When I quietly told Roen that Hersia hadn’t yet received a proposal from Aaron, Roen merely made a thoughtful expression and said,

“Hmm… then no comment.”

It was fortunate that she showed neither guilt nor displeasure. I fully understood Roen’s desire to boast about having received a proposal.

Just as I wondered how to change the subject, Meiri approached.

“Madam. A clothing cart has arrived from Mahidil Boutique, along with the catalog Hersia requested.”

Huh? What did that mean?

Hersia stood up as if she’d been waiting for this. Perhaps thanks to the clothing cart, her complexion seemed brighter.

“Oh, I called for it. Do you remember when I said I’d bring the catalog?”

“Of course. But the clothing cart…”

“I told Mahidil Boutique that the Duchess needed to see the catalog, and they decided to send the entire cart. They said you should look and choose directly.”

Roen clapped her hands, looking delighted.

“So, it’s a mobile boutique, then?”

Seo Yeon enthusiastically applauded in agreement with Roen’s words.

“Lady Roen is absolutely right, isn’t she?”

Everyone seemed fascinated, but I felt a bit conflicted. I had just declared I’d donate all the congratulatory gifts—was it really appropriate to go shopping via mobile boutique right here at the banquet?

So I cautiously said,

“I truly appreciate Hersia’s thoughtfulness. But earlier, I said I’d donate all the congratulatory gifts. I’m uncertain whether shopping like this via mobile boutique is acceptable.”

Roen answered for me.

“Hmm. This isn’t excessive. We’re not buying all these clothes—just browsing. And it’s different from the congratulatory gifts. Those could be seen as bribes, but this highlights the dignity of the royal court. So, Duchess, don’t worry—enjoy the browsing freely.”

Hersia clapped in agreement with Roen, then looked at me, her expression asking what I intended to do.

If someone spoon-feeds you, you have to eat. I nodded firmly.

“Alright.”

Until the clothing cart arrived, people had shown zero interest in it. But when racks laden with new garments and mannequins emerged one after another, they curiously gathered to watch—until the items reached my location, at which point their interest vanished completely.

It wasn’t disinterest—it was because they couldn’t keep sneaking glances this way, so they deliberately shut off their attention.

Various garments hung on the racks, and staff stood calmly, waiting for our selections.

At Hersia’s nod, the staff distributed catalogs to us—catalogs filled with diverse clothing and descriptions.

“I’ll buy the clothes today. Since you’re here, Seo Yeon, please choose something too.”

Seo Yeon smiled gratefully and opened her catalog, and Hersia licked her lips slightly before opening hers too.

“Thank you, Duchess.”

“I’m also grateful.”

However, Roen closed her catalog with a regretful expression.

“Unfortunately, there’s no offer for me.”

“Offer” referred to priestly vestments, which boutiques rarely made unless specially commissioned.

“Then how about just picking something to wear for your wedding, Lady Roen?”

Roen nodded, but didn’t look pleased.

“I appreciate the Duchess’s kindness, but I don’t think I’ll ever wear a dress.”

“What?”

“I’m a child of the gods. I plan to hold my wedding quietly in the temple with prayers.”

Though she’d mentioned receiving a ruby ring from Jeremi, clearly she remained a child of the gods. Whenever she spoke of the divine, she appeared more peaceful than ever.

“That sounds like a wedding perfectly suited for Roen. But when are you leaving for Lefer?”

“I’ll depart once this banquet ends.”

“So soon? That’s such a pity.”

Roen seemed equally regretful, smiling with a rueful expression.

“I’m very sorry too, but now I must return to the side of the gods.”

Respecting Roen’s choice, I browsed through shawls to gift our household servants.

Calling a clothing cart to tailor outfits for the servants—this would elevate their dignity and kill two birds with one stone.

“Lady Roen, is there nothing you like?”

Hersia, who had barely chosen one outfit while watching others’ reactions, looked awkwardly at Roen when Roen didn’t pick anything.

Though Hersia had grown up unloved as the young lady of a marquisate, her family’s prestige ensured she’d never lacked for dresses. One dress alone wouldn’t satisfy her.

But Seo Yeon still hadn’t chosen anything, and Roen showed no interest in clothes, so Hersia apparently felt she couldn’t choose more than one outfit either.

So I picked a few more outfits for Hersia—ones I could tell by her eyes she truly liked.

“It’s alright, Duchess. I’m truly satisfied with just this.”

Even as she said that, I ghost-selected the garments her wistful gaze lingered on.

“What shall I do with so many gifts?”

