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"Th-that can't be. Check again properly. I was told it was bought here."
Even with the staff joining in to check the product number, there was no product with that number.
Elise's face, realizing her necklace was a fake, was tinged with embarrassment.
I chimed in with a seemingly pitiful voice.
"Oh, dear. I heard there are a lot of fakes these days that steal boutique products and sell them. That's why it's dangerous to buy used goods sold outside the store."
In fact, if it was purchased directly from the boutique, it couldn't be a fake.
'Peidan knew full well that this was a fake, but he tricked Elise into thinking it was genuine and gave it to her.'
It also meant that he betrayed me with such cheap love games like a fake.
I swallowed the bitter taste and handed the necklace back to Elise, saying,
"Still, you'll cherish it, right? The other person's heart, who wanted to give something good to you, Elise, won't change."
Elise's body began to tremble with shame as it was exposed in front of everyone that she had been showing off with a fake.
There, an oblivious staff member added fuel to the fire and asked,
"May I ask where you purchased this product? Counterfeit goods are rampant these days, so we're also tracking down the vendors—"
"How would I know that?!"
Elise, who had lashed out with an irritated voice without realizing it, belatedly caught herself and added, lowering her voice as much as possible.
"...It's not something I bought. I'll ask and share the information."
With those words, Elise fled the room as if running away.
'I should have turned back when I stopped her appropriately.'
I scoffed at Elise's retreating figure and asked the madam,
"Then, the necklace should be made with blue diamonds... Oh, of course, with a different design from before. Can we look at the dresses now?"
It was the moment I left the room with the madam.
Elise's voice was heard not far away.
"Y-Your Highness, the Grand Duke."
Without thinking, I turned around and saw Idris and Elise, who was wearing an almost finished dress.
Elise, looking at Idris, had a dazed, half-soulless expression, as if possessed.
Idris's golden eyes, which were looking at such Elise indifferently, even coldly, softened as they met mine.
"Letizia."
I flinched unknowingly at the title.
'Is it because his voice is so good? I get startled every time I hear it.'
I quickly composed myself and looked up at Idris, who had strode closer.
"Will you take a look with me? It's no use if you don't like it."
It was an act, but the fact that he came to show it to me as soon as he changed his clothes was quite...
'Cute.'
I chuckled and grabbed his sturdy arm.
"It suits you well. Well, what clothes wouldn't suit you, though."
At the same time, Elise's surprised gasp was heard.
I linked my arm with Idris's as if showing off and said,
"Then, will you pick out my dress too now?"
Just as Idris was about to answer, the entrance of the boutique suddenly became noisy.
Everyone in the room turned their attention to the commotion.
Soon, the door opened, and a familiar face entered the store.
"Divorce? What divorce. It's just a little spat between husband and wife. Such speculation against my wife is quite unpleasant. Please step aside. I have to buy a dress for my wife."
It was Peidan.
And behind him, a throng of reporters gathered.
He knew full well that reporters would follow him after the tabloid broke the story, but he publicly visited the boutique.
'He must have wanted to show the image of a sweet husband who loves his wife, right?'
He never dreamed that I, and my lover Idris, would be here.
I firmly grabbed Idris's arm and called out the name of my... no, husband.
"Peidan?"
Peidan and the reporters who followed him all turned their gazes to me at once.
Everyone's eyes, upon discovering me and Idris, began to shake as if an earthquake had struck.
The most shaken among them was.
"...Letizia?"
Of course, it was Peidan.
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