Chapter 7

"Um... That dress is indeed quite outdated, isn't it?"

"The outdated dress is still in the style of its time, but with all those gaudy decorations, and she even brought a parasol to a night party!"

Mary and Addy couldn't help but press their foreheads in unison.

Even if it was an outdated dress, there must have been a better way to wear it... Besides, she seemed so nervous, looking around restlessly.

Her gestures only added to the dowdiness, but she didn't seem to notice. When she spotted Mary and Addy, her expression relaxed slightly as if she were relieved.

"Good evening, Lady Mary. Thank you for inviting me today..."

With an uneasy gesture, Alicia lifted the hem of her skirt and bowed her head.

What should have been an elegant gesture was marred by her awkwardness, and Mary couldn't help but sigh.

Hearing this, Alicia quickly raised her face.

"Um, was there something wrong with me? I could only find an old dress..."

"It's not about the dress being old! It's the way you've decorated it!"

Mary pointed at Alicia with such force that it seemed to make a sound.

Fortunately, there were only three people present, so she could be the villain and give a harsh critique.

Most importantly, she had to say something; Alicia was so dowdy that if a dress designer were here, they would have hit her over the head.

"Those gaudy decorations make it look so heavy! And a parasol at night? What are you trying to light up!?"

"Well, it's my first time wearing and carrying something like this, and I didn't know what to do..."

"Big bow on your head, corsage on your chest, and another bow on your stomach! Do you have to put a focal point on every vulnerable spot!? Do you want to be shot!?"

"I... I didn't know what to wear..."

Alicia's voice was pitiful as she responded to Mary's rapid-fire criticisms.

Considering her background, it was understandable that she couldn't dress up, but on the other hand, Mary, being a noble, couldn't tolerate such dowdiness.

So, Mary glanced at Addy and snapped her fingers. Addy nodded as if to say, "I understand," and approached Alicia.

"Alicia, may I?"

"Eh... Eh?"

Alicia, who was looking back and forth between Addy and Mary in confusion, felt Addy gently touch her hair.

Carefully, so as not to damage her golden hair, Addy slowly untied the bow and quickly removed the one from her stomach.

"Something like this, a light tie is enough. Tightening it this much would be uncomfortable."

"Is that so?"

"Maybe a slight diagonal tie would be better for the bow."

With practiced hands, Addy retied the waist bow and nodded in satisfaction.

However, he added, "You can remove the corsage yourself," as he was hesitant to touch her chest. Alicia, blushing, quickly removed the corsage.

"Miss, how about your hairstyle?"

"Please braid it."

"Understood."

Addy followed Mary's instructions without hesitation.

Their coordination was like that of a master and servant, but Alicia, who was being worked on, didn't understand the situation.

She just felt comfortable and embarrassed by Addy's gentle fingers combing and braiding her hair, and she was both happy and embarrassed by Mary's satisfied gaze.

By the time everything was finished, Alicia, who had looked so countryish just a few minutes ago, was wearing the outdated dress in a classic and elegant way.

Alicia was naturally beautiful.

Her soft, golden hair shimmered in the light, and her deep purple eyes, a sign of her royal lineage, were somehow unnoticed by everyone.

Her healthy limbs were slender, and her well-proportioned figure was captivating. She had the alluring charm of a girl on the cusp of womanhood. Her childlike smile was adorable, her attempts to act mature were endearing, and her occasional gestures were tantalizingly sensual.

Most importantly, Alicia looked exactly like the young queen.

The beautiful, intelligent, and dignified queen, who exuded a saintly compassion, was the embodiment of every woman's ideal. Mary still remembered bowing in deep respect before her.

Alicia resembled the young queen, which was only natural given her background.

That's why, even in an outdated dress, Alicia looked better than any first-class designer dress. After all, a dress is only as good as the person who wears it... and how they wear it.

"Um, is this okay?"

Alicia, who had been adjusted by Mary and Addy, looked down at herself anxiously.

Mary and Addy nodded in satisfaction, of course, because they had made Alicia look perfect. Addy even had a refreshed expression, as if he had just finished a job.

"Yes, it's fine. You look cute."

Addy's response, as if praising a child's makeup, made Alicia blush slightly and smile.

"Thank you for doing my hair... You're very talented, Addy."

"Well, as your servant, I need to be able to fix your appearance at a moment's notice. ...Although..."

He trailed off and looked away.

Alicia followed his gaze and saw Mary, who was leaning against the railing, watching their interaction. Her silver hair, which was in a strong vertical roll, didn't move in the night breeze, standing firmly on either side of her face.

"Because it's a metal drill, Miss's hair never gets messy..."

"I'm not wearing a metal drill because I like it."

"Then, why do you have that hairstyle!?"

"...Let's drop this topic. It's making me cry."

Mary sighed, and Alicia chuckled.

She then remembered something and searched her handbag, pulling out a small bouquet of flowers.

"Here... for Lord Mary's father."

"Oh, you prepared this specially?"

"Yes. But I don't have much money, and I didn't know what to give to the head of the Albert family..."

She bit her lip and looked down, embarrassed.

The surroundings were adorned with lavish decorations, and fresh flowers were placed everywhere, making the place look even more splendid. The small bouquet in Alicia's hand couldn't compare.

Moreover, the Albert family had a garden with a dedicated gardener who kept flowers blooming all year round. There was no place in this mansion to display such a small bouquet.

To Alicia, Mary said with a snort,

"Of course not. A commoner like you can't buy anything that would please my father."

Then, in a villainous tone, she added,

"But since you went to the trouble, why don't you give it to him?"

Her haughty smile was that of a villainous lady, and there was no trace of the fashion advisor she had been a few minutes ago. It was a perfect switch.

Alicia, unaware of Mary's sarcasm, shook her head anxiously.

"No, no! I can't give it to the head of the family! It would be too presumptuous! Besides, I don't know what to say..."

"My father is a generous man. Even if you inadvertently offend him due to your lack of knowledge, he will laugh it off."

"But the bouquet is so small..."

Alicia looked down at the bouquet in her hand and whispered.

Mary glanced at the bouquet.

It was a cute bouquet.

Centered on pink and white, it was a small, elegant, and charming arrangement. The red ribbon holding the message card likely wished for a happy birthday.

The attention to detail made the bouquet reminiscent of Alicia herself.

Alicia must have chosen it herself. The image of her standing in front of a flower shop, carefully selecting flowers, must have been quite picturesque.

But even such a lovely bouquet couldn't compare to the brilliance of the surroundings.

Alicia, who was more aware of this than anyone, was so depressed that she seemed ready to throw away the bouquet and run away.

Addy, unable to bear it, gently patted her shoulder.

"Lord Albert is a kind man. I'm sure he will be pleased."

"Addy, but..."

"It's fine. Besides, Lord Albert once said..."

"Once?"

"That a young girl is a gift just by existing."

...

The silence was palpable.

It was broken by Alicia's footsteps as she bowed her head and walked into the mansion, and Mary's pained words as she pressed her forehead and sighed.

"I didn't want to hear that kind of family talk..."