Chapter 32: The Tailor Shop (Pt.2)

Why hadn’t I thought that curtains could serve not only as window coverings but also as makeshift walls to divide spaces?

Bliss ran her hands over her stomach and arms, feeling lost. Finding it wasn’t enough, she avoided Caelan’s gaze and moistened her parched lips with her tongue.

If Bliss had known it would turn out like this, she should have refused when they asked her to try it on.

“You look truly beautiful.”

“W-What? Oh.”

Startled by the word ‘beautiful’, Bliss composed herself when she realized it was the tailor who had spoken. She felt foolish for mistaking it as something Caelan might have said. While she was trying to determine when to step down from the platform, the tailor gestured to her dress.

“This dress was designed to accentuate the waist. We used fabric that’s exclusively available in the Beta territory, crafted with such light material that it floats with even the gentlest breeze.”

As the tailor continued his explanation, Bliss reached out to the staff member who had helped her change, wondering how much longer she needed to remain standing.

“I should get down now.”

After descending with the staff member’s help, Bliss turned to look at Caelan, who remained seated on the sofa.

“Do I need to try on anything else?”

She tried to signal that she didn’t want to. Coming to the tailor shop had been Caelan’s unilateral decision, and she couldn’t refuse, so she had come along. However, since she was the only one who had changed clothes, Bliss moved away from the changing room, intending not to try on anything else.

Then Caelan stood up and approached Bliss. As he stood behind her, Bliss swallowed nervously and shifted in place. The closer proximity made her uncomfortable.

Caelan examined Bliss’s dress meticulously and gave a slight nod.

“We’ll take this one for today.”

Both Bliss and the tailor sighed at Caelan’s response. They had been tense, caught up in his commanding presence. As Bliss turned to the staff to change clothes again, Caelan caught her wrist.

“Wear it as is.”

“Wear it… and go?”

Bliss touched her bare shoulders while lifting and dropping her skirt. Her shoulders were completely exposed, there was a gentle pressure at her waist, and the billowing dress wasn’t exactly suitable for the Imperial Palace.

“I already had clothes picked out for today.”

“Since we’re at the tailor shop, you might as well change and go. This looks prettier. It suits you well.”

“That’s…”

No matter what, comfortable clothes took priority over pretty ones. Bliss was about to refuse wearing the dress again, but she held her tongue. Since running into Caelan this morning, she had been following his lead. It didn’t seem like protesting would make any difference.

“Alright.”

She decided it would be better to just wear it for today, despite the discomfort.

“Shall we head back to the castle now?”

“Okay.”

Caelan placed his hand on Bliss’s waist. She tilted her head slightly to look at his arm touching her waist, then lifted her gaze.

“Marquis, are you leaving already?”

“What is it?”

“I still have something to show you.”

As the tailor held out his hand, a nearby staff member brought over a rolled-up fabric. The tailor received it and held it out as if inviting them to touch it. However, since Caelan kept his hand on Bliss’s waist, the tailor gave an awkward smile. Finally, Bliss reached out and gently placed her hand on the fabric, then showed a surprised expression.

“This is…”

Bliss caressed the light material that seemed to slip through her fingers. She had never found her previous dresses to be rough or inadequate. As the Marchioness, and given that the original Bliss had amassed quite a collection of dresses, there had never been any need for concern. Yet the quality of this fabric was remarkable enough to surprise even her.

Bliss turned to look at Caelan.

“I couldn’t tell because of the dark color, but it’s so soft.”

“If you say so, then the tailor must have good reason to present it so confidently.”

When Caelan acknowledged it after merely looking at the fabric Bliss had praised, the tailor brightened and stepped closer.

“You wouldn’t believe how much the merchant praised this fabric. Even I was thrilled when I first received it. And it’s quite rare too. Only two rolls came in.”

The tailor carefully folded the fabric while unable to take his eyes off it, then quickly looked up as if suddenly aware of his enthusiasm. Looking back and forth between Caelan and Bliss, he carefully began to speak.

