NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5
“Oh my, Liliana.”
Just then, Anriche leaned slightly forward and looked directly into Liliana’s eyes.
“You need to have a more objective perspective about yourself.”
“O-objective perspective?”
“Exactly.”
Anriche nodded exaggeratedly, her large eyes widening.
Within her light green eyes, a wicked smile was etched.
It was a smile meant to coax a child.
“You know, you’re going to be the future mistress of the Valois.”
“B-but…”
“What that means is, you have to consider the reputation of the Valois.”
Liliana listened intently to Anriche’s words as if mesmerized.
“Imagine this: the fiancée of the Duke of Valois wearing an old, tattered dress with holes and boots with missing soles.”
Anriche feigned a deep sigh, letting her long eyelashes droop.
Seeing the beautiful face of her future mother-in-law filled with worry, Liliana involuntarily stiffened her shoulders.
“Then, what do you think people will think of the Valois family?”
“Um… um…”
“That family is one of the wealthiest in the Empire, yet they treat their only daughter-in-law like this?”
Anriche exaggeratedly mimicked the tone of people pointing fingers at the duke’s family.
“…Don’t you think they would?”
Is that how it is?
A deep sense of anguish clouded Liliana’s face.
Seizing the opportunity, Anriche spoke assertively.
“Dressing beautifully is also for the sake of the duke’s family. Do you understand?”
“Yes, yes! I understand!”
Startled, Liliana nodded vigorously.
Anriche reinforced her point.
“Good. From now on, don’t say things like ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘I don’t think this is right.’”
“Yes!”
Liliana replied without thinking, tilting her head in confusion.
Is this really right?
But the situation was already beyond Liliana’s control.
“Hmm, it seems like searching for the perfect outfit would be a waste of time.”
With a crisp sound, Anriche closed the catalog and waved her hand gently to summon a staff member.
The employee hurried over to Anriche.
“Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?”
“Oh, yes. The girl’s clothes in these catalogs.”
After roughly gathering the catalogs and handing them over to the employee, Anriche smiled brightly, lifting the corners of her mouth.
“Get them all.”
***
Le Morgan Street was primarily frequented by wealthy commoners, minor nobles, and nobles themselves.
The Duchess of Valois, with her status and unique arrogance, was a well-known figure in high society.
Naturally, there were many people who recognized the duchess.
“Isn’t that the Duchess of Valois?”
“Why has the duchess come to a children’s clothing store?”
The noblewomen walking down the street stopped in their tracks, their eyes wide with surprise.
Their gazes were fixed on the Duchess of Valois, who was emerging from the children’s clothing store.
“Indeed! Until now, she’s always called designers to her townhouse, hasn’t she?”
“Oh, that’s right. It’s said that the number of dresses and accessories she has tailored at once is equivalent to winning the lottery…”
“But who on earth is that child?”
Right next to the duchess was a beautiful girl with blonde hair and green eyes, following along with quick little steps.
Having come out of the fitting room, she was perfectly styled from head to toe.
“Honestly, I’ve never seen that child before…”
“Really, it doesn’t seem like the Duchess of Valois would personally take a child out, does it?”
As the noblewomen were whispering amongst themselves, Anriche strode confidently in front of them.
In an instant, the color drained from their faces.
‘D- Did she hear everything we were saying?’
‘What if she gets angry?’
The noblewomen exchanged anxious glances, unsure of what to do.
Meanwhile, Anriche looked at them with an unreadable expression.
What should I do?
While the noblewomen were burning with anxiety, Anriche finally spoke.
“Hello.”
“Duchess of Valois, we didn’t mean to—huh?”
One noblewoman, who had reflexively tried to explain herself, suddenly looked as if she had been struck on the back of her head.
That arrogant Duchess of Valois is greeting us first?
But Anriche’s bombshell was far from over.
“Our Liliana is just so adorable, isn’t she?”
The noblewomen doubted both their eyes and ears.
The Duchess of Valois, wearing a bright smile and approaching them warmly!
‘I must be dreaming right now,’ they all thought, without anyone saying it first.
Anriche shrugged her shoulders and continued speaking.
“I’ve seen you all looking at our Liliana since a while ago.”
***
Inside, Anriche was ecstatic.
