24

After that, the meeting was wrapped up quickly. The young lady expressed terrifyingly strong agreement with my suggestion. Her support was so unconditional that I wondered whether anything was actually being discussed.

‘Good.’

‘That’s good too.’

‘Really a good idea.’

‘Let’s do that.’

‘That was just me talking to myself a moment ago, though….’

‘Even that’s good!’

It was clear she liked my proposal.

After sketching a basic plan, Lady Kiara said it would be important to experience high society and asked me to accompany her to Lady Seraph’s upcoming salon.

‘Seeing once is better than hearing about it a hundred times.’

The more information about an opponent, the better.

My employer was a very decisive person. The moment I agreed, she summoned her salon madam. As I had discussed with the young lady beforehand, I chose one of the designs and requested some amendments; there wasn’t time to make a new one from scratch.

“Oh-ho, a new approach. But if we do as you say, I think we can make it striking while preserving elegance.”

I gently took the madam’s hand.

“Madam, I intend to use this opportunity to place the young lady at the center of society. Your role is crucial to do that.”

No matter how good the idea, it would mean nothing if she couldn’t bring it to life.

The madam’s eyes sparkled.

“Aide, don’t worry. Ever since I made Lady Kiara my muse, it’s been a long time since I felt this inspired. Whatever you imagine, I’ll show you more than that. Trust only this salon.”

And she completed the dress perfectly the day before the salon.

“Shall we go then?”

“Yes, My lady.”

Lady Kiara, escorted by a guard, headed for the carriage.

‘Now, let’s see for myself what the nobles’ salon is like.’

Seraph Duke family.

A founding dynasty holding firm power. The duke’s daughter was the crown prince’s fiancée, which effectively meant she was destined to be crown princess. Naturally, their pride would be even higher.

‘Magnificent, fitting for the power right after the royal family.’

Though the Marquis Family’s wealth was great, it didn’t feel overwhelmingly different, but the building exuded the lofty dignity that comes from having been high nobility for a long time.

‘An aura that nouveaux riche could never approach.’

I wondered if even fellow nobles envied things like that.

“My lady, we have arrived.”

Leading the way, Lady Kiara descended under escort, and I and the head maid followed cautiously behind. The atmosphere differs by family, and I felt a little nervous.

“We will announce her arrival.”

A servant guarding the salon door checked the invitation and bowed politely. When the young lady tilted her head haughtily, the doors opened and his voice echoed.

“Lady Kiara Aurelius, daughter of the Marquis, enters!”

All eyes turned to Lady Kiara.

“L- Lady?”

“The dress?”

Whispers filled the salon in an instant. Lady Kiara ignored them and walked slowly toward the hostess.

“Thank you for the invitation, Lady Lilis.”

Lady Lilis, with long blonde hair and clear blue eyes, widened her eyes and seemed momentarily speechless, but soon a gentle smile touched her face like an angel’s.

‘She gives off an aura of being noble by birth.’

“Welcome, Lady Kiara. Between our meetings… your taste seems to have changed a lot.”

Lady Lilis wore a pure white dress adorned with expensive jewels, a look anyone would call the epitome of graceful radiance.

Meanwhile, our young lady was—

‘A black swan.’

Her black dress had dark-blue flowers subtly embroidered along the hem. Small diamonds decorated the areas between the bodice and skirt, designed to sparkle luxuriously without looking dull.

And one more point.

‘A sheer see-through embroidered with black lace.’

The neckline and arms were not left bare; instead, delicate lace made them semi-transparent. With a long black wig and a black feather headpiece studded with diamonds, she truly presented a shocking yet luminous black swan.

‘I could feel surprise and curiosity even in the ladies’ gazes.’

It was an outfit chosen knowing Lady Lilis favored bright-colored dresses.

‘They probably see them as an angel and a devil.’

Lady Kiara looked more confident than usual.

“Is that so? I tried this style because we’re launching a new brand.”

