LNU 93

The reason Allen went to the atelier with Nicole today was nothing special. With the reunion with Carlisle approaching, I needed to have the winter clothes I had been thinking about made again, but I was feeling sluggish and lazy because my heat cycle was near. That’s when I had a good idea.

‘You there, what’s your name… Allen, was it?’

‘Yes, Sir.’

Perhaps it was thanks to Sir Kyle, who had started paying attention to Allen without deviating from my expectations or intentions.

The night I met Beatrice. Kyle went to ride a horse, and I made Allen stay in the stable overnight in front of Andrew, making up some ridiculous excuse. The two of them probably met somehow. The way they first made contact was also through the stable, so I thought things would go smoothly if I created a similar situation.

The game, which was too easy, didn’t disappoint me.

Kyle, who had met Allen a few times as my personal servant but hadn’t paid much attention to him, seemed to have all his attention focused on Allen, who was always around, even while guarding me.

I decided to actively narrow the relationship and distance between the two, which was as good as a predetermined course. Making Allen look beautiful and bringing him into his sight was also one of those intentions.

Any clothes in my closet would be better than the servant’s clothes Allen had to wear now, but the reason I sent him to the atelier outside the mansion was… just a little bit of spite.

The designer at the Delphion Atelier, who was responsible for the clothes of those who were reputed to be the most beautiful in the social circles of each generation, called Princess Grachio Beatrice her muse. Despite her haughty and unapproachable nature, the atelier was still maintaining its reputation thanks to its unparalleled skill.

And at that Delphion Atelier… in the first Iteration, which now felt so distant, we had decided to have my and Kyle’s wedding clothes made.

The designer at the atelier, who saw me for the first time, asked why I hadn’t shown my face in social circles, saying she didn’t know there was someone as beautiful as Beatrice. I, who was confident that I was on the verge of a true love vow and a happy ending, was embarrassed by the designer’s praise. With my face flushed, I carefully had my measurements taken at the atelier, wearing the beautiful wedding dress the designer had made, and eagerly waited for the day I would become Kyle Gray’s legal spouse.

Unlike Allen, the light pink color didn’t suit my blond hair, which had a noticeably darker hue, and my eyes, which had a stronger impression of being deep rather than clear. Throughout the process of choosing and cutting the fabric, the designer kept trying to persuade me with a regretful expression. She said that because I was so beautiful, it wouldn’t look bad, but she still suggested that I choose a fabric that suited me better.

But I didn’t listen to the designer’s persuasion. When I visited the atelier with Kyle and he was captivated by the lovely light pink fabric, my mind was already made up.

I accidentally heard a rumor that Kyle was busy preparing to propose to me. I foolishly went to see what he was preparing for me. What was waiting for me there… was indeed there.

‘As expected… I knew it would suit you well. Who else could pull off this lovely pink color like you?’

‘This is, Young Master Noah’s…’

Not a proposal preparation that made me happy just by looking at it, but a painful betrayal of a lover who had promised eternity.

‘I told you not to worry about it. Come closer.’

What should I call the feeling I had when I witnessed that moment? Sorrow? Jealousy? Or righteous anger from a betrayal that made me shudder?

Looking back now, the emotion I felt most strongly at the time was futility. Allen’s refreshing blond hair, softer and more delicate than a newborn chick, and his clear eyes, like the sunlight of spring, made the light pink wedding dress that I had cherished and looked forward to so much look excessively beautiful.

‘You can’t do this, Sir Kyle. What if the Young Master sees you…!’

‘There’s no need to worry about such useless things. I see now. I’ve never loved him. From the moment I first met you, I was already…’

Allen’s appearance, wearing my wedding dress as if it were his own, was truly, excessively beautiful. I couldn’t bear to face that terrible sight any longer and ran away silently.

And from the very next day…

System scoffs at you for ignoring its warning.

System asks if you want to turn everything back and start over.

Go back to the beginning.

A huge vortex of nightmares that couldn’t even be compared to Kyle Gray’s change of heart completely broke me down and swallowed me up. The starting point of true pain was right there.

“Thank you for today, Allen. I’m glad you were here.”

I naturally muttered, pretending not to see Kyle, who still had his eyes fixed on Allen.

“The Delphion Atelier doesn’t do house calls for anyone but the imperial family or high-ranking noble families. It was hard to get this reservation, and I was in trouble because I wasn’t feeling well.”

The fact that such a Setting was given to a mere atelier… was just a device to create a scene where even the designer, who was so proud, would be unable to resist Allen and beg him to let her make his clothes first. It was one of the many descriptive Settings that showed how superior Allen Hamilton was to other nobles, and how lovable he was.

“I’m glad I could help, Young Master.”

“Yeah. Those clothes are a reward for helping me. Please wear them beautifully.”

“Thank you.”

Allen didn’t seem to know or was just pretending not to know about Kyle’s blatant gaze. He just looked straight at me and bowed his head. I nodded lightly to let him know he could raise his head, and quietly pushed Kyle’s shoulder.

“Sir Kyle. Would you take Allen to the servants’ quarters? Of course, we don’t have anyone like that in our mansion… But you never know. Since he’s wearing expensive clothes, someone might be after him.”

“…Yes. I will.”

Well, well. I thought he had lost all his spirit, but he still had the mind to answer.

“Did you hear that, Allen? Sir Kyle will take you, so go back together and rest well today. Just trying on all those clothes must have been exhausting.”

“No. I wasn’t tired. I’ll stay by your side.”

“Uh-huh, listen to me. Good boy?”

Allen couldn’t maintain his opinion any longer in the face of my gentle but firm coercion. He slowly disappeared from my sight, accompanied by a knight who was clearly infatuated with him.

System smiles with you as it sees you looking happy today.

You don’t notice.

Ah. It was a really good day.

Splash. A blind stream of water poured down on the head of someone walking down the street like an unexpected shower.

“Oh. Was someone there? I didn’t know. You should change your clothes.”

“No, no. What if you use changing clothes as an excuse to sneak into the royal guard barracks like a rat?”

“That would be a big problem. What should we do then? Should we stop him from changing his clothes?”

What was colder than that stream of water was the blue, sharp eyes of those who had poured the water on him. The deep, undisguised feelings of jealousy were coiled tightly in the two pairs of eyes.

“Why are you staring at us like that? Are you going to run to Young Master Noah and ask him to make you new clothes again?”