Chapter 31: The Tailor Shop

Bliss hurried through the hallway. Having grown accustomed to her morning routine of getting ready and heading to the palace after waking up, Jackie had already disappeared, saying she would inform the coachman ahead of time.

Today marked the completion of the princess’s play area. As promised, it had taken considerable time to properly prepare the space. With His Majesty the Emperor also looking forward to it, Bliss’s curiosity grew more and more.

“Let me hurry and see it, oof.”

Bliss closed her eyes when a wall suddenly appeared before her. She instinctively braced herself, shrinking back in anticipation of the collision. Too startled to recognize what was in front of her, something unexpected happened. Though she was certain she would crash into something, nothing of the sort occurred. Instead, she felt an odd sensation cross behind her back.

Bliss, who had kept her eyes shut, cautiously opened one eye. Upon meeting those deep blue eyes, her eyelids trembled as she fought the urge to close them again.

“I did appear suddenly….”

As Bliss stepped back, Caelan mirrored her movement and withdrew his hand.

“Since I caught you, can we pretend it never happened? Though if you want me to apologize, I will.”

“…”

She couldn’t bring herself to ask for an apology. While she remained silent, Caelan smoothed down her arm.

“I’m sorry.”

Understanding her silence, Caelan spoke up.

Bliss ran her right hand over her left arm. Though he had only smoothed her sleeve to fix the wrinkles, it left her feeling strange.

“Where are you going so early in the morning?”

“Since I’m awake, I thought I’d head to the imperial palace.”

“From what I can see, you haven’t been sleeping well.”

That had always been the case. The pressure of sharing a bed with Caelan meant she rarely got a good night’s sleep. Unless the butler informed her that Caelan wouldn’t be coming, she spent her nights anxiously waiting, never knowing when he might arrive.

Rather than responding, Bliss turned her head away.

“I was planning to head out early today anyway, so we can go together.”

“But we’re heading in different directions at the palace…”

“I have a carriage waiting at the palace, so don’t worry about that.”

She had used the same excuse to refuse before, but Caelan had completely blocked her escape route. She couldn’t think of any other way to decline.

“I have somewhere to stop by on the way. I’ll enter the palace at the same time as yesterday. Any other reason why we can’t go together?”

“…”

“Shall we get in then?”

Watching Caelan climb into the carriage first and settle in, Bliss couldn’t help but smile wryly. Just before boarding, she happened to glance back and caught sight of Jackie’s troubled expression. It seemed Jackie had gone to call the coachman only to be thwarted. Upon seeing this, Bliss realized Caelan had planned to travel together from the start rather than just meeting at the imperial palace.

At this point, she had no choice. Holding back a sigh, Bliss entered the carriage. As she took her seat across from Caelan, the door closed and the carriage began to move. While watching them slowly pass through the mansion’s main gate, Bliss turned to Caelan.

“Where are we going?”

“To the tailor shop.”

“What?”

Until now, they had always summoned the tailor to the mansion, so why would someone like him go personally…

***

When they arrived at the tailor shop, a man came out to greet them. The young man with long hair who had visited the mansion several times had a measuring tape around his neck. The tailor bowed respectfully and immediately spoke in a friendly manner.

“Today you both came together. I believe this is the first time.”

“We’ll be coming together often from now on.”

When Bliss quickly turned to look at Caelan, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Not content with just wrapping his arm around her shoulder, Caelan pulled her closer to him. Bliss could only blink, unable to lift her head. Their proximity made it uncomfortable for her to look at him.

“Very well. Please come this way.”

At the tailor’s signal, Caelan moved inside. Bliss, still in his embrace, stumbled along, but his steady grip prevented her from falling.

“Why did we suddenly come to the tailor shop?”

Now that they were here, she couldn’t help but ask. However, Caelan simply gestured for her to look ahead. Unable to get an answer, Bliss had to forcefully suppress her rising frustration.

When Bliss lifted her eyes with a defeated smile, she gasped in surprise. Under the domed ceiling, hundreds of dresses hung in circular rows along the walls of both the first and second floors. The dresses were arranged like books on a shelf, and she found herself unable to look away.

Even after Caelan removed his hand from her shoulder, Bliss remained unaware, completely absorbed in gazing at the dresses. Until now, whenever the tailor visited, they would only take measurements, discuss designs from a catalog, and later deliver the finished product. Seeing a space filled with ready-made dresses like this stirred something different within her.

