Because of her gorgeous features, the dress with an ample flare suited her really well.
"You are so beautiful. Princess."
"It feels like I'm seeing a rose in full bloom. It’s dazzling."
The servants blurt out flattery, choosing their words very carefully as to not make a mistake.
"How is your skin so beautiful?"
"Your lips are like cherries."
"Hmph."
I know better than anyone else that this face is interesting and thrilling.
However, she tried to suppress her desire to be annoying and snorted lightly.
In order to protect her dignity as the Empire's most evil woman, she was always practicing her cold expressions.
‘I don't like character changes.'
(T/N: she is talking about how characters suddenly change due to bad writing, etc.)
"Princess, the Duke will be here soon."
Before long, the Duke's general manager appeared and spoke.
As an accessory, she held a deep purple fan that matched her lavender dress. She was tall as it is, but when wearing high heels, her field of view easily increased.
After a while, the Duke, wearing a navy-blue suit, entered the lobby. Exuding the profound charm that only middle-aged people have.
‘This is the country.'
(T/N: meme used when reacting to something good done by the government, etc., meaning like "what a nice situation!")
She stood next to the Duke, receiving a standing ovation in the eyes of the welfare of the Azutean Empire.
It is a good thing she practiced facial expressions every day.
Otherwise, she would have stood there blankly, with her mouth open, like a fan seeing a celebrity right in front of them.
"It's an expensive dress."
The Duke blurted out, coldly, looking at me with a serene gaze. You don't get used to his cold way of speaking like you do to his nice looks.
It is the same for the men in this house, the price of a pretty face.
Swallowing words I couldn't say, I replied, barely drawing up my lips.
"My parents gave me a wonderful birth, so I think this gorgeous dress suits me well."
I became more nervous when the silence fell, so I somehow kept up with the Duke's blunt words and the flattery kept increasing.
"Then, cherish your body. If you do that again, it won't end with confinement."
Pointing out the self-harm incident in which I slapped my cheeks relentlessly, the Duke stretched out his hand in front of the carriage with the double-headed seal.
‘It's my first time out.'
After receiving his unfriendly escort and getting on the carriage, I lost all strength watching the rapidly passing scenery through the window.
Because the main gates of the Duke's townhouse were still not visible.
‘Does it take this long to get to the gates?'
It was the difference between what she had seen from the fragments of her memory and actually experiencing the wealthy world.
It wasn't just the magnificent size of the mansion that surprised me.
‘Why aren't there any customers during this prime time?'
I looked around the restaurant in wonder.
The interior of the two-story wooden restaurant was vacant, except for the seats where the Duke and I were seated.
"Why are you like that?"
"I was wondering if this place was out of business."
"Is it because you resemble me? It's not funny for a joke. Still, your intention to soften the mood is admirable. You seem to have grown up lately."
‘What?'
I felt that the conversation was off, but the waiter brought aperitifs and bread at a good timing.
‘It is tasty.'
Just looking at the savory butter and fluffy bread, it is definitely a good restaurant. It makes no sense that there are no customers.
‘Ah, now I get it. He rented the whole restaurant.'
As a humble citizen, I enjoyed the difficult-to-digest taste of money, but on the other hand, I continued my meal quietly, feeling like I was having indigestion.
The supper enjoyed by the Empire's upper class was most similar to a French course meal.
There was a lot of tableware due to the variety of ingredients and it was quite tricky to handle them all perfectly without making any mistakes, so I could not help but feel nervous whenever a dish was served.
Whenever I made a basic mistake, I could see how pathetic I looked in the Duke's eyes.
Fortunately, it was not difficult to use the tableware thanks to the aristocratic habits imprinted on the body.
"Deborah, did you bring a letter today too?"
The Duke suddenly asked me, who was carefully attacking crustaceans.
"I'm not rushing. I was expecting and quite excited because you gave me letters one by one. Was this also intended?"
It was because of my painful experience that I thought I should divide the letters instead of giving them all at once.
Because human beings are ungrateful and cunning, the bitter feelings last for a long time, but they quickly forget grateful feelings.
‘What I desperately felt during the 24 years of my pushover life…'
Being condescending for a long time, you need to be constantly reminded of gratitude. I realized that fact in another person's body after I died.
Of course, for those who want to look good, there was a difficulty in showing off in a sophisticated way.
"I'm just glad you enjoyed it."
At the indirect answer, the Duke laughed loudly.
Looking at the Duke's eyes, softer than ever, I carefully suggested.
