Chapter 34
“How should I help?”
Theodore immediately showed interest, nodding as if asking her to explain further.
“This is something I’m only telling Your Highness, but I actually run the Minerva Trading Company with my father.”
The cautious revelation made Theodore raise his eyebrows slightly.
Without hesitation, Claire voiced what she truly wanted to say.
“I want to sell jewel flowers through this trading company, but we lack the backing to do so.”
“…Jewel flowers? Do you have inventory?”
“Yes, my father has been researching jewel flowers for some time now.”
“Ah, I see.”
Theodore nodded as if he understood, recalling that Franz Ravello was a skilled and unique magician.
Claire’s eyes sparkled as she asked eagerly.
“Would Your Highness be able to help?”
“There’s no reason I can’t.”
His unexpectedly straightforward answer surprised Claire, and she explained why it was a difficult matter.
“Until now, Her Majesty the Empress’s family has monopolized the sale of jewel flowers, so there may be opposition.”
“Would breaking a monopoly be a crime?”
Theodore curled his lips into a sly smile as he responded.
The idea of hindering his disliked aunt’s interests made him even more inclined to help.
As Theodore gave his positive answer, Claire’s face brightened.
‘Thank goodness. Selling jewel flowers will help me recover today’s expenses in no time.’
Jewel flowers, which cost billions of gold per bloom, would undoubtedly be a lucrative venture.
While Claire smiled quietly, the carriage stopped at their final destination.
They had arrived at Darling Atelier.
When they entered the shop, someone awkwardly seated alone stood up in a hurry.
“You’re here, Lady Ravello?”
“Lady Merison, have you been waiting long?”
“No, I just arrived as well.”
Nina replied with a bashful smile, telling a small white lie.
Then, she awkwardly lowered her head toward the imposing figure behind Claire.
“It’s an honor to meet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Theodore, with his hands casually in his pockets, gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
It wasn’t Nina but Claire who felt uncomfortable with his aloof and slightly arrogant demeanor.
It reminded her of the Theodore from their childhood who used to disregard people.
“Your Highness, you should return greetings properly.”
The words of reproach escaped her lips before she realized it. After all, even a Crown Prince should maintain mutual respect.
Theodore glanced down at Claire before straightening his posture and speaking.
“It’s a pleasure. Think of me as invisible and make yourself comfortable. I’m only here to follow my lady.”
Though his presence was far too overwhelming to ignore, Nina, ever polite, responded graciously with thanks.
“Come this way, Lady Merison. Let’s pick out some clothes together.”
Claire guided Nina to sit beside her as Marie brought out a catalog for them to browse.
“What style do you like, Lady Merison?”
“Me? Oh, I usually wear what my mother picks for me…”
Nina laughed awkwardly. It explained why her outfits often seemed slightly outdated for her age.
‘In a way, I envy her for having a mother to choose clothes for her.’
Claire kept her thoughts to herself, maintaining her smile.
“Then how about we recommend clothes for each other?”
“Sure… That sounds good.”
“I’ll go first. Since Lady Merison has delicate features… I think this dress would suit you well.”
Claire’s slender fingers pointed to a pink silk dress.
The dress, with its square neckline, complemented Nina’s round face while the ribbons on the waist and hemline added a touch of charm and sweetness.
“Wow, it’s beautiful.”
“Do you like it?”
“Yes. I’ve never worn such a cute dress before, so I’m worried it might not suit me…”
“It’ll look even cuter and more beautiful when you wear it.”
How could anything not suit someone so young and vibrant?
Blushing faintly, Nina pulled the catalog toward her.
“Now I’ll pick one for you!”
“Alright.”
Nina’s eyes sparkled as she eagerly flipped through the catalog.
It was at that moment that Theodore, who had been sitting quietly with an uninterested expression across from Claire, moved.
Tap.
He pressed his finger on a page to stop it from being flipped and spoke in a low voice.
“This one seems fitting.”