“Is it fascinating?”

“Doesn’t it look like books?”

Bliss spoke with excitement as she admired the dresses.

“Even though there aren’t titles written on them like books, you can still see what designs they are. And it’s interesting how similar ones are grouped together.”

Bliss approached the nearest section, pushing hangers aside to examine the dresses. The full skirts left enough space to slip a hand between the garments. As she stood there, studying one that caught her eye, Caelan moved close behind her.

Bliss froze when she spotted Caelan’s reflection in the mirror. When had he gotten so close? As she tried to remain still, barely breathing, his voice came near her ear.

“You’ve been to dress shops many times before.”

“Ah….”

As Caelan said, the Bliss in the novel had frequently visited dress shops. Though memories had been seeping in while looking around the shop, seeing it in person felt entirely different.

“It’s been a while. And I was saying that for you, not for me.”

“About it being like books?”

“Y-yes. You prefer books over clothes, after all.”

She realized how nonsensical her words sounded even as she spoke them.

“You’re right. Clothes aren’t really my interest.”

When Caelan agreed, Bliss opened her eyes and let out a relieved sigh.

“That’s why I came. You said I’ve been making you feel neglected. This is my way of trying.”

“Because I like dresses?”

“Yes.”

Caelan reached out as if to embrace Bliss. She tensed, thinking he might wrap his arm around her shoulder again, but his hand grabbed a hanger instead.

“Do you like this one?”

Bliss looked at the dress.

Until now, she had mostly worn dresses with minimal accessories. She wasn’t used to elaborate clothes, and with her heavy heart, she hadn’t wanted to wear anything that felt weighty.

However, the dress she was looking at had small jewels arranged like flowing waves.

“Which part do you like?”

“It’s hard to explain in one word, it just caught my eye.”

“Then try it on.”

When Caelan held out the dress, the shop attendant accepted it.

The attendant stepped forward, motioning for Bliss to follow. As she followed behind, Bliss felt her tension ease. They entered a spacious room that served as a changing area. Three attendants who had been waiting there bowed respectfully as Bliss stepped onto the circular platform in the center. When she extended her arms, the attendants gathered around to assist her with changing.

As she gazed at her reflection in the mirror, Echo addressed her.

【How interesting.】

‘What do you mean?’

【The way you alternate between being wary of him and letting your guard down, then becoming wary again. That’s what I find interesting.】

Caught off guard by having her feelings toward Caelan exposed, Bliss gave a slight nod. She knew there was no point in trying to hide it.

‘I can’t help but tense up when he shows kindness. Perhaps… it’s because I’ve never experienced that before.’

【Perhaps he’s become kind because you’ve piqued his curiosity.】

‘That can’t be.’

【Haven’t you noticed how things have changed from before?】

She struggled to grasp Echo’s meaning.

【Even a disinterested husband would notice something strange when his wife’s soul has been replaced.】

Before shock could register, she froze. Her reflected eyes betrayed her inner turmoil.

‘You… knew?’

【Wouldn’t it be stranger if I didn’t?】

Echo had a point. Given its ability to read her thoughts, it would have been impossible not to know about her soul’s replacement.

【As I mentioned before, I have no interest in claiming your soul. Nor will I take your body.】

Echo’s playful tone helped Bliss’s rigid expression soften.

‘You’re right. Caelan has noticed my changes. That might explain his newfound kindness.’

The tension she had been carrying melted away as she found herself able to speak freely.

When Bliss offered a small smile, the attendant adjusting her dress looked surprised before returning the gesture, assuming Bliss was pleased with the garment.

‘That’s why I need to learn everything I can from you now. I can’t continue being the Marchioness indefinitely.’

No matter how much she changed, to Caelan she would always be Bliss, Count Bonita’s daughter. It would be best to leave before he could openly show his hostility.

The attendants gathered her previously half-tied hair and pinned it up completely, leaving her shoulders exposed.

“I’ll place this here for now.”

When they discovered a dagger in her previous dress, the attendant’s momentary surprise gave way to professionalism as she carefully placed it on a nearby velvet cushion. Bliss straightened her posture after confirming the dagger remained visible.

“We’re finished.”

While Bliss examined her new dress, the attendant politely requested she turn around. Though she had assumed the curtains were still drawn, she found herself face to face with Caelan, who sat on the sofa.

Meeting his gaze directly, Bliss couldn’t shake the sensation that his stare held her captive.