if your dress color matched the host’s?”

Thank you for comforting me, Sebastian. You’re the only one I can rely on.

But you’ve got it wrong. The reason I’m angry is that I couldn’t squeeze more money out of the Duke!

He could have at least embedded one jewel in the dress!

But what can I do when the final decision-maker with the money says no?

I threw away the pink dress that I hadn’t really been attached to anyway, and tried on a few more navy dresses.

“Please give me the most expensive one among these.”

Still unable to let go of my attachment to the price.