Chapter 99 - Book Rabbit

Chapter 99

Chapter 11. The Correlation Between Purple Research and Gems

The Duchess of Müzen was of imperial origin, but after her marriage, she did not often visit the capital.

Once, when her son participated in a tournament at the age of fourteen.

And then, right now.

This visit had a very important reason.

‘It’s about time for Aaron, too.’

Since the Duchy of Müzen was annexed into the Empire, the position of Duchess had always been filled by a woman of imperial origin.

It was a way to demonstrate the ducal family’s loyalty.

The next Duchess of Müzen was no exception.

That is why the Duchess, now with her son who had just turned eighteen, had personally come to the capital.

The Duchess disliked commotion, so she concealed her and her son’s whereabouts as much as possible.

Of course, once she formally held a ball for her son or began participating in society, it would be impossible to keep it a secret.

But now, having just arrived in the capital, she wanted to live quietly. For at least a few days.

When she arrived near the capital, a piece of gossip reached her ears.

“At the recent banquet held in Artanus Hall, Her Highness the Crown Princess wore a new style of dress, and it was said to be so beautiful.”

Within that rumor was information that immediately seized the Duchess’s interest.

“The dress was a mysterious sapphire-blue color never seen before.”

Upon hearing that, the Duchess could not contain herself.

So much so that she rushed here before even entering the Müzen residence in the capital.

While not widely known in the capital, in the south, the Duchess’s love for purple was quite famous.

She had her bedroom and drawing room decorated in purple, and in her garden, she planted flowers and fruit-bearing plants that bloomed purple.

Naturally, most of the dresses filling her dressing room were also purple.

She had even seriously argued with her husband when he remarked that she seemed to buy only purple clothes and accessories.

“They all look like the same purple?”

“There’s no such thing as the same purple in this world! They are all different!”

Hearing about a peculiar sapphire-blue color, it was only natural she would be interested.

‘So I purposely went to the atelier that was said to have made that dress, but who would have thought it was a fake.’

Thanks to meeting the Crown Princess’s lady-in-waiting, she was able to find the real one.

The Duchess looked up at the shop sign, which clearly showed it had not been open for long.

‘Frida Wes…’

It was a name she had never heard before.

But the Duchess had seen the handkerchief Ani was holding. It was a beautiful, mysterious color that made her heart respond.

‘It was a sapphire-blue I had never seen even once. What kind of dyeing technique did they use?’

Her interest and desire for possession surged to the top of her head.

There were no customers in Frida Wes’s atelier.

At first glance, the shop interior was ordinary.

It was common to have a display window outside to exhibit goods, but there was none of that either.

Only a single torso mannequin was placed in the display area at the very back.

On that torso was draped a dress of an exquisite and beautiful sapphire-blue she had never seen before.

She felt a shock as if struck by lightning.

“Good heavens!”

When she saw the handkerchief Ani was holding, she was already excited.

But the color development of that dress was far more splendid than the handkerchief.

So much so that she immediately wanted to get closer.

A person emerged from inside a little after the Duchess’s party entered.

It was a young lady.

“How may I help you?”

“Fetch the owner here.”

“I am the owner, Frida Wes.”

The person now greeting the Duchess of Müzen was Isepin, who had been prepared in advance.

Just as Hilia had hinted beforehand, she was firmly prepared and waiting.

And now, she was disguised as much as possible to look different, using a wig and makeup.

Deliberately made to look three or four years older than her actual age.

It was difficult for anyone but close family or friends to recognize her.

With the people of the Solenu Marquisate having returned to their territory, there was no one who could recognize her except for Grand Duchess Axion.

‘Good. My first customer. I must do well.’

Hilia had smiled and declared thus:

“Frida Wes will definitely succeed. This is my great conviction as an investor.”

Isepin—no, Frida Wes—wanted to repay the trust of her owner and investor.

She had to do her utmost to respond to Hilia’s efforts in bringing her first customer, a top-tier magnate.

‘I will definitely secure this transaction!’

Frida Wes answered the Duchess of Müzen’s questions kindly, yet with a confident attitude.

And the Duchess of Müzen, upon arriving in the capital, immediately ordered over ten dresses from Frida Wes’s atelier.

Those who had followed, watching their conversation with interest, saw the sapphire-blue dress sample displayed in the shop and the Duchess placing a large order.

