Chapter 97 - North Korean rabbit

Episode 97

‘This is huge!’

Melissa Kemel struggled to remain calm, suppressing the tremors of joy and tension.

It was none other than one of the three ducal families said to be next in line to the imperial family.

And the first place the Duchess and the young Duke visited upon arriving in the capital was her shop.

This was an opportunity she absolutely could not miss.

Melissa Kemel cleared out the entire atelier to receive the Duchess and the young Duke.

Disgruntled customers who were turned away voiced their complaints, but everyone fell silent at the mention of the House of Müzen.

With a bright smile, Melissa personally served tea and inquired,

“It is an honor to receive the Duchess and the young Duke. For what sort of gown have you graced my establishment?”

Beside her, Melissa’s daughter swiftly proffered a catalogue.

The young Duke took the booklet and opened it before his mother.

When her fingertips brushed against the young Duke of Müzen’s, Melissa Kemel’s daughter could not prevent her cheeks from flushing.

No one present paid it any mind. Not even her mother.

The young Duke’s attention was focused solely on his mother.

“What do you think, Mother?”

“Hmm.”

The Duchess, who had been scrutinizing the catalogue, slightly furrowed her brow.

“Might I see the dress samples? The very best this atelier has to offer.”

At this, Melissa exclaimed with a beaming face.

“Of course!”

Staff swarmed in, lining up dozens of dress samples displayed on small, doll-like torsos.

The Duchess’s expression, after sweeping her eyes over them, was utterly unsatisfied.

Fiddling with the amethyst earrings dangling at her ears, she murmured,

“…Nothing. I heard this was the place.”

Then her son asked directly on her behalf.

“We wish to see the fabric swatch and design sample for the pale indigo gown Her Highness the Crown Princess wore at the banquet in Artanus Hall.”

“…Pardon?”

Melissa Kemel’s face stiffened.

She had heard this same question countless times.

Each time, she had evaded it ambiguously.

But the client before her now was a heavyweight she absolutely could not afford to lose.

“That is……”

What on earth was she to say?

That we did not make that gown, so we have neither fabric of that color nor a sample?

If she said that, all the lies she had told so far would be exposed.

‘Ah, what should I do?’

A cold sweat trickled down her spine.

Just then.

A commotion arose from the closed entrance of the shop.

“What is happening?”

A customer had arrived at the perfect timing, as if to rescue Melissa.

“A lady-in-waiting sent by Her Highness the Crown Princess is here!”

“What?”

Melissa’s face took on the look of one who had met a savior.

* * *

Arpad was plunged into serious contemplation.

So serious, in fact, that his document processing had not progressed for over thirty minutes.

Yulken, with a face full of discontent, was timing it.

‘If he slacks off for just one more minute, it will mean he hasn’t looked at a single document for a full half hour.’

He had no intention of letting it slide.

He planned to deliver a thoroughly sarcastic remark right on cue.

Just as Yulken was about to open his mouth, Arpad preempted him.

“Felix.”

“…Huh? Yes?!”

Yulken was astonished.

It was the first time Arpad had ever called him by his name.

Yulken glanced outside for a moment and said,

“The moon is not hanging in the sky in place of the sun. I doubt my own hearing. Did you just call me Felix?”

“Yes.”

“Truly? You truly mean it?!”

Had Arpad given him the slightest opening, Yulken would likely have cried out in madness and tried to summon the court physician.

“…It’s about an acquaintance of mine.”

Yulken’s expression grew even more bizarre.

“Your Highness, you don’t have any friends, do you?”

Arpad’s red eyes glared at Yulken as if to pierce him.

But Yulken was unperturbed.

Arpad having a friend? That would be like the moon rising in place of the sun at noon.

“Let’s just say it’s about an acquaintance.”

“Very well.”

He wanted to pick more holes but restrained himself.

‘Usually, such openings are inevitably a prelude to one’s own affairs.’

Because it was intriguing.

And the words that followed were exactly as Yulken expected.

“So, my acquaintance… got married not long ago.”

… said the newlywed who had gotten married about a month ago.

“I heard the marriage happened rather suddenly, in a peculiar way.”

