The Kind Older Sister Is No More

Tom prepared the carriage immediately. The Grand Duke first climbed into the wagon, followed by Irene, as she was trying to climb up the simple stairs, suddenly a big hand reached out in front of her. Surprised, Irene looked up.

“Would you like to grab my hand and come up?”

Grand Duke Kristen reached out to her. Irene did not know what to do, but she quickly caught it so that his hand would not hang embarrassingly in the air.

“Thank you…”

The staircase was not that high, but the grand duke pulled her up regardless. Anything could be a rough mountain for a lady.

Irene safely made it into the carriage and sat across from him, her gaze stopped at the Duke. When their eyes met, she rolled her eyes awkwardly.

I didn’t notice until now...

When she looked closely, there were many striking similarities between the Great Kristen and Noel. Brown eye colour, thin lips.

Even a gentle and deep voice.

“Is there something on my face?”

“Oh!”

Irene, who was looking for resemblances between the Grand Duke and Noel, was startled at his voice and snapped. In the meantime, the wagon left the Grand Duchy and was heading towards the city centre.

“I- I’m terribly sorry.”

“No. It’s fine.”

When Irene apologised to him hastily, the duke relieved her by waving his hand and quickly changed the topic to distract her.

“But, sweetheart, what are you looking for?”

“Oh…I want to buy a dress.”

“You mean a formal gown?”

“Yes. I am going to an exhibition with Noel tomorrow, so… I think it would be nice if I dress up.”

Irene’s face blushed as she spoke. It was because she felt shy to say this not to anyone else, but to his grandfather.

However, unlike what Irene thought, the Great Kristen’s eyes toward her were full of affection.

An innocent and kind child who approached him without hesitation. She was the right child who could restore the relationship between him and his grandson.

However, it was awkward and difficult to express, so it could only be conveyed through his gaze. Meanwhile Irene was dully unaware of the duke’s sentiment.

“If so, it would have been nice to have told me. I could have a beautiful, well-fitting dress made just for you.”

When the Grand Duke said it was a shame Irene shook her head.

“Thank you for saying that. But it is a dress I wear on special occasions, so I wish to personally purchase it.”

Even though her face was blushing embarrassingly, Irene insisted.

The Grand Duke, still looking at Irene, opened his mouth with a smile.

“If that’s what you truly wish for, so be it.”

In the midst of their conversation, the carriage stopped in front of a large dress shop. Since she did not mention a specific clothing store, the coachman came to the most famous dressing store in the capital.

Alighting the carriage, Irene was immersed. She was mesmerised in admiration.

Since there had not been many occasions for her to have something to do with dresses so far, it was her first time seeing such a big shop. The pointed roof was high -- a needle piercing the sky. And the ribbon that decorated the entrance was elaborately folded in origami flowers.

Suddenly, she recalled what Riel had said as a child.

“Sister, I went to the shop with Mother today and it was so pretty. It was like the castle where the princess lives. I told Mother that I want to live in such a castle one day when I grow up. I want to become an adult real quick. Next time, let’s go together, Sister.”

At that time, Irene could only answer ‘alright’. She had to compromise. Not only did she not know what the shop Riel was referring to looked like, but she had never gone out alone with her mother.

Why was it like that?'

She did not give it much thought back when she was in Count Chase’s mansion, but looking back now, it was hard to comprehend. Her parents often took Riel for walks or shopping, but the same opportunities were never given to Irene.

When women of her age were learning liberal arts and etiquette at home, Irene had to learn Riel’s first aid method in case of emergency.

Even when she attended the academy, she never took her classes conscientiously as she had to take care of Riel. Therefore, she did not know how to receive escorts, nor how to treat others.

Now that that was mentioned, she never even had a proper debutante ball.

Aren’t I just Riel’s sister?

By merely coming to a dress shop, she was forced to remember some unpleasant memories.

“Go in first, dear. I have a place to stop by for a moment.”

The Grand Duke, who had yet to alight the carriage, warmly gestured to her.

“Yes. Then goodbye for now.”

When Irene answered, the coachman led the carriage and left. When the carriage had disappeared from sight, Irene checked the pocket of gold coins once again and went into the shop.

‘Jingle.’

The sound of the bell hung on the door rang, and the shop owner quickly came out.

“Welcome, young lady.”

“I’m shopping for a dress.”

“Custom-made?”

“Oh, no. I would like to wear it right now.”

“Then you must be looking for ready-made apparel. Um, are you here alone?”

The owner asked, looking around Irene. It was difficult to understand the intention behind his words, so Irene nodded her head almost in an instance.

“Yes. I came alone.”

“Hmm...I see.”

Then he glanced at Irene from top to bottom. Irene wore a navy-blue casual outfit that was easy to move in. The owner’s complexion grew worse as he looked at Irene’s appearance.

“Have you thought of a certain amount of money?”

The owner asked without gesturing to her to have a seat.

Although she had never been to the shop, she knew that the owner’s attitude had changed significantly, but Irene replied with a calm demeanour, unwavering.

“Twelve gold.”

The owner’s glabella crumpled. But Irene could not figure out why.

“Twelve gold, such a small amount.”

If one had twelve gold, it would be a reasonable amount for one to buy a dress. However, the owner of this shop was a person with the pride of running the best boutique in the whole capital.

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