Duke Esteban, who had just changed into formal attire, looked at me sitting blankly on the sofa and asked with concern.

After much effort, we had finally finished discussing the wedding venue and gifts. Now all that remained was fitting the clothes for the ceremony.

That’s why today we met alone, without Elysion.

“No. I’m fine.”

A blatant lie.

Having just tried on dozens of dresses like a dress-up doll, I was half-drained.

In this state, if I saw a butterfly, I might wonder—as that famous Eastern philosopher once said—whether I was a butterfly or the butterfly was me.

“Is that so? You still look unwell, so let’s finish selecting clothes for today and meet again another time.”

The Duke’s words felt like an oasis in the desert.

“Really?”

“You are tired, aren’t you?”

“Not exactly…”

“If it’s difficult, please tell me. I’ll try to adjust to your schedule as much as possible. Let’s get you up for now.”

The Duke extended his hand to me, and I took it to stand up.

This would normally be unthinkable, but the public setting made it possible.

“Send the bill to the Esteban residence.”

After instructing the employee, the Duke placed one hand around my waist and guided me toward the entrance.

Simultaneously, gasps erupted among the female staff.

To them, we probably looked like a happy couple preparing for marriage.

Come to think of it, it was similar when I married Alex. These gazes and reactions weren’t entirely unfamiliar.

Life truly is unpredictable.

During my marriage to Alex, I thought I’d never marry again, yet here I was, heading toward a second marriage.

Even if it was a contract marriage, marriage was still marriage.

“Levedi, is something troubling you?”

While returning home in the carriage, Duke Esteban suddenly asked.

“Why do you think so?”

“Besides looking tired, your expression seems troubled.”

After considering his words briefly, I responded.

“It’s nothing special. Every business faces obstacles.”

“I see. If it becomes too difficult, please ask. As a businessman myself, I might be able to help.”

He calmly acknowledged my words and added this. He was consistently considerate and caring.

Perhaps that’s why I felt drawn to him yet anxious at the same time.

Most men would do anything to win a woman over, only to grow bored once she became theirs. I’d seen it happen many times.

What if he was one of those men? He might be different, but I couldn’t guarantee it.

I didn’t want to give my heart to him only to be abandoned and miserable when his mask eventually fell away.

That’s why I appreciated our current distance. Not too far, not too close—just right.

“A fashion show might fall through.”

“…A fashion show?”

The Duke stared at me with surprised eyes as I nodded.

After contemplating for a while, he carefully asked a follow-up question.

“How did that happen?”

“A model walked out. She insisted on unreasonable alterations because she didn’t like the clothes.”

The Duke let out an incredulous laugh.

“That’s truly shameless.”

“Indeed.”

“But couldn’t you use another model?”

I shook my head at his question.

“It’s complicated… The clothes were tailored specifically for her body type.”

“Ah.”

The Duke nodded in understanding. I’d heard he was involved in the fashion business among his other ventures, so he likely understood despite my brief explanation.

“That is certainly troublesome.”

“Exactly.”

“But who is this model? I’m curious about who would act so irresponsibly.”

“Lady Ersia Artel.”

Just saying her name brought back yesterday’s events, reigniting my anger.

“Lady Ersia?”

For some reason, the Duke seemed startled upon hearing the model’s name, and I nodded.

“Do you know her?”

After brief consideration, the Duke slowly nodded and answered.

“Yes, I do. She’s quite thin, isn’t she? I remember Diamond Trading Company’s fashion brand La Fleur tried to recruit her before.”

“Really?”

“Yes. But with her body type, she should be similar to you, Levedi…”

As he spoke, the Duke’s eyes scanned me.

But his gaze was purely business-like, without any ulterior motives, so I didn’t feel uncomfortable—just a bit surprised.

What came from his lips next amplified that surprise.

“…Would it fit you?”

“Pardon?”

Noticing my surprise, the Duke replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

“The clothes, I mean. Your figures seem similar, even if not identical.”

“…Do you think so?”

“Yes. Not to boast, but working in trading has given me a good eye for these things. When I say something’s similar, it usually is.”

“……!”

Why did one possibility suddenly flash through my mind?

‘Could it be possible?’

Even while doubting, my hands were already pulling out a size chart from my handbag.

It was a chart I always carried to reference when recruiting models on the street.

Looking at Ersia’s measurements, I could only swallow my astonishment.

