‘Well, it’s not exactly a pleasant memory.’

Not a memory worth recalling either.

I shook my head to clear away the half-formed memories.

Meanwhile, the carriage sped along and soon arrived at Secret Avenue No. 2.

I asked the coachman to take us a bit further inside.

‘The boutiques at the entrance of the street are high-end.’

On the other hand, as you go deeper, the fame and quality of the boutiques gradually decrease.

‘Actually, the most expensive are the traveling designers who come to your home without a shop.’

Traveling designers were not only expensive, but they also considered reputation and power when choosing clients, so I couldn’t even think about it.

The carriage stopped halfway down the street.

I got out of the carriage with Chelsea and looked up.

<Laverr Boutique>.

It was a boutique that looked neither too impressive nor too shabby, just the right level.

‘This place looks good.’

Having decided on the boutique, I turned to Chelsea.

She stood beside me with an expressionless face.

“It won’t take too long. Do you want to wait in the carriage?”

I asked the question, but I already knew the answer.

Sure enough.

Chelsea firmly shook her head.

“I will stay by your side, Tutor.”

“Haha, of course…”

Of course.

Chelsea, who had decided not to listen to me, guarded my side more thoroughly than a knight.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’

I stepped into the boutique with Chelsea.

Ding-a-ling.

With the sound of the bell, a woman who appeared to be the owner of the boutique came out.

“Welcome.”

“I’ve come to look at dresses.”

“Ready-made or custom-made?”

I answered her question without hesitation.

“Ready-made, please.”

At my answer, the woman immediately handed me a thick catalog.

“This is our ready-made design book. You can choose the design you want from here and let me know.”

“Thank you.”

I took the book and headed towards a sofa placed in one corner.

As I sat on the sofa, Chelsea naturally came to my left side and stood straight with her hands behind her back.

“Um, Chelsea. Your legs will get tired, sit beside me.”

I patted the seat next to me, inviting her, but Chelsea was immovable this time too.

“If my line of sight is lowered, my response will be delayed.”

At her soldier-like answer, I replied with an awkward smile.

“This is just an ordinary boutique, so there won’t be anything for Chelsea to respond to.”

No, there just won’t be.

But Chelsea, who had decided not to listen to me, shook her head slightly again this time.

“Please don’t worry about me.”

“It’s not that I’m…”

How can I not worry?

With you standing right next to me like that.

I swallowed a sigh inwardly.

I had an intuition that whatever I said wouldn’t get through to Chelsea, who was surprisingly stubborn.

‘Like master, like servant, I guess…’

Cardien naturally came to mind.

He also has a surprisingly stubborn side, though it might not seem so.

‘Can’t be helped.’

It’s uncomfortable, but it doesn’t seem like she’ll change her mind even if I insist more.

‘I’ll just have to choose quickly.’

I quickly flipped through the design book.

‘Let’s not even look at the front pages.’

Generally, the designs on the front pages represent the boutique’s signature pieces, and their prices far exceed the average.

Conversely, as you go towards the back, the price range gradually decreases.

Of course, the quality of the fabric also decreases and the designs become simpler.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Others might try to wear a beautiful dress to stand out, but.

‘I’m the opposite.’

The more ordinary, the better.

It’s enough to just meet the basic dress code.

‘Come to think of it…’

As I was thinking, a worry suddenly crept in.

That is…

‘No matter how much I try to hide my presence, won’t Lemon shine several times brighter?’

With his platinum blonde hair and fairy-like appearance.

Naturally, eyes will be drawn to me as well when I’m with him.

Just like how attention was focused on me as I was between the Mercedes father and son at the academy.

Hmm…

‘I’ll have to separate from him as soon as we enter.’

After all, my goal was to get inside the temple.

Thinking this, my hand, which had been turning the pages, stopped when it was almost at the end.

‘Oh, this looks nice.’

It was a yellow dress with a simple design, but it had a strong classic feel that seemed perfect for the occasion.

‘And the price…’

I checked the price written below.

26 gold.

There would be money left over even after buying it.

‘I can use the remaining money to buy shoes.’

