That’s Not What Kissing Means! - Chapter 30

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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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That’s not what kissing means!

 

Episode 30

 

The next morning, Vanessa came to Theo’s office with confident steps.

 

She held out a piece of paper with an excited face.

 

“You’re going out with Lady Evelyn today, right? To buy dresses!”

 

“Yes, what’s this?”

 

“It’s a list of good tea houses for date locations. I asked the maids and compiled it!”

 

Somehow she looked more excited than the Duke himself.

 

“Good work.”

 

Theo carefully read through the tea house list. As if reading an important report.

 

Even after that, Vanessa hesitated and stood in front of the desk.

 

“Um… my lord.”

 

“Speak.”

 

“Wouldn’t it be better to have more people to help?”

 

“What do you mean by that?”

 

Theo was busy planning the date and didn’t pay much attention to Vanessa’s words.

 

“It would help with my lord’s romantic endeavors… If you’re busy, I’ll handle it myself.”

 

He nodded lightly.

 

His head was completely filled with thoughts of Evelyn.

 

Thinking she had received permission, Vanessa left the office with cheerful steps.

 

At the same time, Evelyn was taking a walk in the garden.

 

What made her stop was the statue by the fountain.

 

Seeing the goddess Bellona reminded her of last night’s events.

 

His eyes that had gazed at her intensely while speaking of eternal love.

 

Life in her hometown of Adrianne Territory had been simple.

 

Her parents only had titles, and didn’t impose many restrictions on etiquette or behavior.

 

Evelyn had run around freely there, and even after becoming an adult, lived buried in ancient languages.

 

She had heard that people in the capital were more liberal about relationships between men and women, but conservative when it came to class.

 

‘The story is that people freely interact regardless of gender, but high nobles must be treated with utmost respect…’

 

Thinking about it this way made her relationship with Theo feel even more complicated.

 

Moreover, it seemed like he was being excessively kind to her under the pretext of hospitality.

 

Even today was troubling. Offering to buy her dresses…

 

As Evelyn entered the manor, she heard a pleasant greeting.

 

“Good morning, Lady Evelyn.”

 

It was Robert, the head butler. Today too, his mustache was elegantly curled upward.

 

“Good morning.”

 

Evelyn also smiled in response and was about to pass by when she stopped.

 

“Um, you said I could ask you anything if I was curious, right?”

 

She called out to Robert.

 

“Yes, please say anything.”

 

“Well… may I ask about House Ashford’s hospitality?”

 

“Of course. The ducal house has always done their best for guests. When friends visited, they often opened the jewelry box.”

 

“Jewelry?”

 

Evelyn was greatly surprised.

 

Robert cleared his throat with a “hmm” and continued.

 

“For guests who visited and stayed overnight, they would gift clothes to change into and accessories.”

 

Was it normal to gift dresses to guests?

 

Robert had already noticed Evelyn’s concerns.

 

His master’s face, who had returned from dawn sword training, was filled with anticipation.

 

Though it would look like the same expression to others, the faithful butler who had watched over him for so long could tell.

 

‘I can’t crush my master’s joy!’

 

He was prepared to do anything for his Duke.

 

Excessive exaggeration was part of that.

 

“Sometimes there are people who refuse House Ashford’s kindness. Saying such consideration is burdensome and such.”

 

“Yes, it is actually a bit burdensome…”

 

“Those people are truly too much! To shatter the family spirit that has been passed down for generations!”

 

“Shatter…?”

 

Was that vocabulary that could come from the serious Robert?

 

However, the butler continued speaking without concern.

 

“That’s no different from disrespecting House Ashford! From the first family head to the current Duke!”

 

How does it become that…?

 

However, his eyes looking at Evelyn were shining brightly.

 

Somehow it seemed like she shouldn’t provoke him further here.

 

He wiped his moistened eyes.

 

What, he even cried?

 

To the flustered her, Robert whispered quietly.

 

“I hope Lady Evelyn, at least, will accept the family customs as they are.”

 

It was a solemn voice as if entrusting an important mission.

 

“Otherwise, my master will…”

 

Sob!

 

With those words, Robert turned around and ran away.

 

“What will happen to your master!”

 

Why make me curious and then leave!

 

Evelyn called out desperately, but he didn’t return.

 

In fact, Robert’s imagination was also running out.

