Weekday mornings and afternoons were already filled with the children’s class schedules, so Diego was left with after-school hours. Since the ball was still a week away, they decided that the dance lessons would be daily. It was an urgent matter, but Estella couldn’t immediately align her schedule with his from the very next day. When Estella was confirmed as his partner, a more pressing matter arose than Diego’s dancing skills.

Estella’s outfit.

“Miss Margaret is the only one who would get a dress ready a week before the ball.”

As he spoke, Diego lifted and lowered the brim of his hat. Estella thought it matched the white gloves he wore and the cane that lay beside him quite nicely. Neatly dressed from head to toe, he looked very dignified.

Estella consciously tore her gaze away from him and looked out the window. The carriage she was riding in now didn’t compare to the one she’d taken on the ride up to the capital. It suddenly felt strange to think that she would be riding in this carriage, and wearing similarly luxurious clothing, on her way to the ballroom.

“Can’t I just wear something from the display?”

“If you show up with me, everyone will be talking about where you got what you wore the next that day. From the display, that’s ridiculous.”

Diego replied, a lazy smile on his face. Clearly, Diego was a very popular figure in social circles. Estella looked to him for reassurance.

“Just this once. Do you know what to say if anyone asks you who I am?”

“I invited the home tutor from a disadvantaged family who couldn’t make her debut in society due to financial difficulties. Is that right?”

Diego recited the words he had heard so many times that they stuck in his ears. Estella’s face lit up at his perfect memorization. Diego spoke in a voice that sounded almost bored.

“You’re setting up a very humiliating situation.”

“It’s just a case of what if. I don’t want to get myself into trouble with some weird rumor.”

“I can’t help but wonder how much stranger of a man you might bring if I leave you alone.”

Diego said in an unimpressed tone. Estella put on a businesslike smile, but she was cursing Diego. She bitterly regretted telling him about the love affair she’d had in her previous life. And not just for drinks. Estella’s love life was being chewed up by Diego like a peanut. Diego had a knack for getting under people’s skin with the simplest of words.

Looking out the window, Diego pressed the back of his hand against the glass. Soon the carriage came to a slow stop. He tapped on the window with the handle of his cane.

“We’ve arrived, let’s get out.”

Diego opened the door and stepped out first. Estella followed him silently, stepping to the footboard. She smoothed the hem of her skirt and looked up to see a hand outstretched in front of her. Estella muttered in a low voice.

“You’re such a gentleman at times like this…….”

“You’re not going to take it?”

“Maybe next time.”

With that, Estella leapt out from under the carriage. It was a perfect landing. Diego raised and lowered his eyebrows in displeasure. He looked into his palm, then withdrew his arm. They walked side by side until they reached the front of the dress shop. The clerk waiting at the door spotted Diego and took the initiative to open the door.

It was quiet inside. Since they had made a reservation in advance through contact, there were no other customers present. Following the guidance of the staff, Diego and Estella proceeded to sit on the sofa.

“We have tea, fruit juice, and water. What would you like to drink?”

“Miss Margaret?”

Diego turned to Estella and asked about her preference. Estella was slightly taken aback by the fact that they served tea at a clothing store, but she quickly replied that she would like some water. She felt that drinking anything else might make her throat feel even drier. Diego relayed the message to the waiter on behalf of Estella.

“Give the lady a glass of water, I’m good.”

“Yes, please wait a moment and the designer will be with you.”

With that, the clerk disappeared. Before he could pour the water, a slightly chubby woman appeared, almost in a sprint. It was Madame Laura, the shop’s owner and head designer. She quickly came over and sat down in front of Diego and Estella, wiping off her sweat. She spoke in a friendly, hospitable tone.

“You’ve been waiting a long time. I just heard that you’re here in the fitting room. I apologize for the delay.”

They hadn’t been waiting that long, and she was very sorry to be late. Before Estella could say that it was okay, Diego spoke up, his tone thick.

“You must be backlogged with orders.”

“For the royal ball, yes. What did you come to see me about, Duke?”

“For the royal ball. I need a dress for this lady to wear, with matching gloves, shoes, and jewelry.”

For a moment, Laura’s face hardened. She barely managed a smile and asked.

“You mean in a week……?”

“I’ll need it to be ready at least three hours before the ball starts. Is that possible?”

“We need to make the impossible possible. I’m glad I hired extra people this year to give me a little extra time. We’ll find a way to accommodate your schedule.”

Laura sighed and handed her assistant a pen and sketchbook. As Laura traced fluid lines on the paper, she said.

