C66
Diana was very curious about my "best friend." I only vaguely mentioned having such a friend, and then I heard the details from the tailor Miranda.
"She was definitely a good woman... Oh, here she comes."
"Is Vinetta Ethel's best friend?"
Vinetta, who had just entered the room, naturally responded to Diana's question.
"Yes, that's me."
"Since when?!"
"Since the first time we met."
No, that's a bit odd. Are there people who become best friends from the moment they meet, instead of falling in love at first sight?
"Oh! Miranda, you must be the one who runs a shop on Velux Street, right?"
To divert Diana's attention, I randomly chose things.
"I saw it several times while passing by, and the dresses on display were so beautiful! I've wanted to get one for a long time!"
Miranda seemed moved.
"Yes! Oh, my God. It's not a very famous store, but you remember it..."
It wasn't really a lie. Although I had never seen her in person, I had wanted to try on one of her dresses for quite some time.
"Because it's a dress that received very favorable reviews in the novel."
Miranda was a tailor discovered by Liena in "Return and Walk on a Path of Flowers." Although it happened a bit later.
That's how it's described in the novel. Miranda's dress was unique and beautiful in Liena's eyes, who, as a returner, knew everything about future clothing trends.
"Did Terence unearth it first this time?"
Vinetta said she asked Miranda to do it, but it was very likely that Terence did it instead of her. In other words, this was his gift to congratulate me on my divorce.
"He said he was passing by Velux Street when a dress from that shop caught his eye."
While Miranda talked with Diana, Vinetta approached me and turned the speculation into reality.
"He thought it would look good on Ethel-nim."
"I guess Tay has a very good sense of vision."
"If it were him before, he wouldn't have even paid attention to the clothing store."
"Eh?"
Before I could ask more about what she had just said, Miranda got straight to the point.
"I will do my best to make Ethel-nim's dress meet your expectations. There are several designs besides the ones on the mannequins, so please check the catalog."
Then I had to wade through the waves of my dress.
"How about this? Oh, no. I think that suits Ethel better..."
Diana, who like me decided to wear Miranda's dress, thought for a while about my dress after choosing hers.
"I like this one."
"No, dear. Miss Ethel has fair skin, so I think this one would suit her better."
The ambassador and his wife, who had been enthusiastically choosing a dress for their daughter, now expressed their opinion for me.
"I saw in a magazine that the trend these days is a lot of lace."
"The key is whether it suits you more than what's in fashion."
Even Laura and Vinetta, who stay with me at the ambassador's residence.
"I'll try them on one by one..."
I had a blast trying on different dresses. Then suddenly, it occurred to me that I am happy now.
Yes, I feel happy. It's a similar situation but different from trying on a wedding dress. I laughed among good people.
--------------------------
Ten days later, the emperor's birthday banquet was held. In the evening, the official start of the banquet was still far away, but the banquet hall of the imperial palace was already crowded.
"Duke Edman Cassius, Young Duke Leandro Cassius, Prince Leheim Cassius, and Princess Liena Cassius are entering."
At the announcement by the servant, the attention of people chatting turned towards the door. Finally, the door opened, and a family appeared.
"Look at that beauty. Indeed, it's Cassius."
"Is Duke Cassius the father of the three brothers? How does he always look like a young man? I would believe it if he said his two sons are his brothers."
"Miss Liena's cuteness is also through the roof today. No matter how much I think about it, isn't it possible that a baby angel from heaven accidentally fell to the ground?"
"Hey! Our Liena is a thousand or ten thousand times cuter than the baby angel!"
However, there was not only a favorable response towards them.
"Oh my God, Young Duke Leandro Cassius has arrived."
"I thought he would be silent because something like this happened."
"Anyway, is it true?"
"That's what the young duchess claimed at that time."
"Anyway, it's not a topic worth discussing here. But I'm worried. There shouldn't be any problem with Cassius's heir."
Leandro's shoulders shrugged as he heard mocking voices pretending to be concerned and showing interest.
"Brother, straighten your shoulders."
At that moment, Liena, who was escorted by Leandro, spoke in a low voice.
"Nothing's happening, brother. The more you do that, the more confidence you'll have to build. All these are nonsense that will disappear soon anyway.
"I'll definitely make it happen.
"... That's how it should be. You're right."
Leandro straightened his shoulders following his sister's instructions and scrutinized the banquet hall with penetrating eyes.
Then, the people talking behind him timidly avoided his gaze.