Chapter 70

Designer Clairira was touched as she received a letter from Meia.

“Oh my, a letter from the Lady herself!”

The noble flower of Carpen Empire’s high society! The most famous figure among designers, that was Meia Hatzbellua.

Just having her wear their clothes was a source of pride among designers.

Clairira also used to send her new dresses first whenever they were released.

Of course, other designers did the same.

However, she had heard rumors that Meia had left her position as the Crown Prince’s fiancée and had gone to the Mage Tower.

Unable to send new dresses to the Hatzbellua duchy anymore, she felt quite regretful.

There are social flowers in each empire, but there is no noble young lady who receives support among the nobility like Meia. In such a situation, she received a letter from her.

Reading the letter carefully, Clairira spoke to Juan, who had delivered the letter, with a surge of emotion.

“Oh my, she’s in the Sirius Empire….”

The letter requested her to visit for a consultation on a coming-of-age dress. With Meia’s request to come in a week, Clairira didn’t hesitate.

“I will go!”

Juan nodded and disappeared into the shadows.

Meanwhile, Diana Nordic, a customer who was both irritable and generous with dress payments, was causing a fuss about wanting a new dress within a week, but it didn’t matter if she didn’t sell to her.

“Since I’ve accepted the commission, I have to make it. If I had known, I wouldn’t have taken the commission! Well, I’ll push myself for about five days, rest for a day, and then go to see Lady Meia on the seventh day.”

Even though she had to stay up all night to make the promised dress for Lady Nordic, just the thought of meeting Meia gave Clairira strength.

Designer Clairira vividly remembered her first meeting with Meia.

The elegant dignity and the majesty reflected in her blue eyes could subdue anyone, and even the most aged noble couldn’t easily possess such charisma, yet Meia had it.

When the drawing room door opened, Meia entered, escorted by a tall, handsome man with black hair.

“Oh my! Lady Meia!”

Clairira, who was approaching Meia with a bright smile, was moved to tears as she saw her elegantly appear in her mermaid dress, covering her mouth with both hands.

Though she had made it, it was a dress where the best creation and the best model had met and left a mark on high society.

“Lady Meia! It’s an honor to see you again. Thank you so much for wearing my mermaid dress. Hoho.”

Meia naturally extended her right hand.

“Designer Clairira.”

Clairira’s heart raced. It felt as if forgotten inspiration was drawing her in like a whirlpool. With a blissful expression, she bowed and touched her forehead to the back of Meia’s right hand in greeting. The gesture of touching one’s forehead to the right hand signifies ‘respect.’

“Clairira of the Berton family greets Lady Meia of Hatzbellua.”

“Thank you for coming such a long way, Designer Clairira. The person escorting me is Grand Duke Theodore, the master of the Florence Duchy.”

“Hello. Thank you very much for the invitation. I am Clairira of the Berton family, and I make dresses.”

“Yes, nice to meet you. Any guest of Lady Meia is a guest to me as well.”

At that moment, a knock was heard, and Butler Venable entered, pushing a trolley containing a beautiful silver tableware set.

“Please take a seat.”

“Yes, Lady Meia.”

When Meia sat on the sofa, Theodore naturally took a seat beside her.

Venable immediately placed the teacups on the table and explained the types of tea and refreshments.

Clairira, with an awkward smile, thanked Venable for his kind explanation.

Then Venable left, pushing the empty trolley. After savoring a sip of tea, Clairira began to speak.

“I heard rumors that you were at the Mage Tower.”

“Clairira, do you have anything else you want to say besides the Mage Tower?”

“Of course! What is your relationship with Grand Duke Florence that you are here?”

At Clairira’s question, Meia shrugged her shoulders and smiled as she replied.

“You’ll find out soon enough what our relationship is.”

Clairira glanced at Theodore. The gaze he directed at Meia was overflowing with honey like a waterfall. It was the gaze of a man in love, even without words.

Could they be lovers?

She wanted to hear it directly from Meia.

“Please tell me, Lady Meia.”

“Perhaps you’ll naturally find out on my coming-of-age day.”

Clairira looked again at Theodore, who was sitting quietly beside Meia.

After greeting her once, he only fixed his gaze on Meia.

Meia looked at him, who stared at her intently, and smiled warmly.

Between the two, there was a sweetness as if melted sugar water had honey added and whipped cream piled high.

She had worried about how difficult it must be for Meia, who had lost her parents without a trace and had a forced funeral, and broke off her engagement. But Clairira felt grateful to Theodore for making Meia smile.

