Spring ended and early summer arrived. Since there was an engagement ceremony in summer, I had to move busily preparing for it.

On top of that, there was the wedding a month after the engagement ceremony.

I asked if we couldn’t skip the engagement ceremony and just have the wedding, but both Caromiel and Luden jumped up and down saying we had to follow proper etiquette. Those two men said the exact same thing. In the end, I just had more things to prepare.

“How many of these are there?”

Caromiel brought me catalogs from each shop where I could choose a dress to wear at the engagement ceremony. I had to look at the drawings and select a dress design.

Four or five would be enjoyable to look at. But when the number increased, it became annoying to look through.

“When am I supposed to look at all these?”

Five shop catalogs still remained. Lella, who brought tea, spoke matter-of-factly.

“You have to look at them all.”

“But…”

When I grumbled, Lella smiled brightly.

“You need to hurry and choose so we can go see the dresses in person.”

“Should I just choose roughly?”

“My lady!”

Lella sent me a look that said absolutely not. I subtly averted my eyes and looked at the booklet.

Right, let’s think positively. This involves spending money, so I can’t be careless about it.

After drinking tea, I took out the next catalog.

“Oh my.”

A white dress caught my eye. The chest was cut low and the waist was cinched the same way, but it had a unique pattern that drew my attention. Plus, lace was beautifully positioned under the chest.

There was also slight exposure. The upper body only covered the chest with a design that clung to the waist.

“This is pretty?”

Lella looked at the catalog and then at me.

“This is the most expensive shop.”

“Really?”

“It’ll probably be twice as expensive as other clothes.”

“I like this one, but it’s too expensive.”

Lella quickly shook her head.

“Just go with this one. It’s within the engagement ceremony budget, which is why this design is in the booklet.”

“But…”

“If it costs a lot, you have the emergency fund Luden gave you.”

That’s right.

The money Luden gave me was still overflowing. Wasn’t it an amount I could live on for a lifetime if I didn’t splurge? With that money, I could probably buy several of these dresses.

“When the Marquis Charlot and the Duke’s daughter are getting engaged, spending money is unavoidable.”

When I said that, Lella clapped, seeming pleased.

“That’s obvious!”

“In the past, I would have cried looking at the price…”

“You would have said you couldn’t do something this expensive and looked for something cheap.”

“I would have.”

In the end, I decided to follow my heart.

Right, exactly! An engagement ceremony dress should be pretty. This isn’t a budget waste.

Thinking that, I finished looking through the booklet and decided on the dress from the most expensive shop I’d seen earlier.

* * *

Caromiel asked me, “You’re going to look at dresses—aren’t you going with Marquis Charlot?”

“No.”

Caromiel fell into thought for a moment.

“He should see it on the engagement ceremony day.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. That way it’s exciting and fun.”

It’s right for Luden to see the dress on the engagement ceremony day and be impressed.

I didn’t want to tell Luden what kind of dress I’d choose. I wanted to keep it secret.

Then Caromiel shrugged his shoulders and laughed.

“The Marquis might be disappointed if he finds out.”

Would he really?

It didn’t seem likely. Our relationship wasn’t bad, but this was ultimately a contract marriage.

And if things flowed according to the original story, Luden would fall in love with another woman and we’d part ways. There was no need to go look at engagement ceremony dresses together with him.

I decided that and departed with Seren, my escort knight.

* * *

The carriage was moving.

Seren, Lella, and I were talking about dresses when a thud sounded from the front of the carriage.

“Kyaaaa!”

I screamed. Seren quickly stood up, grabbed his sword, and opened the carriage door.

Lella and I held our breath and waited inside the carriage until Seren returned.

After a while, the door opened and Seren came in.

“The carriage in front suddenly stopped and we collided.”

“Ah, I see.”

I quickly opened the carriage door and got out.

“Is the coachman okay?”

“He’s fine.”

“That’s a relief.”

The coachman wasn’t hurt. I let out a sigh of relief.

Driving a carriage so rudely without manners.

I glared at the carriage in front. But then a man got out of the carriage that caused the accident.

‘Oh.’

I was impressed.

He was an extremely handsome man with long blue hair hanging down and blue eyes.

A bit inferior to Luden, but acceptable.

‘As expected, Luden is the strongest in looks.’

“I’m truly sorry.”

He apologized.

“It’s fine.”

“I’m Sorean Root.”

I was surprised hearing his name.

He wasn’t a main character in the novel. However, he was one of the extras occasionally mentioned alongside Luden for his outstanding appearance. And he was the person who later ended up with Kanarosa, Jiton’s fiancée.

For him and me to meet, the development had changed slightly.

‘It’s already changed a lot.’

Since Annelia had been replaced by me, it was entirely possible for the original story to change. But would even the main plot change?

“You’re Count Root.”

“And you are?”

“Annelia Rosaline.”

“Ah, the famous…”

Was I famous? Ah, I am famous.

The original Annelia was famous for her peculiar personality, and recently I’d become even more famous for blowing Jiton away.

Many rumors circulated about me. There were even stories about captivating Marquis Charlot. Which rumor had he heard?

I was curious but didn’t particularly ask.

“The carriage is broken.”

Oh no, I didn’t check that.

