Chapter 75: Countess Flora
Clint brought Ailea to the dressing room. “I will hire professionals so you need not worry. Let us go to the salon and chat with Sutton’s intellectuals and artisans.”
“Can I go like this?”
“I believe those noble ladies will be in attendance hoping for us to stop by at the salon. Countess Flora has invited a reputable musician today.” His wandering eyes darted a hard glance at Ailea, smiling. “Though the most important thing is…” he dawled.
“Spit it out already.”
“You’re able to wear a mask in Countess Flora’s salon.”
Ailea straightened. “I’ll go!”
“I thought so.” He nodded, pointing to the green dress. “Wear this. I’ll be waiting outside.”
“I haven’t finished, though.”
“Just try it on!” he urged.
Ailea nodded, confused. After changing with the maids’ help, the dress beamed in elegance. She poised her hand close to the side of her dress, reviewing the cloth. The folds of the dress were knotted in semicircles, and in between were sewed-on roses made of the same material.
Clint touched her shoulder, rubbing it softly. “Not finished? You’re kidding me. You look perfect.”
He put on the tight black mesh gloves he had chosen for her.
“The sleeves haven’t been attached yet,” she said.
“You don’t need sleeves. Your arms are pretty enough.”
“But—”
“Sutton is a dry and humid land. You do not need to hide your skin here. You’re more free here than in the capital.”
“Is that so?” Ailea took a deep breath. “By the way, I will be wearing this dress to the banquet. Is it okay for me to wear it now? What if it dirties?”
She had lived an impoverished life; she seemed to think that elegant dresses could only be worn during special events.
Clint affirmed. “I’ll buy you another dress for the banquet. You don’t need to worry.”
“Wh-what?”
“Why do you look so surprised? Look, your closet is empty. We should fill it up.”
She lowered her voice almost to a whisper. “We can mend my wedding dress instead.”
“Are you fine with keeping a wedding dress from another man for the rest of your life?” he demanded.
Ailea hesitated at his frigid tone. I wonder why you care about such things, she thought.
“Give me your right hand,” he said.
He took off his gloves as she raised her right hand slowly. He took hold of her palm and gazed at her slender fingers. “Your hands are red. Why must I worry about you…?”
“It turned red from all the sewing.”
“I don’t want you doing this menial work from now on.”
“What do you mean? Then what am I to do if not that?”
“A lady of the house would normally command the maids to tend to duties while you sleep in bed all day from the nightly—” he coughed naughtily. “…from the day’s work.”
Ailea failed to understand his joke. She wondered why he averted his eyes momentarily and why his cheeks were a rosy-red at this moment. He always looked her in the eyes, but not in this moment.
“Anyway,” Clint cleared his throat, “don’t do this work from now on. You should focus on having fun.”
I’m going crazy, Clint thought. Ailea was driving him mad. He liked looking at her. His selfish heart would flutter seeing her smile. He felt his heart would burst out if he could not hold her with his arms.
***
To become acquainted with Sutton’s intellectuals, the ducal couple headed to Countess Flora’s salon, the most reputable salon in the province. The salon was located downtown in the heart of Sutton. The journey had taken an hour’s ride, but it had been worth it.
Ailea felt comfort knowing that she could wear a mask.
News of the new duchy’s arrival brewed excitement within the salon that when the ducal couple made their entrance, a faint yelp broke out from the noblewomen’s mouth. The cause of it had much to do with the Grand Duke’s dazzling light, alluring to the point that Ailea’s presence dimmed.
“It’s… amazing…” Ailea stared in awe, grabbing hold of Clint’s arm.
Clint affirmed her nervousness and placed his hand on top of hers. He bent forward and whispered, “Befriend Countess Flora. She’s an important figure in Sutton’s high society.”
They stopped in front of Countess Flora.
Clint smiled amicably. “It’s a pleasure meeting you, countess.”
“Your Grace,” she bowed. “It’s an honor to have the grand duke and duchess’ presence.”
“My wife is new to the salon. Could you help her out?”
“It’s my pleasure.” Countess Flora clasped her arm around Ailea’s and smiled. “Shall we spend time by ourselves as women?”
The surprised Ailea spoke. “Ah, y-yes.”
Clint sighed, relieved. Ailea will have the time of her life. She was not a child that needed protection every second.
“Let’s meet at the front at ten,” he said, but Ailea paid him no mind, too focused on Countess Flora. Clint clicked his tongue. His woman was being taken away.
All eyes were on him, but the one he wanted had eyes for another woman. The scene was so bizarre that it confused him.