“What do you mean? Just wear them beautifully.”

Feeling embarrassed that she’d chosen so much alone, Hersia began picking outfits for Roen instead.

“Lady Roen, even if you won’t wear them at your wedding, how about keeping a few outfits?”

“Hmm… why?”

“Your beauty would be wasted otherwise. You should definitely keep a few.”

Come to think of it, I’d never seen Roen in such beautiful dresses.

Roen rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

“Hmm… I always thought pretty clothes were only useful for seducing men. But since I’ve already seduced a man and am about to make him my husband, I’m not sure I’ll ever need to wear these.”

“Of course you will! They might be valuable later. Especially clothes made by Mahidil designers—they can be resold for several times their value. And if you say they were gifts from the Duchess, you might get even more!”

At that, Roen’s ears perked up like a cat’s. She immediately began flipping through the catalog with Hersia.

So, these people were openly discussing financial investments using gifted clothes—with the gift-giver right in front of them?

It should have been infuriating, but they were just too adorable. They’re people I care about—if they eat well and live well, that’s all I want.

“Lady Roen, this outfit would suit you so well!”

Roen never disguised praise with false modesty.

“Oh my. Truly! If I wear this, my beauty alone might earn me a seat as High Priestess!”

She joked like that.

Thinking of bright, cheerful Roen leaving again made me feel wistful once more.

“They say she’s a strong candidate for His Highness’s fiancée?”

“They say she’s incredibly skilled with a sword—even adults can’t defeat her.”

“But isn’t she too uncultured to be a queen candidate?”

“They say she became a candidate because Duke Yukandar is His Highness’s mentor.”

“And her temper is foul.”

All these remarks were about Lucy.

And the person who made the last comment was none other than Luid.

The young noble children whispering on the terrace jumped as if they’d seen a ghost when they spotted Luid. One even spilled their drink.

“You—you—you’re the Yukandar twins, right? Lucy’s twin brother!”

“Yes. I’m the brother of that infamous Lucy.”

“W—what are you doing here?!”

“Why are you huddled on the terrace gossiping about others?”

The noble children frowned, looking aggrieved.

“W—we never—”

“Right. We only repeated rumors we’d heard…”

Luid ground his teeth and stepped forward.

He’d just lost rock-paper-scissors to Lucy and was about to peek outside to check if Kian was around before heading in.

But even before he opened the terrace door, he overheard them talking about Lucy.

In this world, if anyone has the right to insult Lucy, it’s only me!

That was Luid’s thinking. So he ground his teeth and said,

“Who said that?”

The children could only have heard such talk at home—from eavesdropping on their parents’ conversations.

But they couldn’t possibly admit that to Luid, so they exchanged helpless glances, unable to find an excuse.

The Yukandar twins had been notorious troublemakers in high society since childhood—getting entangled with them was never wise.

And now, weren’t they the Chancellor’s children?! Concluding they had no good options, the children exchanged glances, then simultaneously stood and bolted.

“Run!”

Meanwhile, Lucy, waiting outside for news, kept yawning from boredom.

‘When on earth are they coming?’

To slightly rehabilitate her eccentric image, Lucy sat calmly in the second-floor hall, pretending to read a book.

But she kept almost closing the book or dozing off within a minute—restlessness gnawed at her.

Books never suited her hands. Pretending to read something she never normally read made Lucy irritable.

Though she held the book, her nerves were on high alert like an animal’s senses—her ears twitched at the slightest sound.

Then, Luid’s shout entered Lucy’s auditory radar.

“Stop right there!”

She whipped her head around to see three boys fleeing, with Luid chasing after them.

“He can’t catch all three alone? How frustrating.”

Lucy mentally simulated how she’d catch them: hit two in the back of the head with shoes, then sprint and grab the third.

‘Simple.’

Lucy stood to execute her mental plan.

She successfully hit the two fleeing boys with her shoes. Luid, who’d been chasing them, paused briefly, gaped at Lucy in disbelief, then resumed chasing the remaining boy.

‘Only one left now—should be caught in no time.’

But for some reason, just watching made her body itch. Running after him was too far, and she was wearing a dress.

So Lucy decided to hit the last boy by throwing her book.

The boy was just about to descend the stairs—she had to throw quickly to catch him.

Think, then immediately act. That was Lucy.

Without hesitation, Lucy picked up the book and threw it. Thanks to her quick judgment and reflexes, the book hit its mark.

Except—it wasn’t the target she’d aimed for.

The child struck squarely on the forehead by the book was Kian, who had been walking up the stairs.