The Duke tilted his head curiously at my reaction.

“What’s wrong?”

“They are similar, truly.”

“Oh, may I see?”

But I shook my head at his request.

“That wouldn’t be appropriate.”

“Why not?”

“This is… confidential.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Of course!”

“I understand.”

When the Duke acknowledged this, I breathed a sigh of relief.

In truth, all that talk about confidentiality was nonsense. I had a different reason for hiding her measurements.

Her measurements were indeed almost identical to mine, as the Duke had said.

Even the slight differences were in areas where I was smaller, so with some pins to secure the clothes, they would fit perfectly.

The problem was the chest.

‘She really does have an impressive chest, as she boasted…’

I looked down at my own modest chest.

While I’ve never been particularly fixated on br*ast size, seeing Ersia’s measurements compared to mine left me feeling somewhat empty.

‘If I were to wear it, I’d need some padding.’

But there was another issue.

“Are you suggesting I walk the runway?”

The Duke nodded as if it were no problem at all.

“Yes. Someone with your proportions would make an excellent model. Plus, as the brand’s representative, you’d have a deep understanding of the clothing.”

While the Duke’s compliment made me feel proud, the thought of actually walking the runway embarrassed me.

I wondered if I could really do it.

But there was an even bigger problem.

“What about my face?”

“Couldn’t you cover it as usual?”

“That would clash with the outfit and make it seem like a masquerade ball.”

The Duke responded with an “Ah” and nodded in understanding.

“You make a valid point. What about revealing your face then?”

“What?”

“No one knows Rose’s face anyway.”

“You want me to pretend to be a model?”

To my alarmed question, the Duke replied as if it were no big deal.

“It’s just a brief appearance on stage. I’ve heard you occasionally modeled for the brand before marriage, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“That may be true, but…”

Everything the Duke said made sense. Yet I couldn’t readily agree.

After hearing the Duke’s suggestion and returning to the trading company, my first action was to find Baroness Dupont.

I told her I wanted to try on the main dress for this season.

Incredibly, the dress fit my body almost perfectly.

‘The Duke really does have a good eye.’

Baroness Dupont couldn’t hide her surprise.

“My goodness, bravo! Madam Rose, your figure is truly excellent. If you weren’t who you are, I would have begged to recruit you as a model right away.”

She couldn’t take her eyes off me. I too found myself repeatedly glancing at my unfamiliar reflection in the mirror.

Or more precisely, at the beautiful dress I was wearing.

“This dress is truly beautiful. It seems a waste to put it on a mannequin.”

“Exactly. Ersia… ugh, just thinking about her makes my blood boil.”

“I sympathize.”

I don’t typically enjoy gossiping about others.

But Ersia was different. I felt angry whenever I thought about her.

I couldn’t understand how she could ruin an opportunity that many people had worked on for months simply due to a personal whim.

Moreover, trying on the dress myself only made me angrier.

How could she claim this beautiful dress was unfashionable?

‘I wouldn’t use such a model anyway.’

But I quickly calmed myself with that thought.

Then Baroness Dupont asked me a question.

“What prompted you to try it on?”

“……”

“Could it be… you’re considering walking the runway yourself?”

I shook my head at her words.

“Well, I’m not sure yet. I tried it on just to consider the possibility. Does it look good to you?”

I asked, meeting her eyes, and after some thought, she spoke.

“Your figures are quite similar, so with some pins to secure it, the fit would be beautiful. It’s surprising that this dress fits you.”

She still seemed amazed that the dress fit me.

“If you’re comfortable with it, you’d be perfect for the runway. But revealing your face would be uncomfortable, wouldn’t it?”

Baroness Dupont had seen my face for a long time.

But she had only ever seen me wearing my mask and knew only that I was a noblewoman, not that I was Levedi Ophelia.

That’s why she would say such things.

“It would be somewhat difficult.”

“…I see.”

Baroness Dupont looked genuinely disappointed.

In her gaze, I glimpsed the desire of a creator.

She wanted to see her creation adorning a person rather than a mannequin, bringing it to life.

While I fully understood her feelings, that was all.

‘If I went on stage, it would surely become a spectacle.’

The reason I couldn’t reveal my face and walk the runway as Levedi Ophelia was simple.

Because I was divorced from Alex.

In this society, a divorced woman was such a figure—deserving of everyone’s scorn and ridicule.

Especially for someone like me, once called the flower of society, admired and envied by many.

