TGDHC Chapter 80

Chapter 80 – Adoration

Meisel stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a dazzling rose-colored gown.
The jewels sewn onto the hem clinked pleasantly against each other, but she still wasn’t satisfied.

“The middle looks too empty. I need more gems added.”

Behind her, the two young noblewomen who had been invited sighed quietly.
Normally, Meisel wouldn’t even glance at them—daughters of mere barons.
But today she had dragged them along only to flatter her and play the role of attendants at the dress shop.

The higher-ranked ladies would never bother to follow her here anyway.

So the two girls had spent hours praising every dress she tried on, worn out from constantly saying “So pretty!” and “So beautiful!”

“The summer fabric is thin… If we add more weight, the hem may tear,” the dressmaker cautioned smoothly, unlike the exhausted noblewomen.

“What do you think?” Meisel asked, glancing at the two girls.

They perked up instantly.
“So gorgeous!”
“Truly, no one in the Empire but Lady Meisel could pull this off.”

Their flattery made Meisel thoughtful.

Since the Duchess had arrived, there would surely be a ball or banquet this summer.
As the future Duchess and representative of the North, she had to shine the brightest.

This is far more splendid than the gown she wore last time, she thought with satisfaction.

Though she wanted to add more, the dress was already heavy on her waist.
“Fine. I’ll leave it like this,” she said at last, deciding to simply pick another necklace later.

She stepped behind the partition to change when a familiar voice rang outside.

“Lady Cecilia.”

“Madam!” came Cecilia Terito’s sharp, unpleasant voice.

“I need the sketches brought to the lakeside later. His Grace said he needs them for the meeting.”

“Of course, but why come in person—?”

“I was on my way to the lake anyway. Oh… it’s been a while,” Cecilia greeted.

The barons’ daughters with Meisel exchanged stiff pleasantries with her.

Perfect—news from the ducal castle, Meisel thought.

In the last incident, she had left no trace behind. The Merchants’ Guild had recruited people for her, but she had never revealed her full plan. As long as Marzella kept quiet, she was safe.

Though Marzella seems too scared to contact me again…

If only she could pry some information out of Cecilia now.

“Faster!” Meisel hissed at the attendants helping her change, then peeked out through a crack in the partition.

What’s this?

The shopgirls were smiling.
“Lady Cecilia!”

They looked at her as if she were some kind of celebrity.

Why are they acting like that? Meisel fumed. They always look so gloomy when serving me.

The shopkeeper scolded them.
“Enough. You’re troubling Lady Cecilia.”

“Oh, I don’t mind… but why…?” Cecilia asked, puzzled.

One of the shopgirls stepped forward, eyes sparkling.
“Are you really ‘Cecilia’?”

“Huh?”

“The author of Cecilia’s Recipes! Is it really you?”

Cecilia hesitated, then nodded.
“Yes… in a way. The recipes come from different people, but…”

The shopgirls squealed, each pulling out a scrapbook.

“We’re all fans of Cecilia’s Recipes!”
“I’ve saved every single one since the beginning!”
“My favorite is the honey meat pie—I’ve made it so many times!”

They crowded around her, flipping open their books in excitement.

The shopkeeper sighed.
“They’ve been dying for you to visit ever since they heard the rumors.”

“Really? That makes me so happy,” Cecilia beamed.

Meisel nearly choked.

They worship her? That Cecilia?

Before her laces were even tightened, she shoved the partition aside and stepped out.

“Oh my, Lady Cecilia! It’s been too long,” she said, deliberately over-friendly.

But Cecilia’s face stiffened, her gaze sharp—almost as if to say I know what you’ve done.

Meisel froze, chills running down her back.

But Cecilia only dipped her head politely.
“…Lady Meisel.”

Her usual cool expression. Probably just Meisel’s imagination.

Relieved, Meisel smiled and looked her up and down.
“I heard you became a lady-in-waiting…”

So she had become the Duchess’s maid—yet she looked no different than before. That was almost impressive.

“Since you never show your face at social gatherings anymore, I was wondering how you were getting along.”

“I’ve been busy,” Cecilia replied curtly.

“Well, you must be. Attending Her Grace while still unfamiliar with high society—there must be so much to learn.”

Meisel gave her a pitying look.
“If you ever need help, just ask me.”

“Thank you, but I’ll be fine.” Cecilia’s flat tone made it clear she didn’t need her.

That face again! That smug, uncaring face!

That was why Meisel despised her.

Society, connections, fashion—everything Meisel poured her life into—Cecilia dismissed with indifference. It felt like all her achievements were being mocked.

“Are you really sure you’ll be fine?” Meisel smirked.
“As a lady-in-waiting, you should at least know about gowns and jewels, but you never cared for those, did you?”

“That’s fine. Her Grace doesn’t care about those things either,” Cecilia answered calmly.

Is she bragging?

“She’s busy with important work,” Cecilia added.

“Important work?” one of the barons’ daughters asked curiously.
“Do you mean the new marketplace?”

“Yes. It’s Her Grace’s own project,” Cecilia confirmed.

The other girl, trying to win Meisel’s favor, scoffed.
“But… is she really the one doing it? I mean, such a big project—”

“How dare you,” Cecilia snapped.
“Are you questioning the Duchess herself?”

The baron’s daughter faltered.
“I-I just meant, surely she isn’t doing it alone, with the Duke and all the officials…”

“Does she need to hammer in every nail herself for you to believe it’s hers?” Cecilia retorted, frowning.
“Of course many people are working. Even Madam here is helping with the interiors. But the vision, the plan—that belongs to Her Grace.”

Everyone turned to the shopkeeper, who bowed slightly. Though her face was neutral, there was a hint of pride.

“The Duke provides every resource she needs. If she asked, he’d give her not just the lake but the sea itself.”

The baron’s daughter fell silent, defeated.

Meisel bit her lip in anger.

Then Cecilia added casually, “Before the official opening, there will be a pre-festival.”

“A pre-festival?”

“Yes. Invitations will be sent out soon.”

“Oh, really?” The young ladies’ eyes lit with hope.

The new marketplace was the hottest topic in the empire. None of them would refuse an invitation.

Even Meisel brightened.
The Duke will surely attend… I’ll need a new outdoor gown.

But Cecilia’s next words dashed those hopes.
“If you’re interested, check Northern News. A few dozen invitations will be given to subscribers.”

She smiled slyly.
“Of course… only if you’re lucky enough to be chosen.”

In other words—none of you are getting one from me.