CH 32

“I had expected it, but it’s really beautiful. I’m glad I asked Nee-san,” said Jeremiah.

“Ah, how should I put it… it’s really like a different person,” Lord Grimani added.

I couldn’t believe what Jeremiah and Lord Grimani were saying. Of course, it’s nice to be praised, but it’s hard to accept when it’s directed at me.

Where in the Bible does it Say to C...

“…Um, are you all teasing me?”

I finally lifted my face and saw Jeremiah up close. I had probably thought so, but the admiration in his eyes was unmistakable.

“Of course not. You’re Lavina’s daughter, right? We just haven’t looked at you properly until now. Well, please stay like that. I’ll call Dorothea.”

With that, the old lady got up and left the room. After seeing her off, Jeremiah spoke.

“Lady Palmara was right. We’re not teasing you… but it’s troublesome when you become this beautiful.”

“Huh?”

“It would even attract the attention of other men, wouldn’t it? I think some men have already realized that you’re actually beautiful because of that hairstyle… Well, I feel sorry for them, but they’ve lost their chance to approach you forever.”

That’s certainly true. There’s no point in trying to court me, who is already engaged. Suddenly, Jeremiah took my hand and made a dancing motion, asking the others.

“Don’t you think it’ll be fun to see the guests’ reactions when they see her appear like this?”

“Yes, they’ll surely be surprised. And then they’ll regret it… I can almost see the faces of the jealous ladies. What a great feeling. But that’s not all. When the social season comes, other people will be surprised too. They’ll see the future Marquess Castalde and some men will worship her,” Paula said with a laugh that seemed like she was about to burst.

I shuddered at Paula’s words.

Me, who had been avoiding the spotlight with all my might until now, being worshipped…?

Imagine it… A crowded venue filled with many nobles and celebrities, and me walking confidently and elegantly through the wind. Refined gentlemen gather around me, and Jeremiah stands next to me with a gentle smile.

I’ll be envied by other ladies, have no shortage of dance partners, and have witty conversations at dinner. And next to me will be Jeremiah, standing affectionately.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

It’s impossible.

Or rather, I can’t handle it. If I had such thick nerves, I wouldn’t need a strange technique to blend in with the wall using ninja skills. If I were in such a situation, my nerves would snap.

Ignoring me, who was trembling in fear, Tatiana spoke up.

“Well, maybe a support group to support you will be created. It’s that beautiful. No, maybe I should create it myself!”

“Oh, I won’t object.”

I thought to myself, “Please object, Lord Grimani.”

In any case, it’s even more unlikely for me to have a fan club. No, I would like to recommend eye treatment to everyone here.

As I was thinking that, Dorothea appeared, her face looking better than it did in the morning.

However, she was completely covered in a cloth like a Showa-era thief, with only her eyes visible.

“Dorothea… Even if you don’t want to be seen, that’s not the way to do it,” I said, but she cheered as soon as she saw me.

“No way! Is it really Lorraine? That’s amazing… You really are Lady Valcourt’s daughter. I don’t know why you’ve been dressing so plainly until now.”

“I-Is that so? I can’t believe it.”

“Well then, look in the mirror! You’ll believe it if you see it with your own eyes, right, Jeremiah-sama?”

“Yeah, that’s right. If you can’t believe it that much, you should look in the mirror. There’s no funny business going on.”

Dorothea and Jeremiah nodded at each other and forcibly pulled me in front of the mirror. I was perplexed, but when I saw myself reflected there, I was speechless.

There was definitely someone different there.

A young girl dressed in a relatively deep red dress with a collar that was relatively open. Her lovely hair was shining with a honey color. The lightly applied makeup tightened the previously vague eyes, making her a woman who was truly suitable for the word “lady.”

I was stunned as I looked at it and turned around after a while.

“Do you believe it?”

For the time being, I nodded my head.

Then, Jeremiah’s hand reached out and gently touched my throat. It was just a light touch, but the movement of his fingers reached the peak of embarrassment.

My pulse quickened and my breathing became shallow. I didn’t want him to notice, so I tightly pursed my lips.

While watching my behavior with a joyful expression, Jeremiah said while still touching between my collarbones.

“If you wear the necklace I sent here, it will be perfect. But let’s save that for the day of the ball.”

“That’s right. Buying it was the right decision after all. I checked Lorraine’s collection, but there weren’t many things that matched the new dress.”

I wonder when she started fishing for people’s jewels. She seemed to sense my question and without any particular guilt, pointed to Dora, who was standing there secretly.

“I had her show me some of yours, but there were a few that suited you. Let’s try them with another dress later.”

While listening to Paula’s story, I looked at Dora with resentment. When Dora noticed that she was being watched, she smiled with a smug look on her face.

It was the smile of a victorious winner who had obtained what she wanted after a long battle.

“…Okay.”

I couldn’t refuse her alluring, rose-like smile.

I nodded with a vague smile and looked at the mirror again.

I still couldn’t believe it.

I felt like what I had always thought was crumbling away.

I was anxious and unsteady on my feet.

I wanted to quickly change back into my usual clothes and read a book quietly alone. That way, I wouldn’t have to face anything and I wouldn’t have to try hard to do anything.

As I lined up my restless thoughts, my true feelings became clear.

I had been running away from various things because I didn’t want to stand out. I made excuses like “I’m plain and ordinary anyway” and gave up easily even if I wanted something because I didn’t want to fight.

When I looked up, I met eyes with Jeremiah.

After seeing his truly happy eyes, I looked at myself in the mirror again. The self I imagined earlier as Jeremiah’s wife. The longing to become like that. However, I couldn’t possibly become like that without making sacrifices.

So, I thought.

What kind of person do I want to become…?