Chapter 2 – Scheh’s Boutique (Part 2)

“I’ll have the tea another time.”

“I’ll keep the Golden Tips tea prepared for you, My Lady.”

“I can only thank you, Madam, for your kindness in preparing such tea for me.”

“Oh, how gracious of you to say that. The Golden Tips tea should be enjoyed by those of your standing. It is the most suitable tea for you, My Lady. The tea will be waiting here when you visit next.”

“The tea leaves may be there, but the people coming and going will change. You’ll need to manage the sort of people coming in carefully.”

“My, those kinds of people cannot enter our dress boutique. Perhaps one or two may slip through, but…”

Whispering while glancing at Bellaruse, Madam Brua’s voice was loud enough for everyone in the dress boutique to look at her.

As Bellaruse’s face turned an explosive shade of red, Reubellina tilted her chin up. Her “I’m not like you” attitude made Bellaruse shudder.

Other noble ladies, who found it distasteful for a mere baron’s daughter to come to Scheh Boutique and boast about expensive dresses gifted by her lover, whispered to each other with chuckles. They couldn’t resist mocking comments like, “Who’s her lover? Just some wealthy merchant, isn’t he?” While hearing these taunts, Reubellina was escorted out of the boutique by Madam Brua herself, feeling a bit relieved to leave.

‘Ha, really.’

Even after leaving the dress boutique, her mind was not at ease. Reubellina was certain that when her broken engagement became known, it would be she who would become the target of their ridicule, not Bellaruse.

She hated being in a position where she had to worry about such things.

‘Why do I have to be treated this way?’

In the Freynant Empire,  Reubellina was the highest-ranking unmarried woman after the imperial princess. Yet, she had fallen to the level of being ridiculed by a mere baron’s daughter. If not for Madam Brua’s quick thinking, she would have been the one ridiculed there, not Bellaruse.

Her broken engagement with Inferno had not yet been officially announced. Officially, she was still the prince’s fiancée. But faced with Bellaruse’s blatant attempt to challenge her, Reubellina gritted her teeth.

Bellaruse wasn’t even a princess yet, nor had she become Inferno’s betrothed. And yet, she was already behaving like this. Reubellina could only imagine what she would be like when their engagement was officially announced and she appeared at social gatherings as the new betrothed.

‘Was it all a lie?’

The angelic Bellaruse. The beautiful noble lady, with a charming personality that anyone would fall for. Her kindness was renowned in high society, but it was all a lie.

Reubellina clucked her tongue at Inferno’s foolishness for being deceived by Bellaruse, then she was enraged again.

‘You said she was pretty, you said she was nice. That she was naive! Where was any of that?’

Getting into the carriage and returning to the ducal residence, Reubellina struck the seat with her fist. Muttering words she couldn’t bring herself to say out loud, she returned to the Ducal mansion.

As soon as she got off the carriage, her aura was terrifying as she headed towards the study. The servants of the ducal household greeted her, but at her dreadful expression, they quietly stepped aside.

Arriving at the study, she sat down at the desk and picked up a quill. There was no need for a lengthy explanation.

[Please visit me soon.]

A single sentence was enough. In her fury, the quill’s ink spilled a little, but it was beautiful, part of the fierce calligraphy.

Reubellina ordered Sandy, who was waiting outside, to send the letter to 235 Sylestre House, and Sandy immediately departed.

“We’ll see about that.”

Her ominous muttering echoed in the quiet study.

***

The next day, early in the morning, Reubellina told the ducals servants to hurry with the preparations from early on. Having completed her own preparations, she went around checking the preparations for the guest when the butler asked.

“Who is coming, miss? We haven’t received any notification.”

“He’s surely coming today.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s better to prepare in advance since someone is coming.”

Reubellina did not specify who was coming, and the butler did not ask further. After all, as servants of the ducal household, they had to follow the orders given, no matter what the intentions of the lady they served.

