“…Ru, I mean, Sir Ka Dillon?”

It was really him, even upon a second look. An unexpected guest. Since he wasn’t invited, one could call him an uninvited guest. Satin stared at him with a momentarily stunned face before quickly composing herself.

“What brings you here?”

The people who brought the dresses explained on his behalf.

“We almost had an accident with another carriage on the way here, but the Paladin happened to be passing by and mediated, so there were no issues. When he saw the dresses, he asked where they were going, and when we told him they were for Del Mare, he said he knew the way and guided us here.”

Rublier shrugged his shoulders.

“That’s how it happened.”

“Oh, I see.”

Satin nodded coolly and smoothly greeted him.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, we received the dresses safely. Goodbye.”

“You’re not even going to offer me a cup of tea after I came all this way?”

“Aren’t you busy?”

“The busy season is over. I have time for a cup of tea.”

Some things never change. Even after a long time, his annoying demeanor remained the same.

Satin subtly twitched her lips where he couldn’t see.

“Larie. Please prepare some tea for Sir Ka Dillon.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Larie disappeared.

“I have a lot going on right now, as you can see. So, please enjoy your tea and feel free to leave.”

Leaving a polite but insincere greeting, Satin fled to the side room to change into a dress.

* * *

“When I saw the designs, they looked fine, but now that I’m wearing it, it doesn’t seem to suit me as much as I thought. It feels like the dress is overwhelming me.”

“Shall we exclude this one? I’ll help you try the next dress.”

Larie followed Satin into the fitting room. The servants took out the dresses that Satin had tried on and shook her head at, bringing in new ones.

Since the room wasn’t big enough to hold all twelve dresses, the servants busily moved in and out, bringing in the dresses Satin liked and taking out the ones she didn’t.

Satin emerged from the fitting room. She stood in front of the full-length mirror, lifting the heavy dress skirt and examining herself from various angles.

“Don’t wear that dress.”

A deep voice suddenly interrupted.

“Ah, you scared me!”

Startled, Satin turned around. Rublier, holding a teacup, was leaning against the doorway. She had no idea when he had appeared without a sound. His large frame cast an even longer shadow as he leaned.

What? Why is he still here?

Her concentration wavered for a moment, but she had no time to be distracted. Satin glanced at her reflection in the mirror.

“Why?”

“If you tighten your waist that much, you’ll pass out from not being able to breathe within thirty minutes of the wedding.”

“…Larie. Take this one away and help me with the next one.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Changing into a dress took quite a bit of time. After tying the strings and adjusting the silhouette inside the fitting room, Satin stepped out again, only to find Rublier still there.

Satin inspected her dress, ignoring his presence. It looked good. Considering all the dresses she had chosen, it was natural that most of them suited her well. However, if she were to wear this dress, she’d need to put her hair up to expose her neckline…

“That dress would look better with your hair up.”

Rublier commented casually. She thought it was her own idea, but it turned out to be his.

Satin signaled to Larie with her eyes.

“…Larie, put this one on hold.”

She was separating the dresses into those that didn’t suit her and those she would try on again. Satin went back to change into the next dress.

“Why wear long sleeves in such nice weather?”

Does it look stuffy?

“Larie, take this one away.”

“That one looks good if you just adjust the hem a bit.”

“Larie, put this one on hold.”

“They made that dress wrong. It’s too big for you.”

“Larie, take this one away.”

“Mikado silk is too heavy to wear now.”

“Larie, take this one away.”

Things were moving along smoothly. As Satin took off the thick Mikado silk dress inside the fitting room, she tilted her head in puzzlement.

Why is that man helping me choose dresses?

More importantly, this was originally supposed to be Gjorn’s job. Hiding her vague uneasiness, Satin lifted the hem of her dress slightly and walked out to stand in front of the mirror.

Hmm, this makes me look a bit short…

“You’re too short for a mermaid dress, kid.”

Ugh, that “kid” again!

Satin glared at Rublier through the mirror, then shouted defiantly.

“Larie! Put this one on hold.”

Even if it meant wearing heels that would make her ankles hurt, she was determined to pull it off.

Although she had grown quite a bit since she first met Rublier, he had grown even taller from his already tall height. No matter how much she grew, she felt she would always be a kid in his eyes, which made her feel unfairly treated.

She heard Rublier’s laughter from behind.

“Now you’re starting to look like yourself, Satin.”

Larie followed Satin as she went in to change into the next dress.

“Miss, this is the last one.”

Receiving the last dress, Satin was inwardly surprised.

When did so much time pass?

Trying on beautiful dresses is fun and exciting the first few times, but by the twelfth dress, it becomes a chore. Even so, she consoled herself with the thought that enduring this tedious and tiring process was necessary to be the perfect bride on her wedding day. Strangely, she didn’t feel as tired as she thought she would.

Larie pulled back the curtain. Satin lightly lifted the hem of her dress and stepped down gracefully.

Her eyes were on the mirror, but her ears were tuned to the doorway. Maybe because Rublier had been so blunt in his feedback, she felt oddly nervous.

Rublier was silent for a while.

It looks good on me… doesn’t it? Or does it not? Why is he making me anxious, not saying anything?

As she tried to hide her thoughts and glanced at Rublier out of the corner of her eye, he started walking towards her. Satin flinched involuntarily. His hand gently unfolded a folded part of her dress. The awaited response came next.

“You look beautiful.”

“…What?”

“I said you look stunning, Satin.”

Startled, Satin stared intently at the mirror.

What’s with him all of a sudden? Did Larie put something in his tea? It’s like he’s giving me medicine after causing trouble.

Standing behind the secretly flustered Satin, he showed his characteristic sly smile.

“Gjorn should know how incredibly lucky he is to have you.”

* * *

“Oh my, Miss Satin.”

Taking a break, Satin briefly stopped by Mrs. Suzanne’s salon and ran into a familiar madam. The madam greeted Satin warmly. Satin lightly held her dress and greeted her back.

“Hello, Madam Eckle.”

“It’s been a while, Miss Satin. I haven’t seen you at all recently. Have you finished preparing for the wedding?”

“Most of the important things are done.”

“I thought so. I heard you and Gjorn visited the Grand Opera Theater the day before yesterday. Everyone’s talking about it.”

“What?”

Satin’s eyes widened.

What is she talking about? The Grand Opera Theater?

Madam Eckle, perhaps misinterpreting Satin’s surprise, blushed and continued.

“Quite a few people saw Gjorn getting out of the carriage with flowers. I thought you two were just close friends since you were betrothed in the womb, but oh my… even now, he brings flowers on dates. Gjorn is so romantic. You must be very happy, Miss Satin.”

Her tone was genuinely envious. Satin, standing before Madam Eckle, couldn’t show her confusion.

People probably didn’t mistake him for someone else. With someone as prominent as Gjorn, confusing him would be rude. The Grand Opera Theater was a suitable place for a date, so naturally, they would think he was there to meet his famous fiancée. They had visited once before, after all.

The problem was, Satin hadn’t been anywhere near the Grand Opera Theater the day before yesterday. She hadn’t seen a single flower, let alone a bouquet.

The day before yesterday. What was I doing that day?

As Satin tried to recall the date, her expression froze.

That was the day she had chosen her dress with Rublier’s help.