“An invoice? From Charlize’s Boutique.”

She had already arranged for them to make and send dresses seasonally, and Uz knew about this.

“Why this?”

Was there a problem? Overcharging perhaps?

Hmm, it didn’t seem like overcharging. Though the amount was substantial, this was Charlize’s Boutique after all.

“Please check the purchaser. I’m showing you this just to confirm if it’s correct.”

“…Huh?”

Looking closer, she noticed it specified separately at the bottom.

[Purchaser — Elizabeth Valdez.]

Ah, so it’s not for my dresses.

‘Send the bill to me. Go to whatever boutique you want, get fitted, and give this when you pay.’

She suddenly remembered giving Elizabeth her seal card when Yolly had torn her dress.

‘But I didn’t expect her to go to Charlize’s Boutique…’

Saena examined the invoice details carefully.

Not just one, but five formal party dresses (formal dresses being the most expensive). And if that wasn’t enough, she had bought complete sets of accessories for each dress.

Last time she had packed boxes of new, unworn clothes and accessories, but to get five dresses fitted at the expensive Charlize’s Boutique…

‘This is a bit ridiculous.’

But what could she do? She couldn’t go confront Elizabeth about it.

After all, she was the one who gave her the seal card. She told her to go wherever she wanted to get fitted.

“Hah… Yes. I told her to buy what she wanted. Her dress was ruined because of our mistake last time.”

Though she hadn’t told her to buy five dresses.

“I see. Understood.”

Uz, who had come just to make sure, withdrew cleanly after getting her confirmation.

She felt uneasy. Not because of the money, but because Elizabeth’s behavior made no sense.

‘Could she be trying to get back at me?’

Was she angry because they had practically cut ties and blocked her visits?

But five dresses seemed an odd number if revenge was the goal. If it had been fifty dresses, she would have thought it was revenge, but five…

‘…I really don’t understand.’

The seal card was one-time use anyway and would have been retrieved with the invoice, so she could just pay and forget about it.

Even without Elizabeth, Saena had too many things to worry about right now.

“Miss, are you sure I shouldn’t come with you?”

The nanny asked again while seeing Saena off as she headed to the portico to board the carriage.

“Yes. Sister Kiki and the others are coming to help choose.”

Her friends had contacted her, surprised by the sudden marriage announcement.

Seeing their worried messages asking if something was wrong given the unusual situation, Saena realized her mistake.

‘They must have felt hurt.’

She should have contacted them first, but she had been so overwhelmed lately that she hadn’t thought about it.

Though Saena herself hadn’t known about Constantine’s actions either, her friends wouldn’t think that way, so they had every right to feel hurt. But their worry came before their hurt feelings.

Feeling their concern in their letters made Saena smile broadly.

So she asked if they could help choose her wedding dress.

While the Kramer side said they would handle all other preparations, the wedding dress was solely the bride’s domain, and tradition dictated that the groom shouldn’t see it until the wedding day.

Her friends had readily agreed, and today was the day they were meeting at the boutique.

“With their taste, we can trust them. Choose well, Miss.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t think about the price, just focus on what’s prettiest!”

“Alright.”

“Will you be staying at the town house tonight?”

“Given the timing, I probably will.”

“Then I’ll move over there too.”

“Do as you like. You can come tomorrow if you have things to do here.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“Please bring Yolly when you come.”

He would probably make a fuss about being left behind again, but since she wasn’t going straight to the town house, it would have been awkward to bring him.

“Alright.”

* * *

The carriage that left Delvon headed toward the imperial capital.

“Sir, can we go a bit faster?”

She asked as the scenery passing by the carriage window seemed somehow slower than usual.

“The ground is still soft from the rain two days ago. It will be difficult to increase speed.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Oh dear. It seemed she wouldn’t be able to go to Bellua Antiquarian Bookstore. She would have to go tomorrow or send a servant to fetch it.

She wanted to check the book’s condition personally and pay, but truthfully, Grandpa’s work was trustworthy enough that she didn’t really need to verify it.

‘Hmm. That would be better.’

Seeing her lost in thought, Rupert brought his horse alongside the carriage.

“Miss.”

“Yes.”

His face was unusually serious.

“Congratulations on your marriage.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“……”

He seemed about to say something more but closed his mouth.

