45. Whose Dress is This?

 By Antoinette Vanessa January 19, 2023

…On the other hand, Avril—who was living happily in the Duke of Lancester’s estate—was currently in the salon, perplexed by their visitor.

T-the fabric of this dress…

What Avril was staring at wasn’t a dress being worn by the guest before her, but instead at the dress being presenting to her.

“What do you think? While the color may be plain, look at this bold design! Even the back is open.”

“!”

Alexandra Lindbergh, the person who bought it, turned the dress to reveal a boldly open back.

T-the back…! The back is…!

If there was indeed a villainess in the world who could bear wearing something like that, she’d like to applaud her from the bottom of her heart. As for Avril, she was confident that the moment she took a step—no, the moment she stood up, the dress would slip off. If Dylan were to see her in that dress, she doubted she’d be able to endure it.

“Lady Avril, if you’d like to wear it right now, I can summon for Grace.”

“!?!”

At Chris’ whisper, Avril immediately covered her back. Please no—!

But, but…

…Certainly, a lot of Corinna’s dresses look like this—!

Then, the answer was simple.

“I-I-I-I—”

It was a saucy dress Alexandra took the trouble to bring. She had no choice but to resolve herself and wear it. But just as her voice faltered, Dylan entered the salon.

“…Chris, Lady Alexandra, would you please stop ragging my fiancée?”

“Aah, what a shame. I always enjoy talking to Lady Avril. Even today, I was looking forward to seeing what kind of face she’d make at the sight of this dress.”

“Forgive my discourtesy, but teasing Lady Avril has become part of my daily routine.”

While listening to the answers of Alexandra and Chris, Avril stood up and hugged the dress.

“I’ll wear it! This is perfect! Lately, the weather’s been hot!”

“Avril, neither the thinness of the fabric nor the scantness of the dress were out of consideration to the temperature.”

“I understand…! But it’s only natural for a villainess to wear shabby clothes…!”

“…Just now, you even called it shabby.”

“—!? Anyway, let me try it on at least once…!”

Dylan tried to take the dress away, but Avril clung to the thin fabric.

Lady Alexandra especially picked this dress for a villainess like me! As if I could let her kindness go to waste…!

Avril’s weakness was speaking whatever that passed through her mind. Her strength, meanwhile, was her excessive ambitiousness.

As Dylan and Avril wrestled for the dress, someone else snatched it away from behind.

“…!?”

“I’ll adjust it to Lady Avril’s size.”

“G-Grace.”

“As it is, the dress will just fall off when she stands.”

“T-thank you…”

Grace offered to fix the dress. Carol was nowhere to be seen like usual.

From how Grace could understand Avril’s worries, it could be inferred that their distance had diminished.

…I’ll have to leave this to her.

Slightly relieved that she didn’t have to put it on right away, Avril meekly handed over the dress. Grace and Dylan exchanged winks.

“Grace Fisher.”

“Yes, my Lord?”

“Could you sew the back of this dress for me?”

“Of course, my Lord. I’ll make it so that the dress is no longer skintight or revealing.”

While Avril didn’t quite understand their intentions, she apparently wouldn’t be having to make a display out of her back, after all. While she felt relieved, Alexandra gave an elegant smile.

“Fufufu, seeing such a humane side to His Excellency, the Duke of Lancester sure brings me joy.”

“Yes, I can’t argue with you on that one.”

From the conversation of the two, it seemed that they recognized her as a villainess. Satisfied, Avril leaned back against the sofa.

…Come to think of it, for what purpose did Lady Alexandra come?

Did she truly come just to give her that dress? As Avril tilted her head, Alexandra calmly explained to her.

“When is your wedding? No matter how long I waited, my invitation never arrived, so I came to remind you.”

“!”

…That’s right. According to the contract, when the time comes, a wedding ceremony will appropriately be held.

Knowing her wedding would end in divorce, an ordinary noble lady would probably refrain from holding the ceremony in the first place. However, the opposite went for Avril who desired the freedom that would come after the contract marriage ceased.

“I shall discuss it with Lord Dylan.”

At Avril’s cool answered, Dylan sputtered beside her.

What happened?

Dylan dismissed Chris, who tried to rub his back while laughing, and frowned.

“Lady Alexandra, for now, I ask for your patience.”

“But why? Even though it’s such an auspicious and fun topic…”

“Didn’t I tell you before? It concerns Avril’s family, and it is a matter between the two of us…”

The conversation between Dylan and Alexandra sounded serious. At the same time, Avril couldn’t help but notice that Dylan’s usual composed gaze was swimming…

…Are they referring to Sir Cyril Brandner’s reconstruction to family of the Count of Allingham? As for the matter relating to the two of us, what could it be?

While seeping her tea, Avril obliviously tilted her head once again.