‘Our Liliana is so adorable! How can someone be that cute?!’
She sneaked a glance at Liliana.
Liliana was dressed in a rich yellow dress, wearing a hat that matched the outfit.
Her newly purchased enamel Mary Jane shoes sparkled brightly.
In her arms, she was tightly hugging a stuffed doll they had bought at the clothing store, and looking at her like that…
‘Ah, she looks like a fluffy little chick!’
Anriche covered her mouth in excitement.
Such cuteness deserves to be preserved forever!
Should I call a portrait artist as soon as we get home?
I’ll have about a hundred portraits painted, spread them around here and there, and keep three for myself!
One for my collection, one for business, and one for practical use!
‘Huh?’
In the midst of that, Anriche felt a gaze directed toward them.
In the distance, several noblewomen were looking back and forth between her and Liliana.
‘Ah, they’re staring because our Liliana is just too cute!’
A satisfied smile spread across Anriche’s lips.
In that case, she had to show off Liliana’s cuteness!
Striding confidently toward the noblewomen, Anriche casually greeted them and started to gush.
“Our Liliana is just so adorable, isn’t she?”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ve seen you all looking at our Liliana since a while ago.”
At those words, the noblewomen’s expressions turned awkward.
Anriche generously nodded.
“I understand. Our Liliana is just too, too cute. It’s only natural that you’d be drawn to her.”
Of course, of course.
With a proud look on her face, Anriche gestured for Liliana.
“Liliana, say hello.”
“Hello, I’m Liliana Everitt.”
Liliana, who bowed her head, was truly, exceptionally, unbelievably, and maddeningly cute!
“I thought my son was the cutest in the world, but it turns out there’s another child as cute as him!”
“Is that so…?”
“This adorably cute child is Elliot’s fiancée, so our Elliot is really lucky, isn’t he?”
“Yes…”
The noblewomen nodded repeatedly with dazed expressions.
After a long time of boasting, Anriche finally felt like returning to the townhouse.
“Oh my, I should get going now.”
“Y-Yes.”
“Be careful going back.”
“Thank you. If you want to see our Liliana, feel free to visit the townhouse anytime.”
With that last remark, Anriche took Liliana and gracefully got into the carriage.
The carriage, adorned with the Valois crest, confidently crossed Rue Morgan.
One of the noblewomen, watching their retreating figures, mumbled in disbelief.
“It feels like a storm just swept through here…”
“Indeed.”
“Well, still…”
A different noblewoman cleared her throat and spoke up.
“Today, the Duchess seemed somehow approachable. Don’t you think?”
“Oh, I felt that too.”
“I wasn’t the only one thinking that.”
The noblewomen nodded to each other.
Compared to her usual arrogant demeanor, the humble and kind side she had just shown was much more pleasing to see.
A faint smile had appeared on the noblewomen’s lips.
But just then…
“Still, she is ‘that’ Duchess of Valois,” one of the noblewomen said in a sulky voice.
This noblewoman had been the one who had openly embarrassed Anriche in the past.
“She may seem gentle now, but who knows when she’ll change her behavior like flipping a palm?”
With that declaration, the noblewoman crossed her arms and raised her chin.
“As you all know, the Duchess is a woman of whims, and her temper changes like boiling soup.”
“…That’s a fair point.”
“She has such a prickly personality…”
In an instant, a look of doubt appeared in the noblewomen’s eyes.
The noblewoman who had first spoken shook her head vigorously.
“Be careful, everyone. If you let your guard down, you might incur the Duchess’s wrath.”
***
After a while of driving into the heart of the city, the carriage finally came to a smooth stop in front of the Valois townhouse.
Holding Anriche’s hand, Liliana cautiously set her feet on the ground.
At that moment, her light green eyes widened in amazement.
“Wow…”
Liliana’s face turned blank as she gazed at the scenery before her.
The garden, meticulously tended by the gardener, was in full bloom with vibrant flowers welcoming spring.
Over the fountain in the center, which was splashing water refreshingly, a colorful rainbow arched gracefully.
And behind it stood an elegant four-story townhouse…
‘It feels like a palace where a princess lives!’
Liliana swallowed hard.
Meanwhile, Anriche had to suppress her laughter with great effort.