Chapter 39

Certainly, if a young lady from a powerful family was involved, it was possible she would have access to such luxurious accommodations.

However, accurately completing a large quantity of work in a single day can prove to be challenging.

It was even more challenging when it was a one-on-one consultation with a professional who was obsessed with making clothes that fit her perfectly.

When she heard the news that someone from Penelope's Dressing Room was here, Iona thought that Yvonne had finally fulfilled her wish.

Yvonne had been begging Hayden to purchase a dress from there, so Iona assumed that she had been outdone by his daughter once more.

However, the receptionist looked at Yvonne, who rushed out, as if she was a little embarrassed, and revealed that she had visited on Leroy's orders.

“Perhaps the Duke was very satisfied with the last purchase, and said that he would like to make more dresses for Damme Iona.”

Iona thought there was a dressing shop where she borrowed only the sample clothes and made that great result, and it was a really good place.

Penelope's Dressing Room was a popular store that had never missed the highest sales since it opened in the capital five years ago.

Thanks to the chief designer who went all the way to study abroad, everyone was eager to buy clothes there.

Among the young girls, it became a matter of pride for how many outfits they had from Penelope's Dressing Room, and those who couldn't afford it considered it a dream dress they wanted to have at least once.

'After becoming a duchess, I sometimes wore matching clothes.'

Of course, it was only once or twice a year for the sake of saving face.

When she thought that she would have to discuss the type and color of the fabric, the shape of the clothes, and whether twenty times, Iona suddenly felt sick.

Ionah quickly stood up from her seat.

"...I need to go to the restroom for a moment."

Fortunately, the receptionist willingly let Iona go.

It seemed that her complexion looked rather bad.

Iona went out the back door with Marsha following her.

The back of the building leading to the patronage was quiet. There was no one passing by, so it seemed like a good place to talk about things others shouldn't hear.

As soon as Marsha closed the door, Ionah asked immediately.

“Was my closet so beggarly?”

“Has the young lady finally become self-aware?”

Marsha asked with her eyes twinkling.

Iona kept her mouth shut without saying a word.

It was Marsha who had always been asking her what kind of clothes she was wearing and when and what she should wear.

And Iona too listened when Marsha sided with the duke, but even Marsha never expected this situation.

As if Masha was equally puzzled by the sudden attack of presents, she asked the Iona with an expectant expression.

“Well, what happened between you two yesterday?”

“There is no such thing.”

Iona answered firmly.

Of course, it wasn't that there was no progress in their relationship.

However, the obvious promise to be faithful to each other after marriage couldn't be a reason to present new clothes.

Even Iona couldn't really show off the dress she received from him yesterday because of her excuse that she couldn't dance, but in reality, she was embarrassed to go out to the ballroom and had to come home quickly.

Iona, who did not want to reveal such a stupid story, immediately changed the subject.

“Rather than that, do you have any letters from Cornelia?”

"Of course. Actually, there are quite a few," 

Saying that, Marsha pulled out a thick stack of letters from her front pocket.

Cornelia was collecting invitations for Iona every morning and handing them over to Marsha.

Thanks to this, there was no way to miss out on incoming calls through Yvonne's trickery.

Iona first skimmed the back of the envelope quickly and dryly.

A few familiar names stood out.

The people she had met at Count Ritzer's residence had scrambled to send invitations as if she might change her words if it was late.

'Here it is.'

Iona found the name she was looking for and opened the envelope without delay.

What was written inside was concise. The meeting place and date were written along with a few lines of greetings saying that it was a pleasure to invite a precious guest.

Masha asked with curiosity as she noticed the name of the sender from a distance.

“Isn't this Joseph Alushi, Nils-sama's friend? Why did he send you an invitation?"

“I asked for an invite. I have something to buy there.”

“Is there anything you want to buy… … . Wasn’t this a meeting for gambling?”

"Well, there must be something that went back and forth instead of money."

Iona, who answered indifferently, handed the letter back to Marsha.

She had to go back to her room to write a reply anyway, and that could only be done after the guest in the parlor had gone.

Marsha, who had put the invitations in her front pocket, urged Iona secretly.

“Then shall we go in?”

“I’m not ready yet.”

“But if this happens, you will be misunderstood that there is a problem with the condition of the lady’s bathroom.”

Iona finally sighed and stood up from her seat.

If something had to be done anyway, it was better to finish it quickly.

Iona stepped in silence through the door Marsha had opened.

The parlor where the receptionist was waiting was not too far from the back door.

Thanks to this, as soon as Iona entered the room, she could see Yvonne sprinting through the parlor door.

Marsha whispered in Iona's ear.

“I think the order was rejected.”

When Yvonne spotted Ioana, she immediately frowned and strode towards her, saying.

"You came just in time. Go and ask that woman to make me a dress too."

Ioana looked bewildered at the confident request and asked.

"Why?"

“Why why? Because it's the Duke who called her, and I can also order a dress by trying it on, can't I? She won't even bother to check what it is anyway.”

Lately, Yvonne had been refraining from going outside because she was begging Hayden to buy clothes from Penelope's dressing room.

She even locked the door saying that she would not be able to go out because she was embarrassed to wear an out-of-fashion dress.

Thanks to this, Iona was also able to attend the gatherings she had held with ease.

'I thought going out with Hayden yesterday had solved her problem, didn't it?'

Anyway, her response was already predetermined. 

Ioana twisted her mouth and replied.

"Nope."

At Iona's refusal, Yvonne let out an exaggerated laugh.

"You really think you're all that powerful now? Do you think the world is yours because you said you were marrying the duke?”

Sarcastically, Yvonne folded her arms proudly.

“But what about this? If I go to the duke and say a few words, this marriage conversation will be broken right away.”

"What's that magic spell you're going to use? I'd like to know too."

"This... Why are you asking if you know? Should I shout it out loud for everyone to hear, even the outsiders?"

Yvonne suddenly raised her voice at Iona's relaxed attitude.

Even though the situation had changed, people didn't.

Although this conversation was new to Ioana, Ivonnes' threats were all too familiar to her.

It was fortunate that Leroy wasn't with them right now.

"If the Duke says he doesn't want to marry you, I'll be next in line. It's disgusting, but since I'm your sister, I'll do it. If you want to get a dress or something from me when I become a Duchess, just do as I say."

Yvonne said with an impudent face like that one day.

At that time, Iona servilely hoped for mercy from others, but not now.

Iona asked with a relaxed smile.

“How are you going to marry the duke?”

Yvonne looked at Iona as if she was saying something stupid. She didn't seem to know that Iona's eyes contained the same thought.

Iona asked the next question in a refreshing voice.

“Do you know why I ended up marrying that man?”

"Of course. Because my father dedicated himself to working for the imperial family. That's why, isn't it?”

"No."

Saying that Iona took a step closer to Yvonne.

Because of the height difference, a faint shadow fell over Ivonnes' face.

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