/
Finally, Marquis Russell stepped back.
“Seems like this would look better on you than I thought. Make about four dresses using this fabric.”
“Yes, of course, Your Excellency!”
“The design
 should suit her.”
Yves Russell glanced towards Radis, then he added.
“If you prefer to have anything else apart from what I’ve ordered, you can buy as much as you want.”
“I’m fine—”
“M-Milady!”
Celia hurriedly cut Radis off and unfolded a catalogue of dress designs.
“Take a look at the designs first and decide! Of course, I’ve also brought dress samples that you can wear!”
Did she see it wrong or was there a dangerous smirk on Marquis Russell’s lips?
“Of course, let’s work hard to pay for our meals.”
In the end, Radis was forced to spend the rest of the afternoon staring blankly at dress and shoe designs, her eyes becoming like dead fish eyes. She also had to change into various dresses countless times.
* * *
“I’m dying
”
Allen smiled softly as he poured some tea for Radis, who barely managed to escape from Celia’s clutches.
“Was it too difficult? Didn’t you have fun?”
“The dresses look pretty, but for me
 well.”
“Really? I think they’ll look good on you.”
“Not at all. I have short hair and uneven skin tones.”
“Your skin’s not all bad. And your hair will grow out quickly.”
Allen smiled as he said this.
“If you’re too tired, would you like to take a break from your studies today?”
“No! I’m fine!”
She was drooping on the table just now, but she suddenly jumped up as her eyes glimmered.
Radis liked studying quite a bit.
However, studying itself was difficult to do in the Tilrod household.
The patriarch, who was in charge of Tilrod’s children, constantly walked on eggshells around Margaret. He was scared of her more than Armano was of the matriarch.
So that she wouldn’t be rebuked, Radis had to study without books and take classes while pretending that she didn’t know the answers.
“That’s a relief. I found an interesting book for you, and I brought it here because I thought it would be a good, light read.”
Allen and Radis settled in the greenhouse where warm sunlight streamed in.
Berry, a maid of the mansion, brought some fragrant black tea and very delicious-looking custard pastries.
With a crispy outer layer that’s sprinkled with white confectioners sugar and a light cream filling that’s full of the scrumptious taste of vanilla, it’s become Radis’ favorite dessert that she only recently discovered.
In a warm place, surrounded by a beautiful landscape, she studied while enjoying a relaxing teatime break.
Radis’ mood got better and she quickly forgot about the dresses. Smiling broadly, she turned to Berry.
“Berry, thank you!”
Seeing Radis’ smile, Berry’s plump cheeks turned into a strawberry shade.
Berry, whose naturally curly hair was tied into two braids, was the same maid who showed Radis the way to Yves’ room on the first day of her stay in this mansion.
However, the marquisate’s maids seemed a bit unique.
Among them, Berry was really shy.
Even now, she took several steps back to quickly disappear, all the while covering her face with a tray.
Soon after Berry went past the door and out of sight, Berry could be heard shouting in the distance. ‘Kyaaa! What do I do!’
Allen sighed as he watched this.
“When will you all grow up
?”
Allen just observed the maids’ demeanors as they acted like that.
Radis didn’t know why Berry always shouted, ‘Oh my! What do I do!’ whenever she was with her, but she believed this to be normal.
In fact, all the maids of the mansion seemed to have a habit of shouting, ‘What do I do!’ sometimes, but apart from this, everyone was very sweet and kind.
“Now, this is the book that you’ll be reading today.”
Allen placed a book that had a colorful and pretty cover on the table.
“〈 The Adventures of Prince Dantes 〉! This is a fairytale book.”
“That’s right. Have you read this before, Miss?”
Radis shook her head.
〈 The Adventures of Prince Dantes 〉 was a fairytale about the life of Dantes Arpend, a real hero who founded the empire.
Because he was the first emperor, the imperial family themselves produced the fairytales and sent them as gifts to children of powerful aristocrats.
The Tilrod family also had the same fairytale book and it’s been handed down from generation to generation. It was so worn out that the cover had to be changed several times.
And Zade would allow only the eldest son, David, to read it.
However, because David just shucked it under his bed secretly without even opening the cover, Zade just took it back.
“This book is considered to be a gift that symbolizes each family’s connection to the imperial family, but the contents are very interesting. That Sword of Fire also appears here.”
Allen winked.
Radis’ eyes sparkled as her posture straightened the moment that the Sword of Fire was mentioned.