NIYTR 38

Chapter 38

Stay Still

They arrived at the Shubrets Atelier.

“Oh my, I didn’t expect both of Your Highnesses to come…”

Madam Teresa lit up with delight the moment she spotted Damian and Princess Charlotte.

No wonder—she was once Empress Anastasia’s exclusive designer.

Princess Charlotte urged her sister forward with excitement.

“Sister! Hurry up and get changed!”

Edelweiss smiled and entered the private fitting room with Madam Teresa.

Thick curtains enclosed the space, completely separating it from where Damian waited.

“All the embroidery has been finished. We’ll start the fitting today and adjust the waist afterward. It’s a little loose, so I’ll tie the corset tighter.”

To be honest, the result exceeded expectations.

The dress’s overall dark tone gave it a calm elegance.

The signature blue rose of Blossomweaver and the violet of Oberlin were exquisitely hand-embroidered, thread by thread.

The hem, made of imported fabric from the Kingdom of Belshana, sparkled with subtle luster.

In her previous life, Jane—under Rosemary’s orders—had ruined Edelweiss’s debut gown in advance.

She’d been forced to change into something last-minute, making her look like she’d stolen someone else’s dress.

“My goodness, I tried to imagine how it would look while working on it, but it turned out even better than I hoped. It was worth staying up all night.”

Madam Teresa let out a quiet gasp of admiration.

”…You must be exhausted.”

“Not at all. You paid generously for the effort.”

She looked at Edelweiss with satisfaction.

“There’s still time before the wedding gown, so I promise that one will be even more beautiful.”

With fiery determination in her eyes, Madam Teresa took hold of the curtains on both sides.

“Then, I’ll open it.”

At Madam Teresa’s question, Edelweiss nodded.

From beyond the curtain, she could hear Princess Charlotte chattering as she bickered playfully with Damian.

“Brother, as soon as she comes out, you have to say she looks pretty. Got it? Right away!”

Maybe she was worried his reaction would upset Edelweiss. It sounded like Princess Charlotte was coaching him beforehand.

She really doesn’t need to go that far…

Even if Damian responded dryly, it wasn’t like she’d be hurt over it.

Still, Edelweiss smiled gently, touched by Charlotte’s thoughtfulness.

Just as the curtain parted, she caught sight of Damian—clearly bored just a moment ago—visibly sharpening to attention.

As soon as their eyes met, his pupils slowly dilated.

A glimmer of life flickered across the deep ocean-blue that had seemed so dull just before.

Does the dress not suit me?

The longer he stayed silent, the more uneasy she became.

Then suddenly—

“Sister, why don’t you marry me instead of him?”

“…Princess Charlotte?”

Charlotte had dropped to one knee, holding out the baby parrot like a flower in a mock proposal.

It was such a comical and sweet gesture that Edelweiss bent down slightly and helped her up with a smile.

“Shall I?”

Damian shook his head in disbelief.

“But seriously, you’re so pretty, Sister! Right, Brother? I actually told him to say that no matter what—but honestly, it wasn’t even necessary!”

Charlotte giggled as she twirled once around Edelweiss.

Just then, Madam Teresa returned with ribbons in various shades of satin.

“Your Highness, may I style you for a moment?”

“Ooh, yes! Brother, Sister—I’ll be right back!”

Princess Charlotte bounced away excitedly with Madam Teresa.

Before they realized it, the private room was left with only Edelweiss and Damian. Just the two of them.

It felt eerily similar to the moment in the greenhouse garden days ago.

“I’ll… go change back now.”

The atmosphere had grown unexpectedly heavy, and her breathing felt tight.

Not wanting to risk damaging the dress, Edelweiss began to turn away.

“…Okay.”

But the corset had been pulled especially tight at the waist, just as Madam Teresa warned—it was nearly impossible to undo alone.

I can’t just stay like this… but waiting around is awkward too.

After a moment’s hesitation, she called out.

“Your Highness Damian.”

“What is it?”

“Could you help me with this?”

Damian pulled aside the curtain and stepped in.

He gestured with his chin.

“This? You want me to undo it?”

“If… you don’t know how—”

“No, that’s not it.”

