Within five minutes, Alice hastily excused herself under the pretext of unpacking their luggage, leaving Estel alone with Liselotte in the parlour.

  “I hope I didn’t bore your companion,” Liselotte remarked, tilting her head with a hint of concern. “She didn’t say much at all.”

  “Please don’t trouble yourself over Alice,” Estel replied gently. “She’s not the kind who enjoys idle chatter in the first pce, so it’s not your fault.”

  “O-oh, is that so?” Liselotte offered a small, polite nod, her smile returning. “If I may ask…how did you and the Fr?ulein come to know each other? I was surprised that your companion turned out to be a commoner, to be honest.”

  “Ah.”

  Estel thought for a moment on what to say. “It’s really nothing special—Alice lives near my estate, and I encountered her by chance on one of my walks. We became friends over time, and since my dy-in-waiting is unavaible to accompany me to Selvern, I invited Alice to join me instead.”

  “How unexpected…”

  Liselotte gave such an astonished expression that she felt compelled to ask for the reason.

  “Is something the matter?”

  “N-no, not at all,” Liselotte quickly said, her cheeks colouring. “It’s just…well, you’re not at all like the rumours.”

  Estel’s expression tensed. “Rumours?”

  “Y-yes, well…I’ve heard all sorts of silly things. Like how you mistreat your servants because they are of lower birth, insulted the Crown Prince at a banquet because he danced poorly, and worse things—”

  She caught herself and csped her hands anxiously. “But I never believed them! Verily, I always thought that they sounded too ridiculous and far-fetched…and…”

  Liselotte twirled a lock of hair around her finger sheepishly. “And Papa always says it’s foolish to judge someone based solely on the words of others. That’s why he told me to meet you first when you arrive.”

  “He did?” Estel echoed, caught off guard.

  Huh, could that be the reason behind the sudden invitation? The Margrave must want to test me before he is willing to give his full support.

  She slowly clenched her fists, trying to maintain her composure.

  “Lady Liselotte, I’m grateful that you didn’t believe in the hearsay,” she said, offering a measured smile. “Would you happen to know who are the ones spreading such malicious untruths?”

  Liselotte shook her head. “I heard all of these from Papa, and I have no idea where and how he came across the rumours. But I don’t think they are that widespread…”

  “Hm.”

  She pursed her lips for a moment before nodding.

  “Thank you for telling me this, Lady Liselotte,” Estel said. Her hands rexed at her sides, though a trace of tightness lingered in her chest. “I appreciate it.”

  -

  “So, what did you and the Margrave’s daughter talk about for three hours?” Alice muttered from behind the dressing screen, the rustle of fabric betraying her struggle with the yers of her gown. “Do you have any idea how bored I was just waiting in this room?”

  “That’s on you for cking the confidence and etiquette to properly converse with a noble dy,” Estel said teasingly.

  Alice groaned behind the screen. “I was never trained for this aristocrat-speak nonsense! Can’t you all just talk like actual human beings? You’re perfectly normal with me!”

  “Oh? But you seemed completely at ease when talking with the Viscount, didn’t you?”

  “That was because I had a mask hiding my flustered face then…”

  “Hmm, what a peculiar reason.”

  Estel stood in front of the full-length mirror in the robing room as she adjusted the sophisticated yers of her gown. The purple dress hugged her figure like liquid amethyst—rich, elegant, and daring in a way she wasn’t entirely used to. The strapless bodice clung snugly to her, forcing her posture upright and baring just enough of her breasts to make her pulse quicken with unease.

  Adrianne said that this is the test fashion from the capital, so it should be fine, right?

  Still, she bit her lip as a self-conscious grimace crossed her face.

  I hope I don’t meet anyone I’m familiar with downstairs…

  Estel reached for her jewellery case on the side table and took out a string of pearls, fastening the neckce around her neck to complete her look.

  “Are you finished?” she asked, gncing towards the dressing screen. “We’re going to be te if we don’t leave soon.”

  There was a pause.

  “Ugh…yeah, I think I’m done,” came Alice’s reluctant reply before she stepped out from behind the dressing screen.

  Estel’s breath caught.

  Of course, she had already seen the dress during the fitting. But seeing it now, draped around Alice’s slender form and aglow in the amber candlelight, it was almost ethereal. The pale blue ball gown swept the floor in a soft cascade, the yered silk and silver netting flowing like a ripple of moonlight on water. Crystals glittered like dewdrops along the hem, catching the dying light from the window. The gown tapered perfectly at her waist, sculpting her silhouette, and the gently scooped neckline framed her colrbones and chest in a way that was both tasteful and maddeningly enticing.

  Alice gnced over, catching the stunned expression on her face.

  “What?” she asked, feigning innocence as her lips curled into a grin. “Too much?”

  Estel turned her gaze back to the mirror far too quickly. “N-no,” she said, clearing her throat and fiddling with her neckce. “It looks…good. You look stunning.”

  Alice arched a brow, clearly enjoying herself, and glided behind her. “Stay still for a bit, I’ll help you with the bottom csp.”

  Estel did as she asked, holding her breath as she felt Alice’s hands sweep her hair aside. A delicate shiver ran down her spine when cool fingertips brushed her nape, then trailed lower—ghosting along the small of her back as Alice secured the tiny hooks of her dress. The contact was brief, and yet, her skin fred with heat at every touch.

  Alice worked in silence for a moment, then gave a light pat to her shoulder.

  “There. Perfect.”

  Her voice was lower now, and when Estel met her gaze in the mirror, there was something soft and unspoken behind her ruby-red eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, turning to face her fully.

  But Alice only smiled—a faint, inscrutable smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

  “Mm, it’s nothing,” she murmured. Her gaze lingered a second longer before she took a half step back, the moment slipping through their fingers like mist.

  “Come on, let’s not keep the Margrave waiting.”