This day, Amanda decided to see some wedding dress with Amelia’s company. They stopped by Charlotte’s Tailor, the most famous dress shop in the realm. As they approached the store, they They opened the door that bore the signage “Charlotte’s Tailors,” and when they entered they found Madame Mitchell waiting for them.
“Ah, you’re finally here. Thank you very much for returning.”
Madame Mitchell welcomed them more respectfully than before, and Amanda also noticed the staff members lined up behind her. It was inevitable that their treatment would change. On their last visit, Amanda and Amelia were simply the daughters of a Count, but now Amanda was about to become the Crown Princess of the Keith Empire. Amanda gracefully returned Madame Mitchell’s greeting.
“Thank you for welcoming me. Where can I see the sample wedding dresses?”
Amanda had little free time, and so she went straight to the point. Madame Mitchell, quick on the uptake, took the lead and answered.
“We prepared them in advance. Follow me this way.”
The sisters followed Madame Mitchell inside. The dress shop, with its subtle lighting and antique design, was largely unchanged except for a strange hush in the air. In the past, it was so busy that sewing machines operated right at the first floor.
“Nobody seems to be here?”
“Yes. We decided not to accept anyone today because I’m hosting a very important guest. It’s quieter now, so please feel comfortable.”
The important guest she was talking about was obviously Amanda. She was unused to this kind of preferential treatment, but she kept her expression level. Creating the imperial wedding dress was a great opportunity to let many nobles know about the Charlotte’s. The shop was already famous, but this would be the opportunity to catapult onto higher ground.
Madame Mitchell finally stopped walking when they reached the innermost, most secluded room.
“Come inside, please.”
Madame Mitchell opened the door.
Ttogag.
The moment Amanda stepped inside, she saw a person she never expected to see here. She stopped dead, and Amelia’s head popped out from behind her.
“Hey, brother-in-law!”
Amelia yelled out.
Amanda could not hide her surprise as Amelia ran towards Oliver. He was seated on the couch with his long legs crossed and his usual air of pride about him. It was a unique charisma only given off by the Crown Prince.
“You finally arrived.”
“Yes, I came with my sister, but it seems you were here first.”
Amelia showed no signs of surprise of seeing him here. Amanda was the only one in the room who felt like she had been struck by a bolt from blue.
“What are you doing here?”
Amelia answered before Oliver could.
“I sent him a message today saying we were going to see your wedding dress. I said that if he had the time, the two of you could look together and choose, but I didn’t expect him to be here.”
Amanda looked to Oliver for confirmation, and he nodded.
“I had a free schedule today. I was curious about my bride’s dress.”
He could have given word to Amanda at least. She looked at him, put out.
“Next time, please tell me in advance.”
“I was planning to tell you when you contacted me. But for some reason you never did.”
At his strange remark, Amanda still harbored a feeling of doubt.
“Do you mean it?”
“Of I do.”
He denied it, but somehow she didn’t believe it. Amelia was gazing at them starry-eyed from the side.
“First, you should share your words slowly while looking at the wedding dresses.”
At her words, Oliver relaxed and smoothly patted the seat by his side.
“Come here.”
There was a seduction in every small gesture that he made. Amanda wasn’t the only one who felt the same way, and even Madame Mitchell was standing red-faced behind her. Oliver’s presence was enough to thrill even a middle-aged woman. Amanda hesitated for a moment, but soon seated herself next to Oliver. This was her place from now on.
“Ah.”
Madame Mitchell fought to cool her red face and spoke again in a polite voice.
“I’ll show you the five wedding dresses that we have prepared.”
That was more dresses than Amanda expected.
“You already have five of them?”
“Oh, yes. Thanks to this young lady’s quick and precise orders, we’ve been working as fast as we can. If you don’t like the five that we have, we can create a new design.”
Amelia, who seated herself opposite of Amanda, nodded.
“We don’t have much time until the wedding, so I asked her to do five designs that would suit you. If you don’t like them, then you don’t have to sign the contract.”
Amanda hadn’t expected this much progress, and she felt grateful to Amelia for going beyond her expectations. There must be some reason why her sister chose this place, even though they had received estimates from several different shops. Charlotte would take a loss from the four other dresses that weren’t sold, but they were determined to be the ones to make the dress for the Crown Princess. After quickly understanding the situation, Amanda wondered what dresses she had prepared.
“Let’s take a look.”
Madame Mitchell stepped up to a small stage and pulled the curtain aside.
Chwaleuleuleugeu–
Five beautiful wedding dresses on mannequins were revealed to them. Amanda’s red eyes widened, and even Amelia let out a gasp of admiration.
“Wow.”
The white dresses glittered luxuriously, each bearing a different design. One revealed the collarbone to emphasize feminine beauty, while another boasted splendor with a generous skirt. And there was even one so unlike the others with its mix of white and gold embroidery.
Amanda hadn’t attended many weddings, but she had never seen more beautiful wedding dresses than the five in front of her. It was impossible to choose which was the best among the five. Madame Mitchell felt proud after seeing Amanda’s and Amelia’s reaction. It was the best work of her life. The dresses produced for the imperial ball drew from popular designs, but these were unlike anything she created. She felt proud of herself because she had made these dresses with all of her heart, but when she saw their reactions with her own eyes, she felt more confident.
“They’re all so beautiful, though I can’t decide which is the best. What do you like best, Amanda?”
Amanda could not readily respond to the question.
“I love them all.”
She tried to imagine herself wearing each dress at Bellouet Square. Oliver, who had been silent until now, chimed in.
“I think we already have the answer.”
Everyone’s attention turned towards him. Amanda couldn’t help but wonder which dress Oliver preferred.
“Which one do you like best, Oliver?”
“Do I have to decide that?”
Amanda wasn’t the only one confused by his answer. Amelia and Madame Mitchell turned to stare in curiously as well. Oliver carried on in a languid voice.
“I’ll buy everything.”
Amanda’s and Amelia’s eyes widened at the same time. Madame Mitchell was also stunned, but in a different way. Inside, she was joyous enough that she could dance. She opened her lips in a trembling voice.
“Well, Your Highness, that means…?”
“Thank you for making my bride’s wedding dress. Please wrap everything that you’ve shown us and send it to Windsor mansion.”
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
Madame Mitchell looked happy enough to cry. Amanda quickly recovered and turned to Oliver in a whispering voice.
“A single wedding dress will do. I don’t need five of them.”
“You like everything. Everything looks like it will suit you, and you can wear it even when it’s not your wedding day.”
“But–”
Before Amanda could protest any further, Oliver turned towards Amelia.
“What do you think, sister-in-law?”
“…Brother-in-law is the best.”
Amelia gave him a small thumbs up, and Oliver couldn’t help but smile faintly.
Presently accounting for everyone’s reactions—Amelia was impressed, Amanda was embarrassed, and Madame Mitchell was ecstatic. Among them, only Oliver continued on with an unperturbed expression.
“Is there anything else you have prepared?”
Madame Mitchell thought it would end with the five dresses, and she quickly pulled herself together.
“Yes, yes! The other one is only a drawing, but I’ll show you the design now.”
Amanda had already experienced it several times, but the scale of Oliver’s wealth was truly beyond imagination.