‘Formal dresses are basically much more elaborate than everyday clothes.’

One fortunate thing was that, unlike what she had seen in art or history textbooks during her lifetime, the skirts didn’t spread out embarrassingly wide. It seemed the fashion was generally for thin fabrics layered to create a naturally flowing silhouette.

‘In old paintings, skirts were practically tents. I’m glad this world isn’t like that.’

Violetta carefully examined everything from the sleeve structure to how the skirt flared out. Even in this unfamiliar world, her aesthetic sense was functioning—the more she looked, the more her preferences emerged. Among the various designs, the ones that particularly caught her eye were dresses with plunging necklines and abundant decorations.

‘Since I’m in this body anyway, it might be nice to wear something bold.’

Violetta confidently selected two designs. They had similar draping lines but different sleeve styles. One was a long-sleeved dress with voluminous shoulders that tapered down narrowly below, while the other featured half sleeves meant to be worn with silk gloves that extended up to the upper arms. This one also had voluminous sleeves.

“I think these two would be nice. For the masquerade ball, I’d like a darker color to match the atmosphere. Purple or deep blue. For the ducal gathering, I’d prefer something bright.”

“You decide quickly, Miss Violetta.”

“Thanks to your excellent preparation, it was easy to choose.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Gordon, could you recommend some fabrics that would suit Violetta?”

“Yes, Duke. While Miss Phantomwood is being measured, I’ll bring some seasonally appropriate fabrics.”

After nodding to the two women standing behind him, Mr. Gordon went downstairs with the two male employees. The women who remained on the second floor approached Violetta with proper etiquette.

“Miss Phantomwood, we need to take your measurements, so please come this way.”

“Yes. I’ll be back soon, Duke.”

When Violetta emphasized “Duke,” Cayel tightened his lips and nodded. Violetta narrowed her eyes, giving him one last meaningful glance before disappearing behind the curtain.

‘Since it’s her first visit, it will probably take quite a while.’

After everyone had left, Cayel took the two designs Violetta had selected, stacked them in one hand, and sat on the sofa. He examined them carefully, as if reading a book.

Both were types of clothes she had never worn before. The thought of Violetta entering the ballroom with him in these dresses felt strange even to imagine.

‘I should get used to being called “Duke.”‘

Cayel imagined Violetta in her new dress, calling him “Duke.”

For some reason, not only was he curious about how she would look in the dress, but he was also secretly looking forward to it. Regardless of her personality or past, she had a face that anyone would consider beautiful, so elaborate clothes would undoubtedly suit her well.

“Hmm……”

Cayel placed the designs overlapping on the table, then glanced unnecessarily toward the curtain. He could hear women’s voices from behind the thick curtain, but couldn’t make out what they were saying.

‘Not done yet?’

Cayel took out his pocket watch to check the time. It seemed like ten minutes had passed since she went in, but the minute hand had barely moved two notches.

* * *

Four days before the masquerade ball, a delivery arrived at Phantomwood Castle. One box contained the completed formal dress. Since Cayel had readily agreed to Violetta’s suggestion that she would show him how she looked in the dress on the day of the ball, it was delivered to the castle through a servant. She had made the excuse that she was a bit shy, but naturally, she had other intentions.

“If I appear perfectly styled with hair and accessories all at once, don’t you think Mr. Frost will be surprised?”

“He’ll certainly be surprised to see you looking so different from usual.”

“Yes, that’s what I’m hoping for.”

Violetta held the dress up against herself from different angles. Unlike the masquerade ball dress with its calm, sophisticated atmosphere, the dress for the Frost gathering sparkled brilliantly wherever light touched it.

‘I wonder what expression he’ll make? Given the circumstances, he’ll definitely compliment me no matter what, right?’

As Violetta unconsciously hummed a tune while anticipating her fake lover’s enthusiastic reaction, Sergius tilted his head.

“Lady Violetta. Are you perhaps trying to seduce Duke Frost?”

“What?”

“You’re acting as if you want to make him fall for you. Using appearance to win favor is the most basic method, isn’t it?”

“Uh……”

Violetta’s eyes rolled around. Both her humming melody and the hand caressing the fabric stopped abruptly. Her inexplicably excited mood gradually settled down like leaves falling to the ground on a breeze.

