For the Lady's Wise Regression - Chapter 30

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 30
After purchasing dozens of dresses at Primadella Boutique and stopping by Sovina Salon, I’d bought a few things on impulse—but was it really necessary to pick up dessert on top of everything else?
In my past life, I’d worn rather bright formal attire fairly often, so I’d been enchanted by how well these would suit me and simply bought them.
Since they came as a couple outfit, it felt awkward to refuse my half, so I’d purchased both.
Still, adding dessert to the shopping haul on the way out seemed a bit much, didn’t it?
“Vanessa? You didn’t send word. What brings you here?”
Ian’s voice drew her attention sharply away from the carriage she’d been eyeing.
“Oh, I see. My letter hasn’t arrived yet, then.”
“……?”
“Nothing serious. It’s just that I’m about to become the lady of this household, after all.”
“……And?”
“So I brought you a gift.”
“……A gift? From whom?”
“Well……”
Vanessa trailed off awkwardly, offering a sheepish smile.
“……Your household staff?”
“……”
Unable to confess that she’d overindulged in shopping and was now stuck with excess dresses, she’d hastily cobbled together this excuse.
After all, they’d be seeing each other regularly—there was no point in being distant about it.
Besides, for her revenge, there would be times she’d need to move without Ian’s knowledge, and then this goodwill might prove useful.
And since the Marquess’s wife would still be wearing Primadella’s designs, she might as well give the staff something worthwhile.
If they saw that their new mistress wore the same dresses as the Duke’s household staff, well, that reflected a certain status, didn’t it?
It was all rather mercenary reasoning, but Vanessa didn’t bother with further excuses.
What was difficult to bear was the look in Ian’s eyes—that questioning gaze of ‘Why are you doing this?’
Admittedly, if Ian had suddenly announced he’d bought gifts for Charoze’s staff, she’d probably give him that exact same look.
Ah. I should have just sent it with the letter.
There was no need to come in person.
Unable to endure the silence, Vanessa glanced back toward the carriage.
“And your gift is……”
When in doubt, it was best to change the subject.
Before Ian could say anything, Vanessa retrieved the boxes she’d prepared in the carriage.
“I thought they’d suit you. And this one—you seem to enjoy sweets.”
“……”
Ian accepted the multiple boxes in silence, then examined the small box labeled “Pont de Chocolat,” his eyes meeting Vanessa’s.
Really, now. Could he not receive a simple gift?
Did he have to wear that expression—as if she’d done something terribly wrong?
……Though honestly, if the situation were reversed and Ian had done this, she’d probably make that same bewildered face.
Vanessa gave a soft cough and stepped closer to him with sudden resolve.
“That’s a couple outfit, by the way.”
“……!”
Only then did Ian’s expression shift.
His eyes flickered between the beautifully wrapped box and her face—confusion, astonishment, disbelief chasing across his features in quick succession. He’d certainly stop questioning the gift now.
Vanessa, having achieved her purpose, offered a faint smile.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
“At least have tea before you go.”
It was the same invitation he’d offered on the day he’d first proposed their contract marriage, and Vanessa’s lips curved more deeply.
“I’ll pass. You look far too busy for tea.”
“……”
“See you again, Ian. Oh, and those clothes—I bought them at Sovina Salon.”
“……”
“If the fit isn’t quite right, you can exchange them.”
With that, Vanessa vanished like the wind.
Shortly after, Denian—who had been approaching the residence from the opposite direction of the Charoze carriage—stopped short at the sight of the row of carriages lined up at the entrance.
“What on earth is all this? Has the lady already sent her belongings? Ah, and here’s a letter.”
Ian, cradling the boxes in one arm, opened and scanned the note.
[I’ll stop by briefly. You should receive this about the time I arrive.]
Nothing beyond that first sentence had matched reality.
Ian released a quiet sigh and turned to look at Denian, who was peering into the carriage.
“Sir, what about all this……”
“Take it directly to the reception room yourself.”
“What? No, I have to carry all of this myself?”
