Chapter 106 The Couples Attire
Maybe the head of the Varannes family is opening his best bottle of wine right now. My father laughs loudly downstairs, overjoyed because his daughter—who usually just lazes around in her room—is suddenly being escorted by the most feared general in the country.
Meanwhile, me?
I'm sitting cross-legged on my bedroom floor, staring blankly at the door that Duke Claus Valerius Maximilian d'Alecon just firmly closed.
He left just like that after making a huge scene. And now, in less than three hours, the bad rumors have already spread throughout the capital faster than carrier pigeons.
The gossip goes something like this: The daughter of Viscount Varannes deliberately seduced His Grace Duke Claus just to get an invitation to the engagement party at the palace.
Amazing. From being a background character nobody noticed, now I'm public enemy number one for all the young noble ladies who adore the General.
I pace around my room, biting my index fingernail. My head feels hot. If I don't do something, I might get strangled by Claus's diehard fans before I even make it to the party.
I quickly grab a blank sheet of paper and a quill. Sitting at my desk with a serious face, I start drafting a public clarification letter.
"The Varannes family management hereby states that the relationship between Miss Ilse d'Varannes and His Grace Duke Claus is purely professional. There is no special relationship, no seduction, and Miss Ilse has no intention of stealing your idol. Please understand."
Damn.
I crumple up the letter and toss it in the trash. What am I, a K-pop idol caught in a dating scandal, needing my agency to release an official apology letter?
But panicking won't help. A few hours later, an even crazier problem shows up at my doorstep.
A palace courier arrives carrying a huge wooden box, almost as big as a wardrobe. The D'Alecon family crest is clearly stamped on the lid. Hans, our always-expressionless butler, brings the box into my room, handling it carefully like it's a time bomb.
"From His Grace the Duke, Miss," Hans says curtly, then quickly exits the room as if he doesn't want to be anywhere near if the box explodes.
I stand in front of the box, holding my breath.
I slowly open the lid. The scent of expensive fabric fills the air. Inside, there's a long gown in midnight blue. The material is thick, high-quality velvet, embroidered with silver thread forming rose thorn patterns at the hem and collar.
Beautiful? Yes. But unfortunately, it's no ordinary dress.
The color and embroidery match exactly with the official military uniform that Claus usually wears. If I put on this dress and stand next to that general, we'll look like a couple showing off matching outfits at a family party.
My mind goes blank.
Claus did this on purpose. He really wants to make me the talk of every noblewoman in the palace. He wants me to be the center of attention.
"He's truly insane," I whisper fearfully, closing the box tightly.
Not even a day after the box arrived, new gossip spread instantly in the capital's beauty salons.
News about the couple outfit must've leaked through a nosy servant.
As a result, the front yard of my house is suddenly filled with dozens of anonymous letters from Claus's fanatics.
Some send curses, some send dried rat corpses, and some openly challenge me to a sword duel in the city square tomorrow morning.
My life now feels like a soap opera about fighting over inheritance, when all I want is to sleep peacefully without getting dragged into a royal prince's political drama.
Days go by quickly. The long-awaited engagement party night finally arrives.
I stand before the tall mirror in my room. Like it or not, I have to wear the dress Claus sent. As soon as I put it on, it fits perfectly without needing a single pin. The cut is elegant, shaping my waist perfectly and making me look ten times more expensive than usual.
Elara, my maid, enters the room clapping in awe. "Miss, you look amazing. If I were Duke Claus, I'd want to kidnap you right to the wedding venue."
"Don't be ridiculous," I snap, though inside I can only pray that tonight I return home in one piece.
I go downstairs, heart pounding. My father and mother are waiting in the living room, handkerchiefs ready, prepared to cry tears of joy because their daughter is suddenly being escorted by the highest official in the kingdom.
But just as I'm about to open the front door to get into the family carriage, a loud knocking startles everyone in the house.
Knock, knock, knock.
It's not a maid or the usual coachman. When Hans opens the door wide, the scene outside nearly makes my blood freeze.
A black horse-drawn carriage stops in front of the house. The D'Alecon silver crest gleams on the door. Powerful horses exhale mist into the cold night air.
And beside the carriage door stands the Duke who's the talk of the entire capital today.
Claus.
The Grand Duke is dressed in full military regalia, his blue-black cloak fluttering in the night breeze. His broad chest is covered in medals of honor, and the silver embroidery on his collar matches exactly with the rose thorn motif on my gown.
Damn. He did this on purpose. This man actually came himself to pick me up.
My parents, who were about to cry with joy, are left speechless. Their mouths hang open, nearly having a heart attack seeing the imperial general standing at the Varannes residence. Hans by the door also looks stunned.
Claus looks at me. His blue eyes scan me from head to toe. There's a pause before his lips lift slightly. That faint smile sends chills down my spine.
"It's time to go, Miss Varannes." His voice startles me, even though I'm still frozen.
My father grins widely, quickly nudging me forward. "Ah, yes! Please, Your Grace! My daughter is a bit slow when getting ready, but she's very obedient!"
Whether I like it or not, I walk toward Claus. He offers his hand, clad in a white glove. I stare at it for a moment before finally placing my fingers on his cold palm.
He leads me into his private carriage.
As soon as the carriage doors close and the wheels start rolling away from the house, the cabin grows silent and tense. The scent of cinnamon and expensive tobacco fills the small space. Claus sits across from me, glancing out the window before locking eyes with me.
"That dress... suits you, beautiful," he says quietly and evenly, but it still makes my face flush.
All I can do is smile, hold my breath, and pray this trip to the palace doesn't end in disaster for me.
The journey to the palace feels quick, but it makes me nervous. When the carriage stops at the gates, huge crystal lamps are already shining bright. The luxurious carriages of nobles line up neatly.
I get out of the carriage, helped by Claus.
And sure enough, the moment I set foot on the red carpet, dozens of eyes immediately turn to me. Their gazes aren't just judging—they're full of hatred that feels like it could burn me alive.
Several women in luxurious silk gowns at the entrance whisper and glare at my dress. They instantly know who owns the silver embroidery.
I swallow hard, trying to keep a brave face. I pretend to be deaf, pretend to be graceful, though inside I just want to cry in a corner.
Before I can escape to find a hiding place, the doors to the main hall swing open wide.
A royal guard steps onto the center podium, striking his golden staff on the floor three times, making the whole hall fall silent. The music stops. The whispers vanish.
He takes a deep breath, then announces in a loud voice that echoes through the palace:
"The couple we've all been waiting for has arrived—Prince Didier and Miss Lysandra!"