Chapter 60

60. All Men Are Wolves

The full moon passed in the blink of an eye. Hundreds of carriages drove in and out of the imperial city as if to prove the emperor’s word that he would give Duke Tiflis a grand welcome party.

All manner of spices, fine wine, and the finest meats and fruits were brought to the palace. The shops were emptied, causing a commotion.

Skilled tailors, known for their craftsmanship, had long closed their reservations, and jewelers had long since sold out of their jewels.

There was also a flurry of nobility trying to walk the tightrope between the Emperor and the Duke of Tiflis. Nobles, both invited and uninvited, flocked to the capital, filling the streets with carriages.

The news of the welcome party for Duke Tiflis led some to believe that the Emperor had decided to embrace him and others to believe that Callion had raised a white flag against the Emperor.

As a result, before the reception, there were many visitors who sought to set their eyes on Callion. However, when Callion announced that he had vacated the mansion, the visits stopped.

Some women sought out Adelaide, but she refused to meet with them, citing illness.

She was not lying when she said that those familiar with Velido might recognize her when they entered the manor and that she was bedridden for many days afterward.

After a few stormy days, the day of the party arrived.

“It’s all done, Lady Adelaide. If there’s any discomfort, please let me know.”

The tailor who made the dress bowed politely. Adelaide stood before the full-length mirror and studied her reflection.

The dress was breathtakingly beautiful, made of pale ivory silk and intricately embroidered with gold thread.

The sleeves were ruffled so that they seemed to ripple with every movement, and the full, billowing skirt was densely studded with diamonds.

“It’s fine. You’ve done well.”

Madame Daisy bowed her head in Adelaide’s honor.

“Thank you for entrusting me, Your Grace.”

“You have saved me a great deal of trouble.”

Margaret handed her a purse filled with gold nuggets when Adelaide signaled with her eyes.

“You’ve already given me an advance payment…….”

“There may be more occasions in the future when I’ll need your services, so keep it.”

“I’m flattered.”

Madame Daisy bowed, thanking her again and again.

The sudden party caused a frenzy among the ladies who hadn’t been able to reserve dresses, but Adelaide had received contacts from quite a few dressmakers.

Whether it was good or bad, Adelaide was currently the most talked-about woman in the city. Naturally, attention was drawn to the dress she would wear. However, she rejected all proposals and summoned Madame Daisy.

Madame Daisy is the tailor who made Adelaide’s dress in Tiflis. She was so impressed with her workmanship that she sent word for her to come to the capital.

“I’ll spare no expense, so show me your skill.”

“I’ll create the most beautiful dress in the world for you, Your Grace.”

Madame Daisy worked with all her might and was quite pleased with the result.

If there’s nothing else you need, I’ll take my leave.”

“You’ve done well. We’ll be in touch again.”

With a polite bow, Madame Daisy exited the dressing room. Adelaide sighed and sat down in front of the mirror.

“How do you want your makeup done?”

“Glamorous. I must stand out.”

“Yes.”

Margaret began furiously applying her makeup. Her skin is fair and pale, so she doesn’t usually wear heavy makeup, but today she deliberately applied a lot of powder to emphasize her pale look.

She drew in her eyebrows with thick ink and applied red rouge to her cheeks and lips, transforming her stern look into a seductive one.

Her long, luscious hair was carefully braided and twisted into a bun, and a sapphire barrette was placed on top of it, and gold dust was added.

Her skin, smoothed by early morning soaks in perfumed oils, was also painted and dusted with gold. Her deeply sunken collarbones were shaded to make them appear more pronounced.

Callion complained that she was too thin, but in a society where fragility was a virtue, Adelaide’s thinness would be envied.

“What would you like for jewelry?”

“Let’s go with those.”

Adelaide pointed to a set of diamonds. It was the finest jewelry the Earl of Cornwall had ordered for her, and it was too extravagant for her to wear normally.

But today was her official appearance as Duchess Tiflis, so the more extravagant, the better.

Jealousy and envy are far better than pity and contempt. She’s the only one who’ll be criticized for being extravagant, but if she looks shabby, even Callion will be disrespected.

And she had to look pretty for Elkius, too.

Letting him know she’s still useful might buy her a little time.

‘I hate to touch that bastard to the point of death.’

