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73.
"I'm grateful for your kindness."
Even in the pale sunlight ‌‌‌filtering through the curtains, Rebecca shone with ‌‌an ethereal radiance.
Her once pallid complexion had regained its natural color and vitality.
Her lips, already naturally crimson, now gleamed with an even more luscious ruby hue. She appeared to have gained a little weight, and it suited her beautifully.
Sandra preferred models with a certain fullness to those who were gaunt.
Of course, Rebecca was the perfect ‌‌‌‌model for her regardless of her form.
As Sandra gazed upon Rebecca's graceful, flowing curves, she pressed her hand to her mouth.
If she didn't silence herself immediately, she would spill forth an embarrassing torrent of adoration just as she had before.
"Rebecca! What is the meaning of this? I heard you were unwell..."
"That much is true. But I've recovered now."
"I was told it was a divine affliction. ‌‌‌Does that mean you've become a saint?"
"No. But I was able to recover through a different kind of sacred blessing."
Rebecca smiled shyly.
Sandra blinked, uncertain of what she meant.
"You'll understand soon enough."
Sandra snapped back to attention, captivated by the meaningful smile playing on Rebecca's lips.
Sandra hastily drew back the ornate silk curtains hanging within.
A spacious area lined with various mirrors came into view.
It was an exclusive showroom accessible only to select clientele. Sandra led Rebecca inside.
After Sandra brought out light refreshments and took her seat, Rebecca spoke.
"I hope my sudden visit hasn't startled you."
"Startled, perhaps, but I was genuinely delighted. I've been worried about where you were and what you were doing all this time."
"I'm grateful you were concerned for me. By the way, you must be terribly busy with the Devonshire Earldom's ‌‌ball."
Rebecca spoke, recalling the dresses crammed into one corner of the boutique.
At the mention of the Earl of Devonshire, Sandra's expression grew awkward.
"Don't make that face. It's all in the past anyway, and I won't have Sandra miss out on such ‌‌an opportunity because of me. Speaking of which, have you met ‌‌the Countess—Alicia—from ‌‌‌‌‌the Devonshire Earldom?"
"Well, that is..."
"You have met her. I imagine she commissioned a ball gown from you as well?"
"Yes..."
Faced with Rebecca's candid gaze, Sandra couldn't bring herself to lie. She squeezed her eyes shut and spoke.
"I didn't want to take the commission, but I had no choice—I need to make a living."
"Oh, I'm not scolding you. Sandra, you're absolutely right to do your work. I have no right to stop you. I came here today because I also wish to commission a dress."
"A dress?"
"Ah, will it be difficult since I didn't reserve in advance?"
Sandra answered hurriedly, ‌‌‌hoping Rebecca wouldn't change her mind.
"Not at all! You're always welcome, Rebecca! You're my muse! What sort of design would you like?"
"I don't ask for much. Only..." ‌‌
Rebecca smiled.
Sandra found herself unable to look away from that smile, which she hadn't seen in so long.
"I do hope it will be the most beautiful. So that I can capture everyone's attention at the ball."
"Even if you wore a burlap sack, Miss Rebecca, you would still turn every head in the ‌‌room."
Rebecca burst into laughter at Sandra's sincere words.
Sandra's compliments were always pure and genuine, which never failed to lift Rebecca's spirits.
"Even so, I cannot very well dance in ‌‌‌burlap. Especially—I want my dress to outshine that of Alicia, that woman."
"Lady Alicia, you mean...."
Sandra fell into contemplation, recalling the dress design Alicia had commissioned.
Rebecca tilted her head at Sandra's silence.
"Will it ‌‌‌be difficult?"
"Not at all. I can do it. How could ‌I refuse such a commission? I shall pour my very soul into it."
The initial sketches were already taking shape in Sandra's mind.
Rebecca was truly the finest ‌‌muse she could ask for.
Rebecca ‌‌‌smiled broadly as she spoke.
"Thank you. In return—though it hardly seems adequate—I promise to commission my wedding dress from you."
Sandra froze.
A wedding dress?
"It's hardly fitting for someone freshly divorced to speak of such things, I know. Yet I shall be married again quite soon."
Sandra's eyes widened in astonishment at this unexpected revelation.
"This is a secret I'm sharing with you alone, Sandra. I'd rather it not become the subject of idle gossip just yet. Such premature talk has a way of sabotaging even the most promising arrangements. You understand, don't you?"
Sandra nodded softly in response to Rebecca's ‌‌‌words.
Sandra's Boutique had risen to prominence not merely ‌‌through her exceptional skill, ‌but also through her discretion—her ‌‌‌‌ability to keep secrets.
No whisper of scandal ever escaped from her shop, where all manner of society gossip converged.
For this reason, many noble ladies sought her out as both seamstress and confidante.
Rebecca knew Sandra's nature well, and thus felt comfortable entrusting her with the truth.
Yet there was another reason she had sought Sandra out.
'Miss Rebecca, that I could not create your wedding dress is the deepest regret of my life.'
Sandra had lamented this every time she took Rebecca's measurements.
When Rebecca had married Zeppelin, Sandra ‌‌‌had not yet opened her boutique. ‌‌‌‌
Upon seeing the design of the wedding dress Rebecca had worn, Sandra had wept in secret frustration.
'How could they have failed to showcase any of Miss Rebecca's finest qualities! And that lace—how dreadfully provincial!'
Had she created it, a masterpiece for the ages might have been born. And how radiant Rebecca would have looked wearing it!
Knowing full well ‌‌‌of Sandra's dream, Rebecca had come to her in person.
For the sake of creating Rebecca's wedding dress, Sandra would support her marriage with all her heart.
'Could it be....'
Sandra gazed up at Rebecca in a daze. With her shy smile, she looked every inch the beloved new bride.
