“It doesn’t seem necessary to wear a coat. The dress is already heavy and thick.”
“Please don’t catch a cold and wear it anyway,” Giselle insisted.
The weather in the central continent was much milder than in Halo. Nevertheless, Giselle appeared concerned about Penelope’s health.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door.
“It’s me. Can I come in?”
“Come in.”
Ahwin opened the door and stepped inside. Dressed in a fresh spring suit, he looked so impeccable that he could have gone straight to the banquet hall as he was.
Ahwin cast a serious gaze at Penelope’s dress before clearing his throat belatedly.
“Breakfast is ready. Let’s eat quickly and get moving. We’ll be busy all day.”
“Understood.”
Penelope hurried to follow Ahwin.
After a simple breakfast, they left the house to find the city bustling with activity.
As befitted the imperial capital, people and carriages moved in a constant flurry. True to its reputation as a place where one might lose their wallet if they blinked, the expressions on people’s faces were cold and harsh.
Penelope’s entourage consisted of Giselle, two escort knights, and Ahwin.
The first place Penelope visited was Lirot’s Atelier, located in the heart of the city. Known for its exclusivity, the atelier had a two-month wait just to make an appointment.
When the carriage stopped in front of the atelier, Ahwin said something unexpected to Penelope.
“I’ll wait in the carriage.”
“Oh... Really?”
“I’ve made the reservation under your name. Just inform the staff when you arrive. Don’t worry about your safety—I’ll be keeping an eye on everything.”
“Oh... Alright.”
Penelope nodded hesitantly, realizing belatedly why Ahwin preferred to stay behind.
‘He probably doesn’t want to risk running into someone he knows.’
Since arriving in the capital, Ahwin had been avoiding attention quite openly. As the Tower Master, he had essentially disappeared from the public eye, and he likely wished to avoid any official appearances.
‘It’s probably because he doesn’t want to deal with those so-called followers of his.’
Though Penelope felt a bit uneasy about Ahwin not accompanying her into the atelier, she wasn’t so faint-hearted that she couldn’t choose a dress on her own.
“Well, I’ll be back.”
“Take your time.”
With that, Penelope resolutely opened the door to the atelier.
“Welcome.”
“I have a dress appointment under the name Penelope.”
“Ah, of course. Please, this way.”
The attendant greeted her warmly and led her inside.
Penelope left her two knights at the entrance and brought only Giselle with her. Understandably so, as the atelier was filled only with delicate-looking women.
‘It feels like all the customers here are staring at me... Is it my imagination?’
It wasn’t her imagination. Noblewomen dressed in colorful gowns were glancing at Penelope while whispering among themselves.
“That dress looks like something my grandmother would wear. Ha!”
“Shh! You’re being too loud, Lenny. That’s rude.”
The woman called Lenny failed to suppress her laughter.
Having overheard their conversation, Giselle’s face turned red with anger.
Penelope glanced down at her own dress. It seemed her old-fashioned gown was the source of their ridicule.
‘Even so, isn’t it a bit much to laugh so openly?’
Penelope pouted slightly before continuing forward.
Even as she moved, the women’s gazes followed her, their whispers and occasional bursts of laughter like a deliberate attempt to make her feel out of place.
They reminded her of people mocking a country bumpkin visiting the city for the first time.
‘I’m well past the age where I’d lose confidence over something like this.’
By the second round of life, one would naturally develop a thick skin... or so she thought.
Penelope forced herself to ignore the voices as she followed the attendant to a section where elegant dresses were neatly displayed on racks.
“These are the dresses we’ve prepared for you, tailored to suit your fair complexion and wavy brown hair.”
“Wow...”
Penelope couldn’t hide her admiration. Each dress was dazzlingly beautiful.
The attendant spoke kindly.
“Why don’t you pick one you like first? You can try it on, and if there’s anything that needs alteration, we’ll take care of it.”
“They all look perfect for you, my lady! How about that blue one? The pink looks lovely too. Oh, and the teal one as well!”
Giselle selected the teal dress, which she thought would suit Penelope best, and handed it to her. Penelope held the dress up in front of the mirror.
The attendant didn’t hold back her compliments.
“It looks wonderful on you. Would you like to try it on?”
“Yes, I’d love to.”
“The fitting room is this way.”
Following the attendant’s guidance, Penelope walked toward the fitting room, with Giselle trailing close behind.
At that moment, the woman called Lenny raised her voice.
“It seems there are quite a few people these days who don’t know their place and are overly ambitious. They don’t even realize how inappropriate it is for someone like them to enter a place like this.”
“...!”
Giselle clenched her fists tightly, her face turning pale with anger. She had immediately grasped that Lenny’s words were aimed at Penelope.
Penelope asked in a cold voice, “Were you, by any chance, referring to me?”
“Oh my, I wasn’t talking about anyone in particular. Why, do you feel called out? I was just lamenting how some women try on dresses and then flee as if they’ve stolen something. Being born into a poor family isn’t a crime, but flaunting one’s humble origins is truly pitiful.”
“Oh, I see. Then it really has nothing to do with me.”
Penelope replied indifferently.
Lenny’s lips curled ever so slightly into a smirk.
‘A noblewoman acting this petty?’
Lenny’s intentions were so transparent that Penelope found herself surprisingly calm. She didn’t even feel that it was worth responding.
Giselle, on the other hand, bit her lip in frustration, struggling to suppress her anger. Penelope turned away and entered the fitting room, with Giselle following behind.
Giselle’s practiced hands helped Penelope change into the new dress.
“What do you think?”
“She’s just awful. Someone like that deserves to have her mouth yanked shut.”
“I mean me, not her.”
“Oh! You look absolutely stunning, my lady! The most beautiful in the world!”
Penelope beamed at Giselle’s praise.
“That’s a relief. I think I like it too.”
Giselle bit her lip before nodding slightly, realizing that Penelope wasn’t planning to engage in a war of words with Lenny.
The two stepped out of the fitting room together.
But the atmosphere in the atelier had shifted. The noblewomen, who had been whispering and laughing at Penelope moments earlier, were now all staring at one spot.
“...!”
Penelope was taken aback. Ahwin had entered the atelier, his robe casually draped over one arm.
With every step he took, his fine golden hair swayed gently. His broad shoulders, long legs, and lean physique drew attention effortlessly, his presence exuding perfection. It was undeniable—he had been born to command people’s gazes.
Penelope quickly grew concerned.
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‘He was so eager to avoid attention earlier—why is he here now?’
She hastened over to Ahwin, covering her mouth with her hand as she whispered to him.
“You said you’d wait outside. Why did you come in?”
“I just... wanted to see if the dress suited you.”
Ahwin’s eyes briefly met Penelope’s before dropping to the floor. He lowered his head awkwardly and then raised it again to look at her face. As time passed, the tips of his ears grew noticeably red.
“You’ve already changed into it?”
“Yes. Giselle picked it out for me, and I love it. After wearing a winter dress for so long, switching to a spring one feels so much lighter.”
“It... suits you well.”
Ahwin avoided her gaze as he spoke. The redness that had started at his ears spread to his face.
Feeling a bit flustered herself, Penelope wondered if she was reading too much into his behavior.
“...”
She suddenly became aware of the eyes fixed on her. Turning her head, she saw that the noblewomen who had been picking out dresses were now staring at her in astonishment. Lenny, in particular, looked almost shocked.
‘This is actually a bit fun.’
Penelope looped her arm through Ahwin’s and looked directly at Lenny with a bright smile. Lenny’s face flushed a deep red in response.