Chapter 29: A Surprise Gift (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 29: A Surprise Gift (2)
Loik lowered his voice to a deep growl.
“You’ve grown quite bold since the Grand Duchess arrived.”
“……I will correct my behavior.”
“I was simply wondering if you had arranged the fitting for today.”
“Pardon? You mean Couter? Did you actually call them?”
His aide, who was usually impeccable in his work, had recently been saying things that made Loik’s jaw tighten.
After pushing him so hard to do it, now he was asking if Loik had actually called them?
Seeing Perel’s eyes go wide with his question, Loik didn’t bother to hide his displeasure.
Yesterday evening, as soon as training ended, Loik had summoned Perel to his office. It was to increase the budget allocated to the Grand Duchess.
When she had asked for a privy purse, he assumed she would buy jewelry; he never imagined the first thing she would buy with that money would be gifts for the knights.
The initial amount hadn't been small by any means, but Loik had decided to allot her a privy purse more than double what his mother, the previous mistress of the house, had used.
‘The Grand Duchess should be pleased with this, right?’
He had been inwardly relieved, thinking this would make her feel properly treated. That was when Perel had tilted his head.
– “Will the privy purse alone be enough?”
– “What?”
– “I saw the luggage Her Highness brought with her. Her clothing and accessories seemed quite lacking.”
Perel had then lowered his voice and added softly:
– “Most of the dresses she brought are very plain. Her Highness is likely concerned about it herself.”
‘What was the Grand Duchess wearing again…?’
Loik searched his memory for her attire.
However, the only things that came to mind were her fair, creamy face, the soft curve of her eyes when she smiled, her cheeks flushing a peachy pink, and her red lips curved in a fresh smile.
Whenever he was with the Grand Duchess, Loik’s eyes instinctively sought out her face, like a man chasing sunlight falling upon a frozen snowfield.
He was so preoccupied with her expressions and her thoughts that he had never once spared a thought for her clothes.
‘I thought she looked beautiful in whatever she wore.’
In truth, even if the Grand Duchess had appeared in rags, Loik probably would have just thought she looked lovely today as well.
But of all people, it was Perel—the man who had stood at the altar with her—who was pointing this out.
Loik’s brow furrowed.
‘Why is this guy so interested in another man’s wife?’
Regardless of his discomfort, he couldn't simply ignore Perel’s words.
‘A husband who lets his wife worry over something as trivial as clothes.’
Being perceived as such an incompetent man was the worst possible outcome.
– “Then I shall allocate a separate wardrobe budget for the Grand Duchess.”
Though he spoke after some deliberation, Perel shook his head.
– “Her Highness doesn't know much about Blenheim yet. Since she has no ladies-in-waiting, there is no one to properly inform her about the local boutiques.”
Loik pressed his lips together, feeling at a loss.
He had almost no experience summoning a boutique to have clothes made. Ever since he inherited the curse, Whitley had always taken his measurements, and the butler would simply order new clothes whenever he outgrew his old ones.
He had never given a thought to style.
Since he had zero social life, he had no need to dress for specific occasions, nor did he feel the need to look handsome.
Whitley had brought fashion plates to him a few times to ask his opinion, but Loik’s answer was always, “Do as you see fit.”
After a while, Whitley stopped bothering him about it.
From then on, if something felt slightly different when he put it on, he simply assumed the butler had ordered new clothes and left it at that.
Loik was that indifferent to his own affairs.
But he couldn't let the Grand Duchess wear just anything.
– “Which is the most famous boutique in Blenheim?”
When Loik asked, Perel looked embarrassed.
– “The place where I get my clothes tailored specializes only in menswear, so…”
At Perel’s awkward response, Loik let out a small, frustrated sigh.
His aide spent as much time cooped up in the castle as his master did; it wasn't as if he would be well-informed about news outside the walls.
In the end, even Leon, who had been standing guard outside, was summoned.
– “It must be a place that can at least rival those in the capital.”
Realizing his lord’s question wasn't a joke, Leon scratched his head for a moment before answering.
– “There are a few places where noblewomen get their clothes made… but Couter is the most famous. I heard the proprietor, Madame Ramondria, was quite successful in the capital until a few years ago.”
Leon was at least more attuned to current trends than the other knights.