They also knew that Reubellina did not speak nonsense. Thoroughly loyal to the Duke of Asillious and his bloodline, they followed her instructions without showing any displeasure. This was a unique characteristic of the Duke Asillious’s household, unlike other noble families.

In most noble families, servants live on a salary and change jobs frequently, but the Ducal of Asillious was different. They did not easily dismiss their servants, so the servants worked there for generations.

The servants, whose loyalty to the Duke Asillious’s household was deeply ingrained, hurried with the preparations. At the center of the busy activity was Reubellina. In her graceful gestures, the presence of the young lady managing the household affairs was evident.

“Our lady is just so perfect!”

“If only she didn’t hide her personality so much, she’d be even more perfect.”

“Goodness! If someone is too perfect, it’s no good!”

“That’s true.”

They chatted among themselves as they finished the preparations to welcome the guest. Once everything was ready, Reubellina sat quietly in the reception room, waiting for Tartenon to arrive.

‘He will surely come.’

The Tartenon she had seen was not a man to bluff, and his blue eyes were gleaming with earnestness. Such a man, once he had spoken, was a man of his word.

Having interacted with many people while managing the trading company and maintaining the Duke’s household, Reubellina was confident. Tartenon was a trustworthy person.

‘He will come for sure.’

After letting the exhausted servants rest, having been busy from the early morning, Reubellina saw off the Duke who was leaving for the imperial palace. He was also curious about who the visiting guest might be, but he did not press Reubellina, who remained silent.

Soon after the Duke left, the guest Reubellina had been waiting for arrived.

Tartenon visited Duke Asillious’s residence early in the morning. Reubellina came out to the foyer to greet him, as if already expecting his arrival. Tartenon marveled at how impeccably dressed she was, despite the early hour.

“Did you know I would come at this time?”

“Since I sent the letter, it’s customary to welcome guests warmly whenever they come.”

Reubellina calmly replied, as if she had been gauging his arrival time and preparing the servants to welcome the guest.

Bathed in the bright morning sunlight, Tartenon was the epitome of an aristocrat. His well-fitted shirt and jacket concealed his sturdy upper body, and the black trousers embracing his long legs, all complemented each other perfectly. His attire was casual yet did not violate propriety.

It was a far cry from the ostentatiously decorated Inferno that had come to visit the ducal household every time he’d made his way to and from.

Bowing perfectly to him, she spoke.

“Welcome to the Ducal of Asillious.”

“I am honored to be welcomed, my lady.”

After the formal greetings, Reubellina led Tartenon inside the Duke’s residence. She guided him to the reception room where they had first met and asked the butler to serve tea. The butler, realizing the guest was the Grand Duke of Speraum, was surprised but quickly composed himself and left to prepare the tea.

As soon as the butler left, Tartenon spoke first.

“Have you already made up your mind? If you’re thinking of refusing, then…”

“Let’s get married.”

“What? What did you just say…”

“I want to have the contract drawn up right now, so let’s do it!”

Tartenon stared at her wide-eyed, startled by Reubellina’s words. But she met his gaze unflinchingly, her face unwavering.

Her golden eyes were burning with an intense heat. It was unclear whether the passion was directed at him in anger or affection, but it uniquely struck Tartenon.

Amused by her boldness, he muttered with a small chuckle.

“Yes, I should have expected that from you.”

His voice was so muffled that Reubellina could not make out his words.

“Pardon? What did you say?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Shaking his head, Tartenon smiled gently, and Reubellina tilted her head curiously, but he remained silent. After a moment of unbreakable eye contact, Tartenon’s eyes crinkled in a familiar smile.

Maintaining his light-hearted demeanor, he turned to Reubellina.

“You want to draw up a marriage contract, you say?”

“Yes.”

“The contract period will be 3 years. After that, we can get a divorce as you wish.”

“Very well. Please also include that I can have whatever I want as alimony.”

Tartenon, as if he had been waiting for this, took a document out from his robe and handed it to Reubellina. She took the paper and read it thoroughly.