My Illusion Is Survival - Chapter 85

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 85

After parting with Linoa Marigold.

“Wouldn’t it be better if you just went back?”

“If I go in now, I won’t be able to come out again for a while, so since I’m already out, let’s just get this done.”

“Miss…”

I left behind the people trying to dissuade me and barged into the dress shop that was said to be the most popular recently.

Anyway, if today’s events reached the Duke’s ears, it was obvious I wouldn’t be able to take a single step out of the manor until the party.

“It’s an honor to serve you, Young Lady. I’m Giore, the head designer and owner of this dress shop.”

At that moment, the owner who came running out barefoot skillfully greeted me. Despite his smooth greeting, his downcast face looked rather haggard.

It didn’t take long to realize why.

‘I guess the rumors have spread even here.’

Indeed, other staff and customers were openly whispering while looking at me.

“What brings the Duke’s daughter all the way here? She usually has a different regular dress shop, doesn’t she?”

“Should we have just gone somewhere else today?”

“If we leave now, it’ll be even more conspicuous. Let’s just stay quiet rather than annoy her and incur her wrath.”

Even here, I’m treated like a ticking time bomb.

I had come to a different place instead of the shop I was supposedly a regular at, hoping for less attention, but it all seemed pointless.

“Sh-shall we start by choosing a design together?”

To Giore, who was rubbing his hands together and forcing a smile while pretending not to hear, I casually gestured.

“Y-Young Lady?”

Giore looked at me with a face full of fear, but I trusted his piggy bank-like face.

“Bel.”

“Yes, Miss.”

When Bel approached and placed a pouch on the table, golden light spilled out through the loosely tied opening.

“Wh-what’s this?!”

“Today’s budget.”

Immediately, Giore’s eyes became round.

“Bring me a dress. The most expensive one you have here.”

“I’ll bring it right away!”

Sure enough, Giore shot out like an arrow as soon as he answered. I waited for Giore while crossing my legs over the low table.

‘I should act this childish if I want to seem immature.’

The more quietly I behaved, the more someone at home would worry, so I had no choice.

While waiting for Giore to return, I recalled the back figure I had glimpsed in the alley today.

‘I ended up losing track of him because I ran into Linoa Marigold on the way. But that back figure definitely resembled Azel.’

What bothered me was whether Azel would have any reason to be in the southern region at this time.

‘This is why information is important.’

Rather than vaguely waiting for the house arrest to be completely lifted, it seemed I should start preparing other ways to find Azel.

Around that time, Giore returned.

“Thank you for waiting! I’ll show you the trending designs first!”

The effect of the gold coin pouch was remarkable – he was brimming with energy. Soon, dozens of dresses were spread out in front of me as I sat on the sofa.

“These days, mermaid line designs that accentuate the body’s graceful curves are trending. The materials range from silk to velvet.”

Thanks to my experience choosing countless stage costumes before my possession, I was familiar with this kind of dress shop atmosphere.

Therefore, what actually surprised me was something else entirely.

“You could match it with a shawl to enhance elegance, but I also recommend removing the shawl and adding bold cutouts.”

The designs called the latest fashion were completely different from my current outfit.

While my frilly dress was high-quality, it was definitely rather tacky.

‘Is that Riana’s taste?’

I couldn’t have been locked in the manor long enough for fashion to change that much, so it seemed her taste itself was like that.

But at that moment, an irritating voice suddenly interrupted.

“Oh my! Who do we have here? Isn’t this the Winsor Young Lady?”

When the voice greeting me too enthusiastically triggered anxiety like an intuition, I made eye contact with an unfamiliar woman.

“I heard you’ve been staying home all the time lately. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Who is that again?

While I was internally questioning, Giore hurriedly bowed toward the woman.

“W-welcome, Young Lady!”

“How have you been, Giore?”

The woman’s attitude toward Giore was friendly, as if she were a regular here. However, for some reason, Giore’s complexion was ashen.