The distance to the mansion was quite far. It was an awkward distance to walk back.

“I’ll give you a ride.”

I couldn’t refuse his offer. First, I had an appointment so I needed to go to the shop. It seemed better to stay inside the shop and send someone to Father.

“But there are three of us.”

Even if the coachman stayed behind to handle the broken carriage, the remaining three of us all needed to ride.

“Ah, the carriage is large.”

Sorean spoke like I shouldn’t worry.

“I’ll ask you then.”

“Since it’s our fault, you can send us a bill later for the carriage repair and other costs.”

“Understood.”

“I apologize once again.”

Sorean apologized politely.

Then Lella approached and whispered.

“My lady, I’m happy.”

“Why?”

“We met a handsome man. Count Root!”

Lella really liked handsome men. That’s why she occasionally said she wished Luden would come to the mansion more often.

We boarded Sorean’s carriage.

“Where are you going?”

Sorean asked.

“Um, to Kalien Shop.”

I needed to meet designer Kalien and ask about the price and dress production period.

“Designer Kalien recently opened a shop, and I heard they make many very high-quality clothes.”

At Sorean’s words, I appropriately agreed.

“Yes, that’s right. I liked the dress so I was on my way to see it.”

“What kind of dress is it?”

“An engagement ceremony dress.”

I said, shrugging my shoulders.

“I see.”

He nodded and gave me a strange look.

What?

“Lady Rosaline.”

“Please call me Annelia.”

“Understood.”

He smiled broadly.

“Where were you heading, Count Root?”

“I was on my way to my mansion.”

Ah, because of me he ended up going somewhere unexpected.

“I’d like to give you something as an apology.”

He showed me goodwill. But I was someone with a fiancé. I didn’t want to get caught up in unnecessary trouble.

“Giving me a ride is enough.”

I knew Sorean was trying to show goodwill and blocked it in advance. I didn’t want to receive excessive kindness.

* * *

Kalien, the owner of Kalien Shop, was fanning herself. Even though there wasn’t a single customer, her face overflowed with leisure.

Originally, the Rosaline ducal family had no money. So Kalien hadn’t included that family in her marketing targets. But now it was different.

The daughter of that Rosaline ducal family was preparing for an engagement ceremony with Marquis Charlot.

Hearing she’d come to see the shop today, Kalien hurriedly prepared. She took out and displayed all her secret clothes that weren’t even in the catalog. And today she decided to only receive Lady Rosaline as a customer.

This was a special treatment.

Occasionally the Charlot family also bought her clothes. They were picky but generous, and recognized her skills, making them a long-term client more than anyone else.

That’s why she really wanted to be in charge of Lady Rosaline’s engagement ceremony dress.

When the appointment time came, a woman opened the shop door and entered.

She had beautifully pinned up her shimmering blonde hair. She wore earrings and a necklace embedded with blue diamonds. Wearing a blue dress, she looked like a beautiful goddess of beauty passed down from ancient times.

She was beautiful enough to recall the gods commonly appearing in ancient civilizations that people no longer believed in. She matched Marquis Charlot very well.

‘Wow.’

I thought no one could match Marquis Charlot in looks. But seeing Annelia, my thoughts changed.

“Welcome, Lady Rosaline.”

Kalien greeted her warmly. Then Annelia smiled brightly at her.

“Hello, Mademoiselle Kalien.”

“Just call me Kalien.”

“Call me Annelia too.”

Annelia briefly introduced herself.

“Yes, Lady Annelia. Still, you’re a Duke’s daughter, so you can speak casually to me.”

“Should I?”

Other nobles just spoke casually, but Annelia seemed to use formal speech with those she met for the first time.

According to rumors, her personality had changed, but she just seemed like a cheerful and bright young lady?

“You liked my design?”

“That’s why I came to see it.”

Hearing Annelia’s words, Kalien quickly brought the catalog she’d sent her.

“Which one?”

Kalien asked. Annelia flipped through the catalog and pointed her finger at the design she’d seen.

“This one.”

“If it’s that one, it’s here.”

Kalien quickly guided Annelia to where the dress was. Lella followed behind.

“There are many others besides that. Please look around as much as you like.”

“I’ll look at that one first.”

She said firmly that she’d examine the clothes she came to see first.

* * *

When I spoke decisively, Kalien showed me the clothes.

I came all the way here to see this, and she’s telling me to look at other clothes first. It seemed like she was trying to treat me like a pushover, so I cut her off.

“How is it? It’s an extremely beautiful outfit.”

First, let me check the measurements.

Fortunately, the designed clothes seemed to fit my body perfectly. I took the clothes and went to the fitting room. Lella followed me in. It was to help me change clothes.

“Look at other things too.”

Lella said quietly.

“Do I have to?”

I had no particular intention to. Why bother when it’s annoying? I’d already decided what to buy.

“I’m just going to buy this one.”

“My lady, it’s good to have a variety of clothes. You’ll become the mistress of the Charlot family in the future, so you need to have a few expensive outfits.”

That’s also true.

Of course, the clothes I wore weren’t cheap. But I didn’t have any clothes glamorous enough to attract attention at formal occasions.

Kalien made clothes the best. I did need clothes like that.

Thinking that, I changed clothes. Lella diligently helped from the side.