His always neatly combed black hair, facial features as if delicately carved with a sculptor’s knife, plus the halo of being the head of the Klaus ducal family. There was nothing about him that didn’t stand out.

Even Diez, who had been confined to the mansion, could easily sense it. He would be someone who drew attention wherever he went. Especially here, in this bustling district lined with luxury salons for the wealthy.

What if I appear with him?

‘I’ll definitely attract attention too.’

Just imagining someone recognizing her made her face turn pale and her stomach churn. As she hesitated, unable to get out, a cold, rigid voice fell upon her head.

“Miss Schleicher. I believe I clearly told you not to make things difficult.”

She didn’t want to get out. Even if she had to make do with just one dress for a year, she only wanted to return to the mansion.

Jürgen, who had been staring down at her, bent down to meet her gaze directly. Her first thought was that he was irritated. Of course, that was natural. She had dared to hesitate in front of the Duke of Klaus.

For a brief moment, his blue eyes quickly scanned her complexion.

“What’s wrong?”

“……Well.”

“If you’re feeling unwell, tell me.”

Surprised, Diez looked up. His expression was still as cold as ever, but was it her imagination? Jürgen’s voice asking about her condition seemed almost……

‘If I said he seemed concerned for me, anyone would laugh at me.’

It must have been a misconception.

Having reached that conclusion, Diez decided to tell the truth after brief consideration.

“I’m a bit scared, to be honest.”

“Scared?”

“In case there are people who might recognize me……”

“There’s no one who doesn’t know that you were sold to my family.”

He said coldly.

“Stop dawdling and get out of the car. Do you think I’m proud to be seen with you?”

There was nothing to gain by further irritating Jürgen’s nerves. Yet she also didn’t have the courage to reveal her true desire to return to the mansion right away, so Diez reluctantly took Jürgen’s hand and got out of the car.

‘If only I could wear a hat.’

The bustling district hadn’t seemed so frightening when she was alone…… Could one fact—that she was accompanied by Jürgen—make such a difference?

It already felt like people’s gazes were gathering on them. Not wanting to confirm whether this was her imagination or not, she bowed her head deeply.

After staring at her for a moment, Jürgen issued what was almost an order.

“Raise your head.”

“……But.”

“Do you realize that such an attitude will only draw more attention from others?”

As she hesitated, still unable to raise her head, Jürgen forcibly lifted her chin. Her blue eyes, filled with bewilderment, met his cold gaze.

“Miss Schleicher. I too dislike causing misunderstandings.”

“……”

“I despised and scorned my father more than anyone else. What disgusted me most was that he satisfied his base desires through you every night.”

“……I……”

“So stop acting like an abused puppy. When you act like that, it looks as if I’m the one holding your leash.”

Disgusting. The look he gave Diez seemed to say just that.

‘If you hate it so much, why did you ask me to come with you?’

Of course, Diez had nothing to say. She found herself pathetic and frustrating. She should have just said she would go alone this time.

But there was nothing she could do about the way her words got stuck in her throat whenever she stood before him.

Diez was the embodiment of shame, and Jürgen was the Duke of Klaus who reigned from the highest position.

His eyes, which had seemed ready to spit out harsh words at any moment, softened somewhat.

“Don’t act like a criminal and stay calm.”

Diez nodded slightly.

The answer she could give him had been predetermined from the start anyway.

Jürgen was the first to move. Feeling truly like a dog on a leash, Diez simply followed behind him.

Just as she was thinking it would be better if people mistook her for a servant accompanying her master, Jürgen stopped walking.

Ding-a-ling. As the door opened, a luxurious interior space was revealed before Diez’s eyes. It was the very salon she had hesitated to enter when she had been in town before.

“Um, Your Grace. This is……”

Instead of answering, he gave her an obvious look. As always, Diez was completely helpless before his gaze.

Meanwhile, the salon owner, delighted to receive such an esteemed customer, approached them with elegant steps and smiled.

“Ah, Your Grace. I was just wondering when you might visit.”

Jürgen nodded briefly toward the madam.

“You should have received a call in advance.”