 

He ultimately chose to escape with tears.

 

“Ah, really! Making me worry…”

 

Now she couldn’t refuse the dress either.

 

It would be strange to be the only one refusing what was done equally for all guests, and wouldn’t she be treated as if she were disrespecting the family.

 

In the end, Evelyn quietly went up to her room.

 

She had to take out one of her few outing dresses and quietly prepare to go out.

 

* * *

 

“Lady Charlotte, Duke Ashford has visited Ramona Street!”

 

“What? What did you just say?”

 

Ramona Street was a place lined with the Empire’s finest dress shops.

 

Among them, Charlotte’s Dress Shop was the most popular place, so much so that even noble young ladies had difficulty making reservations.

 

The assistant explained to Charlotte again.

 

“I was entering with materials when I saw a large carriage coming from far away! And it had House Ashford’s crest!”

 

“The double eagle?”

 

Since she dealt closely with nobles, it was worthwhile to have made the assistants memorize important family crests.

 

“This place mainly deals with women’s clothing!”

 

The center of Ramona Street had many shops for women, such as dresses and accessories.

 

But he came all the way here!

 

The current Duke, unlike his predecessor, neither received guests nor had any women he associated with.

 

Though he stood at the pinnacle of power, she had thought there would be no occasion for her dress shop to have dealings with him for some time.

 

It was a famous story that Duke Ashford had no interest in others.

 

At that moment, a carriage bearing the double eagle emblem approached, just as the assistant had said.

 

Charlotte shouted loudly.

 

“D-d-don’t get excited! Everyone stay calm!”

 

“Lady Charlotte, you’re the one making the most fuss.”

 

Before long, Theo stepped down from the carriage.

 

He escorted the pink-haired woman as if handling something precious.

 

Charlotte calmly straightened her attire.

 

As if nothing had happened, she greeted them both with dignified gestures.

 

“It’s an honor to meet you, Duke Ashford. I am Charlotte, the designer.”

 

How does she recognize his face when meeting him for the first time?

 

Evelyn marveled inwardly. One had to be this skilled to survive among the nobility, it seemed.

 

“What an honor to have you grace us with your presence. Today, I shall attend to only the two of you.”

 

At those words, the assistant quickly turned the sign in front of the shop. It was a sign indicating they were closed.

 

Theo acknowledged the greeting lightly and surveyed the displayed dresses.

 

His gaze was weighty. Charlotte and her assistants swallowed nervously, feeling tense.

 

“I came to look at dresses to wear in spring.”

 

Charlotte felt relieved at the Duke’s words. She had passed the first test, at least.

 

“If you had contacted me, I would have come to you directly.”

 

Someone of the House of Ashford’s standing could easily summon someone like Charlotte to their manor.

 

She continued speaking kindly.

 

“All the dresses currently on display are suitable for spring wear. Though they’re sample dresses, they can be made immediately upon order.”

 

Theo smiled gently at Evelyn.

 

“Pick one. Whatever you like.”

 

Just one dress?

 

Charlotte felt acutely disappointed. This hardly made closing the shop worthwhile.

 

However, she wasn’t foolish enough to show her emotions.

 

She stayed close to Evelyn’s side, recommending dresses in a sweet tone.

 

“Your pink hair is beautiful. How about a white dress?”

 

“It’s pretty.”

 

In truth, Evelyn wasn’t particularly interested in dress fashion.

 

As the indifferent responses continued, Charlotte’s competitive spirit flared, and she brought out her masterpiece.

 

“I think this would suit you wonderfully.”

 

“Wow…”

 

This time, it was a design that drew admiration even from Evelyn.

 

Silver thread lace adorning the pale blue dress sparkled as it caught the light.

 

“Go ahead and try it on.”

 

Seeing her reaction, Theo also suggested she change into it.

 

“I’ll help you with the dress fitting. We need to take measurements as well.”

 

The assistants led Evelyn to another room.

 

Theo gazed warmly at the place where she had disappeared.

 

‘She’s going to bore a hole through the door.’

 

Just as Charlotte was thinking this, a languid voice reached her ears.

 

“Send the rest to the Duke’s mansion.”

 

“The rest, you mean…”

 

“Everything except what she’s wearing now.”

 

Charlotte’s mouth fell wide open.

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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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