It was a dress similar to the one Claire had chosen for Nina, yet subtly different.
With a mermaid silhouette and a pink silk ribbon tied at the chest, it exuded elegance while still being charming.
‘Not bad.’
Wearing matching styles with Nina would show off their camaraderie.
‘But…’
As Claire observed the design that revealed the shoulders and neck, she couldn’t resist voicing her curiosity.
“Do you like this style?”
“Not that I like it, but I think it would suit you.”
Claire’s long, graceful neckline and collarbone stood out, accentuating her inherent elegance.
Surprised by his unexpectedly discerning eye, Claire glanced at him, only to see Theodore shrug and add casually.
“I don’t particularly care what my partner wears. They should wear whatever they like.”
“What if I wore an outfit like yours?”
“That would be impressive.”
Theodore answered immediately, imagining Claire in a formal uniform.
Curious to know more about his preferences, Claire asked another question.
“What about a frilly princess-style dress?”
“If it makes you happy, it’s fine.”
“And something tight-fitting and very revealing?”
“If that’s what you want, wear it. I’ll gouge out the eyes of anyone who stares.”
“What about a plain, unadorned… simple and dull dress?”
Like how she used to dress as Priscilla.
This time, Theodore’s response came slower than before.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Not even if I don’t dress up at all?”
“It really doesn’t matter. No matter what you wear or how you look, your essence remains unchanged.”
His blue eyes gazed at Claire like a calm ocean at night.
For some reason, his words carried an unusual weight that left Claire feeling inexplicably strange.
As a peculiar silence lingered, a small exclamation broke the stillness.
“Wow…”
Both of their gazes turned to Nina. Flustered by the sudden attention, her face turned red.
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation…”
“No, Lady Merison. It’s actually rude of us to talk only between ourselves when there are three of us here.”
Claire smiled warmly and gently patted Nina’s back, easing her tension.
Relaxed by Claire’s kindness, Nina spoke hesitantly.
“The Crown Prince and Lady Ravello seem to get along so well. I don’t know if it’s alright to say this, but… I’m a little envious.”
Her words carried a subtle trace of bitterness.
“No matter how pretty a dress I wear, my fiancé wouldn’t care.”
Hearing Nina’s inability to escape Alex’s shadow even here made Claire’s heart ache.
Recalling everything Nina had confided in her, Claire reached a conclusion.
Ah, this won’t do anymore.
“Lady Merison, I’m going to be frank.”
Claire firmly grasped Nina’s hand and locked eyes with her.
“Don’t stay with Alex Ravello.”
“W-What? What are you saying all of a sudden…”
Taken aback, Nina’s eyes widened.
“He treats you poorly and doesn’t even love you. If you marry him like this, you’ll only suffer more.”
Claire calmly reasoned with her. Nina’s large, gentle brown eyes wavered uneasily.
“But… requesting to break off the engagement without a valid reason is… My father wouldn’t allow it.”
It wasn’t that Nina had never considered breaking the engagement.
However, Alex had already ingratiated himself with her father, Count Merison, making it hard to bring up her dissatisfaction with her fiancé.
“Breaking the engagement would damage my reputation as well…”
“But isn’t marrying Alex Ravello a waste of your life? What do you lack to deserve being treated this way?”
“Lady Ravello…”
Seeing Claire’s genuine concern, Nina felt her heart waver.
Until now, all she’d heard from those around her was that Alex would make a good husband, and that she should marry soon since she wasn’t getting any younger.
But having someone completely on her side for the first time…
‘Maybe my judgment that Alex Ravello isn’t right for me wasn’t entirely wrong.’
While a strange sense of relief washed over her, hesitation still lingered, keeping her from speaking freely. Sensing this, Claire leaned in slightly and asked in a low voice.
“If there were clear evidence of Alex Ravello’s wrongdoing, would you sincerely consider breaking the engagement?”
Nina inhaled sharply. After a long silence, she finally began to speak.
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