Chapter 99

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 99

Chapter Title: Chapter 11. Violet Research and the Jewel Connection

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Muzeen Duchess was from the Empire, but after her marriage, she rarely visited the capital.

Once, when her son was fourteen and attending a tournament.

And now, right at this moment.

This visit had a very important purpose.

'It's about time for Aaron, too.'

Ever since the Muzeen Ducal House was annexed by the Empire, they had always placed Empire-born women in the role of duchess.

It was a way to demonstrate the family's loyalty.

The next Muzeen Duchess was no exception.

That was why the duchess had personally come to the capital with her now eighteen-year-old son.

The duchess disliked crowds and commotion, so she kept her and her son's whereabouts as hidden as possible.

Of course, once she formally held or attended a ball with her son, word would inevitably spread.

But for now, having just arrived in the capital, she wanted to stay quiet. At least for a few days.

Upon arriving near the capital, one particular rumor reached her ears.

"At the banquet in Artanus Hall this time, Her Highness the Crown Princess wore a new style of dress, and it was supposedly so beautiful."

That rumor contained information that piqued the duchess's intense interest.

"The dress was this mysterious blue-violet color I'd never seen before."

Hearing that, the duchess couldn't hold back any longer.

She rushed here first, even before entering the Muzeen residence in the capital.

It wasn't well-known up to the capital, but in the south, the duchess's love for purple was legendary.

She had papered her bedroom and drawing room in purple, and even planted purple flowers and fruit-bearing plants in the garden.

Naturally, her dressing room was filled mostly with purple garments.

She had even seriously argued back against her husband's comment that she was buying too much purple clothing and accessories.

"They all look like the same purple to me?"

"There's no such thing as the same purple in this world! They're all different!"

So, hearing about this unique blue-purple shade, her interest was inevitable.

'I even went out of my way to visit the atelier that supposedly made that dress, but to think it was a fake.'

Thanks to meeting the Crown Princess's maid, she had found the real one.

The duchess looked up at the sign of the shop, which still reeked of being newly established.

'Frida Wes...'

A name she'd never heard before.

But then she glanced at the handkerchief Annie was holding. Her heart stirred at that beautiful, mysterious color.

'It was a blue-purple I'd never seen in my life. What kind of dyeing technique did they use?'

Her curiosity and desire to possess it surged to the top of her head.

Frida Wes's atelier had no customers.

At first glance, the interior seemed ordinary.

Usually, shops had display windows outside showcasing their wares, but there was nothing like that here.

Only a single mannequin stood in the display area at the far back.

And on that mannequin hung a dress in an exquisite, beautiful blue-purple the likes of which she'd never seen.

She felt a shock like being struck by lightning.

"My goodness!"

She had already been excited upon seeing the handkerchief Annie held.

But the dress's color was far superior in vibrancy.

She approached it immediately upon laying eyes on it.

A little while after the duchess and her entourage entered, someone finally emerged from inside.

It was a young lady.

"What can I do for you?"

"Call the owner here."

"I am the owner, Frida Wes."

The one greeting Muzeen Duchess right now was Isepin, who had prepared in advance.

As Hilia had tipped her off beforehand, she had been firmly ready and waiting.

And at this moment, she was disguised as much as possible with a wig and makeup, looking entirely different.

She had even made herself appear three or four years older than her actual age on purpose.

Unless it was family or close friends, no one would recognize her.

With the Solenu Marquis household now returned to their estate, there was no one left who could identify her except perhaps the Axion Grand Duchess.

'Good. My first customer. I have to do this right.'

Hilia had declared with a smile:

"Frida Wes is definitely going to succeed. This is my utmost confidence as an investor."

Isepin—no, Frida Wes—wanted to repay the faith of her owner and investor.

She had to give her all to live up to Hilia's efforts in bringing her this top-tier first customer.

'I'll land this deal no matter what!'

Frida Wes answered Muzeen Duchess's questions kindly yet with overflowing confidence.

And so, Muzeen Duchess, upon arriving in the capital, ordered over ten dresses from Frida Wes's atelier.

