“As many outdoor and indoor clothes as you can produce.”

Archild flaunted his wealth with all his might.

‘Wait. Wait a minute.’

It was fine to place orders, but Eve had intended to repay all of this. Her face turned pale at the incalculable quantity of the order.

‘That much is…’

Even if she sold holy stones to repay the debt, that much would be difficult.

‘But.’

Since Medric had come personally to place the order, perhaps she wouldn’t need to repay this amount?

It would be easier if she abandoned her conscience just a little.

Eve debated whether to maintain her conscience and repay the cost of the clothes later, or to abandon her conscience and comfortably accept the clothes as gifts.

“I understand. You said there are about two months left until the main ceremony, correct?”

“That’s right. Please make the ceremony dress first, and then the rest of the dresses can be made slowly after the ceremony.”

“Yes, understood. Since there isn’t much time even until the ceremony, I will prepare quickly and visit again.”

The Madam quickly had her waiting staff pack up the goods. At her single command, the fabric boxes that had lined the corridor disappeared in an instant.

Eve reached out her hand toward the Madam and staff as they moved away, but it was already too late. Seeing this, Medric asked Eve.

“Why, do you have more to order? I was thinking of asking another fashion house for additional orders since Laurent takes a long time.”

“Yes… what?!”

More than this?!

Eve looked at Medric with surprised eyes.

“No, no. This is enough.”

Eve waved her hands.

“It can’t be enough. You don’t even have clothes to wear right now, do you?”

Medric pointed at the clothes Eve was wearing. Eve followed his gaze to where he was pointing.

A plain navy dress without any decorations. Although it was made of higher quality fabric than what the maids wore, at a glance, it was difficult to notice much difference.

Eve suddenly realized that the issue wasn’t about money. Although it was a contract, Eve was to become the lady of a ducal house. Medric was pointing out the attire of someone who would become the lady of a ducal family.

Eve pressed her lips together.

“I heard you told Hans you would prepare for the wedding. So I called in some merchants. It’s going to get even busier from now on. Let me know if it becomes difficult to manage the schedule.”

Medric, looking tired, rubbed his face as he spoke and then left the toilette room.

For a while, the sounds continued—the footsteps of Laurent Fashion House staff carrying luggage, the sounds of loading the carriages and starting the wagons, and the rhythmic sound of hooves.

After confirming that Medric had left, Marie quietly entered the toilette room.

“Miss, the jewel merchant is waiting. Shall I send him in?”

Eve, who had been lost in thought, suddenly came to her senses.

“Ah, would you show him in?”

“Yes.”

Eve decided that she needed to purchase items not for herself, but items necessary for the Duchess of Archild.

‘I can’t trouble the Duke again.’

His tired expression from earlier was vivid in her mind.

Eve was only able to leave the toilette room after meeting with the jewel merchant, the magical tool merchant, and the rare medicinal herb merchant that Medric had called in.

***

Today, Eve was waiting to meet not a merchant, but a chaperone.

Eve couldn’t help but be surprised when she first met the chaperone Medric had introduced.

Lady Anna.

Countess Carlena, who had been in society for 25 years and reached the top of the social world. Eve had heard about her occasionally as a child, which showed just how significant her position in society truly was.

She hadn’t known that Medric would understand the social situation so well and introduce such a person.

“Excellent. It’s important not to move your head too much when you move. Your posture is already upright, so you’ll quickly grasp the knack of it.”

Lady Anna was strict but kind to Eve.

The unexpected point was that Lady Anna was more friendly toward Eve than she had anticipated.

“You must be tired. Let’s take a short break.”

“Yes. Marie, could you prepare some light refreshments?”

“Yes, miss.”

After the refreshments were prepared, Lady Anna looked at the herbs floating in her teacup and took a sip.

“I recently imported some tea to my residence, and I’d like to serve it to you.”

“I would welcome that. I’ll visit if you invite me.”

“Or we could have our next lesson at the Carlena Count’s residence.”