Since I was planning to buy shoes as well.

Just as I had made this decision and was about to call the owner.

Ding-a-ling.

Once again, the bell attached to the door rang, and soon after, the inside became noisy.

“What do you mean orders are closed? Is that even possible?”

“It seems all the country bumpkins have flocked here, causing an overflow of orders.”

“This is why we shouldn’t deal with such unsophisticated people.”

“Kind-hearted Lady Grace, please make an exception just this once.”

“Hmph… if Young Lord Ducan insists so much…”

“By the way, isn’t this place too secluded and provincial? Do we really need to come all the way here?”

“Any dress will shine the brightest when worn by Lady Levian.”

“Oh my, Lord Rued… Don’t just say flattering words.”

“Flattering? I’m hurt. I’m being sincere.”

“Oh my…”

It was a group of two men and two women.

Apparently, they had come here after finding out that orders were closed at other boutiques while trying to get dresses at the last minute.

They were stirring up the shop, chattering among themselves about ‘how it smells’ and ‘what the fabric is like’.

Mostly, the women would make snide remarks, and the men would agree and try to please them.

In other words, typically.

‘Empty-headed noble youngsters.’

I had seen this type to the point of nausea at the academy.

And it’s best to avoid this type.

It’s troublesome if you get involved unnecessarily…

“Huh? Livia Pellington?”

I reflexively turned towards the sudden mention of my name.

One of the two women was looking at me with a surprised expression.

Then the other woman also exclaimed with wide eyes.

“It really is Livia Pellington!”

‘Ah…’

I belatedly recognized who they were.

‘Why didn’t I realize?’

I should have recognized them when I heard their names, but I was so focused on choosing quickly and leaving that I didn’t notice.

So, these women who are acting like they know me are…

“It’s been so long.”

“This is the first time since graduating from the academy, right? Have you been well?”

Classmates from the Imperial Academy.

I looked at the two women approaching me with seemingly friendly faces.

“Livia, do you recognize us?”

I sneered coldly.

Do I recognize them?

‘How could I not?’

‘Pellington, I heard from Anna that you’ve been badmouthing her lately?’

‘What’s the use of being good at studying when you’re from a family of debtors?’

‘It’s only because Anna is kind.’

‘Do you know how much Anna is suffering because of you?’

Anna’s fervent followers.

Unsettled memories flashed by.

Levian and Grace, who were Anna’s followers.

Whenever Anna said something, these two would immediately come to me to argue or mock me behind my back.

Especially their voices mocking me openly at the graduation party are still unforgettable.

Since they were so obsessed with social gatherings and parties, I thought I wouldn’t have to meet them after graduating from the academy.

Who would have thought we’d run into each other in a place like this?

‘Should I just leave?’

I contemplated for a moment but soon shook my head.

There’s no reason for me to avoid them first, and according to what they said when they came in, this seems to be the last boutique where they can get dresses.

‘I’ll just ignore them.’

I reached out to the bell to call the owner.

But…

Levian and Grace, who had somehow approached me, blocked my way and looked at me with sparkling eyes.

“Livia, it’s been so long. We’ve been so curious about you, and to think we’d run into you in a place like this. The goddess must be watching over us.”

“Grace is right. We’ve missed you so much.”

Then Levian and Grace exchanged glances for a moment and lowered their voices as if sharing a secret.

“By the way, Livia, have you heard the news? About Anna’s family. They were executed recently for plotting treason.”

“I heard all their assets were confiscated too. It’s just terrible. How could they do such a thing?”

“Come to think of it, it’s not surprising. Remember how much they tormented Livia back at the academy?”

“Right, looking back now, she was just jealous of Livia and acted alone. It’s really disgusting.”

“…So, Livia. Do you perhaps know anything? Anything that might be a clue?”

“You said you had dealings with the Lever Count’s family since childhood. Did you notice anything suspicious back then?”

The small whispers seeping in are irritating.

I should ignore them.

I know very well that nothing good will come from engaging with them.

Before I knew it, I was coldly smiling at the two of them.

“…You two really haven’t changed at all.”