Seeing Rebecca appear happier than before, Sandra suddenly recalled the Duke of Johannes's lover.
The black veil she had worn today, and various other details—they all aligned.
Moreover, Rebecca had once danced with the Duke of Johannes.
Sandra's eyes widened in shock, and she clapped her hand over her mouth.
"Miss Rebecca, could it possibly be.... The D-Duke of Johannes...."
Rebecca offered no denial, simply winking at Sandra.
That was answer enough.
"I'll take this secret to my grave!"
Sandra felt a thrill of excitement that Rebecca had entrusted her with such an enormous secret.
It felt wonderful to have ‌‌‌become her intimate confidante.
And a remarriage to the Duke of Johannes, no less! It was an absolutely scandalous revelation.
Rebecca smiled as she watched Sandra struggle to keep her lips sealed, desperate to ask a thousand questions.
"I knew I could count on you, Sandra."
"Of course you can. Is there anything else you need?"
"Actually, there is one thing. Could I possibly purchase a dress right now?"
"Custom gowns would be difficult on such short notice, but I can certainly offer you one of our display pieces. Most of the dresses on our boutique mannequins have been ‌‌tailored to your measurements, though your size does seem to have changed slightly—but that's easily remedied with minor alterations." ‌‌
"May I take one with ‌‌me?"
"Of course. Whenever you find a design you desire, simply send word to the boutique and I'll have it ready. But you must promise me one thing—you'll let me create your wedding dress, won't you?"
Rebecca nodded with a smile.
Even if ‍‌‌‌Sandra had refused, she would have asked earnestly.
Sandra's face brightened with satisfaction as she sprang from her seat.
"No time to waste—let me show you the dresses at once. I've been aching to ‌‌‌display them to you for quite some time."
Rebecca watched for a long ‌‌‌moment as Sandra hurriedly opened the wardrobe.
'A muse...'
Now that she thought about it, artists had called her that since childhood.
They gazed at her with passionate, gleaming eyes, ‌‌‌just as Sandra ‌did now.
Many of them were renowned masters whose names everyone knew.
There had been moments when I felt honored to participate in the works of such geniuses. ‌‌‌
In ‌‌‌my foolish youth, I ‌‌‌even took pride seeing my ‌‌‌own portrait hanging in galleries.
But when that fleeting satisfaction evaporated like foam, a crushing doubt would weigh heavily upon me.
Did they truly see the beautiful Rebecca beyond my blue eyes, or merely the human Rebecca?
"Rebecca!"
At Sandra's call, Rebecca snapped from her reverie. Dozens of gowns hung upon a wheeled rack.
"Choose whichever you like!"
Sandra imagined which dress Rebecca might select.
Perhaps the lemon-colored gown? No, autumn approaches soon—maybe something in a darker palette would suit her better.
That ‌‌would make her radiant skin appear even more beautiful. And my dress would shine all the brighter beside her.
Whenever Rebecca wore one of her creations for a stroll, the boutique's sales doubled the next day.
She was someone who captured every eye wherever she went.
But that wasn't the only reason Sandra adored her.
Being with Rebecca brought her peace.
As someone ‌‌‌‌whose profession demanded constant appeasement of customers, Sandra's exhaustion was considerable.
Yet Rebecca was different from ordinary patrons.
She had never nitpicked over absurdities, and always listened quietly to ‌‌what Sandra had to say.
Most of all, Rebecca's manner of treating her—a commoner ‌‌and a shopkeeper—as a human being touched Sandra's heart deeply.
Rebecca passed by the dresses Sandra had carefully selected and opened a large wardrobe.
It ‌‌‌was a wardrobe where outdated dresses were stored. As ‌‌Rebecca rummaged through several garments, she pointed to a dress ‌‌‌‌hanging in one corner of the closet.
"This one will do nicely."
Sandra's eyes widened in surprise.
The dress Rebecca had chosen was the sort one might wear to a funeral.
Moreover, it had been out of fashion for so long ‌‌‌‌that it was scheduled to be donated somewhere soon.
"Are you truly certain about that? If you're concerned about the burden...."
"No, it's the perfect dress I was looking for."
Rebecca smiled broadly and withdrew the dress from the wardrobe.
* * ‌‌‌*
Light filtered faintly through the sack covering my face. I heard the sound of a door opening, followed by light footsteps.
Had the person who kidnapped me finally arrived?
After losing consciousness at the Estate, I had been sitting bound to a chair ‌‌in darkness for quite some time.
'Who on earth could have done this to me....'
I tried to recall those who might harbor resentment toward me.
No one came to mind clearly except Octavio.
All those with enough animosity to harm me were already dead.
A mere ‌‌‌‌whisper to Zeppelin, and the Hounds would settle any score on their own.
Having no blood on my own hands was ‌‌a privilege of being ‌among Zeppelin's inner circle.
Yet it didn't make sense for Octavio to be the culprit.
I had never encroached upon Octavio's domain.
We maintained a balanced distribution of power while leading the House of Devon.
If I disappeared, it would be Octavio who would be inconvenienced. Finding a maid as capable as myself would be impossible.
'Then who could it be....'
The runaway ‌‌‌‌Countess had returned.
E-book publication.

January 12, 2022
Author. ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

Long Night Sky
Publisher.

Desert Fox
Published by.

Woongjin ThinkBig Co., Ltd.
Submission received.

naver.me/54VzzLSn
Blog.

blog.naver.com/wj_fennecfox
Twitter.

@wjt_fennecfox

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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team ‌and enjoy the latest releases, please read ‌directly on our official site: valirscans.org ‌‌‌‌
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