I couldn’t even begin to imagine the criticism that would come my way.

The mere thought of it left me breathless.

Looking at the disappointed Baroness Dupont, I said:

“I’ll keep the mannequin as a last resort and try to find a model before the show.”

At my words, Baroness Dupont’s face brightened.

“Would you really?”

“Of course. I don’t want to see such a beautiful dress on a mannequin either.”

“But models with that body type aren’t common… I wonder if it will work out.”

“I’ll do what I can.”

Though I wasn’t sure if it would work out.

I’ve always felt that while business requires painful effort and skill, ultimately luck is most important.

After all, I hadn’t found a single model who fit that dress.

The problem was that today was the day of the fashion show.

Morning arrived without fail.

Looking at the ownerless dress hanging in the dressing room, I could only sigh deeply.

‘What should I do?’

Is putting it on a mannequin really the only option?

I regretfully touched the completed dress while gazing at it. But such leisure didn’t last long.

The door opened, and Ilina entered the waiting room.

Her appearance drew the attention of all the models who were getting ready.

Seeing me, Ilina spoke with urgency.

“Madam Rose, the first part rehearsal is about to begin. Please come quickly.”

Today’s fashion show was divided into two main parts. The first featured Black Velvet’s spring collection, while the second celebrated White Velvet’s launch.

“Already?”

“Yes, yes. The set and models are ready, and everyone’s waiting for you.”

“Ah. I understand, let’s go.”

Finally, I had to turn away from the dress and follow Ilina.

The seasonal fashion shows held by each brand were popular among the noble ladies of the capital.

They also substantially impacted sales, so successfully hosting a fashion show could determine the year’s business prospects.

This particular show was especially important as it not only showcased the season’s new collection but also celebrated White Velvet’s launch.

Before the rehearsal began, I gathered the models and senior staff for a pep talk.

With everyone gathered in a circle, all eyes focused on me as I led the conversation.

At first, such attention embarrassed me, but after two years as a trading company head, this had become routine.

“As you all know, Black Velvet is Black Rose’s biggest business. This means many people’s livelihoods depend on this fashion show. Understood?”

“Yes!!”

Affirmations echoed from all around. Satisfied, I continued.

“We need to execute this fashion show flawlessly. However, making mistakes won’t ruin everything, so even if you do make a mistake, handle it professionally. That’s all.”

Since lengthy speeches tend to obscure the main point, I concluded my brief encouragement with those two sentences.

Soon everyone dispersed to their positions.

Just before the rehearsal began in earnest, I surveyed the set.

After months of pouring our souls into preparing for this fashion show, the set reflected our efforts with its splendid appearance.

Impressive enough to overwhelm viewers with just the set alone.

Just as a satisfied smile was about to form on my face, a drum sounded majestically, signaling the start of the rehearsal.

I hurried to the waiting room.

I still had a decision to make.

“Your Highness, this is the place.”

“So this is Black Velvet’s fashion show venue.”

In front of the fashion show venue showcasing Black Velvet’s new collection, crowded with people, two robed women lingered, exchanging secretive conversation.

But that didn’t last long.

“Let’s go in.”

Soon the woman addressed as “Your Highness” boldly stepped inside, followed by the other woman.

Several gazes turned toward them.

The woman called “Your Highness” wore a dress and shoes, but walked with the commanding presence of a military officer on the battlefield.

“The set is quite elaborate. There seems to be more to see than I expected.”

“Didn’t I tell you it would be worth it, Your Highness?”

The woman addressed as “Your Highness” removed her robe, draped it over the armrest, and responded to the woman seated beside her.

“Perhaps you were right.”

As she removed her robe, wavy blonde hair that had been hidden beneath cascaded down past her shoulders.

Her golden eyes gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight.

It was then that the surrounding gazes turned toward her.

This was natural, as golden hair like molten gold and honey-colored eyes symbolized the Imperial Family of the Ricardo Empire.

Accustomed to such attention, she casually tossed her long, cumbersome hair over her shoulder and focused on the stage that was about to begin.

Estelia Ricardo.

She was the legitimate Imperial Princess born to the Emperor and Empress of Ricardo, and the future heir to the throne.

Despite being female, her designation as successor meant she had walked a path quite different from other imperial princesses and noble ladies.

While her peers wore tight corsets and learned etiquette, she donned training clothes and wielded a sword.