Chapter 4.7

After much deliberation, she chose the blue diamond that had caught her eye from the start.

“I’ll take this one.”

“Understood. Please wait a moment.”

The man bowed his head and left with the jewel.

Ellie thought their business here was done, but soon the man returned.

“Would you like to choose a design for the hairpin?”

I had to pick the design too?

She thought she was just picking the jewel to be set in a hairpin.

Ellie looked at Feroza, bewildered.

He smiled and explained.

“This shop has worked with the Grand Ducal family for a long time. They sell both jewels and accessories. They do have ready-made items, but usually, after choosing a jewel, you also select a design and have it custom made.”

“I see…….”

Ellie lowered her head and examined the sample hairpin designs the man brought.

Even as samples, they were all very elegant.

And since they were all so pretty, she had a hard time choosing, but finally picked one.

“I’ll take this one.”

“Understood.”

Now that they were done, they followed the man out of the room.

Feroza stopped at the door and spoke.

“Put the bill on the Grand Ducal account and send the finished hairpin to the Archenna family. The recipient is Ellie Archenna.”

“Understood. Please leave it to us, Grand Duke.”

The man bowed his head.

Feroza nodded briefly and led Ellie out of the shop.

He checked his pocket watch and said,

“If we go to the concert now, it’ll be perfect.”

“Has that much time already passed?”

“Yes. You took quite a while to choose.”

But everything was so beautiful, she just couldn’t decide quickly.

After that, they hurried to the concert venue.

Fortunately, this time they were able to enter without being late.

The seats Feroza had reserved were a couple’s seat with two chairs joined together.

Plus, they had a great view of the stage.

“These seats are nice.”

“I’m glad you like them.”

Ellie sat down, excitedly waiting for the concert to begin.

But then Feroza leaned toward her and whispered quietly.

“But Ellie.”

“Yes?”

“I just thought… do you ever want to be the master when we’re intimate?”

“…What?”

What kind of nonsense was that?

Ellie awkwardly turned her head toward Feroza.

He shrugged and continued.

“Earlier in the carriage, you told me to ask politely. Even changed your tone.”

“…….”

“So I wondered if that was your preference. Of course, if you want, I can go along with it.”

Feroza smiled and kissed the back of her hand.

“If you tell me to kneel and lick your feet, I’ll do it. I’ll do anything you ask.”

“That….”

“Anytime you want, Master.”

Her face burned.

Not just her face, but her ears and neck grew hot and flushed.

Embarrassed, Ellie quickly pulled her hand away and muttered,

“I-it’s not like that! I just got swept up in the moment earlier……”

Ellie swore to herself—she truly hadn’t thought of herself as a master, nor Feroza as a slave.

As she fumbled, Feroza’s lips twitched, and soon he burst into laughter.

Ellie realized, belatedly, that he had been teasing her.

“Feroza! Why do you keep teasing me?”

“Because your reactions are adorable. But Ellie, I meant what I said earlier.”

“…What do you mean?”

“The part about kneeling at your feet and licking them.”

Ellie blinked and imagined it.

Feroza, a leash around his neck, and she holding it…

He kneeling at her feet…

Sticking out his tongue to lick her foot—the thought made her lower belly tighten.

‘It doesn’t seem so bad…’

It wasn’t real, just a concept—so maybe trying it once wouldn’t be so bad?

She was lost in thought when suddenly the lights went out with a click.

Startled, she snapped back to reality.

‘This is crazy. What am I even imagining?’

She pressed a hot hand to her cheek, fanning herself to cool down.

Then, Feroza whispered softly,

“Ellie, you imagined it, didn’t you?”

“Wh-what, what do you mean?”

She tried to respond calmly, but was so surprised at being found out that she stuttered.

“If you want to, just say so.”

“…….”

“Master.”

At his brazen words, Ellie shot him a sideways glare.

She was about to retort, but just then, the concert began.

In the end, she could only whisper sharply to Feroza,

“Let’s talk after.”

Even as she growled, he looked at her with eyes as if watching a cute kitten.

Ellie gave up and leaned back in her chair, focusing on the concert.

But there was another problem.