“I wanted to be personally guided by Giore today too. But since a more precious guest than me has come today, I suppose that would be difficult. How disappointing.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“I wasn’t telling Giore to apologize.”

Then was she saying it for me to hear? Judging by how she spoke to Giore, she didn’t seem to have a higher status than me, the heir of the Winsor family.

‘But why is her attitude like that?’

Even so, the woman who deliberately approached the sofa where I was sitting and spoke to me was blatantly trying to provoke me.

“Won’t you return my greeting?”

Her confidence was truly remarkable in many ways.

“It’s been a while, Young Lady.”

When I responded appropriately, her sensual eye corners curved gracefully.

At that moment, Bel, who had been watching the situation from the side, intervened.

“I-it’s been a while, Lady Bolton. I’m Bel, the dedicated maid serving my lady!”

Of course, it wasn’t Bel’s place to intervene. It made no sense for a maid to interrupt a conversation between nobles.

“Oh? I see. I don’t know who you are, but it’s been a while. But shouldn’t you know your place before interrupting?”

At the woman’s coldly falling words, Bel’s face turned pale as expected.

“I-I’m sorry.”

She couldn’t have really not known, so she must have done it for my sake.

Thanks to that, I could tell. The woman was a young lady from the Bolton Count Family, and regardless of the hierarchy between our families, I was at a disadvantage in the relationship between us two.

Anyway, thanks to the name Bolton, I now seemed to know the woman’s identity.

‘So it was Pirenea Bolton?’

Pirenea was an extra character who didn’t have much significance in the game, just like Riana.

Although Bolton was a family famous as a swordsmanship prestigious house, they had no overall significance since they couldn’t raise their heads under the MacLauren Count Family’s influence from the middle of the game.

Among them, Pirenea’s entire role was bullying Yulia just once before quickly exiting.

“I’ll apologize on behalf of my maid’s mistake, Lady Bolton. But I think we’ve exchanged enough greetings. You must be tired from coming all this way from the eastern region to the distant south, so please go about your business.”

But why would she have a bad relationship with Riana specifically, when it’s not even Yulia?

When I was inwardly puzzled, Pirenea suddenly burst into derisive laughter.

“No matter how far the journey from the east to here is, I had to come. My beloved knight is here, after all.”

This was certain. Anyone could tell it was a tone meant for me to hear.

“Y-Young Lady! I’ll show you the next design—ahhh!”

Giore’s lion-like roar that followed without a moment’s pause added certainty to my suspicion.

‘Don’t tell me it was about a man.’

She wouldn’t just casually mention “my knight” for no reason.

When even the smallest breath couldn’t be heard, I opened my lips after a brief silence.

“Yes, then. Go about your business.”

That was all.

“…?”

“…Huh?”

It couldn’t be helped. Honestly, I wasn’t interested.

“What did you say?”

“Now that you know, I told you to go about your business.”

Bel looked relieved, Giore was filled with joy, and everyone else expressed silent shock. No one seemed to have expected my indifferent attitude.

But the person I actually liked was someone else entirely. So I didn’t care whether he was my knight or whatever.

“What are you all doing? You said you’d show me the next design. Hurry up and bring it.”

“Yes, yes! Please wait, my lady! I’ll be right back!”

Crack.

Of course, I paid no attention to that thin sound coming from somewhere.

After all, what was important to me right now was this.

“When you come back, bring some shoes too, Giore.”

“Shoes?”

“Preferably comfortable ones. Good for running around.”

Just in case I end up having to chase after Azel again, you know?

“You absolutely cannot run again!”

Bel’s face turned pale in a different way than before, but this was one thing I had no intention of backing down on.

*

Giore felt the current situation was truly miraculous.

‘That Lady Winsor is being patient! This is a miracle!’

How many stories had he heard about the fights between Riana Winsor and Pirenea Bolton?

Giore had also heard the news that the vicious fight over one man had recently ended with Riana’s defeat.

And that Riana Winsor’s tyranny had gotten even worse because of it!

But somehow, the reality was completely different.

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