Hello, Readers! I am celebrating my birthday with extra chapter updates, so please enjoy this special chapter release of 4 bonus chapters! 🥳

(Lurelia’s Birthday Bonus – Update 4/4 🎉)

♡ To all readers who purchased these chapters before my Birthday: I can’t express this enough – Thank you for your support. (*ˊᗜˋ*)/ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏ ᵞᵒᵘ*

***

Of course, my desperate cry didn’t reach anyone.

Only Chelsea glanced at me with sympathetic eyes.

Like a storm sweeping through, the maids instantly washed me and began the full-fledged preparation.

In the midst of this, Chelsea brought sandwiches, insisting I shouldn’t go hungry, and I chewed on them with closed eyes while receiving makeup.

The one in charge of my makeup was Rosanne, the head maid.

A brush with a pink tint swept over my eyelids.

Rosanne’s makeup skills were top-notch.

The brush that touched my face didn’t hesitate for a moment.

While only simple conversations were exchanged, she suddenly said,

“I was actually curious about what kind of person Tutor Pellington was.”

“Me?”

As if answering yes, the tip of the brush tapped twice.

“One day, Chelsea suddenly came to me asking to teach her makeup skills.”

“Ah…”

I couldn’t readily continue speaking.

Because I thought I knew the reason better than anyone.

“…Chelsea…”

Rosanne’s voice was heard again.

The brush’s movement stopped.

Instead, I felt a sensation on my cheek.

“It was the first time Chelsea had made such a request to me. No, it was the first time she had ever spoken to me privately in the first place.”

“Is that so?”

I asked back in surprise.

Of course, Chelsea is on the quiet side, but to say it was the first time she spoke privately…

“Isn’t she like that with you?”

At Rosanne’s question, I was about to nod but quietly answered instead.

“No. Chelsea is… kind. And friendly.”

I fidgeted with my fingers, feeling a bit embarrassed.

It was a bit awkward to express such sincerity to someone I just met today.

Then, a small laugh fell from above my head.

Was it my imagination?

The brush tip seemed to tremble a little.

“You seem to really like Chelsea.”

I answered without hesitation.

“Of course.”

I hesitated slightly before quietly adding.

“I always think I’m fortunate to have met Chelsea.”

Then Rosanne chuckled softly and said.

“Is that so, Chelsea.”

At those words, I opened my eyes wide in surprise.

The person doing my makeup was not Rosanne, but Chelsea.

Chelsea’s face, with her lips tightly closed, was slightly reddened.

I blinked blankly for a moment, then belatedly turned my head to look at Rosanne.

She was standing next to Chelsea with a smile on her face.

“I thought it would be fine for Chelsea to do the finishing touches, so I left it to her.”

“….”

Then you should have told me that!

I tightly closed my lips at the overwhelming embarrassment.

Of course, I hadn’t said anything wrong, but it was still unavoidably embarrassing.

Meanwhile, Chelsea, who had finished applying lipstick, quietly spoke.

“…I feel the same way.”

“Pardon?”

As I looked at her with surprised eyes, Chelsea, who had been looking down, met my gaze and said, “I too am fortunate to serve you, Tutor.”

“Oh my…”

Rosanne, who was standing nearby, let out a small exclamation.

I stared blankly at Chelsea.

Chelsea’s face had reddened even more than before.

Suddenly, I felt a wave of emotion.

‘…I’ve really gotten close to Chelsea.’

Thinking that made me feel strange.

Of course, there are many people I’ve gotten close to in this mansion.

Winston, Cardien, Vincent…

But perhaps it’s because Chelsea has been by my side longer than anyone else.

Feeling the closeness made me inexplicably happy.

‘It would be nice if we could keep in touch even after I leave the Duke’s mansion.’

Thinking I should casually mention it later, I turned my head.

It was to check the mirror, but the mirror was covered with a cloth.

“Let’s check after you’ve finished putting on the dress.”

“Ah.”

I opened my eyes wide at Rosanne’s words.

Right, the dress.

‘Winston told me not to worry about it, so I really didn’t think about it.’

What happened with the dress?

There hadn’t been any news at all.

As if reading my thoughts, Rosanne smiled and said,

“I received the dress. Bring it in.”

“Yes, Head Maid.”

At Rosanne’s command, a maid bowed her head and left the room.

The maid returned quickly. Carrying a very large box.

‘…What is that.’