“That would be nice too.”

The conversation flowed between the two women holding their cups.

“I can see that Duke Archild cares for you a great deal.”

“For me?”

Surprised, Eve stopped midway through putting down her cup.

Lady Anna chuckled and continued.

“Rumors say that merchants have been constantly coming and going from the Archild mansion.”

“Duke Archild is simply someone who values appearances. He wasn’t satisfied with plain dresses.”

“A dress is just a dress. For whatever reason, isn’t the Duke giving you gifts?”

A message to look at the big picture, not the small details.

“Is that so? Actually, I still don’t understand what the Duke was thinking when he brought me here. Sometimes it seems like he’s being kind to me, and other times it doesn’t…”

“My dear, I think even being able to worry about such things is happiness. These days, people marry for their families, for honor and money. Do you think there’s any consideration in those relationships?”

Lady Anna was gentle yet sharp.

While many people lived married lives without consideration, Eve had entered the Archild ducal family, which had both honor and wealth, and was receiving his abundant consideration.

Happiness beyond her station.

Yes, let’s be honest. He’s treating her well. Outwardly, he was a perfect husband.

Although she couldn’t understand his true intentions, he was certainly a good husband material.

Almost making her regret that it was a contract marriage…

‘Regret?’

Why?

Because he’s wealthy, has high status, and a handsome face?

Suddenly, his face appeared in her mind.

Her face flushed with heat.

Her thoughts flowed uncontrollably.

Eve felt embarrassed, thinking she had momentarily had an improper thought.

‘How indecent. So indecent.’

She fanned her face with her hands, cooling the heat.

Seeing this, Lady Anna laughed out loud, saying she could guess what Eve was thinking.

Eve, who had been embarrassed, soon joined in laughing.

The time spent chatting with Lady Anna was enjoyable. Since it was impossible to hide her true feelings from the experienced Lady Anna, Eve had begun to open up to her comfortably whenever they met.

Lady Anna steeped more herbal tea from the teapot, poured it into the cups, and continued.

“Seeing you worry like this, I can feel that you don’t dislike the Duke either. That’s truly fortunate.”

Eve looked up at Lady Anna. Lady Anna smiled bitterly and continued.

“Do you know why I accepted the offer to be the chaperone for the young lady who will become the Duchess of Archild?”

It was a question Eve hadn’t considered. She hadn’t heard anything from Medric, nor did she have any guesses.

“I haven’t thought about it. Is it because of the Archild family?”

“I didn’t accept it because of the Archild family name.”

“Then for what reason did you accept?”

Lady Anna, looking at her cup, paused for a moment.

“Because you are from the Modga family.”

Eve was too surprised to continue speaking. The fact that Eve was from the Modga family was something she had kept hidden since her time at the Renox Count’s residence. Even Medric would be carefully managing to prevent that fact from leaking outside.

Eve’s expression stiffened.

Since it was impolite to mention the name of a family that had already fallen and disappeared, Lady Anna quickly added:

“I simply didn’t want to create falsehoods between people who will continue to see each other. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“No, it’s just… I’m surprised.”

“I’ve been wondering when to tell you. I felt that continuing to hide it would be disrespectful to you as well.”

Eve unconsciously touched the white quartz hanging around her neck.

Eve moistened her dry mouth by taking a sip of tea. It was a statement that prompted many thoughts—too significant to simply ignore.

‘If word were to spread in society that the lady about to marry Duke Archild was actually from a family annihilated for treason…’

The thought was dizzying.

Eve felt a throbbing headache coming on.

Looking at Lady Anna who sat calmly touching her teacup, Eve finally parted her reluctant lips.

“…How did you come to know that I was from the Modga family?”

“No one told me. I knew because I had connections with the Marchioness Modga.”

Her mother and Lady Anna had known each other?

The lady seemed to find it difficult to continue, and only after taking a deep breath did she speak again.

“Actually, what confirmed you were the young lady was that necklace.”