Chapter 97

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 97

Chapter Title: Jackpot!

-----------------------------------------------------------------

'Jackpot!'

Melissa Kemal tried her best to suppress the trembling from excitement and tension, forcing herself to stay calm.

It wasn't just anyone—it was one of the three great ducal houses, said to rank right after the imperial family.

And the first place the duchess and young duke visited upon arriving in the capital was her shop.

This was an opportunity she absolutely couldn't let slip away.

Melissa Kemal cleared out the entire fitting room to receive the duchess and young duke.

The customers who were chased out grumbled in dissatisfaction, but they all fell silent before the name of House Muzen.

Melissa brought out tea herself, her face beaming with a bright smile as she asked,

"It's an honor to meet the duchess and young duke. What kind of dress brings you here today?"

Her daughter quickly handed over a catalog from the side.

The young duke took the booklet and spread it out in front of his mother.

As their fingertips brushed against the young duke's, Melissa's daughter couldn't hide the flush rising to her cheeks.

No one at the scene paid it any mind. Not even her own mother.

The young duke's attention was focused solely on his mother.

"What do you think, Mother?"

"Hmm."

The duchess, who had been closely examining the catalog, furrowed her brow slightly.

"Could I see the dress samples? The best ones in this fitting room."

At that, Melissa's face lit up as she exclaimed,

"Of course!"

The staff rushed out in a group, laying out dozens of dress samples draped over small torsos like mannequins.

The duchess's expression remained far from satisfied after a quick scan.

She fiddled with the amethyst earrings dangling from her ears and muttered,

"...Nothing here. I came because I heard this was the place."

Her son then asked directly on her behalf,

"We'd like to see the fabric and design samples of the sky-blue dress that the Crown Princess wore to the banquet at Artanus Hall."

"...Pardon?"

Melissa Kemal's face stiffened.

She had heard that exact question countless times before.

Each time, she had dodged it vaguely.

But the guests before her now were far too important to lose.

"Well..."

What on earth was she supposed to say?

We didn't make that dress, so we have no fabric or samples in that color?

If she said that, all her lies up until now would be exposed.

What... what do I do?

Cold sweat trickled down her back.

It was then.

A commotion broke out near the entrance of the closed shop.

"What is it?"

It was perfectly timed, as if to save Melissa.

"A maid sent by Her Highness the Crown Princess has arrived!"

"What?"

Melissa's face lit up as if she had met her savior.

Arpad was deep in serious contemplation.

How serious? Processing paperwork had stalled for over thirty minutes.

Yulken watched the timing with a face full of dissatisfaction.

One more minute of slacking, and it'll be half an hour without even glancing at a single document.

He had no intention of letting it slide.

He planned to mock him with all his might at the perfect moment.

Just as Yulken opened his mouth to speak, Arpad beat him to it.

"Felix."

"...Huh? Yeah? Yes?!"

Yulken was stunned.

It was the first time Arpad had ever called him by name.

Yulken glanced outside for a moment before saying,

"The sun's in the sky instead of the moon, so I must be hearing things. Did you just call me Felix?"

"Yes."

"For real? You're serious?!"

If Arpad had given him even a sliver of an opening, Yulken probably would have wailed in madness and called for the palace guards.

"...A story about a friend of mine."

Yulken's expression grew even stranger.

"Your Highness doesn't have friends, does he?"

Arpad's red eyes glared at Yulken as if to pierce him.

But Yulken stood his ground shamelessly.

Friends for Arpad? That would be as likely as the moon rising in place of the sun during the day.

"Let's just say it's about an acquaintance."

"Very well."

He wanted to poke more holes but held back.

Usually, lines like that are always a lead-in to their own story.

It was too intriguing.

And the words that followed were just as Yulken predicted.

"That acquaintance of mine... got married recently."

...said the newlywed groom who had tied the knot about a month ago.

"He ended up getting married in a rather sudden and unusual way."

...said the very man who had married through bride abduction.

Yulken flashed a lukewarm smile.

"Yes, and what about this person Your Highness knows?"

"Because of the circumstances, he only realized belatedly that he hadn't given his wife any betrothal gifts or engagement presents. In a case like this... what would his wife think?"

Yulken's response came out before he could think, a spinal reflex.

"Who is it? That shameless thief?"

"...!"

From the ensuing conversation, Yulken learned that the shameless thief had at least received a gift from his wife, and his criticism grew even sharper.

"What a brazen, shameless, conscienceless scoundrel who brings disgrace to all men. I didn't know anyone like that existed besides Grand Duke Kielern."

"......"

"Good thing he's just an acquaintance and not Your Highness's friend. Never get close to a guy like that."

Arpad's expression turned grave.

"...That bad?"

Yulken nodded firmly, without mercy.

"Yes. If that scumbag had married my sister..."

"And then?"

"I wouldn't be the only one—I'd have everyone around grabbing tea sets and forcing a divorce by any means necessary!"

Yulken's fist sliced through the air.

"That wife is probably contemplating divorce right now, don't you think?"

"...!"

Lately, Yulken had witnessed many unfamiliar sights, but this was one of the rarest.

My goodness. His Highness the Crown Prince looking pale. Something you don't see every day.

Leaving Yulken clutching his chest in thrilled amusement behind, Arpad bolted out without a word.

Where Arpad was headed was obvious without looking.

Running to Her Highness, of course.

Yulken felt a twinge of disappointment toward his lord.

Even if he fell at first sight and the bride abduction left him too busy, not giving her so much as a wedding ring? Never pegged him for that... tsk tsk.

More than that, Yulken buzzed with anticipation for what would happen next.

But contrary to expectations, the outcome wasn't revealed quickly.

Arpad, rushing to the Ivory Bedroom, found Hilia absent and ended up like a dog chasing a chicken.

The one who visited Kemal's Dress Shop was none other than Annie.

She stood before the shop filled with cold fury.

Seeing more people outside than inside, she had chosen this spot deliberately. She needed as many witnesses as possible.

She tried to humiliate our Her Highness, and now she dares use Her Highness's name to boost her business?

The maids had urged to expose the truth immediately and punish Kemal's Dress Shop.

But Hilia had only smiled confidently.

"Not yet. Just wait a little longer."

And today, Hilia's permission—and order—had finally come.

Annie was brimming with zeal to the tips of her hair.

Melissa Kemal's reaction was oddly off from what she expected—cowering in terror.

"Welcome, miss!"

Wasn't she looking at her like a savior?

Melissa lowered her voice as she began,

"Considering the gifts I sent to Her Highness the Crown Princess..."

Annie cut her off coldly.

"That's exactly why I'm here."

"Pardon?"

Annie nodded, and the palace maids rushed in, dumping the items on the floor.

Melissa knew what they were.

The gifts I sent!

Jewel boxes and a torso clad in a lavish dress.

Hilia had returned them as-is. Melissa's face drained of color.

Wait, sending back the gifts means...!

At that moment, Annie spoke in a tone laced with hostility.

"Her Highness has returned the gifts you sent, saying she cannot accept them. You know why, don't you?"

"Th-this is... all to show my loyalty...!"

"By the way, I've been hearing some ridiculous rumors lately."

"R-ridiculous rumors?"

"That you made the dress Her Highness wore to the Artanus Hall banquet."

"Wh-what?!"

Annie shouted loud enough for as many people as possible to hear.

"As if. Your dress was just a copy of Ruth Marquis's Daughter's, and I wore it in Her Highness's place."

"...!"

Shocked realization and contempt for Melissa began to spread through the crowd.