All I Wanted Was the Alimony - Chapter 16

However, Lucienne did not forget her purpose. She bit down softly on her tongue and held back a sigh of admiration.

And then, acting as if nothing was amiss, she asked, “As for the dress, that’s fine, but shouldn’t the Grand Duke’s formalwear be tailored?”

“It’s already been prepared to fit His Grace perfectly.”

Lucienne momentarily doubted her ears. A question slipped out automatically, “How do you know the Grand Duke’s measurements?”

Mary’s pupils wavered briefly. But she calmly curled her lips into a smile. “Oh my, I must’ve caused a misunderstanding. I heard he’s similar to the average man.”

‘Ha. Unbelievable.’

Lucienne’s eyes narrowed. Mary was lying through her teeth without even moistening her lips.

Because even from a distance, Paello’s physique was so far from average that it was laughable to suggest otherwise.

Paello was nothing like ordinary men.

Exceptionally tall, broad shoulders, attractively sculpted muscles, a broad chest, exceptionally long legs, and an outstandingly large…

As Lucienne recalled Paello’s physique, she suddenly felt her face flush.

‘Ugh, I ended up thinking about parts I didn’t need to.’

Anyway, Paello had an overwhelmingly handsome build.

If ordinary men were goblins, Paello was a god-like hero from Greek mythology.

If he wore a ready-made shirt, the buttons over his chest would burst, the shoulder seams would tear, and the sleeves would be tight and short. Ready-made pants would end up looking like capris.

Unless it was tailored, he simply couldn’t wear it.

But she couldn’t be certain. She hadn’t actually seen the clothes Mary had prepared for Paello.

If the formalwear she prepared didn’t fit Paello, it meant Mary was telling the truth. But if it fit perfectly, then the information had leaked from somewhere.

As she observed Lucienne’s expression, Mary quickly pointed at the catalog.

In fact, Mary already had Paello’s measurements. Very detailed ones.

She had already made about ten outfits based on information received from the Empress Dowager.

Frankly, even Mary didn’t know how the Empress Dowager had gotten Paello’s measurements.

But she could at least sense that this was something that mustn’t be exposed.

So she couldn’t let Lucienne dwell on the topic of Paello’s measurements.

“Which would you like to choose? The Empress Dowager said you may pick as many as you wish.”

Lucienne smiled faintly. “Give my thanks to the Empress Dowager.”

Her narrowed eyes had already relaxed, and Mary quietly let out a breath of relief.

“Of course. She’ll be delighted.”

“Good. Then you may go.”

“…Pardon?”

Mary truly couldn’t believe her ears. She hadn’t even imagined such a response. But Lucienne smiled as if it were the most natural thing.

“I’ll just accept the sentiment.”

Since founding the boutique, she had never experienced such treatment.

When her clothes were first introduced, they received only praise.

To be honest, malicious rumors spread that Mary hadn’t designed them herself.

But people said that was just the envy of lesser ateliers talking, so she didn’t pay it any mind.

After gaining the recognition of the imperial family, clothes from Colte’s Boutique became the ultimate gift. They even became a highly effective means of lobbying.

So when Mary came here, she had expected to endure a nasty personality in exchange for massive sales. The thought of not selling even a single outfit had never crossed her mind.

But now she was told not even one would be taken.

Her pride was stung.

Worse, it was a serious problem. The Empress Dowager would undoubtedly be disappointed.

And who in the world dared to reject the Empress Dowager’s gift?

Naturally, Mary was flustered. Unrefined words slipped out, “Y-your Grace the Grand Duchess. Our dresses are truly elegant and beautiful. High-ranking nobles are frantic because they can’t buy them.”

“It seems that way. But I have plenty of clothes. I don’t particularly need more.”

Lucienne looked genuinely indifferent, and for the first time, Mary had doubts.

Maybe the dress designs didn’t suit the Grand Duchess’s taste.

‘Then.’

She pulled out a dress design sketch she had hidden deep in her bag.

