Chapter 125

“Wait, isn’t this a dress from Delion Atelier?”

The shock on her face sent a chill through my chest. Just how expensive was this one? No. It would be better not to know.

“…I don’t think so. I just borrowed it from someone I know.”

“Right? Even with billions, not just anyone can buy one, so how could you… No, no, that isn’t what I meant. I meant that it’s that difficult to obtain.”

Chelsea smiled awkwardly after misspeaking.

“But this lace ornament looks exactly like Delion’s latest…”

Smack. The moment her hand touched near my neck, I instinctively slapped it away. Chelsea froze in surprise, and I was just as flustered.

“Sorry. I’m very ticklish.”

“I thought you wouldn’t even let me touch it because it was expensive.”

“I told you, I only borrowed it. It must be an imitation.”

“Even an imitation of this quality would be expensive.”

Fortunately, Chelsea quickly forgot what had just happened and began chattering about how much trouble she had gone through to choose her dress.

My concentration gradually began to run dry beneath her endless stream of chatter. Even though I merely responded while looking out the window, Chelsea didn’t seem to mind. She appeared accustomed to having this sort of audience.

“But Louize, aren’t you a little too bare-faced?”

I looked at her when she suddenly called my name. Chelsea was leaning her head toward me and staring closely.

“You really didn’t put on anything.”

…Did I absolutely have to wear makeup? The thought honestly hadn’t even occurred to me. Wasn’t everything settled once I found a dress? I pressed the back of my hand firmly against my plain, bare cheek, then released it.

“I’m only going to stay quietly and leave anyway. Wouldn’t it be fine?”

This was my plan. I would sign the guestbook at the entrance, show my face to the priests, and slip away once the atmosphere had become lively.

And I would quietly leave my gift among the mountain of presents that would be piled up for Gerard.

It felt strangely embarrassing to give it to him directly when we were alone, but not preparing anything also bothered me. Gerard himself probably wouldn’t care either way.

“Everyone else will come dressed up from head to toe. If you’re the only one like this, you’ll stand out even more.”

“…Really?”

That would be a problem.

Chelsea clicked her tongue briefly, then opened a round drawer in the corner of the carriage.

“It’s my first time doing someone else’s makeup… Lift your chin a little.”

Chelsea frowned in concentration as she worked on my face.

It didn’t take very long. She leaned back slightly and examined my face like an artisan admiring her work. Then she made several corrections as though adding more paint. Finally, she handed me a hand mirror.

“What do you think? You look much brighter and prettier now, right?”

Her proud voice was filled with confidence. The color of my lips had deepened slightly, and my eyelashes curled neatly upward toward my eyelids. I certainly looked more dressed up than before.

“Thank you. You saved me.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Chelsea carefully returned the cosmetics she had used to the drawer.

“It’s so strange. Why does someone like you still not have a boyfriend? Are your standards actually higher than Arvina’s?”

“What are you talking about? Not a single person has ever said they liked me.”

When I laughed as I answered, Chelsea raised her voice in frustration.

“That’s because you only stay at home. A lot of innocent young lords are coming to today’s banquet, so sink your teeth into one.”

“What do you mean, sink my teeth into one? I don’t intend to date.”

“If not now, then when? You don’t understand how calculating men can be. Even innocent young lords start examining a woman’s family, education, and wealth one by one once they get a little older. You need to catch one before he knows anything.”

Chelsea apparently possessed some firm conviction and experience regarding romance, because she spent a long time explaining why I needed to begin dating immediately.

But no matter how much she tried to persuade me, none of it reached my ears.

I didn’t know whether I would ever meet someone else, fall in love, and get married in the future. Simply living as I did now wasn’t so bad. I wasn’t particularly lonely or desperate.

“We’re here.”

Just as my eardrums were beginning to cramp, Melvers Temple appeared beyond the window.

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