Chapter 6
Didric led her to the Grand Duchess's office. The room was on the same floor as the Grand Duke's office, although it was a place she had never set foot in, even though she knew it existed.
Although no one was using it, the desk was clean with no dust. A soft carpet was carefully laid on the floor, and lion-shaped tapestries, similar to those in the office of the Grand Duke, adorned the walls.
Deidrick, who had pulled out a chair for her, walked over to the shelf and pulled out some thick books. The leather-lined book was disfigured with hand stains, but it was clearly well cared for.
He carefully placed the ledger in front of her.
“Until now, I have been managing the palace on behalf of the lady.”
I opened the ledger.
As with everything in the palace, the ledger was absolutely perfect.
Purchases of goods and their quantities were meticulously written, and the letters were so elegant that they appeared to be machine-printed. As she read the contents, she was amazed again and again.
"It's really cool. It can be used as a book management textbook."
“Please feel free to use it, ma’am.”
Daedric bowed his head politely.
However, the more she read, the more she couldn't understand it.
Why do you have a great workforce like Deidrick and leave the books to someone with no experience like me? Even if I study for another ten years, I don't think I will be able to do it.
Deidrick saw her nervous expression, and hurriedly reassured her.
"You don't have to worry about the little things, ma'am. I'll keep buying and counting and coming in. You just have to choose. Summer is around the corner and we have to change the curtains. What color do you want?"
For a moment, she was speechless.
"I…I don't know about that."
Her tone was harsh in embarrassment.
In Amari, curtains were such an unimaginable luxury that it was impossible for even a lord's family to hang a piece of cloth over a window.
When winter came, the Amari people placed a piece of leather between each window frame to block the wind, lined it with cloth, and placed wooden planks on the glass to prevent it from collapsing.
She had never seen curtains before in her life.
Deidrick quickly asked another question.
“So what do you want to buy? Anything is fine. Food, furniture, jewelry… If you think about it, something will definitely come to mind.”
Her thoughts became more complex.
I tried to think from the point of view of an aristocratic woman.
She suddenly realized that she had no clothes to wear to go out.
Didn't ladies usually wear dresses when they went out?
But she didn't want to look spoiled once she got the ledger...
She looked at Deedric carefully and asked.
“Can I buy a dress? I don’t have anything...”
"Yes?"
Daedric looked shocked.
Did you ask for too much?
She was about to ask him to forget her request, but the butler questioned her in a puzzled tone.
“Don't you have a dress to go out in?”
She nodded awkwardly.
She got rid of the old dress she was wearing when she came here, and usually wore slips around the palace.
At night she wore the trousers and shirt she got from the maids.
"It's not really that important. It doesn't matter if you don't…"
“It cannot be, Madam. You are our hostess and the Grand Duchess.”
Deedric, unable to overcome his shock, ran his hand over his beard.
“I can't believe I didn't notice even though you were living in the palace.”
After blaming himself, he straightened his back.
“I will discuss this with Sumona and get a tailor immediately.”
***
Before she could empty the teapot, a tailor was summoned to the palace.
The seamstress was a woman with beautifully oiled hair and an elaborate dress. She raised the hem of her skirt in a gorgeous, regal bow.
“It is an honor to meet you, Grand Duchess.”
When Amalion nodded awkwardly, the tailor put down her bag and, along with her assistants, began to measure her.
Omarion felt embarrassed to show her scarred and tough body to them, but no one seemed to care, and simply measured every part of her body meticulously.
“You have a perfectly straight posture. Besides, that hair…”
She raised her platinum hair in amazement.
"It's a beautiful color. Few people in the empire have hair like this."
Amalion's face flushed at the compliment she had never heard before.
The dressmaker smiled warmly and told her that she was responsible for all of the Grand Duke's clothes.
“If you stand next to the Grand Duke, you will make a beautiful husband.”
Amalion thought of the Grand Duke.
Dark hair, healthy, good complexion, and a beautiful face that was captivating to look at.
But what was reflected in the mirror before her was a pale and stiff girl with dry, straw-like hair.
