Yelodia asked, her voice sharp, as though trying to hide her emotions.

“Can you sit and wait on the chair?”

“The crinoline under your dress is reinforced with whale bones. Not only would it be impossible for you to break them with your strength, but sitting down would ruin the structure entirely, and we’d have to remake the dress from scratch.”

“My legs are already tired,” Yelodia complained.

Sona felt a headache coming on. Noble ladies and their whims—what a troublesome combination.

Still, she couldn’t possibly scold the Duke of Xavier’s precious daughter in front of her fiancé, especially not about the dangers of sitting. Even if they were alone, that wouldn’t change much.

Removing the crinoline for a short while wouldn’t ruin the dress. Sona quickly calculated her options.

“In that case…”

“Would you extend your arms for a moment?”

Unexpectedly, it was Edward who resolved the situation.

He slipped an arm around Yelodia’s waist and effortlessly lifted her. He set her down on a high, backless chair. The crinoline’s basket-like frame hovered just above the floor, leaving her balanced on the chair as though riding a horse. Any thoughts of Edward’s hands touching her were quickly forgotten in the novelty of the moment.

“Is this alright?”

“Yes, much better. I never thought I could sit like this while wearing such a dress.”

“Women’s attire is more cumbersome than I realized.”

“I’m fine with it. After the wedding, I have no intention of ever wearing crinolines with whale bones or steel wires again.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Edward kept a close eye on Yelodia, making sure she didn’t tip backward.

As they focused on each other, Sona hid a smile and carefully opened the door. She didn’t forget to send a silent signal to Martha, who stood quietly in a corner.

If they couldn’t find the accessory within the next thirty minutes, Yelodia would likely forgive her for the delay.

Once Sona and Martha slipped out, Edward spoke calmly.

“I didn’t realize she was a seamstress. You seem close—are you well-acquainted?”

“About twenty years ago, my mother discovered Sona’s mother, who owned a struggling dress shop. They became patron and mentor.”

Yelodia smiled with a sense of pride and continued, “Sona seems to have inherited her mother’s talent. Her boutique has since become the most renowned in Freia. She’s made all my dresses ever since.”

“I see.”

Edward glanced down at his formal attire, his expression neutral.

Yelodia took a moment to observe him. His tall, slender build suited the black formal wear perfectly. She had never met anyone as sharp yet elegant as Edward.

She had a feeling she never would again.

When Edward suddenly looked up, Yelodia instinctively swallowed.

“Baron, wouldn’t it be better for you to sit as well? Your legs must be tired.”

“I’m fine. This is nothing.”

“Is that so?”

Yelodia fiddled absentmindedly with her fingers.

Now that they were alone, she felt tense, unsure of what to say. She was curious about his former fiancée but didn’t know how to broach the subject. It wasn’t something to be asked so abruptly.

“To be honest, I was surprised when I received your letter. I didn’t expect you to send me a handwritten card.”

Yelodia snapped out of her thoughts and looked up. Edward regarded her with a gentle mixture of curiosity and goodwill.

“I thought we wouldn’t meet again until the engagement ceremony if I didn’t take the initiative. Did it bother you?”

“Not at all. I should have reached out first. I apologize for my oversight.”

“Then… next time, will you invite me?”

Edward looked slightly taken aback.

“Would the Duke be alright with that?”

“If I can persuade my youngest brother to accompany me, he’ll act as my chaperone. My second brother would also want to meet my fiancé before the ceremony. If I bring them as my guardians, Father will understand.”

“I see.”

Edward imagined Yelodia arriving with her second and third brothers in tow and couldn’t help but feel a wry smile tug at his lips.

He suddenly recalled the piercing gaze of Kias Xavier, the Duke’s second son, during a recent imperial banquet. Kias had watched Edward’s every move with hawk-like intensity.

Even the most exquisite meal, worth its weight in gold, had been tasteless under such scrutiny.

Still, Edward found himself wondering why the Duke had so readily agreed to his daughter’s marriage. His gaze drifted back to Yelodia, who sat quietly.

From the start, he had felt an almost untouchable aura around her, despite her being just seventeen.

