Chapter 72

<Grand Duke Theodore.>

<Yes, Lady Meia, please tell me anything.>

<When you come to the Carpen Empire…>

<Yes.>

<Will you propose to me?>

Right after hearing those words, Theodore embraced her again with tears in his eyes. His heart swelled with so much joy that it hurt even more.

They exchanged many stories until dinner. Among them, Theodore decided to purchase and gift Meia’s coming-of-age dress, and Meia accepted the offer.

If no one had knocked, they might have talked all night.

“The Florence Duchy will cover the costs. Please make the dress without worrying about the expense and do your utmost.”

Meia smiled brightly and said to Theodore,

“Grand Duke, Designer Clairira always does her best, so you don’t need to worry.”

After the meal, Butler Venable approached Theodore and whispered something in his ear.

He nodded, stood up, and said,

“An urgent matter has come up. I’ll be back shortly.”

“Is it that matter? Please take your time.”

“Yes, it is. I’ll be back.”

Theodore kissed Meia’s hand and left the dining room.

As soon as he left, Diana asked sharply,

“What is your relationship with the Grand Duke?”

It was a childish question, like a child asking why their snack was taken away.

“Lady Nordic, you may ask me anything, but always maintain courtesy in your questions.”

“I am trying my best to be courteous to a lady from another empire.”

Meia clicked her tongue softly.

As soon as Theodore left, Diana changed her expression and spoke spitefully. It was evident how much she disliked the current situation and was jealous. She seemed quite agitated.

In such situations, smiling leisurely can further irritate the other person.

And when someone is frustrated and doesn’t know what to do, they easily get angry. When angry, thoughts become short, leading to mistakes.

“I have been courteous, Lady Hatzbellua from another empire.”

Diana spoke irritably, but Meia’s expression remained unchanged.

Instead, she straightened her back and showed an elegant smile.

Even when spoken to sharply, there was no reaction as if it was unpleasant. Meia’s thoughts were unreadable. Silence ensued.

This wasn’t the reaction Diana wanted. She expected Meia to get angry or criticize her tone and retaliate.

She planned to provoke Meia into hitting her, so she could cry in Theodore’s arms when he returned.

Diana raised her head stiffly and glared at Meia, observing her.

After a short silence, Meia turned her gaze to Clairira and spoke.

“Clairira.”

“Yes, Lady Meia.”

“You mentioned you also make uniforms for men these days, right?”

“Yes, Duke Rockbellion and his fiancée wore matching couple-themed outfits in the same color at the banquet for the Crown Prince of the Sirius Empire’s birthday. After that, many engaged couples inquired about making similar outfits.”

Meia’s elegant eyes narrowed, and she smiled as she spoke.

“Designer Clairira, you mean the war-obsessed Sword Master Duke Rockbellion, right?”

“Yes, his fiancée is the Lady of the Roengrin family.”

“You mean Lady Juliana of the Roengrin family, the intermediate water spiritist?”

“That’s correct.”

“Engaged couples wearing matching outfits… It must be very beautiful.”

“I’ll bring the design sketches of their outfits next time I come.”

“Will you?”

Blushing slightly, Meia thought of suggesting to Theodore that they wear matching couple-themed outfits on her coming-of-age day. If he agreed, she planned to ask Clairira to design his uniform.

“I’m really looking forward to it, Clairira.”

“I’m itching to start making a dress just for you, Lady Meia.”

Seeing Meia’s cheeks blush like pink apricots, Clairira was struck with an overwhelming wave of inspiration, like a massive ocean wave. Clairira didn’t try to suppress her rising smile.

“Thank you so much for giving me the honor of making your dress, hoho.”

“I like your dresses, Clairira.”

“It’s an honor, Lady.”

Meia smiled warmly and continued to praise Clairira, engaging in a conversation about dresses.

Seeing their harmonious interaction, Diana trembled and clenched her fists under the table.

Her pride was deeply hurt. How much money had she given to Clairira over the years! Yet she intended to make a dress solely for Meia! It was outrageous. Her lips pressed tightly together, and she couldn’t control the anger rising within her.

When their conversation paused momentarily, Diana seized the opportunity to call Clairira.

“Designer Clairira…”

“Yes, Lady Nordic.”

“Because of Lady Hatzbellua’s dress, you won’t be unable to make my dress… right?”

Clairira politely nodded and looked at her as she replied.

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to make it. I won’t be making any new dresses either.”

It felt like cold water had been poured over her head.