She didn't think she'd look good next to him at all...
She looked at the floor and shook her hands together.
Soon after the tailor finished fitting, she started an emotional conversation with Sumona.
Three housecoats, three banquet dresses, a tea party dress, a riding suit and an extra pair of shirts…
She couldn't keep up with their conversation and flipped through the clothing catalog instead.
The book was full of drawings, each of a different dress. Each dress was elaborate and beautiful, and along the side of the page were swatches of fabric. This gave the reader a good idea of what the dress would look like, as well as social trends.
The dress Amalion was looking at was lined with thick fabric, and each shoulder was puffed out like a croissant. With this one dress, she could make three of the dresses she wore in Amari, and the thread used for embroidery would be able to sew hundreds of pieces of leather. When she saw the prices of the dresses written in the corner, she hurriedly closed the book as if she had sensed something sinister.
"Impossible…"
Suddenly, it occurred to her that this was all crazy.
She gathered her courage and called Sumona,
“I, I… I don’t need this much.”
“This is not possible, my lady. This is a matter of prestige for the Grand Duke.”
Amalion had never seen her speak so firmly before. She was disturbed as she looked at the old maid.
Sumona eventually bought all the dresses she discussed with the tailor. Omarion almost fainted when she heard that he had asked the tailor to bring it as soon as possible, and that Sumona did not care if she asked for extra money.
When the seamstress came out, Sumona bowed deeply to Omarion.
“It's my fault, ma'am. I was only worried about what I ate. I didn't realize you lacked what a proper lady should have.”
"Oh, no…"
I felt strange and embarrassed...
She was the one who ate like a hungry person three times a day, so why did Sumona apologize? She even spent a lot of money on her dresses.
She was somewhat upset, but Sumona looked too serious to say anything.
The warm afternoon sun was setting through the carved window.
***
As night fell, she came to the bedroom early. She told the maids that she was tired, but in fact, she thought she had spent too much money, so she thought she should tell Victor right away.
Not long after she crouched down beside the bed and waited, he entered the bedroom. She greeted him, trying to hide her nervousness.
"Welcome."
He looked at her as he sat on the bed.
"Were you waiting for me?"
"This is my job."
The Grand Duke's eyes narrowed, but he quickly smiled inexplicably.
He poured himself some wine and started drinking it. I looked at him worriedly. .
“I heard you ordered a dress.”
She was startled and started trembling. Victor put down his cup and frowned slightly. Her heart raced.
I also spent a lot of money. He had to stop her somehow. Maybe she can cancel the order?
His voice interrupted her dark thoughts.
“This is my fault. When you came to the Empire, I said I would buy you all new things… I brainstormed with Daedric about what to give you.”
She was surprised and looked at his face. Surprisingly, the Grand Duke had a very regretful expression.
“Although I saw you every day, I didn’t know at all. From now on, I will periodically bring jewelers and tailors to the palace.”
For a moment, the catalog she had flipped through flashed through her mind.
The clothes were as beautiful as flower petals, and the number of gold coins written on them. You've never seen these kinds of things before. It was hard for her to buy such a thing once, but he would keep buying it for her?
excessive. .
It was really too much.
Having already spent so much, she felt like her heart would explode if she continued spending money.
The words started to flow from her mouth.
“Your Majesty, I grew up in the suburbs. I used to eat cold food every day and eat monsters for clothes.”
Victor's eyes darkened in an instant, even though he tried to look as calm as possible.
"The only things I paid for are pickled vegetables and metal cutlery. I don't need or want more. What you've given me so far is enough."
His amber eyes held her softly. He looked at her with a piercing look, then came and sat next to her.
muttered the man, the most noble above all in the palace.
"This is my fault too."
"..."
“I thought you would be happy if I gave you the power to buy anything. Was this just self-assurance?”
She couldn't find words to say, so she stared at him blankly.
His eyes looked intently at her face, her arms wrapped around her body, and her legs that were still half naked.
Then, suddenly, he smiled mischievously.
Will you do me a favor?
***
• End of chapter •
To be continued •••
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