“With your fair skin tone, I think you’ll look good in a light-colored dress. You’ll look especially elegant in white. If you want to stand out more that day, we could go with a primary color. How about matching it with the little Duke’s hair?”

“I like white.”

Estella replied quickly. It had happened in a split second, too quick for Diego to take offense. Sneaking a glance at Diego, Laura scribbled ‘white’ in the corner of her sketchbook and continued.

“Nowadays, it’s very fashionable to wear shoulder-baring styles like this, and some people go as far as the chest, but I wouldn’t recommend it, because it’s a lot of work to take care of. Alternatively, a large collar around the shoulders is also very fashionable, and many people prefer it because it makes their face look smaller, but it’s really up to you.”

With that, the woman flipped the sketchbook over toward Diego and Estella. On the paper were several necklines that were currently in trend. Estella glanced over at Diego. Diego was slouching and resting his chin on his right hand.

“Choose as you please, Miss Margaret.”

He said, emphasizing the word ‘as you please.’ Hesitantly, Estella ran her fingers over one sketch.

“I like this one.”

Estella chose a design that featured intricately layered lace cascading over the neckline. She had been mostly wearing plain and minimalistic outfits, so she felt a desire to try something with more embellishments. The woman looked at Estella’s fingertips and said, ‘Oh,’ before explaining.

“This is actually not a design directly connected to the dress itself, but rather a type of lace band. When you drape the lace band over a slightly fitted white dress, it looks quite stylish.”

Estella’s brow narrowed slightly, it was hard to tell from looking at the drawings. However, meeting frequently to discuss the design was time-consuming. Deep in thought, Laura came up with an alternative solution.

“I’ll bring out some other dresses so you can get a feel for them. You can try them on and decide which one looks best.”

With that, she looked back at Diego.

“Would you like to look at jewellery and other accessories first while I prepare?”

“Sounds good. Will you bring me something that would go well with it?”

“Yes, I’ll be right back with a selection for you.”

Estella meekly sipped the water the clerk offered her. This was the first time she’d ever been in a place like this, and she felt a little out of place. The good news was that she was being bombarded with options before she had time to feel awkward.

It wasn’t long before a large box was placed in front of her. As if considering the color of Estella’s eyes, the clerk pulled out mostly blue trinkets. One necklace was particularly beautiful, with a sapphire on a platinum string. Estella delicately touched it with slightly trembling fingertips. The salesperson, wearing a friendly smile, asked

“Would you like to try it on?”

“What? Yes, please.”

Estella stammered. The clerk walked over to her and fastened the necklace. Then she put on a set of bracelets and a ring. The light made the shiny metal look especially gorgeous. Diego looked back at Estella and asked in a low voice,

“Do you like it?”

Estella nodded dazedly. Diego asked again.

“Do you want me to buy it for you?”

“What?”

Estella looked back at Diego in surprise. At first glance, it looked like something well beyond her salary. She should have said no, but for some reason, the corner of her mouth twitched. She couldn’t stop the smile from tugging at the corners of her mouth.

When reading the novel and actually coming to this mansion, the same assessment of the Duchy of Berta’s wealth continued. Even in the bustling capital, it was considered one of the wealthiest families. With such wealth, Estella couldn’t help but think that the expenses they were incurring wouldn’t be a big deal from Diego’s perspective. Estella cupped her troubled face with her right hand and murmured softly.

“I guess this is why I’m not a heroine…….”

“What are you talking about?”

Diego asked in disbelief. Estella sighed and answered.

“In most books, heroines would find these kinds of expenses burdensome and refuse them, as if implying that money can’t buy their affection.”

With that, Estella looked at the ring on her finger with a look of enchantment in her eyes. Diego secretly thought that she seemed quite addicted to words, particularly those in romance novels. It was amusing to him how she could immerse herself in other people’s love stories while not fully engaging with her own situation.

Estella, who didn’t know what Diego was up to, exhaled in admiration.

“If there’s a man who spreads things like this, I could really consider marrying him.”

“Is that so? Then let’s get married.”

Diego shot back, and Estella laughed in amusement. Tilting her head, she wiped the tears from her eyes. Estella slipped the ring from her hand and said.

“I think the Duke has a dark sense of humor.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes, sometimes the things you say are so funny. You’re an entertaining person.”

“I see. It seems like the teacher quite the leading lady type too.”

“Oh, no. I’m just an ordinary citizen, so that won’t work for me.”