CH 5.10

Mr. Bloomberg, despite my detailed explanation, still gaped at me. He still doesn’t understand what I’m saying.

I took a deep breath and stated flatly.

“Don’t you want your child to experience the aristocratic life even once?”

“Experience the aristocratic life…”

“It’s only a dream for one night, but wouldn’t your daughter want to try on this dress like this?”

I smiled and gently stroked the hem of my gown. Mr. Bloomberg’s thick face became a little greedy at that point.

“Hehe, I have a daughter as well.”

“She can wear a very nice dress and enjoy the flowers. Oh, and if you want, a painter will also draw a portrait of her that day.”

“That’s really… appealing.”

“Right?”

I have always wanted to get invited to a celebrity party when I was younger.

I was delusional because I knew it wouldn’t happen, but if given the chance, I would have taken it immediately.

I sent Mr. Bloomberg away and spent some time with Juliet.

The imperial staff who had decorated me had all left before Mr. Bloomberg arrived, and Cat had been left at the mansion because I thought bringing him to the engagement ceremony would be too much trouble.

Only Juliet was present with me.

Lacius would be preparing elsewhere, not here.

“Master, you are very attractive!”

“Thank you, Juliet.”

The preparations are all finished, but when should I go to the ceremony?

When I previously attended a wedding, the bride waited for a long time even though her makeup and hair were done.

It’s the time given to friends to come and take pictures, but…

‘I don’t have any friends.’

Is anyone even planning to pay me a visit?

I could only think of Dame Ziontin, but knowing her stiff personality, there was no way she’d come all the way here just to warmly congratulate me.

Of course, I’m not depressed or anything. I’d been used to being alone since I was a child.

My parents are always busy, but they are still in debt. Even as a student, I had to work part-time, so I was always tired at school and felt excluded by everyone.

Even if I want to get close with them, isn’t it natural that if you deliver lunch boxes with poor stamina at dawn, you’ll end up acting like a giddy goat during the day?

Furthermore, because they rarely hire women, I had to work extremely hard and prove myself.

‘Oh, come to think of it, I lived very hard, didn’t I?’

Mom, as expected. Your girl will find her place here and be happy.

I will also have to fight to the death here, but at least I don’t have to worry about money.

I wouldn’t have to worry about the interest I’d have to pay the following month. That was enough for me.

It was then.

“My God, it looked perfect on you, Lady Oberon.”

“I really admire you!”

The door to the engagement waiting room swung open, revealing two ladies dressed to the nines. The two appeared in blue dresses, possibly out of consideration for me. It was the ‘Fan alliance’.

“Lady Cynthia? Lady Raziana?”

I jumped up from the sofa in surprise.

I have people who’ll visit me after all!

“Whether it’s an engagement or a wedding, a friend should come to you and spend time with you while you’re preparing.”

“But you didn’t call us, so we wondered if we could come. We came here to personally congratulate you; I hope we’re not being impolite.”

Cynthia whispered, while Raziana spoke boldly.

I then straightened the creased and wrinkled areas of my dress.

I was taken aback at first, but that quickly turned into delight.

“Certainly not! Thank you very much for visiting.”

Juliet, who was quick-witted, made tea with the mansion’s tea set. It was a precaution to drink safely even if I was in the Imperial Palace. However, the two young ladies would not be aware of this, so there’s no need to tell them that fact.

I stirred my tea after adding sugar cubes.

What am I supposed to say? I don’t know what to say because we weren’t that close.

“Isn’t it time for you two to get engaged? Or do you already have a fiancée from your childhood?”

I hope it didn’t sound condescending. I sneaked a glance at them while pretending not to. Raziana then sipped her tea and shook her head vigorously.

“I enjoy writing. I don’t want to get married.”

“Oh, you’re a writer?”

“I sometimes send them in secret to newspapers.”

“Incredible. Lady Cynthia, how about you?”

“My original fiancé died in a horseback accident four years ago… I don’t want to be in a relationship with anyone else.”

Oh. I suddenly remembered Anthony. My heart ached as I remembered my childhood prince.

“Now that we’re on the topic… .”

Click. Raziana placed the empty tea cup on the table and clasped her hands tightly.

I think she has something to say, but why am I so nervous?

I looked at Raziana, who appeared to be nervous as well.

“I’d like to be Lady Oberon’s lady-in-waiting if she becomes the Archduchess.”

What?

I thought it was a new kind of joke, but Lady Raziana’s face looked determined when she stared at me.

For a moment, I was speechless because I didn’t know what to say.

“Me too. Please allow us to serve as your lady-in-waiting. I don’t want to stay this way and eventually marry someone.”

“Uh, um. That’s—”

“Have you perhaps already decided on someone else…?”

Lady Cynthia gave me a wide-eyed stare.

“Of course not.”.

“So, do we stand a chance?”

“Well yes, but…”

I’m a little perplexed. However, upon closer inspection, it appeared that the Archduchess had not only one or two maids, but also ladies-in-waiting.

A lady-in-waiting’s role is not the same as that of a maid; they do not do chores.

They were chosen from among the noble ladies to act as her information gatherer while also serving her.

That was the job of a lady-in-waiting. If I were in a huge power struggle within the Imperial Palace, they would be no different from intelligence staff.

Of course, I’m not interested in power struggles, but people have always been a valuable asset.

“I really appreciate both of your sincerity.”

That’s how I started.

“But you two will still be my friends even though you’ll be by my side as ladies-in-waiting, right?”

I know that ‘lady-in-waiting’ is not a derogatory term or job in this world, but I felt that way for no reason.

Besides, I want to be extremely close to both of them.

Raziana nodded excessively, as if my sincerity had been conveyed.

“Of course. We will never betray you if you accept us as your ladies-in-waiting.”

“Right. We will always be by Her Highness, the Grand Duchess’s side, anytime, anywhere.”

The maid of the princess’s palace arrived shortly after those words. It’s time for me to attend the engagement ceremony. Raziana stood to my left and Cynthia stood to my right, both holding my hand.

I was worried because the new heels were only slightly lower than the previous one, it was still over 10 centimetres high. However, having two people by my side made me feel better.

“Thanks.”

I smiled slightly and thanked them both.

But suddenly. Before I could take another step, a dim silhouette appeared across the short corridor.