"Father. Today, I would like to deliver the letter in a way different than usual…"
"A different way?"
"Yes, could you spare some time when the meal is over?"
The Duke nodded, sipping the white wine.
"Of course. These days, my appointment with you is the top priority. Everything around me is just work and I am fed up with it. Because they are boys, my sons are all unfriendly…"
He paused while complaining lightly.
"I can't believe I'm speaking this nonsense in front of you."
"Please, speak comfortably."
My answer made the Duke narrow his eyes.
"That pink diamond, I heard it will be on auction at the end of this month. Should I get it?"
As if testing me, he persistently asked me what I wanted until the meal was over.
He even gently concurred that he wanted to reward me for the letters and that I should ask for anything comfortably.
‘I never thought of getting anything by using the letters…'
It is a bit weird to keep refusing his suggestions like that. I shook my head shortly.
The Duke may have wanted to say, "Deborah. You are like that.".
The effort I have put in so far could all go to waste, so I have been cautious all along.
It was snowing when we stepped out of the restaurant, after eating the course meal that lasted for two hours.
Judging from the gradually increasing snow, it was unlikely to stop anytime soon.
As the floor was slippery, I twisted my feet slightly as I was walking towards the carriage on the opposite side.
"Oops."
The Duke clicked his tongue and stretched his hand to the floor.
At this gesture, all the snow that had accumulated on the street melted in an instant.
Having lived for 24 years in a scientific civilization, I could not help but feel awe at the supernatural scene that unfolded before my eyes.
To see the CG created in the movies and real magic with your own eyes was an incomparable thing.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because you're cool."
The Duke scratched his chin, murmuring honestly.
"Gosh, you're talking nonsense today. Get in."
The Duke's hands, which were escorting her, were warmer than before, perhaps because he had just used fire magic.
Seymour's platinum carriage, resembling a limousine, reached the mansion through the snow and darkness, while the inside was quiet thanks to the noise-blocking magic.
"I brought in a new tea yesterday, and it smells good."
Recalling my request for some time after the meal, the Duke took me straight to his private office.
"Bring us two cups of tea, using fresh tea leaves, and refreshments."
"Yes, my Duke."
The aide came closer, with a tray of fragrant tea and refreshments.
A weekend evening, going out with the Duke.
The servants were very busy because I was going on an outing after a long time.
After gently combing the long, curly hair. They sprayed perfume, and Helen helped me to wear an elegant evening dress, which she designed by grinding her soul.
"I can't believe I'm doing this…"
I could not take my eyes off the mirror.
The aide did not look at me with a grim look anymore, as I went in and out of the Duke's office.
As soon as the refreshments were placed on the table, I took the Duchess' letter from my purse.
"When we were eating, didn't you say you would give me the letter in a different way?"
The Duke said with a blank face, whether he was curious and anticipating.
I opened the Duchess' letter.
"Today I will recite the letter myself."
"Recite? Don't tell me you're even going to act it out?"
He suddenly raised his lips and laughed.
‘Oh my.'
It was the first time I had ever seen him laugh so loudly, coldly, and bluntly, so I almost dropped the letter in my hand.
"It is definitely an unimaginable way. I didn't know you had such a funny side."
"For now, please close your eyes. You must focus."
"Alright."
The Duke, grinning, folded his arms and closed his eyes.
There was nothing more serious than an adult who was pushed to participate in a child's play.
In front of the Duke, who was slowly leaning against the back of his chair, I began to recite the poem titled "My Heart is a White Flower".
This poem is a nature poem, written by a famous poet of the Empire, expressing the ambivalent feelings of love by using the morphological similarity between white flowers and snowflakes.
"… If the cold without you makes my heart ache, I sing in the fragrance."
After reciting the poem, my throat was dry, so I took a sip of the tea.
Even after the reciting was over, the Duke nodded with his eyes closed as if he were recalling something.
"It is definitely a poem that Marien would like. It also goes well with the weather today."
He got up and stared silently at the pouring snow, with deepened eyes.
The moment he learned of love, the indifferent man, who did not even know loneliness, felt joy as if the world was filled with white flowers.
When the woman disappeared, the white flower came cold as if it had been a snowflake from the beginning, but he realized that the scent left behind by the woman is always lingering around his side.
The poem was about that.
***
The Duke of Seymour, slowly chewing on the contents of the poem, picked up his wife's letter folded on the table after Deborah had left.
"!"
As soon as he opened the letter, he doubted his eyes.
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