Chapter 21
“Are you alright?”
“Y-yeah…”
As I expected, Pinee was completely stiff and restless.
At this rate, I wasn’t sure she’d even be able to enjoy the performance.
“Should I tell the marchioness and go back to our seats…?”
But that worry turned out to be unnecessary.
The moment the opera began and Pinee’s favorite singer appeared, she was too busy clasping her hands in awe.
“Oh my goodness…! I can see their face so clearly! This feels like a dream!”
“Young lady, it seems you also like this soprano! I also adore that voice!”
“Me too, Marchioness! It’s so beautiful!”
Before I knew it, Pinee had completely relaxed and was enjoying the performance wholeheartedly.
The marchioness also laughed warmly, apparently sharing the same taste.
“…Huh.”
I blinked for a moment, then shrugged lightly.
As long as things worked out, I had no complaints.
With that thought, I casually placed a dog treat into the mouth of Catherine, who was sitting in the marchioness’s arms.
* * *
The Marchioness of Nadelman didn’t just invite us to the box seats—she even introduced us to a boutique she frequently visited.
She seemed deeply grateful that we had helped catch Catherine.
A few days later, I went there with my aunt and Lily.
My aunt smiled at me, which was rare.
“Igile, thanks to you we received an invitation to this boutique. Thank you.”
At that, Lily sitting beside her snorted.
“Hmph! It was just grabbing a dog leash. And yet we got such an extravagant gift!”
“Haha…”
I just laughed at her words.
‘This “altruistic luck” really does make things happen for others, but I guess I still benefit too.’
Not bad, actually.
I absentmindedly touched the necklace hidden under my scarf.
Anyway, to uncover the secret of my orange eyes, I had two choices: meet Kateri again, or go to the Silver Moon Nymph village.
But Kateri had sent a letter saying she was extremely busy with new research, and the Silver Moon Nymph village couldn’t be visited until the full moon.
‘So for now, I guess I get to enjoy some peaceful days.’
And with this “altruistic luck” on top of it, I could just relax.
Rumors in high society spread and disappeared quickly, and even talk about me and Duke Lafman had already started fading.
Ah… I really just wanted a quiet life without dealing with my orange eyes or anything else.
But until I went to the nymph village, I had no choice but to wait.
‘I wish I could just keep living like this.’
Lost in those lazy thoughts, I entered the boutique.
Its name was Flora Boutique.
A favorite of Duchess Mayville, the leading figure of high society, this boutique only allowed invited guests and up to two companions.
As soon as we entered, an employee approached us.
“Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”
“Yes. Under the Atlas Count family.”
The employee smiled brightly.
“May I see your invitation?”
“Here.”
My aunt handed it over.
After checking it, the employee nodded and led us inside.
“It is an invitation from the Marchioness of Nadelman. This way, please.”
We walked down a long corridor.
The boutique was more luxurious than most noble mansions.
Unlike a mansion, however, dresses and accessories were displayed everywhere like art pieces.
Lily’s cheeks turned red with excitement.
“Mother, look at that dress. The color is so pretty.”
“Yes, blue would suit you very well.”
“Can I really pick any accessories too?”
“Yes. Your father said to buy anything you want as a celebration for visiting Flora Boutique.”
At that, Lily clenched her fists in silent excitement.
She loved dresses and accessories, so she looked like she could barely contain herself.
‘Is it really that exciting?’
As someone clueless about fashion, I casually looked at the dresses.
Seeing me, my aunt spoke generously.
“Igile, you should choose something too. Since we came here thanks to you, I’ll buy you whatever you want.”
“Oh… thank you.”
Wait… I didn’t even really want anything.
I only came so the invitation wouldn’t go to waste.
But my aunt looked satisfied, as if she had fulfilled her duty, and turned her attention back to Lily.
She probably thought buying clothes for me was enough repayment.
‘Well, this is Flora Boutique. Dresses here are ridiculously expensive since only invited guests can enter.’
Even for a wealthy noble house like ours, picking freely could be a burden.
‘I guess my aunt made a big decision.’
Still, it would be rude not to pick anything.
Maybe I should choose at least one dress?
We were soon guided into a reception room.
Once seated, staff brought catalogues, fabrics, jewelry, and mannequins.
The dress fitting process began.
Lily went first, so I sat a little apart, flipping through a catalogue.
“As expected, Lady Atlas has platinum-blonde hair. These colors would suit you well.”
“Pearls or sapphires would match your complexion.”
Experts draped fabrics and jewelry around Lily, recommending combinations.
She couldn’t hide her excitement.
I watched in amazement.
‘So this place really does provide matching accessories and shoes too…’
“Aah… everything is so perfect…”
Lily murmured in delight.
It looked like she would take a long time deciding, so I closed the catalogue.
“May I look around the displayed dresses instead?”
“Of course. Would you like guidance?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Please feel free to look around.”
After politely responding, I stood up.
“I’ll step outside for a bit.”
My aunt and Lily didn’t respond—they were too busy admiring fabrics.
I shrugged and left the room.
I walked down the corridor and soon reached a garden behind the boutique.
Even the garden was filled with mannequins wearing walking dresses, gloves, and parasols.
‘They really know marketing.’
While strolling, I looked around until my eyes landed on a mannequin in the center.
‘Should I get a walking dress instead of a formal one?’
Formal dresses seemed too troublesome.
But then I stopped.
‘Wait… that decoration on the hat…’
Was that… a bird?
Feathers and ribbons were normal decorations.
But beside them—
‘Is that… a real bird model?’
Am I seeing things?
As I stared closely, a voice came from behind me.
“What do you think?”
I turned around.
A woman I had never seen before stood there.
She was middle-aged, wearing a luxurious floral dress, and she greeted me politely.
“Thank you for visiting my shop. I am Flora.”
“Oh, Madame Flora! It’s an honor. I’m Igile Atlas.”
So this was the famous Madame Flora.
A memory surfaced.
She had once been a poor, unknown designer working in a tiny shop.
Then one day, she was visited by the daughter of the prestigious House of Eos—Sesia Eos, the most influential figure in high society.
Together, they created revolutionary off-shoulder dresses and pastel designs that changed fashion overnight.
Even twenty years later, those designs were still in style in the capital.
And that same Sesia Eos was now the Duchess of Mayville.
Thanks to her, Flora had become the most successful designer in the capital.
‘Classic romance-fantasy trope…’
A poor talented designer discovered by a noble patron.
It felt like something straight out of a novel.
Flora spoke again, snapping me back.
“So you are from House Atlas. I remember we had a new reservation today. Were you out for a walk?”
“Yes. Your boutique is beautiful. The displayed dresses are stunning.”
“Thank you.”
She smiled and looked at the dress I had been observing.
The walking dress with the bird hat.
“It’s my latest work. The theme is ‘Harmony with Nature.’”
I looked again.
Green leaf embroidery covered the fabric beautifully.
But none of that mattered.
Because—
‘That fake bird on the hat is way too distracting.’
As I frowned slightly at it, Madame Flora stepped closer.
