A brief, chilly silence passed.

But soon Cardien resumed moving his pen and replied in a casual voice.

“There’s no need to report the Tutor’s overnight schedule.”

At the extremely cold voice, Winston’s head lowered.

“Yes……”

“However.”

“……?”

Winston, who had been feeling dejected at Cardien’s unexpectedly indifferent reaction, suddenly raised his head at the following words.

“Didn’t the butler say the Tutor had nowhere to go? It’s strange that she’s staying out overnight.”

These were the words Winston had hastily uttered to protect Livia when Cardien had given her a dismissal notice.

‘He remembered.’

Winston, regaining hope, spoke rapidly.

“Yes, upon investigation, Tutor Pellington doesn’t have any close acquaintances. She’s completely cut off from her relatives as well.”

“Then, staying out overnight?”

As soon as he expressed doubt, Winston quickly answered.

“She says she’s attending a baptism ceremony.”

“Baptism ceremony?”

“Baptism ceremony?”

This time, Cardien showed a reaction.

He put down his pen and looked at Winston.

Soon, as if something occurred to him, he furrowed his straight brows.

“It must be the invitation that bug gave.”

Cardien’s eyes grew cold as he recalled the assistant priest who had introduced himself as Veros.

“So.”

Cardien’s purple eyes turned to Winston.

He moved his lips.

“Are you saying the Tutor is attending that place alone?”

At his words, Winston’s expression darkened.

Winston shook his head and answered.

“Not… alone.”

“Not, alone?”

“Yes……”

Then the old butler closed his eyes tightly and conveyed the truth.

“She says she’s going with that man… the master of the information guild.”

For a moment, the flow of air stopped.

When Winston slightly raised his head, he saw Cardien frozen coldly.

After a cold silence.

“……What?”

Only a single word spread through the quiet room, along with a gaze that shook uncharacteristically.

Then, followed by a voice more sunken than ever before.

“……Where is he now.”

“Pardon?”

Winston, who couldn’t hear the first word clearly, asked back, and Cardien stared at Winston with a coldly hardened face and said.

“That guy, where is he now?”

***

Returning to my room, I exhaled deeply.

‘With this, I’ve overcome one hurdle.’

Now that I’ve conveyed the schedule to Winston, attending the baptism ceremony should be fine.

It’s one week until the baptism ceremony.

What’s left is…….

Lost in thought for a moment, I turned around and opened the wardrobe door wide.

“……”

After checking inside the wardrobe, I found it difficult to speak.

‘Empty……’

Well, not completely empty, there are a few clothes inside but.

“There’s no suitable dress to wear to the baptism ceremony.”

Among them, the most presentable was the wine-colored dress I bought to commemorate the festival outing, but even this was somewhat inappropriate for the ceremony.

‘The baptism ceremony is an important event attended by the empire’s most notable figures.’

Even if not extremely luxurious, I should at least attend with proper decorum.

“Sigh……”

What’s the use of finding a partner if I have nothing to wear?

Among those attending the baptism ceremony, I’m probably the only one worrying about clothes.

‘Should I ask Lemon to get me something?’

I considered it but soon shook my head.

While requesting to be a partner is one thing, asking for clothes as well would be too shameless.

“I have no choice.”

I moved towards the bed.

Then I opened the drawer beside the bed and reached deep inside.

Not long after rummaging inside, my fingertips brushed against the texture of the fabric.

‘Found it!’

I immediately pulled it out.

It was a yellow pouch, filled with gold coins.

‘My emergency fund.’

……Well, it’s just all the money I saved from what was left after the festival.

I checked the number of gold coins.

‘Ten… twenty… thirty……’

A total of 33 gold.

‘With this much, I can’t buy an extremely nice dress, but I should be able to get a decent one.’

Of course, I’ll have to buy ready-made clothes, not custom-made ones.

But that’s better than nothing.

‘The social season will start soon, so I should hurry.’

The Lagranacia Empire has a social season, which generally starts with the festival.