“One box at a time. And remember—if even one gets wrinkled, your salary gets wrinkled right along with it.”
“But sir, couldn’t you just help me with a few of these—!”
When Ian glanced meaningfully at the box in his arms, Denian’s expression twisted between exasperation as he looked from the carriage to Ian and back again.
“Good Lord… truly…”
“That’s your punishment for the late delivery of the letters.”
Denian started to protest that there had been a reason, but swallowed his words in a heavy sigh instead.
If he mentioned that the delay was because he’d been running an errand for the mistress, the master wouldn’t hear of it.
At a glance, there were enough boxes to require at least dozens of trips back and forth, but he could count himself fortunate—it was a cheap penalty for being slow.
At least his wages weren’t being docked.
After watching Denian’s back as he carefully verified each box, grumbling all the while, Ian firmly secured his own box against his ribs to prevent it from falling, then made his leisurely way into the residence.
***
The Ruscliffe Duke’s Residence bloomed with unexpected laughter.
More precisely, among the maids.
When the master had suddenly summoned them all to the empty sitting room, each had been occupied with recalling what mistake she might have committed.
When she began calling them one by one and handing each a large gift box, bewilderment reigned—until that moment.
Never in all her years serving the Ruscliffe Household had she received a gift from the master.
Instead, she’d been satisfied with the higher wages compared to servants in other noble houses.
The moment they opened their presents, every single maid became a girl again.
“The soon-to-be mistress gave us these dresses.”
“But I received this dress—”
“Could they all be different?”
As the maids gathered in small clusters and saw that every dress in their hands was completely unique, their jaws dropped.
“…From now on, whatever the mistress commands, I’ll do it without question.”
“I won’t even report it to the master.”
“Then I should be first to buy whatever the mistress needs.”
The clincher came from Charlotte, who had stepped away briefly when Denian called her and was now returning.
“Girls. The mistress says each of you should have a box of these—”
“Pont de Chocolat? Heavens! That’s only sold in limited quantities even on Duneb Street!”
Excited squeals erupted from every corner.
“I wish the mistress would take the master with her for life.”
At someone’s murmur, the maids nodded in agreement as if speaking with one voice.
“I should buy the mistress a gift on my next day off.”
“I’m going to go home and bring back regional specialties.”
“Me too! My older sister runs a craft workshop on Artisan Street. I should bring back some handmade handkerchiefs made just for the mistress.”
Charlotte, who had been listening quietly until then, murmured softly.
“Then should I present ore from the mines in my region?”
“You’re finally mining? You were worried sick about the mining rights.”
“The master gave me a bonus to mark his marriage, so I was able to hire workers. It’s the first excavation made possible because of the mistress—wouldn’t it be meaningful to give it to her?”
The maids, whose wages had been steadily accumulating alongside their relatively light workload, suddenly lit up.
“Our mistress should become the finest lady among all the wives.”
Thus began an unexpected campaign of gift-giving.
***
Hmm. Mmm. Hmm.
Vanessa hummed to herself while wiggling her toes.
She’d disposed of the troublesome dresses from Primadella Boutique under the pretense of gifts, so what remained was to orchestrate an event that would thoroughly humiliate Leonard’s wife.
A banquet grand enough that even the duke’s servants could wear dresses without standing out—that would be perfect.
‘A Celebration Banquet would do nicely.’
Given the Marquess’s wife’s character, she wouldn’t discard the Primadella Boutique dresses until she’d hooked another fool with deeper pockets.
Because if she got rid of them, she truly would have nothing to wear.
It was rather amusing, how stingy with money a marquess’s household could be.
Yet when it came to spending others’ fortunes, she scraped the coffers clean without hesitation.
Moreover, she was now even sponsoring Saint Bertold Orphanage against her wishes, so she’d hardly have money left for luxuries.
For the time being, until she found herself in circumstances where she couldn’t speak up about mounting debts, the Marquess’s wife would continue to recycle the Primadella Boutique dresses.
Vanessa sipped the tea Dia had prepared for her.
“Miss. A document has arrived with no return address.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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