Chapter 016
The important thing was the abandoned mansion, where traces of black magic remained intact. The derelict building where Evelina was first discovered had almost no trace at all.
But this time…
“It was precisely a mansion owned by the royal family. The one managing the mansion, a man named Kesil, was found dead.”
They had found a clue.
Alejandro smiled faintly. This was black magic occurring on an imperial property. It was something that could be tied to treason against the imperial family.
“Make sure to inform the Pope immediately.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Alejandro nodded briefly.
* * *
On the day of the event.
Nobles who arrived at the event hall were all holding magazines. It was the first issue ever published. The cover of the magazine featured the back of a man.
The man, whose face was faintly revealed, exuded an air of mystery.
However, the headline did not match that mystique.
“What on earth is Lady Regnis trying to do?”
“I don’t know either.”
The noblewomen whispered as they took their seats.
And Evelina was watching them.
“Hehe.”
Fortunately, all the seats were filled. This meant that most of those who received Evelina’s invitation had attended.
“Congratulations, Milady.”
“Not yet. This is just the beginning.”
“There’s a saying that the beginning is half the battle. And you’ve made a very good start, Milady.”
Well, that’s true.
It hasn’t been decided yet how much we’ll earn today.
“Rebecca, what about the models?”
“They’re ready. But are you really going to have His Highness the Crown Prince…”
“Yes, he will appear at the end.”
Alejandro was already prepared. And he was more than enough to adorn the finale today.
This is just the beginning.
The music began to flow.
* * *
“Oh my goodness! What are those clothes?”
“It says they’re from Crystal Atelier!”
“I go there all the time. I’ve never seen such men’s clothing! I think that outfit would look great on my son. Should I commission one?”
“Oh my! They say the outfits on stage won’t be made again!”
Greed began to rise here and there.
“Luckily, I heard we can buy that one!”
“I absolutely have to get it. My son’s birthday is coming up!”
The nobles’ reactions were explosive. The models who appeared on stage wore the clothes so well, but the fact that there was only one piece heightened their desire to own it.
And that wasn’t all.
The clothes, which looked expensive at a glance, captivated the eyes of the people.
Then, the final stage began.
Evelina’s carefully crafted last outfit.
As the crowd awaited the final act with bated breath, their anticipation grew.
When the final model appeared on stage, a collective gasp erupted from the crowd.
“Oh my!!”
“Who is that! I’ve never seen him before?”
“No, wait! Look closely, that person is…!”
“His Highness, Crown Prince Alejandro?”
It was almost unbelievable. His hair, which he had always worn long and unkempt, was now neatly trimmed, and his sharp red eyes were fully revealed.
The eyes that people had whispered about as cursed sparkled like rubies.
The relaxed smile on his lips and the outfit that highlighted Alejandro’s appearance captured everyone’s attention.
“No way…”
Could that really be Alejandro?
People naturally believed that he would be ranked first as the “least desirable groom in the empire.”
But was that truly the case?
Such questions arose.
It was a stage that made one’s palms sweat. It was then that people began to speculate a bit about the relationship between Alejandro and Lady Regnis.
Alejandro had started to show an interest in improving his image.
“…I really can’t believe it.”
Even after Alejandro disappeared behind the stage, the aftereffects lingered.
And people thought, Today, the number one least desirable bachelor in the Empire would definitely not be Alejandro.
* * *
All twelve outfits I showcased today were sold out.
“Ha ha ha ha ha.”
With the money earned today, I wouldn’t have to worry about making a living for a while. My heart raced. I never expected to succeed this much!
No, I actually knew.
Wasn’t it obvious?
Moreover, the final piece was well received. The result was clear. At the end of the fashion show, we handed out voting slips to the audience.
And the first place went to someone other than Alejandro.
Alejandro’s name was only found in third place. I knew it would be like this. He hadn’t completely shed his image, but at least I had fastened the first button correctly.
“Congratulations, Lady Regnis.”
“This is all thanks to Rebecca. I wouldn’t have succeeded without you.”
This was sincere. Rebecca worked with me, visiting dress shops to prepare for today. I made sure to share the profits with her fairly.
“This is just the beginning, Rebecca.”
I wasn’t going to be satisfied with just this. Many nobles signed up for subscriptions today. Their flushed cheeks were filled with satisfaction from the magazines they received.
“I think we’ll need more people next time. After all, luxury items are mostly for ladies.”
“Then.”
“I’m thinking of focusing on dresses next time, but that means I’ll need to find models again, right?”
In modern society, models are sometimes recruited from celebrities. Having a famous person on board makes it easier to attract attention.
“Is there anyone you can recommend?”
“Hmmm… Let me think about it.”
Rebecca smiled brightly. Seeing her smile like this, especially since she doesn’t often, definitely suggested that the money coming in was quite good.
“Great. I need to talk to the dress shop owners as well. Also, I’d like to include some props in the next show.”
“Props? How about parasols? The weather is perfect for them right now.”
“That sounds good. It’s also easy to stage. How about an outdoor venue for the next show?”
“That sounds wonderful! The boating season will be in full swing then…”
Rebecca became enthusiastic.
“Boating season?”
“Yes! Usually, in June, the weather is nice and cool, so boat parties are quite popular! Especially in Delint, which is just an hour away by train from the capital! It’s very trendy! Though it’s quite hard to even get train tickets to Delint.”
Rebecca’s eyes sparkled.
“If it’s His Highness the Crown Prince, it should be possible!”
“With the preparation team, models, and us, we’ll need at least 20 tickets. Do you think that’s feasible?”
Rebecca nodded. With an excited tone, she continued.
“Fortunately, there’s still a month left, right?”
“Yes. It might coincide with the boating season.”
There hadn’t been any mention of such events in the novel. In fact, this was the time when the story between the male and female leads should be progressing significantly.
The early part focused on uncovering the male lead’s illness, so scenes of boat parties didn’t exist.
“It’s okay! The boating season in Delint lasts for about a month!”
“Alright. Then let’s plan to hold it there… We’ll need to talk to the organizers of the boat party as well, right?”
“Don’t worry about that either.”
Rebecca declared with confidence, as if telling me to trust her.
“I’ll make sure this goes through somehow.”
“Thank you, Rebecca.”
“Don’t mention it.”
With that, a rough outline was formed. The next stage would be an outdoor venue by the lake.
* * *
“Welcome back, Miss!”
Annie greeted me with tearful eyes. She was restless, unable to stay by my side. Now that the event was successful, she was likely hoping for some reward.
“Annie.”
“Yes, Miss! You must have gone through so much. Your face looks pale. You need to take care of yourself! So, I made your favorite tomato soup!”
That day, the day I was kidnapped, was filled with traps. I wonder if Annie had been in on it.
Seeing Annie reminded me of that day.
She was already someone who had betrayed me once. Would she hesitate to do it a second time? If money were involved, she might betray me two, three, or even four times. No one knows what she might have put in the food she gives me.
“It’s okay, Annie. I’m not hungry. I just want to sleep.”
“Oh… But, Miss, you just went through such a big ordeal… I still can’t sleep thinking about that day. Those awful people. What did our kind Miss do to deserve that!”
She pretended to be angry, but her eyes were darting around, gauging my reaction.
She’s still worried that I might suspect her.