Her most striking feature was her large, clear eyes. Beneath fluttering lashes, her irises shifted between a transparent lake and a deep forest depending on the light. Her snow-white skin gleamed like polished pearls, and her delicate nose and rose-tinted lips harmonized perfectly.

Had she debuted in high society, Edward doubted he’d have ever had the chance to speak with her.

“Is there anything you’d like to do before the wedding?”

“What do you mean, ‘before the wedding’?”

At Yelodia’s bewildered question, Edward shrugged lightly and replied.

“After the engagement ceremony, the wedding won’t take long. It seems like you’ll be getting married at a rather young age… If there’s anything you’d like to do before then, please let me know.”

“You really don’t know much about the nobility, do you, Baron? Noblewomen actually have more freedom ‘after’ they get married. There’s much more we can do then.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. But don’t worry, I’m not foolish enough to confuse freedom with indulgence. Freedom always comes with responsibility. I hope you’ll also honor what needs to be upheld.”

“I will do so.”

Edward answered without hesitation.

Had Edward been aware of the scandalous affairs and betrayals that plagued the social circles, he wouldn’t have responded so lightly to Yelodia’s words. But knowing this, she simply smiled softly without adding further comments.

“It seems Sona hasn’t been able to find the jewelry. Would you help me up?”

Edward silently watched Yelodia for a moment, then gently lifted her off the ground. Her touch was surprisingly soft and delicate.

Yelodia averted her eyes and stepped back demurely. She then called her maid, who was standing guard by the door, as though it were the most natural thing.

“Martha, you may come in now.”

The maid quietly opened the door and stepped inside.

Yelodia gave Edward a bashful smile, her expression one of innocence, despite his somewhat startled gaze.

“I can’t return home too late, so I’ll be on my way now. I’ll wait for your message, Baron.”

***

The very next morning after parting ways with Edward at the tailor shop, Yelodia woke up and rubbed her bleary eyes.

The sunlight streaming through the curtains was both vibrant and warm.

Stretching her arms lazily, she pulled the servant bell.

“I want to bathe right away.”

“Right away, my lady.”

With the help of her maids, Yelodia bathed, had breakfast, and informed her tutor that she wasn’t feeling well and would skip her lessons for the day.

“I want to be alone for a while.”

After dismissing the maids, Yelodia crossed the adjoining sitting room and entered her walk-in wardrobe.

The spacious and cozy room was lined with vibrant dresses and meticulously arranged accessories, like a queen’s treasure trove.

“Hmm…”

After idly surveying the room, Yelodia strode toward a particular corner—the very space her maid Martha abhorred.

There hung an assortment of shirts and trousers. Despite her complaints, Martha meticulously cleaned and ironed them like all of Yelodia’s other clothes.

Yelodia selected a long-sleeve shirt, a doublet, knee-length trousers, and hose.

Tying back her curly red hair with a blue satin ribbon and securing a dagger at her side, she completed her ensemble.

“This should do,” she muttered, exhaling a satisfied sigh before the large mirror. She resembled a noble young man.

Sneaking back into the sitting room, Yelodia cautiously opened the door and tiptoed down the hallway, heading for the rear staircase.

“Where are you going?”

“…!”

Yelodia flinched and turned around, barely stifling a scream.

Emerging from the shadows at the base of the stairs was none other than Martha.

“When did you start standing there?!”

“Since you stared blankly out the window during breakfast, my lady. It’s always a sign that mischief is brewing.”

Martha sighed, her expression troubled.

“You’re really going out dressed like that?”

“I’m just heading out to buy summer dresses this time.”

Yelodia answered shamelessly, leaving Martha speechless.

“That’s… unusual for you, my lady.”

“Well, I’ll be debuting in society this season, won’t I? We’ll also have more visitors at the estate. I can’t possibly wear the same dresses every day.”

“But all your party dresses are made by Sona.”

“Exactly. I was on my way to see her.”

“In that outfit?”

Martha couldn’t help but point out.

Yelodia was dressed as a man. There wasn’t another noblewoman in the empire who’d visit a high-end tailor in men’s attire.

Unless, of course, she intended to scandalize every naive young lady present.

Martha’s eyes narrowed sharply.