‘Me, seducing Mr. Frost?’

Her gaze gradually lowered. The elaborate dress was still draped over her below the neck.

‘Come to think of it, why did I want to surprise him in the first place?’

A new question grew in her mind. Thinking about it, as Sergius said, the person she needed to seduce was Cayel, and showing him a stunning appearance wouldn’t particularly benefit her. So why had she wanted to? She couldn’t find an answer that perfectly matched her instinctive behavior.

“Well……Isn’t it good to feel excited one way or another? Since it’s an occasion where we have to act like a proper couple, it might help with the immersion.”

“You’re quite strategic, Lady Violetta.”

“Haha, am I? Anyway, what’s that mail you’re holding?”

Violetta gave a plausible excuse and quickly changed the subject.

“It’s a letter for you, my lady.”

Sergius placed the envelope on the desk. A wax seal with a mix of purple and rose colors was affixed to the crisp, snow-white envelope. Violetta carefully examined the pattern on the seal.

“Is it a client after so long? It seems to be from a noble family, but I don’t recognize the emblem.”

Since Violetta had so few connections with nobility, the only crests she could recognize were those of the Frost family and the Forden family, with whom she had completed a request. However, despite the unfamiliar emblem, the sender’s name written on the back of the envelope was familiar.

“Ophelia Andilly?”

Violetta rummaged through the “bookshelves” in her mind. There was definitely more than one work with this name on the cover among the books she had devoured since coming here.

“Is this the Ophelia Andilly I know? She’s a famous novelist, isn’t she?”

Ophelia Andilly was highly recognized even among young writers of the same generation. With her excellent choice of subject matter and literary quality, she was called a “genius”—a predictable descriptor—while also being envied by female readers as a close friend who frequently exchanged letters with Edgar Cadlan. She loved reading as much as writing and often showed her face at salons, where rumor had it she frequently fielded questions about Edgar Cadlan’s identity. So Violetta couldn’t possibly not know of her.

“There’s only one woman named Ophelia Andilly in the capital.”

“Right? This doesn’t seem like a world with many people sharing the same name. To think such an impressive person would send me a letter first……”

Violetta opened the envelope with great anticipation. However, the moment she unfolded the letter, her excitement turned to puzzlement. There were only three lines written on the snow-white paper.

[To my dear reader, Miss Violetta Phantomwood.

I have something I’d like to ask you in person.

Please visit my home at your convenience after receiving this letter.]

Since the first line was merely a greeting, the actual content was just two lines.

“Is this all?”

Wondering if the writer might have hidden something ingenious, Violetta held the letter up to the sunlight by the window and even brought a candle close to the paper. However, she found nothing.

“More importantly, was Violetta Phantomwood an avid reader of Ophelia Andilly?”

“Yes. The previous Lady Violetta greatly enjoyed Miss Andilly’s works.”

“Her taste is completely different from mine……”

Violetta muttered this as she folded the letter back up.

“Mr. Sergius, do you think there might have been a personal connection between the original owner of this body and Ophelia Andilly?”

“No, but they were likely well aware of each other’s existence.”

“What does that mean? You said the original owner wasn’t interested in human nobility.”

“About that……you’ll probably hear it directly from Miss Andilly. If not, I’ll tell you when I deem it necessary in the future.”

When Sergius made such an uncharacteristically cryptic statement, her curiosity only grew. However, since he—who was always concerned for her welfare—was encouraging her to meet this person, she didn’t feel anxious about the meeting.

“You mean it’s safe to meet this person, right?”

“Yes, she’s absolutely not someone who would harm you, Lady Violetta.”

“Alright then. Since we’re on the subject, let’s go now. I’m too curious about what she wants.”

“I’ll prepare the carriage.”

Following the advice of ancestors from her world that one should strike while the iron is hot, Violetta immediately prepared to go out and boarded the carriage.

Ophelia Andilly’s residence was in a direction Violetta didn’t usually frequent. Her invitation to come anytime wasn’t just empty words—the gatekeeper opened the gate without asking any questions as soon as he spotted the Phantomwood emblem on the carriage.

‘She must have been really waiting. Is it urgent?’

Violetta hurried to prepare to disembark for the person who might be anxiously awaiting her arrival.