“…Sir? If you have something to say, you can.”

He briefly glanced at the maid riding with her before speaking.

“…It’s nothing.”

“……?”

“The air is cold, so don’t keep the window open too long.”

“Mm. Alright.”

The carriage continued on for quite a while before entering the imperial capital. She could physically feel the difference in the quality of the ride as they entered the well-paved roads.

After traveling some more, the carriage arrived at Rohaton Street.

“Miss. Let’s get out.”

“Yes.”

The door opened and Rupert helped her descend. After the maid got out as well, the coachman took the carriage away toward the storage area.

While walking toward Charlize’s Boutique, Rupert maintained his serious expression.

Noticing his unusual demeanor, Saena kept glancing at his face, and she noticed him repeatedly stealing glances at her maid.

“Smila.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“I think I… left something in the carriage.”

“What? Shall I quickly go get it?”

“Yes. Would you? I thought I brought my handkerchief but it’s not here. I might have dropped it on the floor…”

“Yes. I’ll go look for it and come back.”

“Alright. I’ll be in the boutique, so come there.”

“Yes. I’ll be right back.”

She watched Smila’s hastily retreating back for a moment before turning her gaze to Rupert.

“Now, tell me what it is. Sir.”

“…Did you send her away on purpose?”

“Yes. Because you were showing signs that you wanted to speak privately.”

“……”

Rupert took a short breath and opened his mouth with a determined expression.

“Miss. Though it might be rude… I must ask.”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

“About that time… did something happen?”

“That time?”

“The day of the heavy snowfall. I should have been there to escort you. Being stranded for days… I regret it so much.”

“……”

“Miss. Is this truly a marriage you want?”

Hmm. That day seems to have caused quite a few misunderstandings.

While that incident did significantly impact her relationship with Constantine, it had nothing to do with the marriage.

Saena couldn’t help but chuckle.

“…Miss?”

“What kind of misunderstanding are you having? Stop thinking strange things.”

“……”

“The rushed marriage isn’t because of the Duke.”

“…What? What do you mean?”

Saena considered how to phrase it. She needed to be careful since it involved the imperial family.

“I can’t explain in detail. However…”

“……”

“There’s a possibility of something happening that House Debov cannot oppose.”

Though House Debov was a count’s family, they were central nobles and an influential house. Yet something they couldn’t oppose?

Rupert looked confused.

“Under his shadow, it’s quite an excellent choice.”

If the prince gave up, it would simply end there, so Rupert didn’t need to know at all.

What could even a prince do to someone who was already a duchess? That’s why she didn’t mention the Hebeta matter.

“And it’s absolutely not that I’m marrying the Duke without liking him.”

Saena smiled to show her sincerity.

“He’s too good for me, and he treats me very well.”

“Is that really true?”

“Yes. It’s a marriage I want, so don’t worry about that.”

Rupert stared at her face for a long while before letting out a big sigh.

“Haah– Thank goodness.”

Then he returned to his relaxed self and giggled.

‘Hmm. If I had taken a guard knight in my past life… would many things have been different?’

Watching him, Saena suddenly had such thoughts.

Of course, George Hollander would have probably tormented them by constantly making suspicious comments about their relationship to try to dismiss the knight, but he might have been a bit more careful about the physical aspects regarding her.

She probably wouldn’t have died so absurdly either.

‘Though it’s pointless to make such assumptions about the past anyway.’

“Well then, Miss.”

Rupert’s continued words pulled Saena from her thoughts.

“May I ask if you plan to take me with you after the marriage?”

“Ah…”

“No, I really hope you’ll take me with you no matter what.”

This was an issue she hadn’t considered before.

Though she had just made assumptions about the past regarding George Hollander, Constantine wasn’t that type of person.

“No matter how much of a gentleman he is, you never know. Even if it’s just for marital arguments, you need someone on your side.”

“Are you saying you’ll listen to my complaints if we have a marital argument?”

“Yes. As I said before…”

“That you’re a playboy?”

“…No, a love expert…”

Rupert flustered and corrected his nickname.

“Isn’t a love expert only good at romance? Do you also counsel married couples?”

“I’m skilled in matters between men and women. Marriage doesn’t change that they’re still men and women.”