Chapter 45
Chapter 45
“This is the one.”
Chloe turned to look at Morgan, whose face had noticeably brightened. Her smile stretched almost to her ears.
Morgan turned Chloe’s body around to show her to Lady Fortnum and the assistants. Chloe saw the assistants’ faces light up and Lady Fortnum cover her mouth with her hand in delight.
Only then did Morgan lead Chloe to a full-length mirror.
“Oh my goodness…”
Without realizing it, Chloe reached out and placed her hand on the mirror. She stared blankly at her reflection.
It was a beautiful dress. A light beige color adorned with delicate pink rose patterns along the robe, but the beauty of the dress itself wasn’t the most important part.
The dress wasn’t beautiful on its own. It didn’t outshine the person wearing it or stand out by itself, it made Chloe shine. Even to Chloe herself, her face looked one shade brighter and full of life in the mirror while wearing the dress.
It was just a dress… how could it do this? It felt like magic. While Chloe stood dazed, someone touched her shoulder.
She turned. It was Morgan.
“You’ll love it even more once you try it on.”
She spoke with a bright smile beneath her raised glasses.
With help from the assistants, Chloe got dressed and examined herself from various angles in the mirror.
The dress was perfect from every angle. The soft, beautiful beige suited her very well. The modestly low-cut U-shaped neckline, the pannier, the fitted bodice, and the fluttery ruffle sleeves elegantly highlighted her delicate yet curvy figure. The white skirt under the robe was embroidered with fine lace, giving it a refined appearance.
The back featured a loose draping that connected the upper and lower parts, resembling Watteau pleats, making the train of the gown sweep along the floor like a cape. Thanks to this, the dress conveyed not only delicate beauty, but also the dignity and presence expected of a duchess.
Chloe was so happy that her cheeks turned red. But then Morgan touched her shoulder again.
“We’re not done yet. We still have makeup and hair, remember?”
The real time-consuming tasks were just beginning.
The dress was handed over to one assistant for adjustments. Meanwhile, Morgan and another assistant got to work closely with Chloe—one on makeup, the other on hair.
The beautiful makeup done previously, while skillful, didn’t suit Chloe and was swiftly removed. Chloe closed her eyes and entrusted herself to their swift, practiced hands.
Meanwhile, Chloe had things to do as well.
First, she sent a message to the ducal estate. Given the current circumstances, it was clear she wouldn’t have enough time to return there and prepare for the ball. So, before seeing the dress, she had asked one of the assistants to send a message ahead, explaining that she would be late returning home due to urgent matters, and requesting that the guests be informed and the situation managed.
Second, she contacted the Cheryl sisters.
Fortunately, their only engagement today was to assist Chloe, so they responded quickly. Through the messenger, Chloe learned why the styling concept had suddenly changed and who was behind it.
She realized instantly: all the recent interference she had experienced had been orchestrated by Lady Coleen.
To Chloe, this crossed a line. The intent to humiliate her, to tarnish her reputation as the mistress of Battenberg, and bring her down was obvious.
Until now, she hadn’t punished the staff involved, not because she didn’t want to, but because she lacked the power to. But things were different now. Most of the staff followed her, and the supervisory authority had practically returned to her hands. Chloe decided it was time to deal appropriately with Lady Coleen.
At any rate, she made her calls while sitting calmly through her makeup and hair session.
Even though they were moving as fast as possible, enduring this long and tedious process twice in one day required great patience.
How much time had passed?
“All done!”
With those words, Chloe sighed and opened her eyes. Now fully styled with her dress, makeup, hair, and accessories complete—courtesy of Morgan—she looked at her reflection with satisfaction.
Chloe instructed that all the costs be charged to House Battenberg.
“You really did a great job, Morgan. Thank you for doing your best under such difficult conditions.”
Chloe smiled warmly. Morgan, who had looked exhausted, immediately brightened at those words.
Customers rarely express gratitude to artisans. More often than not, they use curt words or throw money down without a thank you. Especially when the artisan is a woman of illegitimate birth with no backing, and the client is a noble.
So when Chloe, who now looked like a masterpiece herself, smiled beautifully and thanked her, Morgan felt her fatigue melt away. She humbly responded,
“Not at all, madam. This is my job, after all.”
“I’ll never forget your dedication and remarkable talent.”
After offering her heartfelt thanks and saying goodbye, Chloe left the boutique wit Lady Fortnum.
Time was tight. The ball had already started nearly an hour ago.
Of course, the fact they managed to complete the full styling in this short amount of time was practically a miracle. Still, late was late. And she wasn’t just anyone, she was the hostess of this ball, the mistress of Battenberg.
She could only hope that Alphonse had smoothed things over in her absence.
