Chapter 12

It has been about a month since I married into the Duke's family.

I think I have gotten quite used to this life.

There are more maids and butlers than when I was at the Earl's house, but I'm still not quite used to that.

What I'm still not used to is... when I want to buy something, instead of going to the store, the store people bring the goods to the mansion.

I was really surprised by this.

And today is also the day when merchants bring goods to the mansion.

The goods they bring today are mainly dresses and jewelry.

There is a social event party coming up, which will be my first since marrying into the Duke's family.

So I need to prepare a dress and jewelry for it.

In the largest reception room in the mansion, the store people are asked to display the goods.

There are many people, but this is probably not just one store, right?

I had left it to Aran, but I didn't expect him to prepare so many goods.

More than a hundred dresses are lined up, and about a hundred pieces of jewelry, including necklaces, earrings, and rings.

"Madam, please take a look! This is a dress with the latest decorations, and the gold embroidery matches your hair color!"

"These earrings are adorned with blue gems, and gems of this size are rarely seen even within the empire. I think they match the color of your eyes and are wonderful!"

"Huh... huh..."

The merchants explain, and they are all beautiful and wonderful, but there are too many to understand.

I'm quite troubled, but one thing I'm wondering is... if I prepare so much, is it really not okay to buy just one?

The merchants probably think that as the Duchess, I have the financial means to buy many dresses and pieces of jewelry and will buy them here.

In fact, the amount of money I receive from Aran for maintaining my dignity is enough to buy half of the dresses and jewelry here.

Moreover, the amount I can spend in a month is surprising.

But I had planned to buy just a few dresses and pieces of jewelry for the social event and be done with it.

But that's probably not okay as the Duchess.

Buying and circulating the economy is also something I should do as the Duchess's wife.

But which ones should I buy...?

If I say, "I'll buy from here to here," it would be over, but I don't really want to do that.

While I was thinking about this, the door to the reception room opened, and Rebecca came in.

"Oh, Rebecca. What's the matter?"

"Well, I came to report that today's dance practice is over."

"Is that so? Did you do well?"

"Yes, the head butler, Neo, was my partner..."

Behind Rebecca was the head butler, Neo.

He usually helps Aran with his work, but today it wasn't a job that required a butler to accompany.

So he was with me, but while I was choosing a dress, he was in charge of Rebecca's practice.

I thought it was fine to leave Rebecca with Neo because he always has a gentle smile and a soft manner.

"Miss Sophie, I greet you."

"Yes, Neo. Thank you for watching Rebecca's practice."

"Not at all, I will do anything you instruct, Madam."

Neo said this while making a beautiful bow.

"How was Rebecca's dance?"

"It was very wonderful. It's hard to believe she has only been learning for a year. Rebecca seems to have a talent for dance."

"R-really, I still have a lot to learn..."

"No, Rebecca. I don't flatter like Master."

"Hehe, that's right, Neo. Rebecca dances beautifully."

Unlike Aran, Neo can also make light jokes.

But Rebecca really is good at dancing; it's hard to believe she's only ten and has only been learning for a year.

She might not be tall enough to dance at parties yet, but she won't embarrass herself dancing with anyone.

Rather, her beauty will draw the attention of others.

...Am I being too much of a parent?

No, it's the truth, so it can't be helped.

"Thank you..."

Rebecca, blushing shyly, thanked me, which is also cute.

While we were talking, I realized I had kept the merchants waiting.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I kept you waiting."

"No, no, it's fine. Excuse me, but who is this young lady..."

Ah, right. Rebecca is still a debutante and hasn't made her debut in society, so her appearance isn't known.

But since it's well-known that the Bernhard Duke's family has taken in a stepdaughter, the merchants probably have a good idea.

"This is Rebecca Bernhard, the Duke's daughter. Rebecca, greet them."

"R-Rebecca Bernhard. Nice to meet you."

Rebecca, a bit nervous, held the hem of her skirt and bowed.

"Oh, you are the Duke's daughter, Miss Bernhard."

"Your beauty is striking, so I thought it might be you. It's an honor to meet you."

"Thank you..."

The merchants greeted Rebecca, and Rebecca greeted them without hesitation, looking them in the eye.

While Rebecca is certainly in a higher position, the merchants are adults, so I thought she might be a bit intimidated, but it seems to be fine.

Maybe it's because I've been praising and educating her over the past month, so she's gradually gaining confidence.

In the future that was destroyed, she was raised being scolded, so I think she closed her heart to protect herself.

So this is a very good trend.

"Miss Sophie, can I watch with you?"

"Of course, wait a moment, I'll choose quickly."

"No, it's fine, take your time."

Rebecca says this, but I also want to talk to Rebecca soon.

After this, we plan to have tea and eat sweets together.

Maybe I should just say, "I'll take everything from here to here."

"Madam, how about this item? It's a necklace adorned with gold gems."

"Hmm..."

"We have two, so you and Miss Rebecca can wear them as a set."

"I'll buy it."

"Thank you!"

Ah, what did I just say...!

I unintentionally said "I'll buy it" without thinking.

But it can't be helped... a necklace to match with Rebecca, I have to buy it.

She hasn't made her debut yet, but a necklace can be used in everyday life, so it's fine to buy it.

"Madam, how about this dress!?"

Another merchant introduces a product, a bit anxiously.

"This is made of very high-quality fabric, and only our guild can supply it! So if you order it, we can make it in any color, any number, and any design!"

"Is that so..."

"Of course, the size is also flexible, so you and Miss Rebecca can have matching dresses!"

"I'll order it."

"Thank you!"

Ah, what did I just say again...

I answered reflexively.

But it can't be helped, matching dresses with Rebecca, I can have as many as I want.

"Excuse me, to make a matching dress for Miss Rebecca, we need her exact measurements."

"Right. Rebecca, is that okay?"

"Um, of course it's okay, but is it really okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm happy that you're buying clothes for me, but this is your shopping, isn't it?"

"That's right, it's my shopping, so I'm buying what I want. What I want is matching items with Rebecca."

"Miss Sophie...!"

Rebecca smiles happily with tears in her eyes.

I'm glad she's happy to match with me.

...I didn't think she would make a face, but I'm really glad she didn't.

Rebecca went to another room to have her measurements taken by a maid and then told the merchant.

"Miss Sophie, is this really okay?"

"Huh, what do you mean?"

When Neo asked me, I tilted my head in confusion.

"Rebecca will soon make her debut in society, and at that time, you will probably need to choose another dress. So, the dress you ordered now might not be worn for quite a while."

"Oh, I see."

"Yes, and Rebecca is still growing, so the dress might not fit if made now."

That's true, what Neo says.

The dress won't be worn immediately in society, and it might not fit if she grows.

"But, I want it now. I can only match with the current Rebecca now."

I've seen her future in my premonition dreams, and she grew up beautifully.

But now, she's very cute.

This cuteness is only now, so I want to wear a matching dress with the current Rebecca.

Of course, I want to wear a matching dress with the grown-up Rebecca too.

"...I see."

"Yes, and I don't have much desire for things, so if it's something to match with Rebecca, I want to buy it. This is fine."

"Hehe, I understand. I apologize for my unnecessary words."

"No, it's fine. Thank you for your concern."

After that, the merchants introduced many items that I was interested in, mainly things to match with Rebecca, so I was able to buy a lot and spend money.