The Villainess Duke Lady Hides Her Identity - Chapter 68

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

Episode 68

Though it was not the height of the social season, every renowned dressmaker in the Imperial Capital had suddenly become feverishly busy.
“Mm. The pattern styles that atelier used earlier suited her wonderfully, and this dress from the current shop shows equally fine taste.”
“I must agree, Father. I had thought the earlier atelier’s dress, with its flowing and magnificent appearance, suited Reponya so perfectly that we needn’t look further—yet this dressmaker has managed such an excellent fit as well. Reponya truly is remarkable.”
The House of Craitan had always patronized only those establishments specializing in men’s formal wear, exchanging scarcely a glance with anyone else, yet for the first time they had summoned every dressmaker they commissioned to create a gown for a young lady.
The madames of the finest ateliers, keener-eyed than the nobility themselves in reading the currents of aristocratic preference, swiftly divined the reason for this sudden shift: the Craitan Princess.
“This current atelier’s dress emanates an intimate elegance, emphasizing the refined bearing that will appeal to many ladies of quality—and yet it suits the young lady so admirably.”
The madames, possessed of a nose for money as keen as any bloodhound’s, had brought along sample children’s dresses for display.
These served to demonstrate their signature patterns and designs, showing precisely the character and spirit of their atelier’s creations.
Any house that had failed to bring a children’s dress sample in advance faced swift dismissal from the Duke’s favor.
“I don’t pretend to understand all that analysis the way my brother does. I just know the little one looks absolutely perfect in every single thing. Father, if the dress room is running out of space, you could open mine as well—why not just order from every atelier? Choosing just one is far too difficult.”
Reponya, already wearied from trying on the fourth atelier’s creation, jerked her head up in protest.
Order from all of them?
“No, no. There are still so many dresses in my room that I haven’t even worn yet.”
“Reponya. Those were made for your previous size, so naturally you must discard them and acquire new ones.”
“You’re going to replace them? All of them?”
Reponya’s jaw fell slack. The Duke, together with both his sons, tilted their heads in perfect unison as though her dismay were wholly incomprehensible.
“Of course.”
“Isn’t that precisely why we’re commissioning new dresses now?”
Reponya, helpless to fathom the spending habits of the nobility, swallowed hard.
“I believe my daughter should possess every beautiful, lovely, and gleaming thing.”
The Duke, chin resting in his hand as he examined a children’s dress catalog, murmured softly to himself.
“What are your thoughts on the matter?”
At this question from the Duke—this man of truly staggering wealth—the madames’ minds raced in alarm.
“From—from across the continent—”
One madame, who had abandoned her attempts at calculation, opened her trembling lips.
“We shall craft dresses for the Princess from only the finest materials in all the land.”
“I shall gather the most exquisite fabrics I can procure and create wondrous gowns.”
“All shall be crafted so that the Princess is held in reverence.”
Upon hearing these vows from the madames, the Duke’s expression grew satisfied and he closed the catalog.
“Excellent.”
He gestured with his hand.
A servant set down heavy chests of Gold Coins before each madame with deliberate thuds.
“These are advance payments.”
Excellence in labor and loyalty alike spring from capital.
“If you require funds for materials to create the dresses, submit your invoice.”
The madames’ eyes gleamed with hunger, their passion ignited anew.
The Craitan Princess was merely five years old. Children grew explosively, so if they were to commission a new dress each season, successful completion of this arrangement meant walking a glittering path of profit.
“Whichever atelier creates the dress my daughter loves most shall receive a bonus of triple what you have just received.”
Work deserving compensation, compensation exceeding the work.
That was the true calculus of the Duke of Craitan, and the reason all held him in such esteem.
The only one present who had paled and panicked was Reponya.
“Duke, Your Grace! If I grow any taller, I won’t even be able to wear most of these a few times before they’re outgrown!”
Reponya urgently seized the Duke’s sleeve and shook her head in protest.
‘This is far too much!’
Just like the Return Stone before.
No matter how vast the House of Craitan’s wealth, spending this amount on an adopted child seemed lavishly excessive.
True, Fellens had purchased various goods for her from the general store, and Havelian had bought part of a commercial arcade in the city under Reponya’s name—both extraordinary expenditures—but this was incomparable.
Because there could be no wastefuller use of funds than pouring this much money into a single season’s wardrobe for a rapidly growing child!
Come the next season, she would be too large to wear them—all those dresses rendered unwearable—yet such sums were being spent on them.
“I’ll only wear them once this year… and all the dresses already in my room seem such a waste.”
“Reponya.”
The Duke swept the pale, distressed child into his arms with a single motion.
“These are dresses meant for this single moment alone. Dresses that six-year-old you cannot wear—that four-year-old you could not have worn.”
“……….”
“That is precisely why they are so precious. Dresses that only five-year-old you, only you in this season, in this very moment, can wear. When the next season comes around, you will have grown beyond them—and so you shall not be able to wear them then.”
Duke Craitan’s words—treasuring those fleeting moments of a child’s growth—made Reponya fall silent.
She had only thought it wasteful to wear something just once. She hadn’t known he would tell her that it wasn’t the dress that mattered, but this single moment of wearing it now.
“There’s nothing wasteful about it. What pains me is watching you grow, seeing today’s you surpass yesterday’s. If I could buy time itself with gold, I would, but since I cannot, I give you the prettiest, finest things instead. If I can make this moment—one that will never come again—beautiful with a few coins, then I would spend far more without hesitation.”
Duke Craitan held Reponya tenderly in his arms, his fingers brushing softly across her cheek.
“Just as I cannot see five-year-old Havelian or five-year-old Fellens again, the same is true for you, Reponya.”
……
“So don’t call this moment wasteful. How could it possibly be wasteful when it’s this precious?”
But I shouldn’t believe that.
I have no certainty that I’ll still be here when this season comes around next year.
He only wishes to celebrate this fifth birthday—this season—that the true princess never got to have, on my behalf instead.
‘You abandoned me at the Orphanage anyway.’
Reponya’s face twisted, but before she knew it, her small hands reached up and pulled Duke Craitan close, embracing his neck tightly.
‘…But still, unlike my real parents, you picked me back up after abandoning me.’
Of course, it was Reponya who had asked Rudeuum to call over the three members of House of Craitan.
‘Even so, I wish I could stay longer….’
In a place that reacts so warmly just because I’ve grown a little taller.
Even if I’m just a substitute, that’s fine.
‘I want to stay a while longer before I have to leave.’
She wanted to hold onto this peace for even a little longer—something she’d never felt before in her life.
She had no desire to possess anything; she just wanted to linger a bit more before departing.
For the first time, Reponya admitted it to herself.

