< —="" the="" capital’s="" high="" society[2]–=""> (3)

Hugo was in a good mood because he was going home early .

‘Today, we can have dinner and take a walk together . ’

When they were in Roam, they regularly ate dinner together but nowadays, it was difficult to do even that . He was usually needlessly busy with something .

When he got home, there was a lot of work to do . At that thought, his mood darkened slightly but still, he liked the fact that he was going home so his mood quickly lightened up .

He would have felt even better if he didn’t meet a certain person when he turned at the corner of the hallway .

‘Somehow, today is a bit annoying . ’

Hugo thought as he looked at the woman, Sofia, who was looking at him with wide eyes . He didn’t want his return to be disturbed twice .

Sofia called out to stop Hugo as he was simply going to pa.s.s by .

“Your Grace . I hope you have been well . It has been a long time . ”

Hugo was forced to stop as he could not outrightly ignore her in a public .

“It is late, but congratulations on your marriage . ” (Sofia)

“Congratulations from me as well . I heard you have become a Countess . ”

Count Alvin, the man Sofia married, was a rich merchant . In the economic field, he was ranked quite high in terms of importance . Since Hugo steadily got information about influential n.o.bles in politics, economy and so on, he had already heard that Count Alvin had gotten married to the daughter of Baron Lawrence .

“…Yes . Thank you…for the congratulations . I am in the palace today to meet Her Highness the Queen . ”

Hugo was not interested in whatever business Sofia was visiting the palace for . His mind was focused on rus.h.i.+ng home .

Sofia was still as beautiful as ever . Those pa.s.sing by could not take their eyes off her . Sofia’s beauty drew the attention of both men and women . After experiencing the pain of heart-break, a sense of melancholy was added onto that beauty, shaking up the hearts of men . Even though she was married, Sofia still received the love letters of many men when she attended b.a.l.l.s .

Sofia’s beauty did not enter Hugo’s eyes . His eyes could see Sofia but his head was filled with the thoughts of his wife . On the contrary, the more he talked with the woman, the more he missed his wife . He did not see Sofia looking at him with a sad look in her eyes .

Seeing his cold red eyes, Sofia was shocked . She was yet to abandon her lingering affection, always thinking ‘maybe…’ . She harbored expectations that maybe if they met again after a long time, he would also be slightly shaken by memories of the past .

However, his att.i.tude as he offered his congratulations on her marriage was clean without a doubt . She was only one that spent long sleepless nights, and was unable to let go even after marriage .

“Then, I’ll be on my way now . ” (Hugo)

“Then, I’ll be on my way now . ” (Hugo)

Sofia felt desperate when she saw him walk by her without any hesitation . She had a feeling that this was really the end . There was no s.p.a.ce to squeeze into his heart . Even knowing that, her hand grabbed onto him on its own .

When he stopped and looked at Sofia’s hand holding his sleeve, his face showed undisguised annoyance . Sofia was startled and released her hand .

“Are you…happy?” (Sofia)

He knit his brows, not giving an answer . Was her question that unpleasant?, Sophia thought and felt something flowing down her cheeks . She was crying in spite of herself .

By the time she dabbed her tears with her handkerchief and looked up, he was already walking away . The man who walked away without saying a single word of comfort to a crying woman was just as cruel as ever .

‘Why is it not me?’

When Sofia heard of his marriage, she experienced pain like the world was caving in . She wanted to run to him and ask . If he didn’t immediately go to his territory, she would have really done so .

Sofia, who had fallen into despair, accepted the proposal of Count Alvin . She had felt like giving up . She wanted to forget everything . But she could not find happiness in a marriage chosen as an escape .

In the midst of the abundance that could be enjoyed thanks to her husband’s wealth, Sofia’s heart was always empty . She could not let go off her persisting lingering affections at all .

Antoine was visiting to carry out a partial interim check on the finished dress and she was excited to hear of Lucia visiting the palace .

Antoine was visiting to carry out a partial interim check on the finished dress and she was excited to hear of Lucia visiting the palace .

“Your first palace visit! I have to help . ” (Antoine)

“You don’t have to go through that trouble . ” (Lucia)

The Duke of Taran had revisited and proposed a double contract . Antoine was full of motivation for the profit that was guaranteed to be huge . Gold was the catalyst that ignited her soul . Although Antoine couldn’t do anything about the already reserved customers, she turned away all the customers that came to find her lately .

Antoine was aiming to be the exclusive designer of the d.u.c.h.ess of Taran .

“The first visit to the palace is a once-in-lifetime event! It ought to be special!”

No matter what one does, the first time was, of course, only once . Moreover, technically, it wasn’t Lucia’s first visit to the palace . Lucia lived as a princess in the palace until marriage . However, Lucia lost to Antoine’s pa.s.sionate sophistry .

Early in the morning of the palace visit, Antoine was heavily armed like a soldier heading to battle .

“Since it is one’s first time meeting Her Highness the Queen, a refined and elegant style would be best . Because d.u.c.h.ess looks young, I will have to supplement that . It is elegant but it should express a freshness that is unlike a married Lady . ”

Upon receiving inspiration, Antoine finally decided on a light violet dress adorned with tiny sparkling beads .

It gave the effect of a band fastened on the waist, emphasizing the slender waist and it spread abundantly below the waist, conservatively revealing the beautiful curves of the body .

The upper part clung to the shape of the body and the sleeves were made of see-through lace that ran from the shoulder to the under arm . Unlike fas.h.i.+on of late that revealed the cleavage, the neckline was just below the neck but it didn’t look trite or stifling .

It gave the effect of a band fastened on the waist, emphasizing the slender waist and it spread abundantly below the waist, conservatively revealing the beautiful curves of the body .

The upper part clung to the shape of the body and the sleeves were made of see-through lace that ran from the shoulder to the under arm . Unlike fas.h.i.+on of late that revealed the cleavage, the neckline was just below the neck but it didn’t look trite or stifling .

Her hair was tied up in a bun, showing her slender and long neckline . Her reddish brown hair was pinned with a small white diamond pin . The finis.h.i.+ng touch was Antoine’s magic-like make-up .

The reason Antoine was so popular among n.o.blewomen was thanks to her exceptional make-up that was just as good as her skill with dresses .

Purple pearl was applied to her eyes and eyeliner was drawn on the corner of her eyes to make it rise slightly . Her white skin was emphasized and blush was applied on her cheeks to reveal her freshness .

The Lucia in the mirror gave off both elegance and vigor as Antoine had said .

‘How fascinating . Why doesn’t it work when I do it?’

Lucia did not consider herself a beauty . In her dream, she did not stand out at all, buried underneath gorgeous beauties . But, looking at herself in the mirror, Lucia thought:

‘It looks good . I look…a little pretty . ’

It wasn’t just because of the makeup or the dressing style . Lucia’s look had fundamentally changed .

The Lucia from the dream was pa.s.sive and intimidated; rather than enjoying a ball, she was fed up with it .

The current Lucia was bright and confident . Her refres.h.i.+ng aura made her stand out .