Seeing Loik nod silently, Leon quickly added more information.
– “The handkerchiefs Her Highness gave us were also commissioned from Couter.”
‘Why does every single one of them know more about the Grand Duchess’s business than I do?’
– “That’s perfect then. If it’s someone she already knows, it’ll be much more comfortable for her to have her clothes made,” Perel said cheerfully, completely oblivious to Loik’s petty inner thoughts. “Shall I send word for Couter to come by?”
Loik hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.
– “I should check with the Grand Duchess first.”
– “Commander! Then it won't be a surprise!”
At that moment, Leon, who had been listening to their conversation, cut in with an urgent voice.
– “A surprise?”
Loik narrowed his handsome brows.
– “This is a gift for Her Highness, isn't it? I don't think it’s right to just deliver it normally.”
Why did these men, usually so quiet, become so bold whenever the Grand Duchess was mentioned?
Loik’s eyebrows arched slightly at the unhesitating speech of the youngest knight, who usually couldn't even meet his eyes.
– “It’s not a gift. I’m simply calling a boutique.”
Despite flinching at the low, heavy tone, Leon stubbornly continued.
– “Think about it. Which would surprise her more: telling Her Highness everything and then calling the boutique, or having the Madame appear with a ‘Ta-da!’ when she’s expecting nothing?”
– “Is being surprised a good thing?”
Perel, standing beside them, also tilted his head in confusion. Leon shook his head as if frustrated.
– “She might be startled at first, but she’ll be moved when she realizes it’s a surprise gift prepared by the Commander! She’ll probably love it!”
‘The Grand Duchess will love it?’
Would she really? Leon’s words struck a chord in Loik’s heart.
– “Now that I think about it, he’s right. Let’s make it a surprise gift!”
Perel seemed convinced as well and nodded. At the time, the two of them had pressured Loik to make a decision, so he had chased them both out, saying he would handle it himself.
But in the end, late that night after seeing the Grand Duchess off to sleep, Loik had given Whitley the order to summon the Madame.
“Will it be alright?”
Loik was brought back to reality by Perel’s muttering. He had been remembering the butler’s bewildered face.
“What will be?”
“Ah, the thought just occurred to me.”
Perel gave a forced cough.
“Noblewomen have a certain way of speaking, don't they?”
“Get to the point.”
“Well… she won't take the fact that you summoned a Madame as a criticism of her current attire, will she?”
Loik stopped dead in his tracks. Leon, who was following behind, had to halt abruptly to avoid crashing into him.
“T-That couldn't be. I was just talking to myself.”
As Loik’s gaze turned sharp, Perel hurriedly waved his hands to change the atmosphere. Loik bit his lip and started walking again.
“If the Grand Duchess is even slightly offended, neither of you will be safe.”
As Loik spoke coldly, Perel and Leon both flinched and pulled their heads back simultaneously.
“S-She’ll love it.”
“O-Of course she will.”
Just then, Whitley, who was waiting at the entrance of the main castle, spotted Loik and bowed.
Leon quickly changed the subject.
“The Head Butler is out to meet us.”
Usually, the loyal butler waiting outside meant either an urgent telegram had arrived or an unexpected guest had appeared, so Perel looked curious.
But Loik felt his heart race slightly, unlike his usual self.
‘Is the Grand Duchess waiting for me?’
He hadn't seen her face all day. Perhaps she had sent word that she was coming to see him, or that she wanted him to come to her.
They had seen each other every day for the past few days, so it wouldn't be strange.
Even if they were a couple bound by contract, it was only polite to exchange greetings at least once a day while living in the same castle.
While it was difficult to grant a request for her to come to his room late at night, having a light cup of tea before the sun went down should be fine.
The surroundings were growing dark, but the sun was definitely still hanging on the edge of the mountain range.
‘I should head straight to the office.’
Wait, he had been outside all day; he must be dirty.
No matter how late it was, he couldn't meet the Grand Duchess looking this disheveled.
He needed to wash up and change as quickly as possible.
Loik arrived before Whitley and was about to ask for the Grand Duchess’s message.
“Sir Leon, Her Highness requested that you stop by for a moment before returning to your quarters.”
“What did you say?”
At those words, Loik felt a shock as if he had been struck hard on the back of the head.