Just because you hate something so much doesn’t mean you’ll die.

Adelaide pulled herself together and finished her makeup.

“Your Grace, Lucid is here.”

A familiar voice knocked on the door to the tourniquet room. Adelaide motioned to Margaret to open the door. Lucid stood in the doorway, an embarrassed smile on his face.

“I came to speak to you, but I see you’re in the middle of a makeover.”

“I’m done, come on in.”

“I don’t think this is the place to come in.”

“This is currently my office.”

After hesitating, Lucid closed his eyes tightly and entered the room. Adelaide glanced at him and said, nodding towards the black cloth in his hand.

“You may leave.”

“Yes.”

As the maids exited, Lucid placed the cloth he had brought on the table.

“It’s a gift.”

Instead of asking what it was, Adelaide untied the knot on the cloth herself. Inside the black cloth was a fist-sized red spinel gemstone.

“Where did you get this?”

“I heard there was one on the market, and I offered to pay double immediately, and it was sold right away.”

“Was there nothing else?”

“As far as I could find out, that was the case. There were others searching for red spinel, so the prices soared, but there were no goods to be found.”

“Good work. What about the blacksmith?”

“A smith was said to have bought a 20-carat ruby not long ago, so I’ve been keeping an eye on him, and coincidentally, he’s been coming and going from the temple a lot lately.”

It must be the blacksmith that Cardinal Orland entrusted with the job.

Adelaide nodded at the thought.

“Keep a close eye on him; he’s important.”

“Understood.”

Lucid replied simply, sensing what was going on without explanation.

As she had suspected, Regalia would not be revealed at this welcome party. The fact that the blacksmith hadn’t fled meant that the sword had not yet been completed.

Adelaide fiddled with the red spinel, lost in thought.

“This gem is precious, and only I know it.”

“I’ll pretend I don’t know either.”

Lucid smiled mischievously. Adelaide smiled back and slid the red spinel deeper into her jewelry box.

“I understand that Sir Lucid has been invited to the party. Is it okay for you to still stay here?”

“Of course it’s fine; I’ll be attending as a knight of the Duke of Tiflis.”

“Aren’t you coming as the heir to the Duke of Lephisto?”

“I’d rather not. It would be a nuisance if I were.”

Lucid shrugged, “I’m a bit popular with the ladies.”

Adelaide couldn’t help but laugh.

Indeed, if Lucid attended the reception as the heir to the Duke of Lephisto, he would have to endure the advances of various noble ladies and their mothers. It might be unpleasant.

“Then you can dance with me later.”

“Would you be okay with me?”

“Who else would be suitable if not the heir to the Duke of Lephisto?”

“But His Grace might not like it.”

“His Grace dislikes dancing even more.”

“Who said that?”

Callion interrupted, cutting them off.

“Your Grace.”

Callion, dressed in banquet attire, entered the troupe room.

Adelaide, giving Lucid a meaningful look, approached him. Seizing the opportunity as Lucid adjusted his crooked cravat, Adelaide gestured for him to leave the room, and Lucid quickly made his exit.

“You look lovely.”

Callion’s eyes narrowed at the whispered comment.

“What did you and Lucid talk about?”

“He asked if he could stay by my side if you were to become busy later.”

“There’s no need for that.”

“You’ll be busy.”

“Well, ……I guess I’ll have to be busy to keep the wolves away.”

“What?”

She asked, startled by her own unintelligible muttering.

“Who did you get all dressed up for?”

“It’s an important party, so of course I have to dress up. …Why? Don’t you like it?”

Callion held off on answering and just stared at her.

As he examined her outfit, wondering what was wrong, a voice filled with dissatisfaction broke through.

“I don’t like it.”

“What’s wrong?”

Scanning the room, Callion grabbed her shawl and draped it around her shoulders. The sable fur hid the white flesh that had dazzled him.

“What kind of sable fur is……. in this weather?”

“Never take it off; all men are wolves.”

“But you are also a man… … Huh!”

Before she could finish her retort, her mouth was covered. Feeling the rough texture in her mouth, Adelaide pounded his chest with her clenched fist. Of course, Callion pretended not to hear.

Their lips parted only after her high-heeled shoes stomped on the instep of his foot. Her carefully applied makeup was now smeared.

Callion rubbed the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Of course, I’m a wolf too.”