Chapter 2 – Scheh’s Boutique (Part 8)

Things proceeded smoothly. Brua took measurements, chattering away to keep Reubellina in good spirits. After completing everything and being escorted out by the butler, a weary Reubellina sank into a chair beside Tartenon.

‘Deceiving others is not something I can do.’

This was none other than Madam Brua of the Scheh Boutique. It wasn’t easy to fool her, not when she was used to dealing with nobles. If she had kept her eyes on Tartenon instead of Reubellina, she likely would have detected the deception.

“You seem nervous.”

“Ah. Yes, I am.”

Reubellina responded vaguely, slumping in the chair. The chaise longue was great for times like this; it was all the comfort in the world to sit with her legs stretched out in front of her. Forgetting that the Tartenon was in front of her, she sighed.

‘How did I end up having to do this?’

It had already been difficult enough to hide her true personality, and now she had to act as well. Reubellina sighed deeply once more.

“What are you thinking about?”

At Tartenon’s scrutinizing gaze, Reubellina straightened her posture.  She sat properly, her posture befitting a natural-born noblewoman. Even Tartenon, who was in front of her, would have been blindsided if he hadn’t seen the whole scene.

“Just various thoughts.”

“You’re free to think whatever you want, but  don’t even consider going back to that Second Prince.”

“As if. Unless I get a knife to the head, that’s impossible.”

Reubellina replied cynically, rising from the chair. She had rested enough for now. She still had a lot of work to do.

Preparing for an engagement was no ordinary task. The one saving grace was that the venue was the imperial palace, not here.

‘If we had the ceremony here, I would have worked myself to death.’

Reubellina was in the process of organizing her luggage, as she had to leave for the North immediately after the engagement.  She had also contacted her business contacts in the capital, leaving instructions for them to come to the North if anything arose. With so many tasks to delegate to the servants, Reubellina wished she had ten bodies.

Thankfully, Sandy and the butler were already taking care of things one by one before she could get to them.

Tomorrow morning, the dress would arrive, and she had to select the appropriate jewelry to go with it. Reubellina had already contacted the jeweler, and this time she planned to do it alongside Tartenon. Most importantly, they needed to widely publicize the fact that they, as a well-suited pair, were the true victims in this situation.

‘The jeweler and the atelier should be enough.’

There was no need to inform other places – the news would be out and about.

Reubellina trusted Brua’s loose tongue and the integrity she had shown so far. The Scheh Boutique was a place frequented by noble ladies, so the word would naturally spread.

Just recently, Bellaruse had taken many ready-made dresses from there, so the chatty noble ladies would be speculating on who had paid for that dress, which Reubellina could bet her last lemon tart on. Reubellina was excited about the upcoming engagement ceremony at the Imperial Palace ballroom tomorrow.

Tartenon could not take his eyes off the ever-changing expressions on Reubellina’s face.

***

The ballroom of the palace where the palace banquet is being held. The lavish decor, adorned with colorful gemstones, reflected the wealth of the one who had rented the venue.

The nobles, eyeing the goblets and plates made of gold and silver, widened their eyes in awe.

They hadn’t heard that the imperial family was hosting this banquet. Thus, the appearance of such splendid tableware meant the one who rented this ballroom had immense wealth.

The nobles, still unsure of the reason for the banquet, were divided.

“If it’s not the imperial family, then it must be the Grand Duke of Speraum.”

“There’s also Duke Asillious, isn’t there?”

“Oh, right, there’s him too.”

They asked the passing imperial servants, but all they got were repeated responses that the hosts were unknown to them. While they were curious about the host of the banquet, their focus today was elsewhere.

“Have you heard the news?”

“Of course.”

“His Imperial Highness, the Second Prince, seems to be out of his mind.”

Someone whispered among the nobles. All the nobles listening had the same thought. He wasn’t the crown prince, nor was he the princess who had the emperor’s love. The news that the mediocre Second Prince had spurned the golden opportunity that had fallen into his lap had the social circles abuzz.

The news came directly from the lips of the noble ladies who had visited Scheh’s boutique yesterday.

“Since it’s Madame Brua who said it, it must be true.”

“My, to abandon his fiancée of 10 years and take up with another woman?”

“Shh! But he is a Prince, after all.”

“Shh? What?! If she were my daughter, I wouldn’t stay quiet. And to make matters worse, the woman he met is said to be of low status.”

“I heard she’s no ordinary girl either, though.”

“Well, if a Baron’s’ daughter could lure a Prince, she must be something.”

The focus of the rumors was that Inferno and Bellaruse had taken a liking to each other, leaving Reubellina abandoned.

“Poor Reubellina.”

One of the ladies, who was not on good terms with Reubellina, spoke up, pretending to sympathize. She was the daughter of the Marquis Essent, a household whose reputation paled in comparison to the renowned Duke Asillious. She was eagerly awaiting an opportunity to usurp Duke Asillious’s position.

Following Marquis of Essent’s daughter, other ladies also joined in.

“That’s right. Since such an unfortunate incident occurred, shouldn’t the ‘Stella’ of high society change now?”

The ‘Stella’ was the most prestigious title among noble ladies. The Princess, being of imperial blood, could not receive this title. Reubellina had never lost this coveted title. From the time she was engaged to the Second Prince, Inferno, until now.

That was why Reubellina had many enemies in high society. It was not just because she was the daughter of the Chancellor, but also because she was neither of imperial descent, only a mere honored lady, and she refused to relinquish the most glorious position in society.

“It would be inappropriate to call a rejected woman a ‘Stella’.”

Someone interjected, mocking Reubellina in the ladies’ conversation. It was Bellaruse.