When Black Dia was mentioned, the ladies began to gather slowly.

“Lady Kiara, do you plan to open another Black Dia pop-up? Are you selling the dress you’re wearing?”

“What’s the next Black Dia release? Today’s look is so stunning.”

“Will you re-release last pop-up’s limited pieces? I really wanted one but Ladyed out…”

At that moment, one of the ladies clinging to Lady Lilis snapped.

“Everyone’s making a fuss just because a brand had one success. Lady Kiara should probably refrain from coming to Lady Lilis’s salon in such a gloomy dress while drunk on brief success.”

Another lady beside her chimed in.

“Exactly, who wears a black dress to a salon? This isn’t a funeral parlor.”

The mood sank as if doused with cold water. Those two who always followed Lady Lilis were notorious for stealing the young lady’s items and causing her embarrassment before.

But Lady Kiara’s red lips only formed an untroubled smile.

‘It was a predictable question.’

“Well, if black only symbolized misfortune, would the gemstone Black Dia be so popular? I heard there are more than a few families who couldn’t get one and reserved them with our merchant guild.”

“Ugh.”

She spoke cuttingly, but not in a riled manner.

“Aren’t you tired of seeing everyone wear the same colors every time? I really like my dress today. Black actually has a slimming effect. Of course, if the two ladies in front of me find it gloomy, that’s unfortunate, but it’s not my concern.”

“What did you say?”

“That was beyond the line, Lady!”

Lady Kiara asked Lady Lilis calmly.

“Lady, pardon me, but I believe there is no specific dress code today; did I get wrong information about it?”

Lady Lilis shook her head with the same gentle expression, not even glancing at the two ladies beside her.

‘She cut them off immediately. Quick to judge and merciless.’

She was clearly the opposite of Lady Kiara.

“There is no dress code, Lady. My salon values freedom.”

Lady Kiara smiled back at her.

“That’s a relief. We’ll be seeing each other often. And this.”

The young lady took a pink envelope from a small lace purse that matched the dress set. A black wax seal stamped it.

“What is this?”

At the motion to open it, Lady Lilis hesitantly opened the envelope. The corners of her eyes trembled slightly.

‘Is she low on magnesium?’

“This is…”

“I am pleased to announce my brand’s new release here. In two months, a Black Dia new-product release party will be held at the Aurelius Marquis’s residence.”

I naturally finished her sentence for her.

“Please attend in whatever attire you wish. Black dresses are, of course, welcome.”

After that, the salon’s momentum shifted entirely to Lady Kiara. It seemed Black Dia had become the talk among the ladies.

The young lady looked more confident and at ease than I had expected.

‘This is enough for today.’

Having achieved our aim, I finally ate one of the displayed refreshments for the staff. Of course, I didn’t forget to watch our rival Lady Lilis.

‘She won’t see herself as being on the same level yet.’

One salon won’t reverse the whole tide. Today merely provided a bit of buzz and a slightly different image for Lady Kiara.

‘The marquis’s party will be important.’

After watching and mulling over the next plan for a while, I decided nothing more would happen and left the hall to use the restroom. But I encountered an unexpected problem.

‘I’ve managed to get lost in the house….’

I was sure I had memorized the way, but when I came out of the restroom the path looked unfamiliar.

A cold sweat broke out. I needed to escape quickly before earning the disgrace of being the aide who got lost finding the restroom.

‘Is there really not a single servant in this vast place?’

Absurdly, there wasn’t a single servant to be seen anywhere in this vast place. I began to panic. The sun had set and the corridors grew dim.

‘I mustn’t become a burden to the young lady.’

I hurried along looking for anyone.

After a while, I heard voices around a bend in the corridor. It was a sound of hope to me.

‘Good, I’ll ask as soon as the conversation ends.’

I cautiously hid in the blind spot at the turn and peeked out. What I saw wasn’t on my list of expected possibilities.

‘Wow.’

It was the intimate whispering of lovers.