This was a truly important design, something she had saved for when she met a big shot.

Her disabled older sister would be pressured into creating more designs, but she didn’t care.

If she disobeyed, she’d throw her out. She could just yell, ‘You think you can survive without me?’

“Then how about this dress? I designed it myself. It’s a brand-new piece that hasn’t been released yet.”

Lucienne’s heart pounded as she looked at the dress design.

The upper body accentuated the body line, and the lower part flared out generously. The layered silhouette looked extremely elegant and light.

‘Wow, this woman’s talent is insane. It’s just a drawing, but I can already see how it would feel.’

They said she was the most famous in the imperial capital, and it wasn’t an exaggeration. Lucienne was starting to regret it a little.

However, since she had already made up her mind, there was only one path forward.

“It’s pretty. But I don’t need it. I’m still tired from the journey, so you can go.”

“B-but Your Grace! You’ll regret this!”

‘She’s not wrong. I already regretted it earlier.’

But she had just changed her mind.

Once could be forgiven as a desperate sales pitch ignoring a dismissal. Especially since she had been sent by the Empress Dowager.

‘So I let it slide once. But ignoring two dismissals is too much.’

Besides, this was a society of hierarchy. For a boutique owner to speak like this to the Grand Duchess was crossing a line.

Lucienne lifted the marble table in front of her with one hand.

Mary and the maid widened their eyes as the table lifted as if it were made of paper.

“Seems you don’t understand when I speak nicely. Haven’t you heard what kind of person I am?”

Terrified by the display of strength, Mary jumped up and bowed so low her head nearly touched the floor.

“I-I’ve been terribly rude! I’ll come back with even better products! Until next time!”

She recalled the princess saying, ‘If Lucienne ever acts rudely or violently, never tolerate it.’ But what Lucienne just did was beyond that realm of choice.

‘How could I go against that?’

It was rumored that demons were strong, but it hadn’t been known whether the half-demon Lucienne was as well.

But seeing it in person—it was overwhelming.

If she held out any longer, who knew what Lucienne would do with that table she lifted so lightly.

‘Unless you’re ready to die on the spot, it’s not worth it!’

Mary fled. The maid, frightened as well, quickly cleaned up Mary’s teacup and rushed out.

It was better this way—they were clearly scared.

‘Now the rumors will spread.’

It was bound to be bad. The more those stories spread, the more uncomfortable Paello would feel.

There were plenty of nobles with poor character, so the impact might be small, but if it piled up, it would erupt like karma at a crucial moment.

The thought made her laugh.

But when she remembered the dress design she had just seen, a sigh escaped her.

‘Damn, if I’d known something like that would show up, I should’ve just accepted the clothes and played the greedy Grand Duchess role.’

Lucienne grabbed her head in regret, then shook it firmly.

‘No. Get a grip.’

Even if she accepted the clothes, only the Empress Dowager would be pleased.

Whether she accepted or refused them, Paello wouldn’t be happy.

But accepting the clothes would mean Lucienne had upheld the imperial family’s face, giving her enough justification.

The Grand Duchess had simply done her duty. It wasn’t grounds for divorce.

‘If he were going to hand over divorce papers for something like that, he would’ve done it when Lucienne was drinking and gambling… Huh?’

Suddenly, Lucienne felt like she had seen the light.

“Ah, right! Why didn’t I think of that?”

In the original story, Lucienne drank heavily and loved gambling. She spent her allowance on maintaining appearances every time.

But she always kept it out of Paello’s sight.

“They say the darkest place is under the lamp!”

Lucienne clapped her hands and burst into laughter.

‘I just need to make sure those things catch Paello’s eye!’

As luck would have it, there was a perfect event starting tomorrow.

The first day was a boat ride, the second day was a hunting competition, and the last was a birthday banquet.

Alcohol would surely be present at all of them. Plus, she had been curious about imperial events anyway—two birds with one stone.

‘Great! Let’s do it!’

Lucienne clenched her fist, overflowing with hope.

Divorce was an open door.