Upon entering the dress shop, Cassion held Lunaria in his arms until they reached the private room reserved for distinguished guests. Only once he had spotted the sofa prepared for them did he gently lower her onto it.

Once seated comfortably, Lunaria puffed out her cheeks and muttered, her face turning pink.

“I’m not a child anymore…”

He had carried her countless times since she was young. Countless times, he had lifted her effortlessly with one arm while walking as though she weighed nothing at all. Back then, she was a child, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Now, however, they were both adults.

There were only five years between them. And yet, whenever he treated her as if she were still small, she felt frustrated. Especially now — hadn’t they even shared a bed?

When she pushed her lips forward in quiet displeasure, Cassion noticed at once. He smiled faintly and answered her in a soft voice.

“That’s true. I am aware that you are now an adult…”

He took a seat beside her and continued.

“Still, if you tell me to stop doing what I’ve always done, I cannot help but feel a little disappointed.”

It seemed as if he truly meant it; the corners of his eyes dipped faintly. Although he smiled often, he rarely displayed any other emotion. Because of this, whenever he shared something personal with her, she felt compelled to grant his every wish.

However, Lunaria did not want to remain a child in his eyes.

“…I am a proper adult now.”

“Hmm.”

“I… I even went through my heat safely.”

“You did.”

Cassion appeared to consider her words for a moment before giving a brief nod of acknowledgment.

“Very well. I shall be more mindful from now on.”

“Thank you, Cassion.”

Her heart trembled. It felt as though she had finally taken a step closer to him—not as a child, but as a woman.

While they spoke, the staff of the dress shop laid out refreshments, and the madam entered to greet them.

“It has been some time, Your Grace. Thank you for visiting our atelier.”

“Show us the newly acquired fabrics first.”

“Yes, I will prepare them at once.”

Angela had been summoned to the Grand Duke’s residence several times before, and had thus come to understand a certain truth about him. Although he addressed those beneath him with impeccable courtesy, he never truly lowered himself to their level, either in presence or gaze.

Without saying so outright, he carried an air that discouraged anyone from overstepping their bounds. Angela, who dealt exclusively with nobles, recognized this quality immediately.

She was intensely curious about the identity of the woman seated beside the Grand Duke. Yet she did not dare make a single careless inquiry.

From the newly imported fabrics, Angela selected only the rarest and most expensive pieces before hastily leaving. Even then, the black-haired woman continued chatting brightly to the Grand Duke, her voice light and unguarded.

“Cassion, this star-shaped cookie is delicious.”

“If you like it, shall I ask the pâtissier to recreate it?”

“Can the Grand Duke’s pâtissier make it?”

“There is no dessert he cannot make. I brought him here from afar for that very reason. If there is ever something you wish to eat, tell Emma.”

“Hehe, I will.”

“You truly do love sweets.”

He replied gently, taking a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and wiping the crumbs from Lunaria’s lips. Then, in a low voice, he added:

“It is pleasant to see you enjoy your food, but try to eat a little more elegantly.”

At his remark, Lunaria quickly melted the cookie in her mouth and swallowed before answering.

“…I’ll be careful.”

“You may simply be careful next time. The way you were eating was very endearing.”

“…All right.”

She dabbed at her lips once more with the handkerchief he had given her. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as the madam approached, holding several bolts of fabric.

“These are the newly arrived velvets. This one in particular — the Carmine Rose velvet — appears a deep crimson at first, but its color deepens and shifts depending on the light. It even carries a faint fragrance of roses.”

“Hmm.”

“And this is Floria lace. It contains a trace of flower pollen, so it emits a faint floral scent. The white has a silvery sheen—perfect for accents.”

“I see.”

Angela continued her explanation, a fine sheen of perspiration forming on her forehead. Despite having selected only the most exquisite materials, the Grand Duke’s expression remained impassive.

“This fur is particularly well-suited to the current season. It is called Lunabelle fur and is taken from a rare fox believed to carry the energy of the moon. It withstands extreme cold better than any other.”

Lunaria could not tear her gaze away from the fur. Despite knowing that it came from a real animal and not a beastkin like herself, goosebumps prickled her skin.

At that moment, Cassion spoke, his voice cool and even.

“We have no need for fur.”

“Ah—then perhaps this Aira Snow silk? Though it appears smooth, the fabric itself is thick and highly insulating.”

The lady presented all the samples she had brought with her. Even after ten pieces had been displayed, neither of them showed much of a reaction.

After a brief pause, Lunaria finally spoke up.

“…I like the Carmine Rose velvet.”

“Hmm.”

At her words, Cassion merely turned his gaze toward her. Then, with a faintly displeased look, he replied,

“I said it was a gift.”

“Ah… thank you, Cassion.”

At her timid expression of gratitude, his face flickered with something unreadable before he quietly smiled—deeply enough for dimples to form.

Then he suddenly addressed the madam.

“Have dresses made from every fabric except the fur.”

“A-All of them, Your Grace?”

“You have brought quite impressive materials. I am very pleased.”

Angela should have been delighted by the Grand Duke’s praise, but her thoughts became muddled. The rare fabrics she had just presented were so expensive that even the wealthiest noble families would think twice about buying them.

Yet he intended to buy not just one, but all nine.

As this sank in, exhilaration surged through her.

“Then I shall bring the catalogue. If there is a particular design you prefer, please let me know.”

For the first time, the man who had offered only vague expressions until now spoke with clarity.

“She favors being outdoors and often walks about, so a style that rises warmly to the neck would be suitable. The skirt should be full, but the bodice must fall cleanly so as not to appear bulky.”

“Yes, understood. I will select only the relevant designs.”

“Prepare matching gloves, a muffler, a hat, and shoes as a complete set.”

“If you will wait a moment, I shall bring all the materials at once.”

Overcome with joy, Angela hurried out of the private room, barely containing her excitement.

She was dying to know the nature of the relationship between the Grand Duke and the woman beside him. However, the woman was a valuable customer, so Angela forced herself not to dwell on the subject.

It would be easy enough to retrieve a catalogue filled with designs tailored to his tastes. In truth, it was almost a collection created exclusively for the Grand Duke’s household. He always favored a particular style of dress.

Even when Angela was summoned to the ducal estate for fittings, the woman who would wear the gown never made the decisions—

—but the Grand Duke himself.

“…Does she rely on him that heavily?”

Otherwise, why would she have entrusted the selection of her own gowns to him? She had never once objected to his choices.

Not even today.

Noblewomen rarely yielded to their husbands’ opinions on what they should wear. Of course, there were occasionally husbands as particular as the Grand Duke, but none dictated every detail to such an extent.

Angela’s curiosity rose once more, but she firmly pushed it aside. Securing a commission from the ducal household required caution until the very end.

When she re-entered the private room, she opened the catalogue for the mysterious, black-haired woman who might well be the Grand Duke’s lover. This was a lesson Angela had learned from her many visits to the estate.

Although the Grand Duke made all the decisions, she had to direct her explanations at the black-haired woman until the very end. The slightest hint of disregard towards her would cause the Grand Duke’s gaze to turn cold in an instant.

Thanks to her skills and quick perception, Angela had secured her place in Lucius’ territory. Today, she realized that her instincts had been right all along.

The brighter the woman’s eyes sparkled, the softer the Grand Duke’s smile became.