The Ruthless Circumstances of the Monstrous Duke - Chapter 22

“With these measurements, the clothes I brought should fit fine. Don’t you think so, Andrew?”

“She could easily be Le Blanc’s muse.”

The seamstress joked while noting down the measurements Chloe called out, with his back turned.

“So I hear, lucky Miss Rose.”

Chloe winked playfully and snapped her thumb and index finger out of habit.

At that, the quick-witted Bell handed over one of the dresses she had taken out of a box.

Chloe winked at Bell while hanging the tape measure around her neck.

“Honey, the more I look at you, the more I want you.”

Bell blushed, pleased.

After trying various dresses on Marienne, Chloe recommended a white dress with a neckline that accentuated her slender neck and straight collarbone.

Delicate lace elegantly but daringly spread along the curves of her chest.

“Isn’t it… a bit too much?”

In response to Marienne’s comment, Chloe found a flimsy dress and hung it on her finger.

When she blew on it, it was thin enough to float in the air.

The innocent eyes of Marienne and Bell watching widened.

“This would be considered too much, don’t you think?”

“Surely… that’s not for me to wear as well?”

“Of course it is, it’ll be fantastic. It’s a dress you’d only receive next year even if you ordered it now, due to the backlog of reservations. Of course, any order from Bernac takes top priority. Oh! Except for Her Highness the Princess. She’s royalty after all.”

Chloe waved the piece of cloth that was embarrassing to even call a dress.

Then she pushed away the clothes Marienne had taken off with the toe of her shoe.

“Let’s get rid of clothes that could cause a nervous breakdown.”

Bell gathered all of Marienne’s clothes hanging in the wardrobe and put them in a box.

“Oh, Miss Rose, if that cutie disappears, you’ll think I kidnapped her.”

Marienne and Bell smiled at each other at the lady’s wit.

Chloe downed the remaining tea in one gulp and clapped her hands.

“Now, let’s pick up the pace. We need time to do makeup and put up your hair to match the dress. Cutie, help me out a bit. Andrew, take in the waist of the dress by about one finger joint. The waistline will come alive spectacularly. Quickly now, it would be troublesome if Miss Rose is late for the evening dinner.”

“Am I going there?”

“You haven’t heard yet, I see.”

“Thank you for your words, but I’ll have to decline. I don’t even know how to eat properly… I’ll just be a burden to the Duke and the others.”

For Chloe, who dealt with arrogant noble ladies, Marienne’s modesty was quite refreshing.

The sympathy she felt for a guest after a long time also fueled her passion.

“Trust me. Your presence alone will make that place shine.”

* * *

“Your Grace, it’s getting late. Shall we move to the dining hall now?”

Nigel, who had been discussing the diamond mining rights that were in conflict with the Rampton family, rubbed his eyebrow with his thumb.

Everyone looked visibly tired and hungry from the long debate.

His aide Aaron, vice-commander Benwick, and the knight Hector, who often lost credibility due to his loose tongue, followed their lord out of the room.

It was when Nigel’s entourage entered the central hall on the first floor,

“Darling!”

Aaron waved to his wife coming down the stairs.

Nigel also nodded a greeting to the Baroness.

“Oh, my word! Light has descended upon Louer!”

Hector exclaimed in disbelief, his mouth agape.

Aaron and Benwick also let out exclamations of admiration as they followed his gaze.

To Marienne Rose, who was shyly descending the stairs while holding the railing.

Wearing a pure white dress with her red hair pinned up, Marienne looked unrecognizably elegant and alluring.

Hector uncouthly whistled, while Aaron clapped his hands, showing off his wife’s skills.

Benwick also nodded, concluding that the commotion at the archery range had been an intense lovers’ quarrel.

After all, their lord couldn’t take his eyes off the woman.

The woman descending the stairs also had her gaze fixed only on their lord.

Benwick smiled slightly and tripped Hector, who was walking towards the landing.

Because fools without tact are always a problem, no matter where they go.

When Marienne had two or three steps left, Nigel approached.

With each step he took towards her, Marienne felt an equal desire to run away.

But at the same time, she felt an impulse to boldly reach out her hand.

She couldn’t make sense of her own feelings.

Rather, she wanted to ask dully. Why everything around her was blurry, but only he was clear, and why the moment of waiting felt so distant.

To the tense Marienne, Nigel politely offered his bent arm.

Marienne gently placed her trembling hand on it.

The two headed towards the dining hall, not breaking eye contact.

Gazing into those ash-colored eyes, Marienne recalled the three silver coins she had received this morning.

A scarecrow dressed in silk doesn’t turn the straw in its belly into gold thread.

It will only become a laughable mockery someday.

Don’t be deceived by the plausible illusion of three hundred deniso.

She slowly averted her gaze from him.

In the dining hall, guided by servants in uniforms, rare dishes decorated with peacock feathers and fresh flowers were served on fine tableware.

Trying not to look around clumsily, Marienne sat down next to Nigel.

An awkward smile flickered over the silver candlestick.

She knew how to eat the food served on the plates and drink the wine in the glasses, but what was this?

A large bowl filled with water had flower petals floating in it.

It was too large to hold and drink from, and there were too few petals for it to be purely decorative.

Should she use the empty glass to scoop as much water as she wanted to drink?

She discreetly looked around, but the Baron and his wife and the knights were busy talking among themselves.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Marienne picked up a flower petal floating in the bowl. Then she nibbled on the edge, trying not to let others notice.

A fresh scent spread in her mouth.

She was wondering, but they really were real flower petals.

She tried to crumple the flower petal and hide it in her hand, but a long hand caught hers. Then it led her to the water in the bowl.

The small, bitten petal floated chaotically on the water’s surface.

Marienne looked bewilderedly at Nigel, who was washing her hand.

He unfolded a white cloth and even wiped the moisture from her hand, then nonchalantly picked up his wine glass.

Marienne’s face flushed with embarrassment. Even her nape felt hot.

She couldn’t even taste the fantastic dishes that the chef had put his heart and soul into.

Answering curious questions briefly, Marienne desperately tried to prevent any mistakes.

When the long, suffocating dinner finally ended, she was completely exhausted.

So she just curtsied to the Duke who had accompanied her to her room, without even saying goodnight, and went inside.

She could imagine his bewildered face, but she couldn’t bear any more of the continuous stimulation that felt like being caught in a storm.

As soon as she entered, she collapsed on the bed, writhing in self-loathing before falling asleep.

When she opened her eyes again, it was the dead of night.

Looking in the mirror, she was a mess.

Her dress was wrinkled, and her hair was disheveled and puffy.

She wanted to ask Bell for help, but fearing she might wake her, Marienne started to undress herself.

The dress was easy since she had put it on and taken it off alone, but the problem was the corset she had worn for the first time.

It was difficult to untie the laces that haphazardly bound her torso from behind.

Having finally managed to undo the knot, she alternately pulled at the laces, feeling like her back was about to cramp.

“Whew… huh! Ah… just a little more…”

Shaking out her hands and taking a deep breath, Marienne stretched her arms back as far as she could while standing on her tiptoes.

“Hnng, more, just a bit more, more… Haa… Why is this hole so narrow? I really feel like crying. Huh! Ah… pull! That doesn’t seem right. I said pull, no, it’ll tear that way, gently. Carefully through the hole, gently. Huh! Nnng… Huh!”

Focused on the holes and laces, the country bumpkin had momentarily forgotten….

That nobles use bedrooms connected by passages to their spouses or bellas.

And also about Duke Bernac’s severe insomnia.

A figure appeared in the passage to Marienne’s room, leaning obliquely against the wall.