Damian sighed, exasperated, and moved to stand behind her.

His silhouette completely enveloped hers—it felt as though she were being swallowed by his shadow.

Rolling up his sleeves, he prepared to help.

He wasn’t just tall. He had broad shoulders and a strong build.

His bronzed skin, a contrast to the pale and bookish Adolf, accentuated the blue veins running down his forearms—especially vivid today.

“Is this all I need to undo?”

“Yes.”

The fabric rustled softly under Damian’s hands as he touched the lacing at her waist.

He pulled—slowly, deliberately.

His firm grasp loosened the tight corset, and as the pressure eased, Edelweiss felt her body relax all at once.

Startled by the sudden release, she flinched slightly.

“Stay still.”

A low voice came from right behind her—so close it made her skin prickle.

The chilling heat of it seeped down her spine.

Edelweiss drew in a shallow breath.

“I said don’t move.”

Damian supported her body as it leaned slightly backward, steadying her effortlessly.

His voice dropped even lower, brushing her ear like a velvet thread.

At the same time, his breath grazed the nape of her neck.

“All done. You can change and come out.”

Edelweiss turned toward the parted curtain, catching a glimpse of Damian loosening his cravat.

He was adjusting his tie with deft fingers—just barely visible between the folds before disappearing from view.

He was… surprisingly skilled.

His hands had been quick, clean, precise—not at all like it was his first time.

Has he… undone women’s dresses before?

Not that it has anything to do with me.

Edelweiss forcibly erased the unnecessary thought.

Even after he left, the warmth of his hands lingered. A quiet heat remained on her skin.

Once she was fully changed and stepped out of the private room, Damian had gone completely silent.

“Brother, how do I look?”

“……”

“Hey! I said, how do I look!”

Princess Charlotte, now adorned with pretty satin ribbons, pouted.

But Damian seemed lost in thought, as if he hadn’t even heard her.

“Sister, what happened with my brother while I was gone?”

“…Who knows?”

There wasn’t much to tell—just that she’d asked him to help untie a corset.

It’s not like I was undressed or anything…

Still, the casual way she’d asked might’ve been careless.

We are getting married soon, but even so, I should be more careful from now on.

“Sister, forget my brother. Let’s go to Lunié Bakery! They just released a new raspberry cake!”

Princess Charlotte pointed to a bakery across the street.

Damian frowned immediately.

“Charlotte.”

He said her name sharply, clearly meaning “no.” But Charlotte ignored him completely.

“Please, Sister, let’s goooo…”

She clung to Edelweiss’s arm and swayed it back and forth, full of exaggerated cuteness.

“Hmm… why not?”

Really, how could anyone say no to that face?

Once Edelweiss agreed, Damian didn’t object further.

The three of them exited the Shubrets atelier and headed toward Lunié Bakery.

The first floor was packed, so they were led upstairs.

As they entered the second-floor hall, they encountered a pair of familiar faces.

“We greet the honorable Rejenoel.”

It was Countess Leoni Scherna and Marchioness Bianca Chedil—whom Edelweiss had previously met at the Marquisate of Riche.

They stood and curtsied politely to Damian and Princess Charlotte.

“Hi, Leoni! Bianca! Are you here for the raspberry cake too?”

Perhaps because Princess Charlotte was related to the Riche Marchioness, she seemed especially close to the two girls.

They greeted each other with the ease of familiarity.

More notably, neither of them seemed offended when Damian didn’t return the greeting.

They must’ve been used to his aloofness by now.

“Your Highness, have you been well?”

“You’re growing lovelier by the day, Princess.”

They showered Charlotte with sweet compliments.

“Look! This is my friend that Sister gave me! Her name’s Elba! Isn’t she cute?”

Charlotte proudly held up the baby parrot.

Countess Leoni, who was known to be scared of birds, visibly flinched.

“Hehe, the name Elba must be someone’s nickname, right?”

“That’s right!”

Only the Marchioness Chedil’s daughter reached out to touch the baby parrot, while the Countess Scherna’s daughter turned her gaze to Edelweiss.

“My Lady, no—rather, I’ve heard you’ve become the Marchioness of Blossomweaver. Congratulations.”