"Wow, Madam, you're so beautiful!"
"How beautiful you are!"
The maids, including Oliviel, were showering me with praises while admiring me in my dress.
"Thank you.”
Even though I knew they're obligated to give compliments to their master, I couldn't help but broke into smiles because it felt good to be praised.
"As expected of Lumie. Famous designers certainly are different. I never imagined it would be this pretty.”
As I turned my body slightly to the right, the hem of my pink dress gently fluttered like petals swaying in the wind.
The design was beautiful, but above all, I liked something else.
The dress was so light that I couldn't believe it was in layers.
Usually, layered dresses like this make you feel heavy given the weight of the fabric, but this was different. They might say that I'm lying if I told them that the dress was so light as if I'm not wearing anything. Still, I could move comfortably with this dress and it wouldn't be too much to run wearing this.
I heard a small knock when I was admiring my look in the mirror.
Jesse, the maid, automatically approached the door. Soon, she came up to me after having a conversation with the servant behind the door.
"Madam, the Master is waiting for you."
"Really?"
I wanted to enjoy it a little more since I haven't wore such a pretty dress in my life. But I needed to go because Richard was already waiting outside.
"Well then. Let's go."
"Yes, Madam."
I sighed as I took one more look at myself, regretting that I couldn't admire it more a little bit, before coming out of the wardrobe room.
However, there was no one outside. It was said that Richard was waiting, it seems not in front of the room, though.
What a relief.
It was true that I was under a lot of pressure to meet Richard because I was avoiding him on account of what happened last night during dinner.
It somehow bothers me if we happened to run into each other, but it's better to prepare myself and meet up with him.
"Madam?"
Oliviel called for me seeing I only stood while looking around in the hallway.
I smiled at her, shaking my head.
"It's nothing."
"Okay."
I started to leave the manor. As I left the front door and passed through the garden, I saw a large carriage not far away and a tall man standing beside it was Richard, glancing down on his pocket watch.
"Did you wait?"
When I asked Richard first, he looked up as he clamped his pocket watch shut.
"No, I just came out.”
"Me, too. I came out as soon as I was done."
The conversation between Richard and I was awkward as if he was an unfriendly acquaintance that I hadn't met in a long time.
It seems he's also aware of it since he turned his eyes away.
Just in time, a servant opened the door of the carriage and lowered the scaffold below it.
As soon as it was lowered, Richard immediately got up in the carriage.
Obviously, it's my turn next but it was hard to climb wearing my current dress so I was busily gathering my skirt up when suddenly Richard reached out to me.
"Here. Hold my hand.”
It was an unexpected act of kindness. I didn't think he'd help me so I was just standing there, staring at his hand.
According to what I've known so far, I thought the one who would go first would just sit inside the carriage and do nothing more. I thought he would do just that considering his personality but it seemed he can be kind sometimes.
"Are you not coming up?”
As I stayed still, only looking at his hands in bewilderment, Richard spoke up.
"Ah, no. I'm coming up."
I finally came to my senses and took his outstretched hand.
Richard's hand was large, rugged, and rough, perhaps because of his long training with swords.
But that simple act of kindness from him wasn't rough at all.
With his help, I climbed into the carriage and sat in front of Richard. I felt a little awkward sitting across from him, but I didn't show it on the outside.
"I'll close the carriage door." A servant announced before closing the door.
"Let's go." Soon after, Richard beckoned the driver as he opened the small window on the coachman's side.
The carriage began to move forward with a sharp sound of hitting the whip and the snorts of the horses. The silence that came after that was as heavy as lead.
"……Isn't it uncomfortable?”
I couldn't stand the silence and asked Richard first.
Richard, who had slightly shut his eyes with his arms folded, lifted his eyelids and stared at me.
"What do you mean?"
"That seat. It's going in the opposite direction. I get motion sickness whenever I sit on that side."
"It's fine."
Seeing Richard wasn't bothered by it a bit, I sighed in defeat.
"Suit yourself.”
"...About your anemia. Are you well now?"
"Heh."
A grin broke out on my face after hearing Richard's words. I quickly turned my expression back to normal, but I couldn't deny the fact that I smiled since he'd seen me.