However, this year, as the baptism ceremony that happens once every four years is being held, the social season starts with the baptism ceremony.

Anyway, for this reason, if I don’t hurry, the dresses might sell out quickly.

During this season, many local nobles come up and even buy ready-made clothes.

‘It would be better to place an order now, right?’

With this decision, I prepared to go out.

Just then, Chelsea came in and ran into me.

Seeing me ready to go out, Chelsea showed a slightly surprised expression.

I looked at her happily. I was planning to greet her before leaving.

“Ah, Chelsea.”

“Tutor, are you going out?”

“Yes, I’m going to look at some dresses. I was just about to tell Chelsea before leaving, so this is perfect. Before dinner……”

However, I couldn’t continue speaking.

“You can’t.”

“……Pardon?”

I opened my eyes wide at Chelsea’s sudden interjection.

Chelsea even put down the rag she was holding and blocked the door as she spoke.

“The wind is cold right now. If you catch a cold, you might become seriously ill.”

“Oh, no. I’ll dress warmly, so it’ll be fine……”

“Besides, there are many variables outside. Who knows what might happen if you go out alone, Tutor.”

“I’ll just visit the dress shop and come back……”

“I won’t listen to any more of your words, Tutor.”

Chelsea?

Even so, you should let me go out!

I stared at the obstinate Chelsea with bewildered eyes.

‘Wasn’t the porridge one-shot over?’

It seems the expiration date of the porridge one-shot has passed.

I was momentarily speechless at Chelsea’s overprotectiveness.

But isn’t it a bit too much to forbid going out altogether? I need to go buy a dress.

However, this was also my karma, so I couldn’t blame anyone else.

I tried to persuade Chelsea gently.

“Chelsea, I understand you’re worried about me, but if I can’t go out this time, it might disrupt my schedule. I’ll dress warmly and safely, and be back quickly, so you don’t have to worry.”

I looked at Chelsea with eyes that said to trust me.

My persuasion seemed to have an effect as Chelsea showed a thoughtful expression.

Finally, she opened her lips.

“I understand.”

“Really? Thank you, Chel……”

“Then I’ll accompany you.”

“……Pardon?”

I stared blankly at Chelsea’s unexpected words.

Chelsea, seemingly having already made her decision, looked at me with determined eyes and said,

“If I’m by your side, I can protect you from any variables that might occur. So I’ll accompany you.”

“Ah, no. You don’t have to go that far……”

I’m just going to the dress shop!

Chelsea’s overprotectiveness is too much.

I tried to dissuade Chelsea, but she was already not listening to me.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll be ready shortly.”

“Wait……!”

Leaving only those words, Chelsea swiftly left the room.

I stood there blankly, staring at the door through which Chelsea had come and gone like the wind.

‘Should I run away now?’

I hesitated for a moment but soon shook my head.

It’s not just anything, but her concern for me, and I didn’t want to ignore that feeling.

And in a way, I was excited about my first outing with Chelsea.

True to her word about coming back quickly, Chelsea really did return soon.

Though it was just her maid uniform with an overcoat thrown on.

Even so, she made sure to wear the hairpin I had gifted her, no matter what.

“I’ve already arranged for a carriage to be waiting.”

“……Thank you, Chelsea.”

Chelsea and I headed towards the entrance.

There was no conversation on the way.

Chelsea is generally quiet, and I was preoccupied with thoughts about the dress.

Before we knew it, we arrived at the entrance where indeed a carriage was waiting.

It wasn’t a grand carriage with the Mercedes crest, but a small one just right for two people.

I was secretly worried they might have prepared a ‘I’m Mercedes!’ kind of carriage, so this was a relief.

“Where shall we go?”

I replied lightly to the coachman’s question.

“To Secret Avenue 2, please.”

Secret Avenue 2 could be called the fashion street where all the dress shops in the capital are gathered.

It’s also one of the busiest streets during the social season.

‘It could also be said to be the street furthest from me.’

When was the last time I visited that street?

‘I think it was for the graduation party.’

It’s not…… exactly a good memory.