3. Wedding Preparations

After Eve rested for about three more days, the wounds from burns and tears had healed considerably. Although her crushed finger bones and ribs still hurt whenever she moved, they were fine enough to forget she was injured when she took the medicine prescribed by the physician.

At this point, she really could move without strain. Even Medric, who treated Eve like the world’s most serious patient, was convinced.

A day had passed since Eve asked Hans to help prepare for the wedding. The first order of business was a visit to the dressmaker. It had already been delayed by about ten days because Eve had been bedridden.

With Marie’s help, Eve moved to the toilette room as soon as preparations were complete. When the door opened, she saw the madam from the dressmaker’s shop who had arrived early and was waiting.

“Miss, she’s the madam from Laurent Fashion House…!”

Marie whispered quietly so only Eve could hear.

Eve knew Laurent Fashion House well. She couldn’t not know it.

Laurent Fashion House, which had been famous since Eve’s childhood, was a place with decades of tradition where the designer, out of stubbornness, made only three dresses a year. Even the royal family had to stand in line to place an order.

“I greet you. I run Laurent Fashion House. Please call me Madam.”

“Hello, Madam. I’m Eve.”

Eve grabbed the hem of her dress and lifted it slightly to curtsy. The Madam seemed slightly surprised to see Eve greeting her with proper etiquette despite wearing plain clothes, but she quickly composed her expression.

Somehow the luggage had been moved, and the toilette room was filled with clothes and accessories. All sorts of eye-catching items she had never seen before were displayed.

Marie looked around the room with wide eyes from behind Eve.

“Take your time looking and tell me what style you prefer.”

The Madam smiled kindly at Eve and opened a catalog. Inside the catalog were various gorgeous types of dresses. There were dresses with bodices full of glittering beads, dresses with layers of organza giving a voluminous feel, and dresses made of soft silk that revealed the body’s silhouette.

To Eve’s eyes, they all looked extravagant. She had worn such fancy clothes when she was young, but now she didn’t have the discernment to judge what was what. In particular, she didn’t know what designs were currently in fashion.

This was her first social activity in a long time. People in society all pointed out every single accessory, shoe, and even dress fabric. If she chose an outdated, mediocre design, she might become a laughingstock in society.

Eve kept flipping through the catalog, feeling perplexed.

“If it’s difficult to decide, I’d like to recommend something.”

The quick-witted Madam quickly approached her and said.

“I can’t tell even by looking, so that would be better.”

At Eve’s answer, the Madam brightened.

“It’s an honor. I’ll choose clothes that suit you perfectly.”

As if she had been waiting for Eve to leave it to her, the Madam clapped her hands, and the Laurent Fashion House staff who had been waiting outside entered, each carrying dresses and mannequins.

The staff displayed sample dresses on mannequins arranged in a row. It was an exhibition solely for Eve.

Eve’s eyes widened at the scene unfolding before her.

“You don’t necessarily need a flashy dress. With your oval face shape, large eyes, and straight nose, it would be better to tone down the dress. I’ve had some inspiration for a few dresses, and I’d like to show you the drafts, but before that, I’ve prepared samples so you can see the general feel.”

The Madam explained excitedly.

As someone who had lived in a marquis family, Eve wasn’t surprised by ordinary luxury.

Unless it was a dress that sparkled with every movement due to the jewels embedded one by one, that is.

She couldn’t take her eyes off the beautiful and gorgeous dresses on the mannequins. Not because they were beautiful.

‘How much would those jewels on the fabric cost?’

Some clothes made it hard to tell whether jewels were decorating the dress or the dress was complementing the jewels. She swallowed hard. It was a feast of dresses that made her jaw drop just by looking.

“Ah, for the fabric… my, since you have fair and smooth skin, something with crinkly pearls would be nice too. With your elegant atmosphere, Mikado fabric with Irian embroidery would also be good.”

“Irian embroidery?”

