—Several tens of minutes later.

With the help of Alexandra and the maid, Avril changed into the dress and stepped into the salon once again. There, Dylan and Lawrence were chatting happily, looking the same as before.

“Lady Avril has finished changing. What do you think?”

As Alexandra said that, she took Avril’s hand and led her to the salon. Dylan stood up immediately.

“She’s… so beautiful.”

“I’m honored to receive your compliment.”

When Avril walked up to Dylan, she lifted the hem of her skirt and smiled softly. Dylan’s expression softened at that.

“It suits you much better than the previous dress.”

“Thank you… This dress is even more luxurious and pretty than the previous one… Am I truly allowed to wear it?”

“Of course, I want to see you in it.”

…! Lord Dylan always says such things…

Avril accidentally blushed as Dylan casually spoke without any embarrassment.

After they decided to redo the wedding and had her dress tailored, Dylan once again visited the boutique with her as often as he could despite his busy schedule. This dress was the result of detailed discussions.

Incidentally, the lace on the sleeves was chosen by Dylan, the flowers on the waist were chosen by Alexandra, the smooth fabric was chosen by Chris and Grace, and the ruffle design was chosen by Keira.

This dress, which carried the blessings of the friends she made since engaging with the Duke of Lancester, became more than just a wedding dress for Avril.

Something so much more precious.

…Seeing Lord Dylan smile fills me with happiness!

Alexandra narrowed her eyes as she watched Avril and Dylan.

“Fufu, I’m glad I was able to make Lord Dylan feel better.”

“Thank you, Lady Alexandra.”

“I thought the wedding would be postponed a little, but now you can hold without any problems.”

Actually, I thought so, too.

While Dylan had been incredibly busy since returning to the territory, the longer he was away from the capital, the more his time for his responsibilities back home was eaten away. Since he was staying longer than planned, she thought that the wedding might be postponed.

After all, they had especially commissioned a popular boutique to tailor the dress, so she had expected a long time would be required before the dress was finished.

The situation isn’t good, but at least the wedding won’t be postponed because we couldn’t finish the preparations in time.

If the wedding were postponed twice, the dignity of the Duke of Lancester family would be compromised. While Avril felt relieved that crisis had been averted, Lawrence spoke up.

“The former duke and your mother didn’t attend the wedding in the capital.”

“…Indeed. They have their reasons. Originally, I didn’t intend to invite the former duke. As for my mother, leaving home is difficult for her.”

“Did you send out an invitation to the marquis?”

“My mother… She doesn’t even know I’m fully grown now. Her family quite possibly doesn’t even care about me.”

Avril sighed while listening to the conversation between Dylan and Lawrence.

How wonderful would it be if everyone related to Lord Dylan could attend the wedding, but… that’s unlikely to happen. I’m not inviting anyone from my parent’s home to the wedding, either.

But then, she had an idea.

“That’s right. Lord Dylan, why don’t we send her a portrait? We should take pre-wedding photos at a photo studio in Myrtle Town and show them to your mother.”

“That might be a good idea. Even if she doesn’t recognize me, now that I am an adult, she might come to know Avril. It’ll be useful for when I introduce you to her someday.”

“Then let’s make a reservation at studio right away!”

…Wait, no!

A maid from the main residence was present in the room. Avril, who had to maintain her charade with the former duke, shouldn’t act on her own.

So, Avril called the maid whom she was having a tug of war over the dress earlier.

“Sienna, make an appointment at the photo studio right away.”

“Huh?”

The maid was surprised when her name was suddenly called, but Avril didn’t pay any heed.

“Please make a reservation as early as possible. However, just because we are the duke’s family, we mustn’t disrupt the queue. There’s no need to reserve the entire studio to avoid overlapping with other customers either. However, as there will be a gap between the time slots, you should pay the photo studio for it. Make an appointment with utmost selfishness.”

“Understood—huh? Is that selfish…? Also, how did you remember my name?”

“I paid attention when you—I mean, of course. Why wouldn’t I remember the name of a meddlesome maid?”

She’d known of the maid’s name ever since she saw the list in Dylan’s study. Besides, they had been in a tug of war over that transparent nightgown…

“U-understood…?”

Sienna, who was about to leave, had an odd expression on her face, as though she didn’t really understand. Along the way, the maid picked up a certain box that had completely become an afterthought.

“About your previous instruction, should I cut out the fabric and alter the dress?”

“Huh!?”

Avril turned pale as the problem that had just been shelved was revisited.

…I’d love for it to be altered… But not into an embarrassing dress. Maybe a handkerchief, or something like that.

However, she couldn’t possibly say that. Alexandra, apparently, had a penchant for such thin fabric, after all.

Come to think of it, Corinna, the poster girl for a villainess, also likes dresses like that…

Although she was supposed to have acted like the perfect villainess, how did she end up in such a situation like that?

As she was reflecting on her thoughtlessness, a savior arrived—

—Grace.

“I’ll keep it for you until the time is right.”

“I-I see. Well, that’s how it is. Grace, please keep it safe until the time is right.”

…Despite having parroted Grace, she wondered to herself.

When exactly is the right time?

However, Dylan made an odd expression, while Lawrence and Alexandra laughed cheerfully. Although it was a bit awkward, she felt like she managed to get through it.

Avril sighed in relief after seeing Sienna off.

---

Read ahead on patreon~

E/N: Doesn’t that mean their wedding night??

***T/N: Such a term doesn’t exist for our Avril.

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