She felt betrayed by Clairira, who intended to make only Meia’s dress.

“You know I’ve always been waiting for your new dresses!”

“Diana!”

Lady Nordic stood up abruptly and raised her voice.

If Clairira accepted Diana’s dress inquiry here, it would reveal that the Viscount family had enough money to order dresses.

Despite being warned to be careful with her words, she had spoken rashly!

“Mother.”

“Be quiet.”

Realizing she had made a mistake, Diana bowed her head and closed her mouth.

‘She’s remarkable.’

Venable, who was beside them, barely restrained himself from applauding Meia’s behavior.

For most young ladies, this would be a situation where they could get angry. Being ignored would have made them angry and turned their faces red. Asking ‘what kind of relationship’ they had when they weren’t even close was extremely rude.

Yet Meia neither got angry nor demanded an apology.

She maintained a relaxed demeanor as if it was nothing. Saying she was remarkable was an understatement. Venable only wanted to start preparing for the wedding with Theodore immediately.

Looking at Meia with sparkling eyes, Venable pledged his loyalty once more.

‘If it’s not her, I can’t recognize anyone else as the Grand Duchess! If she doesn’t become the Grand Duchess, I will resign from my position as butler.’

With a firm resolve, Venable calmed his excited heart and exchanged glances with Head Maid Hannah.

In Hannah’s eyes, he saw the same loyalty as his own.

Serving the most noble person was both a blessing and a pride for the servants.

And giving a dress as a gift and having it accepted meant that their relationship had progressed to some extent.

It was a good decision to put them in one room. One room for a man and a woman! How romantic!

Moreover, since they might have an heir to the duchy, plans were made to continue putting them together in one room.

Just imagining it made Venable’s heart race and feel like it would explode with excitement.

He wanted to go outside the mansion immediately and boast to passersby.

‘Look! She is our Grand Duchess.’

In Venable’s mind, Meia was already the ‘Grand Duchess.’

Diana, who felt humiliated and insulted, continued to bite her lips and furrow her brow.

Another awkward silence ensued. Theodore hadn’t returned yet.

Diana raised her head and glared at Meia with her eyes wide open. Meia, receiving her intense gaze, spoke in a leisurely tone.

“Lady Nordic, are you staring at me so intently because you have something to say?”

Ash had said that Meia’s smiling appearance was as beautiful as a goddess, but to Diana, she looked like a witch.

“No.”

The dining room door opened, and Theodore, who had briefly attended to some business, entered.

As soon as he entered, he approached Meia, calling her name.

“Lady Meia.”

“Grand Duke Theodore, did you resolve the matter you attended to?”

“Of course. What were you discussing?”

A crooked smile began to form on Meia’s lips.

“Young Lady Nordic was also interested in ordering a dress from Clairira, so we were discussing it.”

Upon hearing Meia’s words, Theodore’s endlessly gentle voice sank as if it had reached the depths of the ocean.

“Lady Nordic.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“It seems the Viscount family is doing well in business these days.”

At his words, Lady Nordic flinched.

“M-my daughter misspoke. Please don’t misunderstand.”

Lady Nordic stammered with a pale face.

Meia, pretending to know nothing, tilted her head and spoke.

“Is it a mistake to inquire about a dress, Lady Nordic?”

When inquiring about a dress, one first selects a design and gets an estimate. Even the same dress can have different designs depending on the wearer’s taste. However, inquiring about a dress doesn’t necessarily mean purchasing it.

“Sometimes, young ladies without money only inquire about the dresses they want and don’t buy them, Grand Duke.”

“Is that so?”

“So if there are dresses that those young ladies inquired about but didn’t purchase, I often buy them instead.”

Theodore asked why she bought them.

“So I can give them as birthday presents.”

In this way, she made each noblewoman and young lady her ally.

“The recipients must have been very pleased.”

Theodore admired her. Seeing her prepare gifts for the birthdays of countless young ladies and noblewomen, he thought she wasn’t called the flower of the social world for nothing.

“So, Lady Nordic, Lady Diana’s words are not a mistake.”

“Yes…”

“I understand Lady Diana’s polite intentions.”

Suddenly singled out, Diana widened her eyes and looked at Meia.

“Pardon?”

“I can tell how much you love Clairira’s dresses since you inquired about new dresses from her, even though she should be focusing on mine.”

Theodore spoke in a tone as cold as ice.

“How absurd.”

He had just earnestly asked Clairira to make Meia’s dress well.

Yet now she inquired about new dresses?

Diana’s face began to harden.