The onlookers who had followed out of curiosity got to witness the blue-purple dress sample adorning the shop and the duchess's lavish order.

Of course, rumors were bound to spread.

"Did you hear? The one who made Her Highness the Crown Princess's dress wasn't Kemal Atelier."

"Of course I did. It was some atelier I'd never heard of—Fri-something? Anyway, they say Muzeen Duchess went there."

"Frida Wes, it was called. Apparently, she ordered ten dresses."

The rumors spread faster than a horse with wings, sweeping through the capital's social circles.

Naturally, all the orders piled up at Kemal Atelier were canceled, leaving Melissa Kemal buried in debt.

No one believed her no matter how much she screamed about the golden mannequin.

It took just one day for Kemal Atelier to go under and Frida Wes's to rise as the hottest spot in the capital's high society.

The Muzeen Duchess and her son had just finished their satisfying shopping at Frida Wes's atelier and stepped out onto Queral Street.

That's when an unexpected incident occurred.

The duchess suddenly collapsed inside the carriage.

Young Duke Aaron Muzeen cried out in horror, supporting his mother.

"Mother!!!"

Her face was flushed red, and her skin was swelling taut.

And above all.

"Sh-she can't... breathe...!"

Every inhale and exhale came with a whistling sound like a flute.

Aaron hurriedly stopped the carriage.

"Call a doctor! Hurry!!!"

Just as the flustered Muzeen household servants were about to rush off in search of a physician.

A clear voice rang out from above.

"Is something the matter?"

It came from the terrace directly above the path the carriage was taking.

Lush red flowers heavy with fragrance and thick green vines clung tightly to the white marble railing of the second floor.

From between the flowers and leaves, a woman poked her head out.

Her curly golden hair cascaded down in the sunlight, and her green eyes sparkled.

She looked like a snake lurking in the bushes, waiting for its chance.

Aaron shook his head.

"It's a matter requiring a doctor's help. I don't think we need a lady's assistance."

At that, the fan covering the golden-haired woman's mouth folded shut.

Her coral lips curved into a gentle smile.

"Seeing the lady's condition, it looks like something I know."

Aaron's expression changed.

She—Evangeline—spoke with an eerily confident demeanor.

"Shall I help?"

"Is something the matter?"

It had been quite a while since I'd last heard that voice.

Evangeline had been holed up in the Ruth Marquis residence ever since the Artanus Hall banquet.

I found myself admiring her anew as she leaned out from the second-floor terrace, letting her long golden hair hang down while smiling.

'She even calculated the perfect angle and timing for her entrance.'

Once again.

Right now, I was sitting inside a carriage stopped by the roadside.

Through the slightly open window crack, I watched Evangeline pretending it was coincidence as she offered help to the afflicted Muzeen Duchess.

I had witnessed a similar scene in my first life.

Because Evangeline had used me as a foil to pull off something just like this.

Using "original story" knowledge to aid Muzeen Duchess and win the favor of her son, Young Duke Aaron.

"I would like to know the name of the lady who bestowed this grace upon us. Aaron of Muzeen will surely repay it."

"It's a name not worth mentioning."

With that shy air, Evangeline quickly slipped away.

Leaving me behind.

And Aaron asked me, who had been with the group.

"Pardon me, lady. Might you know the name of my benefactor?"

"Yes. It's Evangeline. The Ruth Marquis's daughter."

Back then, knowing nothing, I had passed on her name to Aaron exactly as Evangeline wished.

'I didn't even understand back then why she made me the one to reveal her name.'

Now I knew.

As the "original heroine," she must have been satisfied using me, her foil, for it.

And she wanted the setup where she modestly refused, but her name was inevitably revealed.

I had danced to Evangeline's tune, and soon after, I heard that Aaron Muzeen had become one of her ardent admirers.

Aaron wasn't just any heir to the southern Muzeen Ducal House.

'That man will soon reach Sword Master realm.'

Which meant he was worth Evangeline enduring the hassle to handle personally.

I crossed my legs and watched her put on her little act for a moment.