The maid’s body looked twice as large as the huge box, which I stared at with an astonished face.

Surely you’re not saying that’s the dress?

“It’s a dress personally custom-ordered by the master.”

It really was the dress.

No, more than that.

“By master, do you mean… His Grace?”

When I asked with a surprised face, Rosanne nodded with a smile.

Meanwhile, the box was set down in front of me.

Finally, at Rosanne’s signal, the maid opened the box.

“Gasp?”

What’s this? Why is light bursting out of the box?

It wasn’t an illusion.

The dress carefully lifted by the maid had tiny diamonds densely embedded in the hem, reflecting light from all angles.

Of course, it was incredibly beautiful.

The dress, in a color between black and purple, had a round neckline, and sleeves that extended along the shoulder line gently wrapped around the wrists. The ends of the sleeves were decorated with lace to remove any plainness.

The waistline drew a gentle curve, and the naturally flared skirt was sprinkled with diamond-like particles.

‘It’s like the night sky.’

The design of the dress itself was simple, but because of that, it exuded a harmonious beauty without being gaudy.

It was a dress that would suit not only a party but also the baptism ceremony where all the dignitaries of the empire would gather.

“My goodness, it’s so beautiful.”

“I’ve never seen such a romantic dress before.”

“I didn’t know His Grace had such a sense!”

I agree with all those comments.

Especially the last one.

‘Did Cardien prepare this?’

Not Winston?

That was the most surprising part.

By the way…

‘Is it really okay for me to wear this?’

The price of the dress seemed enormous at a glance.

Each diamond looks top-grade, and there seem to be over a thousand of them.

‘The fabric also looks top-quality.’

I ran my fingertips over the dress.

There’s not a single rough spot. It’s soft and light enough for a maid to hold with one hand.

‘Of course, I thought they would prepare a nice dress for the partner of Duke Mercedes, but…’

I never imagined it would be to this extent.

Moreover, there wasn’t just a dress in the box.

There was also a pair of purple shoes that seemed to match the dress, but they weren’t covered in diamonds.

The shoes had low heels and rounded toes, making them look comfortable.

‘That leather also looks extremely expensive…’

Instead of being studded with jewels, the leather of the shoes looked top-grade at a glance.

Everything was so overwhelming that I hesitated to even touch it.

But the maids had different thoughts.

“We don’t have much time left. Let’s get you changed quickly.”

“Wait…!”

“You there! Help the Tutor undress!”

“Her waist is so slim, we don’t need a corset!”

“Prepare the shoes in advance!”

“Bring the accessories! We were told to skip the bracelet, so just the necklace and earrings!”

In an instant, the scattered maids gathered around me with everything needed.

“Then, Tutor, excuse us.”

“Ah!”

Before I could say anything, the maids swiftly removed my clothes and dressed me in the new gown.

I didn’t even have time to shout ‘Wait a moment!’

When I came to my senses, I was fully dressed.

The accessories were small pearl earrings and a necklace.

My eyes were spinning as if I had been trapped in a whirlwind and just escaped.

The maids of Mercedes are also incredible…

Regardless of my state, the maids kept exclaiming in admiration.

“My goodness, you look so beautiful.”

“I was worried the dress might be too much, but it suits you perfectly, Tutor.”

“Look here.”

The cloth covering the mirror disappeared.

When I gathered my wits and looked in the mirror, I was momentarily speechless.

I couldn’t even utter an exclamation.

‘…Is that me?’

I know it’s a cliché reaction.

But I honestly doubted if the figure in the mirror was really me.

Because…

‘It seems to be shining.’

Not just the dress, but the subtly made-up face and carefully brushed hair all harmonized to make me shine.

I stared blankly at the mirror and then turned around.

And I bowed my head to the maids.

“Thank you, it’s really beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“What if you look more beautiful than the Saint at today’s baptism ceremony?”

At the last comment, I quietly smiled.

More beautiful than the female lead Celestina.

‘No matter how hard I try, that’s impossible.’

There’s a reason she’s the female lead.

Maybe with Cardien’s item buff, I could come close to her level.

Of course, I have no desire to do so.

‘My goal today is to find clues about Egrid.’

Actually, there was one more thing.

A goal that might be even more important than finding clues about Egrid.

Just as I was thinking that.

“The master is coming!”

One of the maids who had been on a brief errand came running in, causing a commotion.

I slowly turned my head towards the door.

And then.

Knock knock.