Naturally, rumors could not help but spread.

“Did you hear? It wasn’t the Kemel Atelier that made Her Highness the Crown Princess’s dress.”

“I heard it too, of course. It was an atelier I’d never heard of, Fri… what was it? Anyway, I heard the Duchess of Müzen went there?”

“It was called Frida Wes. I heard she ordered ten dresses.”

Rumors, faster than a horse with wings, struck the capital’s social circles.

Naturally, all the orders piled up at the Kemel Atelier were canceled, and Melissa Kemel found herself buried under a mountain of debt.

No matter how much she cried out about the golden torso, no one believed her.

It took only a day for the Kemel Atelier to fall and for Frida Wes’s atelier to rise as a popular spot in the capital’s social scene.

* * *

It was the very moment when the Duchess of Müzen and her son, having just finished a satisfying shopping trip, exited Frida Wes’s atelier and entered Quirel Street.

An unexpected incident occurred.

Suddenly, inside the carriage, the Duchess collapsed.

Young Duke Aaron Müzen was aghast and supported his mother.

“Mother!!!”

The Duchess’s complexion had turned red, and her skin was swelling taut.

And above all.

“Bre, breathing…!”

With every inhale and exhale, a wheezing sound was heard.

Aaron hastily stopped the carriage.

“A doctor, fetch a doctor! Quickly!!!”

It was the moment the flustered servants of the Müzen Ducal household were about to run out to find a doctor.

A clear voice came from above.

“Is there some trouble?”

It was a voice from the terrace directly above the street where the carriage was passing.

Fragrant red flowers and densely blooming green vines entwined the white marble railing of the second floor.

From between those flowers and leaves, a woman peeked her head out.

Curly golden hair cascaded in the sunlight, and green eyes sparkled.

She was like a snake lying in wait in the bushes.

Aaron shook his head.

“It is a matter requiring a doctor’s help. I do not believe we need a lady’s assistance.”

Then, the fan covering the golden-haired woman’s mouth folded.

Her coral-colored lips drew a soft arc.

“Seeing the lady’s complexion, it seems to be a symptom I am familiar with.”

Aaron’s expression changed.

She, Evangeline, spoke with an oddly self-assured attitude.

“Shall I help?”

* * *

“Is there some trouble?”

It had been quite a while since I heard that voice, too.

For Evangeline had been secluded in the Rus Marquisate residence since the Artanus Hall banquet.

Watching Evangeline peeking out from the second-floor terrace, letting her long golden hair cascade as she smiled, I marveled anew.

‘She came out having calculated even the angle and timing of her appearance.’

This time, too.

Right now, I was sitting inside the carriage stopped by the roadside.

Through the slightly open window gap, I watched the mishap that had befallen the Duchess of Müzen and Evangeline, pretending coincidence, extending a helping hand.

I had witnessed a similar scene in my first life.

Because Evangeline had used me as a side character to do something similar.

Based on information from the ‘original work,’ she would help the Duchess of Müzen and win the favor of her son, Young Duke Aaron.

“I wish to know the name of the lady who has shown us such grace. I, Aaron of Müzen, will surely repay this debt.”

“It is a name hardly worth revealing.”

Thus, pretending shyness, Evangeline quickly left the scene.

Leaving me behind.

And then Aaron asked me, who had been part of her party, for Evangeline’s name.

“Excuse me, my lady. Might you tell me the name of my benefactor?”

“Yes. It’s Evangeline. She is the daughter of the Marquis of Rus.”

Back then, knowing nothing, I conveyed her name to Aaron exactly as Evangeline wished.

‘Back then, I didn’t even understand why Evangeline had tasked me with the role of revealing her name.’

Now I know.

She must have been satisfied that I, the ‘original work’s female protagonist,’ was her side character.

And she wanted the dynamic where her name was revealed despite her own reluctance.

I moved as Evangeline desired, and not long after, I heard news that Aaron Müzen, too, had become one of her passionate followers.

Aaron was not merely the heir to the southern Duchy of Müzen.

‘That man will soon ascend to the realm of a Sword Master.’

Meaning he was worth the trouble for Evangeline to move personally.

Crossing my legs, I watched for a moment as Evangeline put on an act.

Romance, Fantasy,