# 40
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“You seem to be treating training like the real thing, ma'am.”
His voice was as calm and simple as ever, but I could tell.
He was deliberately trying to harass me.
As proof of this, Ian Cloud's face looked secretly displeased, in complete contrast to his indifferent tone.
'So, should I really go on a date with you? 'I'm not even Diana.'
I wanted to say that, but...
It was true that I got carried away with this outing after a long time, so instead of arguing, I cleared my throat awkwardly.
“Uhm, should we go back now?”
She looked at the servants, who looked rather tired, and asked Ian.
But instead of the expected agreement, Ian just stared at me with an unreadable expression.
It was as if his gaze briefly fell to my feet.
“Let's stop somewhere else.”
He handed the bags he was carrying to the servants and ordered them to put them in the cart.
Then he approached me and extended his hand.
"To where?"
now? Just the two of us?
Despite my puzzled reaction, Ian didn't think any other explanation was necessary; He kept extending his hand.
Why was he acting this way all of a sudden after he was tracking me like a keychain?
Confused, I took his hand, and Ian led me somewhere.
We moved a little away from the central square, and I suddenly stopped in front of a store.
“…why here?”
It was a big shoe store.
When I saw the bright, shoe-shaped sign hanging in front of the three-story building, I knew immediately.
This was the shoe store that led the fashion trends in the empire until Diana settled in the capital.
The store is said to have been passed down through three generations of skilled craftsmen.
Maybe that's why there was an episode in the last part of the story where Diana entered into a friendly competition with this store.
“But why are we here suddenly?”
Could it be because he noticed my shoe decoration falling off?
I'm still confused. I switched my gaze between the shoe store and Ian's face.
Ian, completely absorbing my questioning look, tilted his head.
“Do you have a habit of asking questions that you already know the answers to?”
…huh?
Before I could respond, he led me into the store.
Ring The bell rang as we entered, and everyone's eyes turned to us.
“Hey…oh my god!”
The employees, who were smiling mechanically to greet customers, froze in place at once.
Customers did the same while trying on shoes.
'Anyone else would have thought a monster had appeared, looking at them.'
Some of the employees gasped in surprise, while others quickly exchanged glances and ran to get someone.
The remaining employees exchanged glances among themves, then, as if making a decision, approached us with a tense air.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Duke and Your Highness the Duchess. What brings you here...?”
“Why do you think people come to the shoe store?”
Ian's short response made the clerk shiver.
To me, Ian was no different than usual, but to the employee, he must have looked very scary.
While the clerk was sweating in front of us, someone came running from the back of the store.
He was a man in his mid-thirties with a thick brown beard covering his chin.
Judging by the shoe hammer in one hand and the shoe rack in the other, he must have been the owner and shoemaker of this store.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Duke and Your Highness the Duchess...!”
He hurriedly arranged his clothes and bowed down.
“I don’t think there is any need for such a grand welcome...”
Honestly, most of the stores we visited today had a similar reaction upon seeing us, but this place seemed particularly expensive, probably because of its size.
Ian seemed to think along the same lines.
“Yes, Your Highness?”
However, this is a bit much.
If you stare at someone without saying a word, it is normal for them to be afraid.
I couldn't stand the tense atmosphere any longer, so I walked in smiling
“We'll just take a calm look around, so you don't have to worry.”
I pushed Ian to the side, finally causing him to turn his head to look at me.
I took the opportunity, quickly linking my arms with his.
“You said we should take a look around together, didn't you? Didn't you, Your Highness?”
Ian looked in disbelief at my timid question.
He seemed surprised that just a moment ago I had asked him why we came here, and now I had actually changed my attitude.
'I've always been good at dealing with situations like this.'
She smiled cheekily, holding onto his arm tighter.
“Your Highness, I am right, am I not?”
"…Yes."
I pointed to Ian, who responded reluctantly, smiling cheerfully.
“You heard him, didn't you? So go do your work.”
Just then, the shoemaker bowed his head with a look of realization.
“Then feel free to look around...!”
When the shoemaker turned and pointed at the employees, they immediately understood and dispersed with a slight movement.
The scene, perfectly orchestrated, looked like something out of a musical, and I almost let out a chuckle.
Once everyone was gone, Ian led me to a plush sofa.
“Please sit down, I’ll go pick something.”
She sat on the sofa and looked at him expressionlessly.
“Your Highness, you will choose…?”
“Didn't you say earlier that one should take into account the person one is gifting to when choosing something?”
Ian looked at me sideways, as if to ask, “Didn't you say that?”
'So, this is how you're going to use what I taught you?'
I couldn't decide whether to praise him for quickly applying what he'd learned or feel surprised, considering how nonchalant he had been all day as we wandered the bustling streets.
He seemed like a good student, but… suddenly?
“Well… I'll leave it to you, then.”
"Yes."
Ian turned and left, leaving me sitting alone on the sofa, feeling embarrassed as I slowly looked around the store.
I didn't realize how big the store was when it was briefly described in the novel, but upon seeing it in person, its size was truly impressive.
There were a similar number of customers.
The problem was that all their gazes were directed at me now.
‘You should go ahead, just watch….’
I was planning on getting some attention, but being left alone like this and being the center of everyone's attention wasn't part of my plan.
Just when I was starting to feel uncomfortable because of all the eyes that were on me, Ian returned, holding a pair of shoes in each hand.
“There they are.”
One pair of shoes was light yellow, and the other pair was short ankle boots in a slightly darker brown color.
I thought he would choose anything, but these were better options than I expected.
I widened my eyes.
“You have better taste than I thought.”
"Know."
“Oh, right.”
Honestly, even when I try to compliment him, he gets annoying.
Ian carelessly dropped the shoe in front of me and said, ignoring my unimpressed expression.
“Try them one at a time.”
But instead of putting on the shoes, I just stared at him.
“Sir, you must wear it for me.”
He looked at me as if to say, “Why should I do that?”
This guy had no idea.
If you brought me here, you must go all the way to the end.
“Traditionally, the man helps put it on. And you have to get down on one knee, too.”
She looked at him with an expression that said, “You didn’t even know that?” Ian stared at me.
Well, what are you going to do, staring at me like that?
"faster."
As I urged him again, he glanced between me and the shoe before letting out a light sigh and getting down on one knee. Because his head was bent, all I could see was the top of his head.
“Which one do you prefer?”
He asked, still looking at the shoes.
“I love these shoes, the canary yellow shoes.”
As soon as I answered, he picked up the shoe and placed it in front of me, removing the existing shoe.
At the same time, the decorations barely hanging on the front of my shoes fell with a soft thud.
At that moment, an idea came to my mind, and I opened my mouth to speak.
“By the way, did you know…?”