“Of course. Everything is prepared, so please come inside.”

What could she mean by “everything is prepared”? While Diez was blinking in confusion, the gazes of all the staff, including the madam, turned toward her.

Her heart beat low.

“Follow me, Miss.”

Diez gathered her trembling breath and followed the staff who led the way. They guided her to a large dressing room.

Dozens of splendid and elegant dresses hung on hangers at regular intervals before her eyes.

But they weren’t new clothes……

Diez recognized them.

What they showed her was clearly the very clothes that the Little Lady of Lehart had favored wearing five years ago.

Standing frozen in front of the dressing room, Diez felt as if even her breathing had stopped. The remnants of the past flashed before her eyes like a mirage before quickly disappearing.

These dresses, which might look ordinary to others, were like fragments of lost memories for Diez.

The silk dress she often wore during tea time. The one hanging there was what she had worn on her last garden outing…… and there was even the velvet dress her father had bought for her, which she had especially cherished.

Why have these clothes suddenly appeared before me?

But what surprised her even more was the fact that she remembered each and every dress she had worn in the past.

The beautiful dresses still shone brilliantly.

In the past five years, only Diez had faded.

In the place where memories that had become eternal past had gone by, only one question remained.

Why? For what reason?

She wanted to turn to look at Jürgen, but her body wouldn’t move, as if she had become a wooden doll. What finally awakened Diez was the kind voice of a salon employee.

“We’ll help you dress, Miss.”

“……Dress, you say?”

“We’ve completed all the basic alterations, but a dress only has meaning when it pleases the lady wearing it.”

It was skillful speech that tactfully circumvented the issue, as expected of someone accustomed to dealing with upper-class clients. Diez stared at the staff members waiting for her approach, half-frozen.

Of course, trying on clothes was fine.

But……

‘These people will see all the scars on my body.’

Just imagining the scars from the late Duke’s beatings being exposed to the staff made her feel sick to her stomach. The staff members who witnessed her suddenly pale complexion looked concerned.

“Miss, are you feeling unwell……”

What should I say?

How can I explain this naturally? How far have the rumors spread? Do these people also know that I was beaten?

As numerous thoughts flashed through her mind, Diez flinched and trembled at the presence she felt behind her.

The heavy footsteps belonged to none other than Jürgen. Maintaining his usual stiff, expressionless face, he instructed the staff,

“I will help her dress myself, so please step outside for a moment.”

No further explanation was necessary. The Duke of Klaus’s authority remained valid outside the mansion as well. The staff, accustomed to dealing with sensitive and demanding nobles, withdrew from the dressing room without showing any sign of confusion.

Click. As the door closed, Diez let out a small sigh of relief. Of course, it was still too early to feel completely at ease. This was because of Jürgen standing beside her.

‘Will he spout harsh words again?’

But contrary to her expectations, Jürgen neither reproached nor blamed Diez. Instead, he picked up a dress the staff had left behind and said,

“Undress yourself.”

His tone was still cold. His attitude, no different from usual, confused Diez even more. Did he send all the staff away out of consideration for me? No, that couldn’t be.

Jürgen surely…

Making him impatient would only invite harsh words. Belatedly coming to her senses, Diez reached for the fastening, but her fingers kept slipping on the buttons.

Suddenly everything felt heartbreaking. Once, she had chosen dresses here with her family or friends. She had been truly happy then. The salon remained as elegant as it was five years ago, unchanged, and the dresses she had loved as a young lady were displayed before her, disrupting her vision.

I’ll never be able to return to those days.

Her vision blurred. Even knowing she shouldn’t, she had no way to stop the tears that had already begun to well up.

If I cry here, Jürgen will surely hate it.

What should I do if he gets fed up and leaves me here?

“I’m, I’m sorry.”

The apology reflexively burst out. She hurriedly wiped away her tears, but it was of little use. Diez was too unstable to contain the sorrow she had been suppressing all this time.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace.”

“Diez.”

Not even noticing that he had called her by name, Diez covered her mouth to prevent sobs from escaping, completely overcome with dismay.