Chapter 2 – Scheh’s Boutique (Part 1)

The ornate doors opened, and the attendant at the dress boutique immediately bowed to her.

“You’ve arrived, Lady Asillious.”

“I came upon receiving the call.”

“Madam has been waiting for you. Please come this way.”

The attendant led the way to a private room where only a few people were allowed to enter.

This was a special place reserved for noble ladies with high social status and fame in the social circles. Even if you had fame, if your status wasn’t suitable, you couldn’t enter. Similarly, if your status was high but you lacked fame, you still couldn’t enter. That’s what this private room was all about.

“Welcome. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Madame Madam Brua of the Scheh dress boutique greeted her with a smile. She led her to the dressing room set up in the corner of the private room to take her measurements.

She was used to being treated with such extreme hospitality, but she knew it wouldn’t last. The Scheh Boutique would change its attitude as easily as flipping a hand if it became known that she had broken off her engagement with Inferno.

Taking measurements didn’t take long. Madam Madam Brua suggested moving to another spot, saying she had prepared refreshments for her.

“And just today, we received fresh Golden Tips.”

“You managed to get those?”

“Yes.”

Surprised by Madam Brua’s words, Reubellina turned to look at her. Golden Tips tea was a tea made from leaves hand-picked from high-altitude tea plantations and dried on velvet cloth. Not only was the altitude high, but the people picking the tea leaves had to be specially trained. The leaves changed from silver to gold during drying, making it extremely expensive. So it was a tea that even mediocre nobilities could not enjoy.

“I’ve prepared it specially for you. Please, come this way.”

Reubellina slowly followed Madam Brua. At that moment, a loud noise came from the direction of the dressing room used by the ordinary nobles.

“Oh my! It suits you so well!”

The exaggerated exclamation of the attendant made Reubellina’s eyebrows twitch. Noticing this, Madam Brua gestured to the attendant to be cautious, but the attendant did not notice the gesture and continued speaking.

It was then that Reubellina’s gaze shifted.

“Does it suit me well?”

“Of course! You look so beautiful!”

Bellaruse Zeraon stood in front of the mirror, wearing a dazzling dress.

Reubellina and Bellaruse’s eyes meeting was no coincidence. Knowing that Reubellina often came to the Scheh dress boutique, Bellaruse had entered this place.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“You must be so happy! It’s amazing that he gave you such an expensive dress as a gift. The man who loves you must be incredibly wealthy.”

“My dear is willing to do anything for me.”

Bellaruse’s lips curled up. Her gaze, narrowed eyes, was filled with mockery as she looked at Reubellina. Reubellina noticed this fact, but she did not want to cause a scene in the busy dress boutique, so she tried to ignore it.

Just as she was about to calmly move on, Bellaruse glanced at her and spoke to the attendant.

“Even if it means breaking an old promise just for me.”

‘What? Insane.’

It was clear that the statement was directed at her. Reubellina stopped in her tracks. Noticing her movement, Bellaruse raised her hand and twirled her pink hair.

Reubellina was so angry that she wanted to pull out all the pink strands flowing from her fingers. However, she calmly observed the situation. The attendant next to Bellaruse, unaware of the tense atmosphere between the two, spoke again.

“Really? Wow, he must love you so much.”

“Of course. He said he would live only for me from now on.”

“What a remarkable person. I’m so envious.”

The attendant’s words about arranging the dress went unheard. Reubellina let out a hollow laugh at Bellaruse’s statement.

‘Live only for you? Are you crazy?’

It had only been two days since Inferno notified Reubellina of their breakup. In that short time, Inferno and Bellaruse’s relationship had progressed.

Reubellina was certain that there had been some kind of connection between the two even before their broken engagement. Flames flashed in her golden eyes, which shone brightly with fury.

Seeing the confrontation between Reubellina and Bellaruse, Madam Brua’s eyes widened. Having run the dress boutique through many ups and downs, Madam Brua realized this was a crucial moment. She had to decide whether to side with Bellaruse or Reubellina.

Madam Brua suddenly bowed deeply in front of Reubellina.

“I’m sorry, I forgot to thank you for coming here. Thank you so much.”

“There’s no need to thank me.”

“Of course I should, you’ve taken the time to come here.”

As the renowned designer and owner of the Scheh dress boutique bowed, it drew the attention of the noble lords and ladies present.

Despite Madam Brua’s sudden and unexpected apology, Reubellina responded calmly. She knew that Madam Brua was not acting without reason, and at least she understood that what Madam Brua was trying to do now was not harmful to her.

“Of course, I had to come since it’s a dress from the Scheh dress boutique.”

“Lady Asillious is the one who can best carry off the dresses from the Scheh dress boutique.”

“You flatter me.”

“Oh, how humble of you.”

Madam Brua whispered to her with a smile. Though her voice was soft, everyone in the dress boutique could hear it.

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to take your measurements again, as this dress is being made especially for you, Lady Asillious, and we can’t afford to make any mistakes. We specialize in custom-made clothing, and we can’t afford clothes with the wrong measurements leave the Scheh Boutique.”

“The custom-made dresses here are famous for fitting well.”

“Of course. Ready-to-wear is good, but custom-made is different, isn’t it?”

Reubellina’s gaze shifted to Bellaruse, whose face, which she had been holding high and proud, instantly turned bright red. It was because all the dresses she had boasted about as expensive and glamorous were actually ready-to-wear.

The custom-made dresses of the Scheh dress boutique were more renowned than ready-to-wear. The noble ladies visiting this shop had mostly ordered custom-made dresses.

The other nobilities, whose dresses were made by regular designers rather than the head designer, stared at Bellaruse. Realizing that the dresses she had boasted about being gifts from her lover were actually ready-to-wear, they covered their faces with fans and whispered.

“Now that I look at it, it’s all ready-made.”

“Willing to break an old promise for her, but it seems he can’t buy her a custom-made dress.”

“Of course not. After all, she’s just the baron’s daughter, so there’s no way he would buy her a custom-made dress, right?”

“She was bragging so much, I thought it was something. Haha, it’s nothing much.”

At the words of a bystander who said that she was just a plaything and would be thrown away, Bellaruse clutched her skirt and shuddered. Madam Brua threw a cold smile at the sight. Only a handful of people could wear the clothes of Madam Brua, the chief designer of the Scheh dress boutique, and Bellaruse was not one of them.

Even Prince Inferno could not freely intervene in this dress boutique. It was a place cherished by the imperial princess and empress, and if one were to interfere, the word would naturally spread.

Reubellina, watching Bellaruse’s behavior, did not hide her sneer. Bellaruse gritted her teeth.

“As you are the head designer, I can trust your clothes.”

“I’ll make sure it fits you perfectly.”

“Of course you will, because if I wear something that doesn’t fit, it could end up strangling me one day.”

“That’s right.”

“Like someone who doesn’t know their place and covets other people’s things.”

“Oh, is there such a person?”

At Madam Brua’s retort, Bellaruse couldn’t take it anymore and started to gather her clothes. Suddenly, she hears the voice of an attendant asking her what’s the rush, but Bellaruse is adamant.

Instructing the attendant to quickly pack the dresses, the attendant, bewildered, carefully packed them into boxes. Since Bellaruse didn’t have her own maid, the attendant had to carry the boxes to the carriage.