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"Come to think of it, I don't have a decent dress to wear to formal events."
I didn't even buy that many dresses from the Farnese Duchy in the first place, and I left most of those at the duchy.
Because they were either old or the designs were outdated.
'I've kept the wedding ring as emergency funds.'
I didn't feel comfortable receiving clothes as a gift so suddenly.
But considering that I'll be in the public eye in the future, it seemed like a good idea to buy some clothes in advance.
'I'll pay him back later, I guess.'
I don't expect favors with no strings attached.
Thinking that, I entered the boutique with Idris.
"Welcome, Your Grand Duke! And the lady next to you is...?"
The boutique madam, who recognized Idris and approached him affably, stopped in shock when she saw me.
Idris smiled, as if to drive the shock home.
"She's my lover. I'm sure everyone knows who she is."
The Duchess, still not divorced, and the Grand Duke who was constantly at odds with her husband were involved in a scandal.
Everyone looked shocked, but no one dared to speak rashly.
In the stiff atmosphere, only Idris continued leisurely.
"I'm here to have some dresses made for Leticia."
"It would be an honor if you would entrust that to us. I will do my best not to disappoint Your Highness's taste."
The boutique staff quickly composed themselves and began attending to customers.
Idris disappeared to try on a garment that had been provisionally sewn, following the madam's suggestion, since he was already here.
I headed to the stairs with the madam to choose a dress design.
But the madam, who briefly looked up at the second floor, made another suggestion.
"Um, Duchess. Before you choose a dress, how about choosing a necklace first?"
"A necklace?"
"There's a nice piece that just came in, and I'm worried another customer might snatch it up in the meantime."
It was strange that the madam was sweating so much, but since I needed to look at necklaces anyway, I readily agreed.
Just as I was about to look at the necklaces.
I heard footsteps on the stairs.
Turning in that direction without thinking, I realized why the madam had been stopping me from going to the second floor.
"Oh my, Duchess?"
Elise was standing there.
'There was another reason why the staff were shocked when they saw me.'
If Elise and I collided, it would be awkward for the staff.
"To see you here... If I had known you needed a dress, I would have brought you here sooner."
Elise approached me as naturally as ever.
"Everyone was so worried when you suddenly left the mansion that day. Come shopping with me and return to the mansion today."
There was worry in Elise's light green eyes as she said that.
So much so that anyone who didn't know better would mistake her for genuinely worrying about me.
'In my past life, she used that face to build an image of being mistreated by me.'
But I'm not stupid enough to be swayed by her intentions anymore.
I smiled brightly and responded.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. His Excellency is also very concerned, and is reconsidering the Duchess's upkeep expenses."
'He's worried about the new business that will go wrong, not me.'
I held back a snort and quietly listened to Elise.
"I asked him to increase the Duchess's upkeep expenses to one million gold. Of course, that's not enough for you..."
I wondered why she was suddenly talking about upkeep expenses.
'She's trying to paint me as an extravagant Duchess, isn't she?'
If her prediction was correct, I wouldn't be able to refute those words.
To refute those words, I would have to tell the truth about why I left the house, but in my past life, I wouldn't have wanted to talk about divorce.
Because I didn't want to let go of Peydan.
But.
"Are you implying that I left the house because you didn't raise my upkeep expenses?"
This life's me wasn't.
"Even if you hate me, Elise, you need to get your facts straight."
I could see Elise flinching at my unexpected reaction.
"Hate? How could I ever―"
"I didn't leave the house because of upkeep expenses, but because I accepted Peydan's divorce proposal, right? It was even published in the daily newspaper."
"The daily newspaper...?"
A look of embarrassment was evident on Elise's face. As if she were hearing this for the first time.
'Could it be, she didn't see the daily newspaper?'
It wasn't even lunchtime yet.
If Elise came out shopping early in the morning, she might not have seen the daily newspaper.
"Didn't you see the daily newspaper? Everyone in the world knows about it except for you, Elise."
Whether my guess was correct, Elise couldn't refute it and just opened and closed her mouth.
At that moment, the staff came down from the second floor.
"Young Lady, we will take these dresses to the carriage."
I opened my mouth as I watched the staff carrying the boxes.
"You must have been very busy today? Even before the daily newspaper came out."
It was a jab at Elise, who had been busy shopping since early in the morning.
"Let Elise use the upkeep expenses. It seems like she needs it."
As I returned the extravagant image that Elise had tried to place on me, I could see Elise's expression distorting.
I wanted to wrap up the situation at this point and said to the madam.
"Madam. Can I see that necklace you mentioned earlier?"
"Of course. This way, please."
Leaving the trembling Elise behind, I entered the display room with the madam, and a staff member who was waiting showed me the item.
"The jewel of all jewels, which just came in this morning! It's a necklace made of South Mountain pink diamonds."
The necklace began to shimmer gold, as if the claim that it was a rare jewel was no exaggeration.
But it didn't quite satisfy me.
'Whether it suits me is more important than its value.'
Since my eyes are blue, it would be nice if it was the same color.
"The design is pretty, but I don't think the jewel suits me. Do you have any blue diamonds?"
"We don't have anything made separately, but we can make it according to your desired timeframe if you wish. However..."
"However?"
"It would be good to try on a blue diamond product before making it, but it's such a precious item. There aren't any ready-made products made with blue diamonds."
At that moment, a familiar voice chimed in from behind.
"Then would you like to try mine?"
It was Elise, who had put on the mask of a kind and innocent young lady as if nothing had happened.
"I was planning on buying a new necklace."
And around her neck was the necklace made of blue diamonds that I was looking for.
'I didn't want to ruin the atmosphere any more than this.'
I could clearly see that the madam was troubled again because of Elise's appearance.
But Elise didn't seem to want to leave, as if she thought leaving the store first would be like running away.
"I can't give it to you because it was a gift, but I can lend it to you if you'd like."
Elise didn't say who gave it to her, but the only person who would give her such a gift was Peydan.
And the boutique staff would know that.
The reason why Elise indirectly mentions Peydan is.
'Peydan loves me enough to buy me blue diamonds. So treat me, the future Duchess, better than the Duchess who is getting divorced.'
I was wondering how to shake off Elise, who was constantly trying to oppress me.
'Huh?'
Elise's blue diamond necklace began to turn black.
The corners of my lips slowly turned up as I saw that.
"Thank you, Elise. Then I'll borrow it for a moment."
As I readily accepted Elise's kindness, Elise showed interest when she saw the blue diamond necklace around my neck.
"Wow, it suits you so well. Both the blue diamond and the design."
"Do you think so, Elise?"
"Yes. How about making the same design? You bought it here, so they should have the drawing."
If I made the exact same thing as Elise's necklace, it would be as if I were copying Elise.
It seemed that Elise wanted to feel superior there.
At that transparent intention, I held back a laugh and agreed to her words.
"Madam. Can you check if you have the drawing for this necklace?"
A small number is engraved on all products.
The madam took off the necklace that was around my neck to check the product.
However, the madam's expression gradually darkened as she checked.
"I'm sorry... The product number of this necklace is a non-existent number."
Elise's eyes widened at that.
Although it was engraved with the boutique's logo, the fact that it was a non-existent product number meant...
That it was a fake.
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