Chapter 24: [Chapter 024] Is this a good time to start a new relationship?
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"Did you go to the Grand Duke's manor again?"
The Crown Princess Dorris's sharp voice cut through the brightly lit bedroom. Crown Prince Bardenal, who had just returned from his outing and was being helped out of his outer robes by a servant, looked up at her in slight surprise before offering a welcoming smile.
"My lady."
"Answer me."
"I was just about to freshen up and head to the Crown Princess's palace. Didn't I tell you to be careful about barging in without notice, considering what people might say?"
This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.
"Until when do you plan to make this your bedroom? And is this really just your Highness's private chamber?"
"Legally speaking, it is, my lady."
Bardenal smiled wryly, as if troubled. He dismissed the servant who had brought him water to wash his hands and dipped his hands into the warm water. Dorris's expression was far from pleasant. 'Legally speaking' was one of Bardenal's pet phrases that Dorris hated the most.
"I hear you've been getting along very well with the Grand Duke lately."
"The Grand Duke is involved in so many important matters in this country... I can't keep requesting an audience with my uncle who is in mourning, so I have to go myself. As his nephew, it is only right that I visit my uncle often during this difficult time."
Uncle, my foot. What does it matter if they share blood? Dorris twisted her lips in disdain.
"You also know that the relationship between my father and the Grand Duke hasn't been very good lately."
"I apologize for the inconvenience caused to Viscount Castagna, but as long as my father is alive, it is important for me to cooperate with the Grand Duke, who is the Emperor's advisor."
Bardenal took off his tunic and handed it to the servant after wiping his wet hands. His body, well-trained and firm, was revealed beneath his soft demeanor.
"Why do you visit that empty mansion so often when there's nothing particularly grand about the reception you receive? Even though you're in mourning, Your Highness is still the Crown Prince of Ronta. Just because the Grand Duke is the Emperor's advisor, there's no guarantee that he will become your advisor in the future. You know very well that my father is considered the ruler of the West. And since Your Highness has been handling the troubles in the West, your reputation there is skyrocketing. Do you understand what I mean?"
"My lady."
"I'm telling you that the advisor Your Highness should meet frequently is my father, not the Grand Duke. Don't neglect my father, who has already pledged allegiance to the Emperor."
Bardenal muttered weakly, clearly feeling caught between his uncle and his father-in-law. Dorris changed the subject.
"There are rumors circulating that Your Highness, like the Second Prince, is a libertine. Do you know about this?"
Bardenal's face turned pale. Dorris approached him, slowly adjusting the straps of her nightgown. Bardenal stared at her blankly before turning and walking towards the bed. Dorris trembled with anger.
"Is that why you're in such a hurry, because of those ridiculous rumors?"
"What did you say?"
"If you want, I can prove it to you..."
Dorris was dumbfounded. They had been married for almost five years. And apart from their first night, which they barely remembered, they had never consummated their marriage. How was he going to prove anything? She stared at Bardenal speechless as he mumbled and hesitated.
"I want my wife to be by my side for a long time..."
'Is he asking me to come or not?'
It was always like this. The idea that Crown Prince Bardenal was impotent or a libertine came from Dorris's own mind, not from others. Who would want to lie beside a man who looked so sickly?
'He's so weak... He should be trying to solidify his position by producing an heir!'
"I'm tired. I'll be going. Remember what I said, Your Highness. My father hates losing. Show everyone at your birthday celebration who the true leader of the Crown Prince's faction is."
Dorris tightened the straps of her nightgown and snapped at him, her pride wounded. Bardenal looked at her with a troubled expression.
***
The next day after visiting the Grand Duke's manor, an incredible amount of luxurious goods arrived at the Viscount's mansion. The head maid, Marjorie, and the butler stood at the entrance, stunned by the sight of the people carrying in these obviously expensive fabrics. I stood at the top of the stairs, coldly overlooking the endless line of people entering the mansion.
"Madame Lebléa..."
"Did Madame Lebléa come to the Trovica Grand Duke's manor again?"
Yona's eyes widened in amazement. Madame Lebléa, the heart of the capital's fashion scene, had personally visited the manor. Having only seen her employee, Matthias, before, they couldn't believe that the famous Madame Lebléa was actually standing in this modest countess's manor. Like Yona, the others blinked in disbelief.
"Hello, Countess Blier Acacia."
Madame Lebléa bowed slightly at the entrance, her gaze fixed on me standing at the top of the stairs. She smiled at me, wearing a hat with a mesh veil over the front, and clapped her hands, instructing her staff to prepare for the visit. I watched her busily and slowly descended the stairs towards her. Yona, standing beside me, escorted me as I wore a veil that partially covered my face.
Madame Lebléa looked at the noblewoman's hat and thought, 'Is she shy?' She recalled the person who had sent her. Grand Duke Noebian Trovica. The half-brother of the current emperor. The young head of the Crown Prince's faction and the emperor's advisor. A man with a cold and aloof charm, but according to gossip and rumors, a romantic who had devotedly cared for his ailing wife. Madame Lebléa, never dreaming that Blier Acacia was his mistress, simply smiled, thinking it was a kind of favor she was doing for her client. She was of average height, and though her face was partially hidden, her nose, lips, and jawline were quite beautiful. She had a good figure, with lovely shoulders and a slender waist. Her posture was the most striking feature of all. Her graceful gait deepened Madame Lebléa's smile.
