Chapter 88. Francis, Part XIV

Simone's expression hardened at the butler's words. Her hands trembled at the behavior of the Duke, who had apparently gone down to the Territory to avoid Julietta. She was furious that the person who had formed the scheme was just running away, leaving everything to her.

From the time he had left for Dublin without dropping by Tilia on his way back from Bertino, she had known his intentions, but she never thought he would act this way until today. Simone said, barely managing to settle down, "He must have left in a hurry to finish the chores before the debut party. There is nothing to do myself. Even if Iris is healthy, she would be tired because it's the first time she's come such a long way. Take her right to her room."

Simone entered the mansion, carefully covering Julietta's back.

"I'll tell them to take your dinner up to the bedroom. Since my brother is not at home anyway, you are going to have a comfortable meal in your room for now."

Simone sat down in a chair by the window, ordering Vera to change Julietta's suit. She beckoned Julietta to come near, then whispered into her ear, "Everyone around you, except me and Vera, is your enemy. The people in the mansion will be glad to greet the princess who has returned after a long time, but the moment they are not satisfied with you, they'll look down on you and ignore you."

The commoners working in the highest aristocracy of Austern were as proud and arrogant as their masters. Their loyalty varied in depth depending on how dignified, wonderful, and fine their master was.

It was quite different from the naive servants and maids of Tilia Territory. It didn't make sense for the master to notice their subordinates, but the story was quite different for those who were stuck in a land, like Simone and Regina. The fact that the Duke was not here today without waiting for his daughter's return made Iris' position especially uneasy.

Julietta nodded at Simone's reminder and looked around the room where she would stay.

The rooms of the princess, located on the right side of the second floor, consisted of three spaces. Divided into a dressing room, bedroom with a bathroom, reception room, and study, the space was decorated with light sky blue and white, making it well suited for a girl who was doing her coming-out ceremony.

Although she was a substitute, she was now the princess who was qualified to stay in a room like this. But Julietta sighed... everything was still as precarious as thin ice.Vera took out a dress for wearing inside from the bag the servant had picked and began to take off Julietta's traveling clothes. Simone looked carefully at Julietta changing into an indoor dress and said to Vera, "We'll have to get her clothes ready right now. Maybe it's because it's the dress we prepared in a hurry, but it doesn't deserve the status of Princess Kiellini, either."

The maids of the family of the Duke would gossip about everything concerning the princess. Even if their chatter was suppressed, it could not prevent their own judgment.

"We'll have to hurry up and prepare, but she's too well-developed for a child who's been sick for a long time."

Madame Louai had hurried to send a letter to Tilia Territory when the steady orders for Princess Kiellini's dresses were cut off with rumors of her debut. Her letter was congratulating the princess on her debut, saying that she was fully prepared for her debut dress. She had been in charge of the princess's wardrobe for a decade, so she was sure they'd order the dress.

However, it was not possible to assign clothes to Madame Louai, who knew Regina's measurements. No matter how much better and healthier she got, she couldn't change her measurements in two months.

She tried to alter Regina's clothes and make them again with the same clothes, but that didn't make sense, either. When the princess had been in Tilia Territory, Madame Louai had sent the dress illustrations to her, and Regina had chosen one of the dresses she liked, then a maid of the mansion measured her and sent it to Madame Louai. It was strange that the princess who had come to Dublin didn't wear her own clothes.

Simone sent a letter to Madame Louai saying the princess's debut dress would be made by a new designer. It was going to antagonize her further, but she couldn't help it.

Madam Louai's self-respect had been damaged, and she would be watching the new designer for Princess Kiellini. They had to find a talented designer, which was also a concern. It would be a laughingstock if the newly found designer was poor after kicking out the best designer in Austern.

"We're going to have to find a new designer as soon as possible, and that's a problem, too."

Simone felt resentful of her narrow personal connections from being confined to Tilia Territory along with her niece. As her head ached again from anxiety that Julietta might be revealed and the pressure to have a successful debut party that would draw everyone's attention, Simone ordered tea to soothe her headache.

Julietta carefully spoke up when she saw Simone. "Can I get a trusted designer? I'm afraid Madame Louai might ask a new designer about the princess of Kiellini and notice that her physical shape is different from the dresses she used to make."

Julietta's body, which showed unusual development, and Regina, who was as thin as a child, were totally different. Simone sighed, comparing the two whose hair color and eye color were similar, and the differences in height, chest, hips, arms, and legs.

"If we want to find a designer who's good at it and has no interaction with Madame Louai, we'll have to go to Vicern or another kingdom to order clothes."

Vera put the tea down and said, "Wouldn't it seem rather strange to go all the way to another country to order dresses, when all the fashions of the continent begin in Austern?"

Simone wrapped her head. "In this situation, no matter what you do, they'll think it's strange... unless you make your debut wearing a really great dress. Vera, send someone to the Eileen Theater tomorrow and make an appointment with Maribel. Since she has a good and broad personal connection, she might find the right person for the situation."

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Upon arriving in Austern, Killian visited Lillian with Spencer. He frowned as the carriage stopped at the mansion facing the Bertino mansion on Harrods Street.

"Why did you get a mansion across the street?"

Spencer tilted his head at Killian's complaint. "You can't be afraid of people's eyes, and what don't you like about it?"

Killian glared at Spencer's questioning look. The mere thought of the two members of the royal family coming in a carriage and entering the mansions across from one other made him feel bad.

As Spencer looked at him innocently, Killian murmured as if he had given up, "Well, I'll dispose of it anyway, so I don't have to care if you come and go to the other side of the street."

"Will you dispose of your mansion?"

When Spencer asked in surprise, Killian said sharply, "It's of no use any more."

At the mere mention of it, Spencer watched his cousin's back as he stepped out of the open carriage door and muttered under his breath, "You don't even think you might not find her. Or don't you want to think of it?"

After Killian got off the wagon, he saw Lillian walking from the garden to greet them. Just like when she was an actress, Lillian was still beautiful despite her plain clothes and face without makeup.

Unlike the always busy and bustling theater life, the quiet and calm present life was fine for her, but there were times when she felt lonely. People's amorous glances and attention were exhausting, but she missed the time after the performance, when she exchanged views with actors and staff about the play of the day, or laughed and chatted with employees.

Not surprised by the sudden visit of the Prince, she guided them to the drawing-room and served them tea.

"Why are you looking for Julietta?"

"I'm going to take her as a concubine."

At Killian's imposing declaration, Lillian took a sip of the tea she was holding, and then put it down. "I haven't seen her since she followed you to Bertino. It's rather embarrassing that you asked me where Julietta was."