… said the very party who had married through abduction.

Yulken wore a lukewarm smile.

“Yes, and what of the person Your Highness knows?”

“Given the circumstances, he belatedly realized he hadn’t given his wife any betrothal gifts or proposal presents at all. In such a case… what would the wife think?”

Yulken’s spinal reflex made the answer come out faster than thought.

“Who is it? That shameless thief?”

“…!”

Upon hearing in the ensuing conversation that this shameless thief had even received betrothal gifts *from* his wife, Yulken’s assessment grew even more scathing.

“What an impudent, unscrupulous, conscienceless fellow, a disgrace to all men. I didn’t know there was another human like that besides Grand Duke Kielern.”

“…….”

“It’s fortunate he’s merely an acquaintance and not Your Highness’s friend. You must never associate closely with such a scoundrel.”

Arpad’s expression grew grave.

“…Is it that bad?”

Yulken nodded firmly, without mercy.

“Yes. If my own sister were married to such a good-for-nothing……”

“Then what?”

“Not only I, but everyone around her would carry around tea sets and do everything to get her a divorce!”

Yulken’s fist cut through the air.

“The wife in question is probably considering divorce by now, don’t you think?”

“…!”

Lately, Yulken had been witnessing many unfamiliar sights, but this was a rare one even among them.

‘Good heavens. His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince’s face has gone pale. You live long enough to see everything.’

Leaving behind Yulken, who was clutching his pounding chest with excitement and delight, Arpad wordlessly dashed out.

It was obvious where Arpad was going without even looking.

‘He’s running to Her Highness the Crown Princess.’

Yulken felt a little disappointed in his master.

‘Even if he fell in love at first sight, carried out an abduction marriage, and was in a daze, to not give a single wedding ring… I didn’t think he was like that… tsk tsk.’

More than that, interest in the subsequent developments left Yulken buoyant with anticipation.

Contrary to expectation, the conclusion could not be known quickly.

Because Arpad, who had rushed to Sia’s bedroom, found Hilia absent and ended up looking like a dog chasing a chicken.

* * *

The one who visited Kemel’s Atelier was none other than Ani.

She stood before the atelier, filled with cold fury.

She had chosen this spot because there were more people outside than inside the shop. As many as possible needed to witness this.

‘You tried to disgrace our Crown Princess, and yet you dare use Her Highness’s name for business?’

The ladies-in-waiting had said they should immediately reveal the truth and punish Kemel’s Atelier.

But Hilia had only smiled confidently.

“It’s not yet time. Wait a little longer.”

And today, Hilia’s permission and command had finally come.

Ani was brimming with zeal up to the tips of her hair.

Melissa Kemel’s reaction, however, was strange, contrary to the expectation that she would be trembling in fear.

“Welcome, my lady!”

Was she not acting as if she had seen a savior?

Melissa lowered her voice as much as possible and began,

“Considering the gifts I presented to Her Highness the Crown Princess……”

Ani coolly cut her off.

“I came precisely because of those.”

“Pardon?”

As Ani nodded, palace attendants swarmed in and placed items on the floor.

Melissa knew what they were.

‘Those are the gifts I sent!’

Jewelry boxes and a torso adorned with a resplendent gown.

Hilia had sent them back exactly as they were. Melissa’s complexion turned ashen.

‘Wait, returning the gifts means……!’

Just then, Ani spoke up in a tone full of hostility.

“Her Highness the Crown Princess has returned the gifts you sent, saying she cannot accept them. You know the reason.”

“Th-this is… merely an expression of my loyalty……!”

“By the way, there’s been a baseless rumor circulating lately, hasn’t there?”

“A b-baseless rumor?”

“The baseless rumor that you made the gown Her Highness the Crown Princess wore on the day of the Artanus Hall banquet.”

“Wh-what?!”

Ani cried out, as if for as many people as possible to hear.

“What nonsense. I was the one who wore your gown, copied from the Marchioness of Ruth’s daughter’s, in place of Her Highness.”

“…!”

A wave of astonished realization and contempt for Melissa began to spread through the surroundings.