“Would you allow me to make dresses with this?”

The tailor, who had only been making Caelan’s clothes until now, hugged the fabric and added:

“I’d like to make a matching pair for the Marquis and Marchioness.”

When the tailor asked for permission, Bliss hesitated, but Caelan gave his approval. Bliss grabbed Caelan’s clothes, intending to ask him to reconsider, but he caught her hand before she could speak.

“Make sure you do a proper job. As you can see, this will be your chance to showcase your skills to my wife.”

“Thank you. I’ll prepare separate design proposals and bring them to you.”

The tailor retreated with a bright smile before Bliss could protest.

“This is too much. Today’s dress is already enough.”

These weren’t words the original Bliss would have spoken. Despite knowing better, she wasn’t brazen enough to accept such generosity.

‘Besides, things like this should be given to Latte, not me.’

She felt guilty, as though she had taken something that rightfully belonged to someone else.

“If you think I can’t afford this, I won’t buy it.”

“…I don’t understand what you mean.”

Was he implying that Bliss thought Caelan couldn’t afford these clothes? Her? Had he interpreted her reluctance as concern about the price?

“With only two rolls available, it must be expensive, right?”

“No. It’s not that it isn’t expensive, but you certainly have the means to afford it.”

“Then we can buy it.”

Bliss was rendered speechless by his casual decision.

Seemingly oblivious to her bewilderment, Caelan wrapped his arm around her waist.

Only then did Bliss become acutely aware of their proximity, her eyes widening in surprise.

“Sometimes you might want to wear things like this.”

Would such a day ever come? And wearing matching outfits with Caelan, no less.

While Bliss self-consciously held her shoulders, Caelan entered the changing room. The staff quickly stepped aside at his approach. His attention was drawn to a dagger resting on a velvet cushion. He picked it up, studying it with meaningful eyes.

“Perhaps there will be times when you’ll really want to wear it.”

Caelan gazed at the dagger with an inscrutable expression. When he turned around, his features momentarily softened as he extended the dagger to Bliss.

As she held it, Caelan motioned to their accompanying servant.

“I’ll pay for this.”

“…Thank you.”

It felt odd receiving it as a gift when she had been freely purchasing whatever she wanted until now.

‘Well, all the money Bliss has been using as his wife was Caelan’s money anyway.’

As Bliss fidgeted with the dagger, Caelan shrugged and walked out. The tailor followed, enthusiastically describing the newly arrived fabric.

【You’re quite incompetent, aren’t you.】

“Yes, I am.”

She didn’t need Echo to point out what she already knew. She had done nothing worthwhile as Marchioness except indulge herself. While claiming all the privileges of being the lady of the house, she found it incomprehensible how Caelan had tolerated it. Though some might view him as generous, Bliss, knowing his true nature, couldn’t accept this explanation.

‘Is that why he killed her?’

Was it because she was not only incompetent but willful? Because she mistreated the employees? Because her family made excessive demands of him?

The novel only covered events after Bliss’s death, leaving much unknown. She kept forming theories, believing there must have been a reason for her murder.

‘But still, there was no need to go as far as killing her.’

He could have just divorced her,

‘But then again, he married her knowing what she was like.’

Perhaps he killed her because divorce wasn’t an option…

“Bliss.”

“Yes?”

Bliss turned to Caelan, startled. She chided herself for becoming lost in thought in front of the very person she needed to be wary of.

“I’m sorry. Shall we go?”

“Before that…”

Caelan grabbed her wrist. She looked up at him questioningly.

“Tonight, I have something to tell you,”

“Tonight?”

Bliss quickly shut her mouth, hearing the obvious surprise in her own voice. However, she couldn’t control her expression.

【What an interesting conversation.】

Bliss, half-dazed from Caelan’s meaningful words, didn’t hear Echo’s comment.