Chapter 75: Countess Flora
Clint brought Ailea to the dressing room. “I will hire professionals so you need not worry. Let us go to the salon and chat with Sutton’s intellectuals and artisans.”
“Can I go like this?”
“I believe those noble ladies will be in attendance hoping for us to stop by at the salon. Countess Flora has invited a reputable musician today.” His wandering eyes darted a hard glance at Ailea, smiling. “Though the most important thing is…” he dawled.
“Spit it out already.”
“You’re able to wear a mask in Countess Flora’s salon.”
Ailea straightened. “I’ll go!”
“I thought so.” He nodded, pointing to the green dress. “Wear this. I’ll be waiting outside.”
“I haven’t finished, though.”
“Just try it on!” he urged.
Ailea nodded, confused. After changing with the maids’ help, the dress beamed in elegance. She poised her hand close to the side of her dress, reviewing the cloth. The folds of the dress were knotted in semicircles, and in between were sewed-on roses made of the same material.
Clint touched her shoulder, rubbing it softly. “Not finished? You’re kidding me. You look perfect.”
He put on the tight black mesh gloves he had chosen for her.
“The sleeves haven’t been attached yet,” she said.
“You don’t need sleeves. Your arms are pretty enough.”
“But—”
“Sutton is a dry and humid land. You do not need to hide your skin here. You’re more free here than in the capital.”
“Is that so?” Ailea took a deep breath. “By the way, I will be wearing this dress to the banquet. Is it okay for me to wear it now? What if it dirties?”
She had lived an impoverished life; she seemed to think that elegant dresses could only be worn during special events.
Clint affirmed. “I’ll buy you another dress for the banquet. You don’t need to worry.”
“Wh-what?”
“Why do you look so surprised? Look, your closet is empty. We should fill it up.”
She lowered her voice almost to a whisper. “We can mend my wedding dress instead.”
“Are you fine with keeping a wedding dress from another man for the rest of your life?” he demanded.
Ailea hesitated at his frigid tone. I wonder why you care about such things, she thought.
“Give me your right hand,” he said.
He took off his gloves as she raised her right hand slowly. He took hold of her palm and gazed at her slender fingers. “Your hands are red. Why must I worry about you…?”
“It turned red from all the sewing.”
“I don’t want you doing this menial work from now on.”
“What do you mean? Then what am I to do if not that?”
“A lady of the house would normally command the maids to tend to duties while you sleep in bed all day from the nightly—” he coughed naughtily. “…from the day’s work.”
Ailea failed to understand his joke. She wondered why he averted his eyes momentarily and why his cheeks were a rosy-red at this moment. He always looked her in the eyes, but not in this moment.
“Anyway,” Clint cleared his throat, “don’t do this work from now on. You should focus on having fun.”
I’m going crazy, Clint thought. Ailea was driving him mad. He liked looking at her. His selfish heart would flutter seeing her smile. He felt his heart would burst out if he could not hold her with his arms.
***
To become acquainted with Sutton’s intellectuals, the ducal couple headed to Countess Flora’s salon, the most reputable salon in the province. The salon was located downtown in the heart of Sutton. The journey had taken an hour’s ride, but it had been worth it.
Ailea felt comfort knowing that she could wear a mask.
News of the new duchy’s arrival brewed excitement within the salon that when the ducal couple made their entrance, a faint yelp broke out from the noblewomen’s mouth. The cause of it had much to do with the Grand Duke’s dazzling light, alluring to the point that Ailea’s presence dimmed.
“It’s… amazing…” Ailea stared in awe, grabbing hold of Clint’s arm.
Clint affirmed her nervousness and placed his hand on top of hers. He bent forward and whispered, “Befriend Countess Flora. She’s an important figure in Sutton’s high society.”
They stopped in front of Countess Flora.
Clint smiled amicably. “It’s a pleasure meeting you, countess.”
“Your Grace,” she bowed. “It’s an honor to have the grand duke and duchess’ presence.”
“My wife is new to the salon. Could you help her out?”
“It’s my pleasure.” Countess Flora clasped her arm around Ailea’s and smiled. “Shall we spend time by ourselves as women?”
The surprised Ailea spoke. “Ah, y-yes.”
Clint sighed, relieved. Ailea will have the time of her life. She was not a child that needed protection every second.
“Let’s meet at the front at ten,” he said, but Ailea paid him no mind, too focused on Countess Flora. Clint clicked his tongue. His woman was being taken away.
All eyes were on him, but the one he wanted had eyes for another woman. The scene was so bizarre that it confused him.