* * *

“The Harvest Festival in the Imperial Capital is coming up soon.”
“The Harvest Festival in the Imperial Capital?”
Becky, whose hair-braiding skills improved by the day, nodded while moving her hands with practiced flair.
“It’s a bit different from the local festivals. Grains and fruits harvested from each region are arranged along the streets according to their characteristics, and people enjoy them. You can taste delicious food and try regional dishes you’ve never had before. The streets come alive with energy because of it.”
“Oh, really.”
Now that she thought about it, the Imperial Capital always seemed bustling around this time. Though Reponya and all the other children were always told to stay quiet and not venture outside—the Pope was busy during this season, and they mustn’t be a bother.
“Most importantly, during the Harvest Festival, the Grand Cathedral opens its doors to all citizens of the empire. So everyone tends to flock to the capital.”
The Grand Cathedral. That familiar word made Reponya’s body stiffen.
“On the last day of the Harvest Festival, you can even witness the Pope’s prayer directly in the Cathedral’s great hall. Do you know of Pope Fretes, my lady? They say among all the Popes in history, he has the highest purity and greatest abundance of Holy Power, and thus receives God’s love abundantly.”
……
“If you have time later, you really must see it, my lady! When the Pope prays, Holy Power spreads throughout the hall, and they say standing nearby brings good fortune—everyone fights tooth and nail just to get a spot close by.”
“I… won’t.”
Reponya’s face in the mirror had turned cold. But it was only for an instant.
Reponya composed her emotions so that Buddy and Becky wouldn’t notice anything amiss, and simply lowered her gaze.

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