Inside the carriage, her face still held signs of anxiety. Sensing this, Lady Fortnum instructed the coachman:
“To the Battenberg estate. Full speed.”
The coachman whipped the horses sharply, and the carriage sped off as if out of control.
When they finally arrived at the estate, they nearly sprinted across the hall.
An hour and thirty minutes had passed.
“Oh my! Madam! You’re back!”
The servants, startled, began speaking to her. Chloe grabbed one of the maids to ask what was going on. The maid replied,
“His Grace instructed the butler to handle the situation, and he’s doing his best to manage it, so it’s still okay for now. But you should head in quickly, My Lady. The guests are starting to wonder why you’re not showing up.”
Whew. Chloe let out a sigh of relief. As expected, Kiel’s skills as a butler were exceptional.
Chloe decided it would be best to see Alphonse before entering the ballroom. There were things she needed to discuss with him. Upon hearing from a servant that Alphonse was in his office, she headed there.
***
Meanwhile, in the ballroom, the guests were growing increasingly puzzled.
An hour and thirty minutes had passed. Yet the hostess, who should be leading and overseeing the entire event, had yet to appear. Only the butler Kiel was seen hurrying about, refilling food and drinks and trying his best to handle early guests’ complaints.
Despite Kiel’s efforts, negative murmurs were inevitable.
“Why hasn’t the Duchess shown up?”
“It’s strange that the guest of honor for her own birthday banquet isn’t here.”
“Could it be because of… that?”
One noblewoman whispered to another.
“Didn’t the Duchess of Battenberg also host a tea party a year ago and end up making a terrible mistake, then locked herself away? Maybe that memory came back and scared her into hiding again?”
“That makes sense. She was known for lacking social skills. Maybe her condition suddenly flared up again. Maybe she’s still afraid of facing people…”
As the noblewomen giggled behind their hands, in the shadows of the corridor overlooking the ballroom stood Lady Coleen.
She was pale with anxiety. Her face was deathly white, trembling like a ghost.
Something had gone wrong. By now, Chloe should have appeared in front of everyone dressed identically to Dalia, just as she had planned, and should have been utterly humiliated, her reputation ruined.
But why? Why hadn’t Chloe shown up yet? Where was she, and what was she doing? Something was clearly off.
No—no, it would be fine. Chloe didn’t even know Dalia. Besides, the plan had been perfect. It wasn’t something that could be derailed by something as trivial as the Duchess being late. It couldn’t be.
Just as Lady Coleen was desperately trying to convince herself…
“Attention, please!”
A voice rang through the ballroom, sharp enough to pierce the air.
“The Duke and Duchess are entering!”
Lady Coleen turned ashen. They were entering together? But on Chloe’s last birthday, she and Alphonse had entered from different places, as if they were only reluctantly attending together…
Desperately, Lady Coleen turned toward the entrance.
Alphonse and Chloe entered.
And at that moment, not only Lady Coleen but every guest in the ballroom froze, eyes locked onto a single point. Though the room was filled with well-dressed noblemen and beautiful ladies, one pair stood out above all the rest.
They looked as if they were glowing.
Alphonse Battenberg was a man who naturally drew such awe and attention. His golden-blond hair, radiant enough to seem lit from within, his chiseled nose and jawline, piercing red eyes, and sculpted physique had drawn people’s fascination since birth, whether he liked it or not. It was the price of his appearance.
And now, in his arm, smiling radiantly as if truly happy, was a woman—Chloe Battenberg. Once the laughingstock of high society, the shame of the Gray family. Everyone had thought she was utterly unfit to stand beside such a man.
But in that instant, everyone realized they’d been wrong.
Anyone who had seen Chloe before, or even heard rumors about her, knew what she used to look like. Her perpetually hunched posture, eyes that never met anyone else’s, always staring at the floor. A face hidden by her hair, a voice too timid to carry, clothes that were nothing more than dull imitations of others’, a demeanor that screamed insecurity. She had never even been able to show her natural charm.
But now, Chloe was different. She was dazzling.
She stood tall, walked confidently, her neckline exposed beneath her intricately braided updo. Her dress was unique and exquisite. And more than anything, her radiant, joyful smile… no one could associate her with the Chloe of the past.
She had always been a beauty, but not to the extreme degree Alphonse was. When she was beside him before, she had always been overshadowed. But now, with styling that suited her perfectly, she didn’t fade next to him at all. In fact, they shone even more brightly together, a flawlessly matched pair.
Chloe scanned the room, taking in the faces of guests who now looked at her in awe. Standing before so many people made her nervous, but she imagined it as giving a presentation, something she had done many times in her previous life, and the anxiety melted away.
She was genuinely glad. She mentally thanked Lady Fortnum for introducing her to such a brilliant designer.
Alphonse, glancing sideways at her, had his own thoughts.