It was an unfamiliar name of embroidery. She wondered if a new embroidery had become fashionable while she was confined in the basement.

“Yes, Irian is an embroidery that came up from the southern region last year. It’s made with silver thread and is incredibly beautiful when applied to dresses. It’s not a trending embroidery, but I mentioned it because I think it would match well with your clean image.”

An embroidery that wasn’t yet in fashion. Uncommon embroideries were always precious. Eve looked at the Irian embroidery with wide, alert eyes. The silver embroidery, sparkling as if sprinkled with stardust, certainly gave a subtly beautiful impression when placed on plain fabric.

When Eve showed interest, the Madam brought the embroidery on fabric closer to her and explained with an excited voice.

“We only have two rolls of this in the shop right now. What do you think? If you wear a dress with this embroidery, I guarantee it will start a major trend in society.”

It was certainly a beautiful embroidery that captivated even Eve, who knew nothing about such things.

At first, she had thought she might need to wear one of those dresses dripping with jewels—the height of luxury. Not because they were beautiful, but because as someone making her first appearance in society as the future Duchess of Archild, she needed to display appropriate dignity.

Even though it was a contract marriage, she didn’t want to tarnish the reputation of Medric’s family who had helped her.

But the more she looked, the more her thoughts changed. This was Eve’s first opportunity to present herself with a new family name, not as a member of a fallen house.

To leave the most impressive first impression on those who loved gossip and trends, it would be better to choose a dress with subtle, beautiful embroidery that had never been used before, rather than one overloaded with jewels.

“How much does this embroidery cost?”

“One eon for two rolls.”

One eon for two rolls was equivalent to a month’s operating expenses for a small estate.

It was an amount that even ordinary nobles could afford if they were willing to splurge.

‘This would be enough to start a trend.’

It was perfect. Eve nodded without further deliberation.

“Then please use this embroidery.”

When Eve gave her approval, the Madam’s expression brightened even more.

“Miss, you have excellent taste. You won’t regret it.”

Although Medric had said in the contract that she could freely use the specified amount of money, Eve had no intention of doing so. Once her divine power returned, she planned to create and sell holy stones, and repay everything she had spent on luxury items.

‘I can get 3 eon for one holy stones…’

And originally, if she could just make holy stones again, money would be something Eve could quickly generate.

“After this, what else do you need…”

Just as the happy-faced Madam was writing various things in her notebook while speaking, Hans’s throat-clearing was heard from outside the toilette room door, which was open due to the overflow of goods.

“Duke Archild has arrived.”

Everyone was startled and quickly bowed their heads.

Medric, who seemed out of place among the piles of dresses, appeared.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Duke Archild.”

“It’s been a while, Madam.”

Since returning to the mansion, Eve and Medric had been so busy they even ate meals separately. His face seemed much thinner than when she had last seen him.

She had heard that he was still working through the night handling overflowing paperwork, so why had he come all the way here?

“You’re here.”

Eve stood up to greet him.

Medric nodded and looked around the toilette room filled with fabric materials, shoes, decorations, and fabrics.

“Have you decided on the clothes?”

“I was in the middle of selecting embroidery.”

“I see.”

Medric spoke to the Madam, who was bowing her head.

“Besides the dress for the ceremony, please make several more. You can include all the decorations you want in your design. If any jewels are needed for the design, just say so.”

At his extraordinary statement, Eve, the Madam, and everyone nearby widened their eyes in surprise.

Even for the finest fashion house, opportunities to design with unlimited resources were rare.

Especially dresses created with a specific model in mind made the creator’s blood boil with excitement and doubled their pleasure.

Inspiration flooded the Madam’s mind.

‘What kind of clothes would suit that beautiful young lady? I should add that decoration.’
She smiled sincerely, already imagining the designs, fabrics, and decorations she wanted to use.

“Ho ho, I would be delighted. I will prepare everything with the utmost sincerity to ensure your satisfaction. Besides the ceremony dress, how many other dresses would you like?”

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