"Why are you smiling?" Richard knitted his brows.
Somehow I knew why he was uncomfortable.
"I just wanted to thank you for thinking about my health."
“…….”
After I told him that I was anemic, Richard ordered the chef to serve me food that was good for anemia at least once a day.
At first, I didn't know what he did, but when the chef made me a snack, he told me the truth and that's when I found out.
"Thank you for taking care of me."
"Any husband can do that at least." Richard said gruffly. It was funny that he couldn't look me in the eye while saying so like it was very embarrassing for him to say such things, so I burst into laughter.
Richard coughed seeing me laughed.
"You look good in that dress today.” Richard complimented before moving his gaze away pretending to look at the scenery outside the window.
Compliments even make whales dance, so I beamed at Richard's praise.
"Of course, it's the only dress that Lumie designed for me."
"No wonder that bill arrived from Viscountess Lumie. So it was your dress, Diana.”
"……Was it very expensive?"
"Well, more than usual.”
"Ah……."
When I requested a new dress, Richard of course paid for it, so I didn't think much, but now, I got a little uncomfortable.
All the transaction documents that were processed by the aide definitely have gone through Richard.
When I heard it was expensive, I regretted that I didn't ask for something a little cheaper.
"Don't worry about it. If you want, you can request Lumie to make your clothes from now on.”
"Are you sure it's fine?”
Of course, that didn't mean I'd buy clothes enough to cause Richard's bankruptcy, but I asked just in case.
"Why didn't you think so?"
It's because even though I'm the Countess of Theodore, I still had no right to his property. But I can't say that to his face.
"I'm just asking to make sure."
This will be enough for me.
As soon as I realized it, I got a little greedy. I think it's okay to be more than that. Then I'll ask for more clothes later.
After thinking about it, I looked up with a satisfied face. Then, I met eyes with Richard, who was watching me.
"If there's anything else you need, talk to the head maid. It's fine as long as you're not going to spend money on gambling. That's your share, Diana."
It was this issue that I couldn't talk about because there was no time to ask questions. It was fortunate that my concern regarding this was solved by riding the carriage together today.
By the way, Richard was awkward at it, but he was still trying to take care of me.
After that, I spent time talking about small things or reading a book. It wasn't until a couple of hours later that we have reached the Palace.
Our carriage passed through the gate and entered the Palace's Fortress.
Richard was thinking of something while I put the book down next to me and waited for the carriage to stop.
The carriage stopped slowly.
"We've arrived."
The horseman's words mixed with the sound of horses were heard. Soon, the door to the carriage was opened by the servant waiting outside.
Richard got out of the carriage first and reached out his hand to me again to make it easier for me to get off the coach.
I stepped out of the carriage carefully so that I wouldn't be accidentally stepping on my skirt.
Richard moved my hand and settled it on his forearm and said.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
Richard escorted me to the banquet's venue.
* * *
"Shall I announce your arrival?"
Arriving at the entrance of the banquet hall, the herald immediately asked, standing in front of the door and smiling impressively.
"Go on."
When Richard gave his permission, the herald blew an ivory trumpet in his mouth. A long, heavy tone of trumpets rang before the herald shouted loudly.
"Earl Richard Theodore and Countess Diana Theodore will be entering!"
Richard escorted me familiarly into the hall like we've done this a hundred times.
Perhaps because of the announcement, everyone's eyes gathered in our direction.
That's why I didn't want to attend banquets. Eyes focusing on me always felt uncomfortable.
I know it's only for a little while, but still, it's not a very pleasant feeling.
When Richard and I entered the ball despite the noise around us, our presence drew much attention that others came smiling. They're probably seizing the opportunity to build a connection with the rich Earl of Theodore.
I stayed by Richard's side through all the greetings and uncelebrated congratulations. And as Richard's wife, I also greeted those approaching us.
I was also a princess until I became Countess of Theodore, so I knew those who greeted me.
I thought I'd just keep saying pleasantries until we go back home. However, something very unexpected happened that I didn't anticipate.
The name of the woman whom I didn't expect to appear today had come up along with the sound of a heavy trumpet.
"Princess Eileen Heinz will be entering!"
It was because Eileen Heinz, the main character of this world, appeared at the ball.