"Everyone out."
"Yes?"
Matthias, who seemed to be sweating nervously, was the first to respond. Countess Acacia twisted her lips and waved her hand dismissively. Yona, who had her hand on the railing, took Matthias and the other servants to the dining room, leaving only Lebléa and her.
"You're late, Madame."
"Yes...?"
Madame Lebléa, who had been maintaining a polite smile, looked puzzled. The countess's lips curved into a thinner smile as she glanced at the direction where Matthias had disappeared.
"I've been a loyal customer of your fashion house for the past year..."
"Yes, I'm always grateful for your patronage."
While she was indeed one of many customers, given that the Grand Duke's butler had personally instructed her to visit, Lebléa bowed her head politely in response. However, all she heard was a low chuckle. A chuckle? Lebléa looked up sharply, and she saw the countess laughing, the mesh veil fluttering in front of her face.
"I hear your business is doing very well, but I'm quite disappointed with your poor management of your staff."
"Excuse me, Madam, but did one of my staff members make a mistake...?"
Her reply was polite, but her voice was filled with a certain confidence that her staff would not make such a mistake. Blier Acacia unfolded the statement she had been holding in her hand and pointed to a dress on display in the main hall. Lebléa walked over to the dress, looking bewildered as she took the statement.
"Oh my, oh my, what is this!"
"Your precious reputation is being sold for a pittance."
"If you had only told me earlier..."
Lebléa crumpled the statement in her hand, trembling. She seemed more concerned about the fact that she had given a customer a dress with inferior jewels due to her own carelessness rather than feeling humiliated.
"I apologize, Madam."
Madame Lebléa bowed almost to the waist. She felt more sorry for the customer who had received a poorly made dress than feeling humiliated.
"It's been quite a while since my staff promised to take responsibility..."
"I will compensate you fully."
"More than that..."
The young countess walked towards the frozen Lebléa. Her steps were steady and unwavering.
"I want to start a new relationship with you."
"Of course, Madam!"
The Acacia Count family, a family that the Grand Duke personally cared about, was a family that could not be ignored, even if it was a minor one. If Blier Acacia were to say something to the Grand Duke or, in the future, to the new Grand Duchess...
'My reputation, built over 20 years, will be ruined!'
Curse Matthias! Lebléa gritted her teeth and followed Countess Acacia to the sofa in the main hall. The countess, who had been casually flipping through the catalogs that her staff had brought, pushed aside most of them and went straight to a catalog at the bottom. She pointed at a few designs with a dismissive gesture.
"Madame..."
Lebléa hesitated. The catalogs she had brought were not the latest styles. They would be more suitable for the late Grand Duchess.
"I like new things, Your Highness."
Blier Acacia looked up at Lebléa with a confident expression.
"The styles most favored by the ladies of the capital are over here..."
The noblewoman smiled faintly, not even glancing at the catalog that was being offered to her.
"I know best what suits me."
Lebléa's eyes widened. She had once seen a young lady who had said something similar. As she thought about it, the woman's sitting posture and the way she held her fan... As if struck by inspiration, Lebléa began sketching on a piece of paper she had at hand. It wasn't the revealing style that was popular nowadays, but a design that only slightly revealed the collarbone and shoulders, with a clean, flowing line for the sleeves. The skirt was not overly puffed, but had a moderate fullness. It was a variation of the style that the late Grand Duchess Adrien had favored, adapted to suit Blier's own style.
"What do you think of this style?"
"Hmm..."
"It's a style that the late Grand Duchess of Trovica favored."
Lebléa stroked the drawing as if it were her child.
"She was originally a very graceful and elegant person, so I wanted to use her as a muse, but unfortunately, due to her deteriorating health, she didn't have many opportunities to get new clothes made."
"Is that so?"
The elegant noblewoman gazed at Lebléa, who seemed genuinely saddened, for a long time, and then slowly lifted the veil that covered her face. Lebléa's eyes widened in astonishment. Soon, the firm expression on Madame Lebléa's face cracked.
"Well, what should I say? Though the atmosphere is slightly different, if my eyes aren't deceiving me, you, Madam, are very, very..."
"Similar?"
A relaxed smile. The woman's sensual aura was slightly different from the Grand Duchess Trovica that Lebléa remembered, but her facial features, eyes, and even the look in her eyes...
'It's more than just similar!'
"Yes, yes... yes, yes!"
Her hands, which had been clasped together as if in prayer, were gently enveloped by the noblewoman who had drawn closer.
"Do you think we can start a new relationship?"
The young and beautiful noblewoman's sensual smile was enough to melt Lebléa's heart.
"Yes, yes!"
A perfect and healthy muse had arrived to revitalize Madame Lebléa's stagnant creative work.
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