“Phew…….”

Seriously, this man!

Ellie glared at Feroza’s hand as it wandered over her dress.

After a moment’s thought, she grabbed his hand and interlaced their fingers tightly, preventing him from escaping.

He squirmed for a while, but eventually surrendered and quietly let her hold his hand.

Thankfully, after that, Feroza stopped his mischief.

The concert was entertaining and mysterious.

It was amazing how such an atmosphere could be created with piano music alone.

When the concert ended safely, Ellie shared her impressions.

“It was really fun. The music was so beautiful… I’m amazed a person can play like that.”

“Really?”

“Yes! If I get the chance, I want to come again.”

“Then let’s go together next time.”

Ellie smiled brightly and nodded.

Linking arms with Feroza, she left the concert hall, when someone called out to her.

“Oh my, Lady Archenna!”

She turned reflexively and saw a group of young ladies gathered together.

And among them, the most striking was Rozelia.

Her blonde hair was pinned up high and adorned with a glamorous hairpin—she stood out even from afar.

At first glance, she seemed the protagonist, with the other ladies looking like mere attendants.

‘Well, she is the protagonist, so it’s natural.’

Ellie used to feel uneasy whenever Rozelia and Feroza met, but not anymore.

She had a marriage promise with him, and knew very well that he loved only her.

She thought they’d just exchange greetings and leave, but the group hurried over to her.

“Did you come here on a date with the Grand Duke?”

“Oh, yes. I really wanted to see this concert.”

Ellie laughed softly and moved closer to Feroza’s side.

She could sense the envy in their eyes as they looked between her and Feroza.

Rozelia, on the other hand, gazed at her expressionlessly.

She didn’t need to be friendly, but the hostility in her eyes was the problem.

Ellie chose to ignore it and spoke up.

“Wasn’t the concert wonderful? If I get the chance, I’d love to come again.”

“Right? I really enjoyed it too. By the way, Lady, may I ask where you had your dress made?”

“Oh, it was made at Tiahren.”

The boutique run by Tiahren was named after her—‘Tiahren.’

One of the ladies, apparently unfamiliar with the name, tilted her head.

“I’ve never heard of it.”

“I found it after reading about it in a fashion magazine. I liked it so much, I even commissioned my wedding dress there.”

“Really? If you trusted them with your wedding dress, they must be very skilled. I’ll have to visit tomorrow.”

The other ladies clamored to go together.

Ellie smiled and said,

“I can’t guarantee it completely, but I think you’ll really like the dresses there.”

Then, Rozelia, who had been silent, spoke up.

“Did you really visit after seeing it in a fashion magazine?”

“Of course.”

Ellie was briefly flustered, but nodded without showing it.

She knew the novel’s plot, but since she remembered it from a magazine, it wasn’t entirely a lie.

Rozelia stared at her for a moment, then nodded.

“I see.”

Then she turned to look at Feroza.

For some reason, Ellie felt it was time to end the conversation and leave.

“Well, I’ll go ahead. I have a restaurant reservation, so I shouldn’t be late.”

“Oh, yes! Sorry for keeping you so long. See you at the next tea party.”

Ellie bowed her head and passed by them.

As she brushed closely past Rozelia, Rozelia whispered in her ear,

“Liar.”

Startled, Ellie whipped her head around.

But Rozelia was already moving away quickly with the other ladies.

Ellie stared blankly at her retreating figure until Feroza’s voice brought her back.

“Ellie, are you alright?”

“…Ah, I’m fine. Sorry, Feroza. You must’ve been bored just standing there.”

“That doesn’t matter, but your expression looks odd.”

“I’m just hungry. Let’s hurry.”

She quickly grabbed Feroza and walked on.

On the way to the restaurant, Ellie thought carefully.

‘Rozelia called me a liar… Does she just not believe me?’

How could she be so sure that she was lying?

After thinking it over, she finally reached a hypothesis.

“Could Rozelia also…….”

“Pardon?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

She had muttered very quietly, but Feroza still caught it and tilted his head.

Ellie shook her head and entered the restaurant.

She decided she’d try to probe Rozelia when they met tomorrow.