Chapter 48

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Engaged to the Blind Duke
-----------------------------------------------------------------

“I didn’t sell this dress to you, but since you’re wearing one of my creations, I suppose that makes you a customer. What kind of compensation would you like?”

The middle-aged noblewoman glanced around sharply, her eyes gleaming with cunning. Soon, she pointed at the dress on the mannequin with her finger.

“Three of those dresses. It’s not enough, but I’ll make a special concession.”

“Gasp!”

Juri, who had been holding her breath behind her, let out a stifled cry like a scream.

Idre refused with a rigidly set face.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. I’ll return the exact price you paid for the dress you bought.”

“You really don’t get it, do you? Do you know who I am?”

The middle-aged noblewoman flushed red, matching the color of her hair.

“That dress is a custom order with a specific owner. I can’t give it to you.”

Idre explained in a calm tone.

“Ha, the original owner? I’m Soran Ateck, Countess.”

Idre barely suppressed a frown. She had suspected as much from the orange hair, but to think it was really Countess Ateck.

She was infamous in western high society for being a notorious troublemaker.

“Countess, I’m sorry, but all I can offer is the price of the dress.”

“What did you say?”

The countess glared at Idre with axe-like eyes.

“Mother, we should be gracious and concede. Just take that one dress.”

The young woman who had been standing silently behind pretended to be considerate of Idre as she pointed at the golden dress with her gloved hand. A victorious smile was already playing on her lips.

Idre looked at the mother and daughter with utter disbelief.

What kind of con artists are they?

“I already told you, it’s a reserved dress.”

“Hey, do you know who I am? I’m Ommanda Ateck. One word from me in high society, and this shop will vanish. Got it?”

Ommanda was no slouch either, having inherited her mother’s troublemaking prowess.

Marin, who had been watching from behind, whispered to Juri standing beside her.

“Is that dress mine by any chance?”

“Yes, it’s your dress, miss.”

“I see.”

From their demands, it seemed the three dresses were just bait, and they’d been after the golden one from the start.

They clearly had no intention of leaving without it.

And the duke would be arriving soon.

Marin stepped up behind Idre and whispered softly.

“Just give it to them. I’ll cover the cost.”

Idre turned around with a startled look.

“I can’t do that, Miss Marin. It’s a dress I made thinking of you.”

“I’ve dealt with people like that before. It’s better for your mental health to send them packing quickly.”

“What utter lack of manners.”

The countess sneered, glancing back and forth between the whispering pair.

Marin swallowed a sigh inwardly.

She wanted to get rid of them as quickly as possible before the duke arrived.

“I’m Marin of House Schwenz. Countess.”

Marin curtsied slightly, lifting the hem of her dress in proper noble fashion.

Idre, listening from the side, gave Marin a knowing look. She had never believed Marin was a commoner from the start.

“Schwenz? Never heard of such nobles. Daughter, have you?”

***

“Mother, there are so many pitiful little noble houses like that. Of course not.”

Ommanda sneered with a sweet smile.

Marin shook out her skirt hem with a sharp flick.

She really didn’t want to get involved in a fight. She just wanted them to take the dress and leave before the duke arrived.

But that young noble lady had lit a fire in her chest. A roaring one.

“So why is the daughter of a baronet jumping in all of a sudden?”

“Because that dress is mine.”

Ommanda’s eyes sparkled as she stared intently at Marin.

“Then you’ve heard everything.”

“Yes, I have. And I have no intention of yielding that dress, so just take the money for the one you bought and go.”

“What?!”

The countess glared at her with a face full of venom.

“My dress has already been paid for. Idre, how much is that light pink dress?”

“5 gold.”

“And mine?”

“50 gold.”

Marin shot Idre a subtle glance asking if that was real. Idre nodded quickly in confirmation.

Marin turned back to the pair, clenching her fist tighter to hide her surprise.

1 gold was enough for a family of four to live on for a month.

And 50 gold?

No wonder Olive hadn’t shown her the price tags, telling her not to worry about money.

“You heard that? It’s ten times the difference. And yet you want my dress?”

The mother and daughter looked stunned upon hearing the price, their blank expressions soon turning vicious.

“What nonsense of a price. That dress can’t possibly be worth that.”

“Ha, 50 gold in this low-class shop?”

Following Ommanda’s words, the countess sneered.

“I’ve already paid the 50 gold, so no need for those comments. Pay the difference of 45 gold, and the dress is yours. How about it? Of course, as a countess, you can afford that right now, can’t you?”

Marin lifted her chin with a relaxed smile.

Punishing troublemakers with money—thrilling.

Money really is the best!

The countess gritted her teeth, seething.

“Even low nobles receive an education. Don’t you know how to behave toward high nobles?”

Marin and Idre exchanged glances and shook their heads slowly.

When money wouldn’t work, they resorted to pulling rank pettily?

Their troublemaking was on another level.

Idre was a noble too, but only the daughter of a baronet.

This is why you need power.

And even if it was fake, she had that power right now.

Marin clasped her hands in front of her chest and spoke with a resigned expression.

“Since you bring up noble status, I suppose I should say something too.”

The countess snorted derisively, as if daring her to speak.

“I’m the fiancée of His Grace the Duke Vines. Is that enough?”

Silence instantly swept through the shop.

Idre, listening beside her, clasped her hands with an ecstatic expression, her eyes shining toward Marin.

“Miss Marin—no, Lady Schwenz. Congratulations!”

“Call me like before. But those two don’t seem to believe it at all.”

“Well, they don’t know the full story.”

As if on cue, the mother and daughter wore smirks of ridicule.

Should she walk around with a “Duke’s Fiancée” stamp on her face?

Meanwhile, Juri, who had been holding her breath behind, whispered curiously.

***

“What’s the full story?”

“Does that mean I don’t have to keep the secret anymore?”

Instead of answering Juri, Idre turned to Marin with a joyful face.

The duke wanted the engagement rumors to spread quickly, so it should be fine.

“Yes.”

As Marin nodded, Idre straightened her shoulders proudly.

To think she had designed a dress for the duke’s fiancée. She felt like she could forgive anything the troublemakers did; her mood was soaring.

“You two heard that? It’s a dress for the duke’s fiancée. So...”

“That’s noble defamation! How dare you casually invoke His Grace the Duke?”

The countess raised her voice in disbelief.

“We’re nobles too.”

Marin straightened her back and stood her ground confidently.

Ignorance makes the loudest voices. Noble defamation doesn’t apply between nobles.

“I’ll tell His Grace right now and have these...”

“Enough.”

Thud. The sound of a cane tapping the floor echoed loudly through the entire shop.

The countess whirled around to snap at the insolent interrupter, only to freeze instinctively.

Ommanda beside her also spotted the duke and her lips parted soundlessly.

The duke, eyes closed, passed them with elegant poise.