Chapter 64

“Well, it’s a present after all. I suppose I should try it on?”

“Of course you should! The boutique staff are already waiting for you in the parlor.”

At the eager sparkle in her maid’s eyes, she gave a small nod.

“In that case, let’s get ready quickly and head to the dressing room.”

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

After finishing her preparations, Evelyn sat on the sofa in the dressing room, waiting for her maid. Before long, Laria appeared, accompanied by the boutique staff.

“May the Baltian Empire’s glory shine eternal. It’s an honor to meet the Lady of House Inevasel.”

Evelyn blinked in surprise at the entirely unexpected visitor.

“Oh my, I didn’t expect Madame herself to come in person.”

Madame Angela was the head designer and proprietor of the most renowned boutique in the Baltian Empire. Her gowns, celebrated for their elegant and refined style, broke away from convention with a distinctive, artistic flair. It was no wonder that many noble ladies eagerly awaited the chance to wear one of Madame’s creations.

‘I’d heard the waiting list alone is at least half a year…’

A single dress averaged five hundred manettes, the equivalent of three months’ rent for a townhouse in the heart of the capital.

That… that man.

‘He couldn’t have possibly threatened Madame Angela… could he?’

She couldn’t help but wonder by what means her fiancé had managed to acquire one of Madame’s dresses. All sorts of thoughts ran through her mind. Perhaps, true to his reputation as the head of the underworld, he’d sent his men to her boutique.

‘Ahem, maybe that’s a bit far-fetched.’

Madame offered her a gentle smile and spoke without hesitation.

“Young Lord Valentino made the request himself.”

“Pardon? Axion himself?”

As Evelyn’s mouth fell open in surprise, Madame continued with her explanation.

“He told me that he wanted his fiancée to be the most beautiful woman of all on that day.”

He certainly managed to convey such an embarrassing sentiment with remarkable ease.

As Evelyn recalled her fiancé, who seemed to grow more shameless by the day, she couldn’t help but pout a little. On the other hand, maybe mistaking her expression for shyness, Madame Angela spoke up in her confident, lively voice.

“Leave everything to me, my lady. As it happens, I’ve brought a gown that will suit you perfectly.”

At Madame’s signal, the boutique staff unveiled a custom-made banquet dress. Then, with their help, she slipped into the dress, prompting Laria to exclaim in admiration.

“My lady, you look absolutely beautiful!”

“It’s as if a goddess from legend has been reborn.”

Even Madame Angela couldn’t hide her satisfaction, smiling at the sight of Evelyn’s enchanting appearance.

The gown, crafted from wine-colored velvet, accentuated her silhouette, creating an air of elegance and femininity. Standing before the mirror, Evelyn blushed slightly at the compliments directed her way. The dress, bearing Madame Angela’s touch, seemed all the more enchanting the longer she gazed at it.

“But isn’t this a little…”

Too revealing?

The gown’s lower left side was cut high, with a bold slit that revealed her leg. Even though it was certainly stylish and in line with current trends, she couldn’t help but feel a bit self-conscious.

‘It really is beautiful…’

She was just about to ask for it to be altered, thinking it might be a bit too much for her.

“It certainly suits the atmosphere of the soirée.”

“The atmosphere of the soirée?”

When she asked with a puzzled expression, Madame tilted her head to the side.

“Isn’t the banquet you’re attending called ‘A Soirée Blooming at Midnight’?”

Hearing that Madame had received that information from Young Lord Valentino, Evelyn nodded calmly.

“Yes, that’s right. I’ve heard it’s a masquerade ball.”

For a moment, Madame Angela looked slightly awkward, then leaned in and whispered softly in her ear.

“The atmosphere is quite relaxed, but…”

According to Madame, while the Soirée Blooming at Midnight was as informal and free-spirited as any unofficial ball, that freedom often lent the evening a rather… intimate undertone.

In other words, all sorts of things were said to go on in the private suites of the ballroom… Ahem.

“I understand what you’re saying, Madame.”

Evelyn let out a small, embarrassed cough. While the slit dress was indeed perfectly suited for the atmosphere of the soirée, it seemed she would need it altered just a bit.

“But the slit is really quite high—”

“Oh no, my lady! When else will you have such a chance to show off those beautiful legs?”

“….”

What do you mean, ‘no’? Why not?

Evelyn couldn’t help but look a bit bewildered at her maid’s dramatic protest, as if it were the end of the world. Laria had often lamented that her lady always insisted on wearing such modest dresses. She must have simply wanted the world to see her beauty for themselves.

“In that case, how about we make the slit a little less revealing?”

Madame Angela, who had been quietly observing, stepped in deftly to settle the matter. Her suggestion was to preserve the original design of the dress while making a few adjustments to suit her preferences.

“That sounds perfect, Madame. Would you help me with that, then?”

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

The banquet hall was nestled away in a secluded corner off the city square. The grand and passionate strains of the orchestra spilled out beyond the doors, while dazzling lights, befitting a soirée blooming at midnight, vied with each other in brilliance.

“It’s even more extravagant than I expected.”

Evelyn gazed up at the banquet hall she was seeing for the first time before slipping on her mask and stepping out of the carriage.

At that moment, a familiar figure strode toward her.

“You’re early.”

She’d hurried to make sure she wasn’t late, but it seemed Axion had arrived even sooner.

“And what about you? Why are you here so early?”

The man seemed about to answer her question, but suddenly closed his mouth. For a long moment, he stared intently at her dress, his dark brows drawing together.

“What… is that dress?”

No matter the occasion, his way of speaking never seemed to change.

What do you think it is? It’s the dress you gave me.