“I’m relieved.”

At Clairira’s sudden words, Meia looked at her.

“With so many difficult things happening all at once, I was worried that you would be having a hard time. Seeing you smile with His Grace the Grand Duke now puts me at ease.”

To Clairira, Meia was not just someone who inspired her. She wanted to become a lady-in-waiting who supported her if she became Empress. The dressmaking that her family opposed and the fact that her dresses sold at high prices all began with a word from Meia.

<Earl Berton, I want to buy Clairira’s dress.>

<I dislike the idea of the dresses I buy being so cheap. Clairira, make something that anyone can’t easily buy.>

Clairira felt happiness when making dresses, and with Meia’s help, she became very happy. So, she must also become happy. Therefore, she would do anything if it helped.

“Can you make the dress for my coming-of-age ceremony, Clairira?”

“Of course. Inspiration is already pouring out.”

“Can I look forward to it?”

“Certainly.”

Meia suddenly clapped her hands and asked her.

“Do you know Lady Nordic?”

“Yes, I know her well. She’s a regular customer.”

“A regular customer?”

“I remember her as a regular who buys at least one dress a week. Normally, it’s ‘extravagance’ for a Viscount’s daughter to wear our dresses. So, she’s a young lady I remember.”

Meia said with a regretful expression.

“Lady Nordic won’t have any more occasions to buy dresses.”

From Clairira’s perspective, it didn’t matter whether Diana bought dresses or not.

“Her family is about to go bankrupt.”

Clairira finally understood.

“I see. If you need anything, please let me know.”

“I need the ledger listing everything the Nordic family has purchased so far, including gifts.”

Meia’s lips were smiling, but her blue eyes were endlessly cold. She felt goosebumps all over her body from her gaze. It was as if the sweet inspiration was paralyzing her entire body.

“Everything.”

“Understood, Lady Meia.”

“I’ll send Juan.”

“Yes. Oh! I saw you in the newspaper article, Lady Meia!”

“Newspaper article?”

“The one about you clearing out the pirates on the cruise ship and saving people!”

The incident on the cruise ship I boarded to go to the Mage Tower made it into an article? Was there a journalist on board?

Surely, everyone who needed to see it had seen it. Normally, she read the newspaper every day, but since coming here and having fun, she hadn’t even read the newspaper on time.

“My younger brother was on the cruise ship.”

“Oh… you mean Young Master Ashilom, who said he was going into journalism?”

“Don’t even mention it. Everyone is praising you as a hero, Lady Meia!”

“I only caught the pirates to save myself, so it’s embarrassing to be called a hero.”

Clairira laughed and said, “No, you are a hero,” and they continued their pleasant conversation until it was time for dinner.

“Before dinner, guide Clairira to the guest room where she’ll be staying for the night, Venable.”

“Yes, Lady Meia.”

Clairira followed Venable out of the drawing room.

Only Meia and Theodore were left in the drawing room. He gazed at her intently with his deep eyes. A moment passed.

“Aren’t you curious about my coming-of-age day? What will happen?”

His large body leaned closer to her face.

“I love you, Lady Meia.”

She expected him to ask about the conversation with Designer Clairira, but instead, he confessed his love.

He should be curious, but isn’t he? Why isn’t he asking what kind of relationship they will have and what he will find out on the coming-of-age day? It felt rather strange.

“Aren’t you curious?”

“I always wait.”

“For what?”

“If you need me, you’ll tell me.”

Mesmerized by his gentle gaze, Meia nodded obediently.

“They say the best time to ask questions is when the other person can give a precise answer. And since you’ll find out eventually, I have no desire to bother or make you uncomfortable by demanding answers now.”

As their eyes met, Meia’s heart rang like a magical alarm clock, ringing frantically.

His large hand gently pulled her shoulder, drawing her into his embrace.

The more she inhaled his sweet scent that brushed past her nose, the more at ease she felt.

“Is hugging uncomfortable for you?”

She told him it wasn’t uncomfortable at all. Theodore sighed in relief, and his face brightened. There was no disgust or rejection at all towards him, who insistently drew her into his arms. He lifted her hand and lightly kissed the back of it several times.

As Meia became aware of Theodore’s kisses on her hand, she felt her face heat up.

“I find you so lovable,  Lady Meia. I want to keep kissing your hand and hugging you.”

She didn’t know what kind of face to make at his straightforward confession, but what was clear was that all his words made her feel good. Her face was getting hotter by the moment.