I'm The Only Granddaughter Of The Strongest Duke
Ch. 19

'This one-piece is not bad, too.'

My dad also saved money on food to buy me this dress as a gift. 

But my one-piece looked a bit shabby compared to the duke's collection of expensive dresses. 

'Does my clothes look that shabby....?'

To the point people asked me to change before meeting the duke. 

But I quickly get rid of those thoughts by shaking my head.

That's not true. My one-piece is pretty cool and awesome.

They wanted me to change because I must look proper in front of the duke, that's all. 

Hell yeah, my one-piece is so cool!  My dad bought this one-piece for me!

I stopped clenching the hem of my one-piece and started browsing through the dresses carefully.  I didn't touch the dresses in case I accidentally tore or dirtied them. 

"Is there anything you like?" Charlotte, who followed behind me, asked. 

I could see the other maids were a little far away from me, but Charlotte followed me around closely. 

"All of them are pretty! But can I really wear something like this....?"

"Of course, Miss Eve! Everything here belongs to Miss Eve- ahem, anyway! You may choose anything you like. Trust me! It's a coincidence! Yeah! His Grace prepared all of these in case young girls such as Miss Eve dropped by our mansion....ahem."

Charlotte kept clearing her throat after a long rambling, so I looked at her with a doubtful gaze. 

"......"

[.....]

Why did she talk so much?

[Yeah, why did she keep rambling like that?]

Ex must have the same thought as me. 

Charlotte brought me a light pink dress full of lace and two dresses with vibrant yellow colors. 

"How about dresses like this? I'm sure Miss Eve will look good in anything, but I think a dress with a lot of decoration would look really good on you~"

The dresses that Charlotte brought looked very pretty and luxurious. The fact that the chest area was a bit larger than my normal size didn't even bother me because it looked so gorgeous. 

'But...'

[You don't like it?]

'It's not that I don't like it...'

I turned my head toward the blue dress hanging between the numerous dresses. 

Unlike the other dresses, it looked a bit old as if someone else had been wearing it. 

[Do you like that?]

It was the only dress that captured my heart. 

[You seem really captivated by that dress, brat.]

'Don't you think it's pretty?'

[Other dresses look better in my eyes.]

'But!'

At that moment, Charlotte followed my gaze and turned her head. 

"Hm? Do you like that dress, Miss?"

"What? Ah, yes! I like this dress the most."

So I ran and stood in front of the blue dress. The dress was much prettier upon closer look, and I liked it. 

Charlotte looked at the dress that I chose and murmured as if confused. 

"How strange. Why is this dress here...."

She handed over the dresses she was holding to the other maids. She then bent her knees to match my eye level and asked. 

"This dress is not supposed to be here, but the maids must have misplaced it. Do you like this dress? Then let me help put it on you."

"Yes, I like it. But what do you mean it's not supposed to be here...? Does this dress have an owner?"

"Um, yes, to put it simply, you are the owner of this dress."

"Hm? Me?"

"Yes, that's right. It's a long story, but...You guys! Come here and help me with this. What are you doing standing idly?" Charlotte ordered the other maids sternly. 

Then the maids approached me with quick steps and helped me change into the dress.

But what do you mean I'm the owner of this dress? It's my first time coming here. Not to mention, I 'accidentally' bumped into the duke!

So there was no way they bought the dress in advance because they knew I was going to come....

'She also said that this dress isn't supposed to be here.'

What does it mean?

But I couldn't mull over it for too long. 

"It's all done. What do you think? Do you like it?"

Charlotte fixed the hem of my dress and asked me warmly. A maid brought a full-body mirror that was much bigger than me and directed it at me. 

Feeling a little awkward wearing this dress, I turned my gaze to the mirror. Charlotte was able to skilfully fix my hair in a short time, and thanks to her, I looked very 'prim'. 

The girl who was rolling around on the filthy floor of the rural market, Eve Royce, had disappeared, and in front of the mirror stood a noble young lady with blonde hair and striking sapphire eyes. 

'How awkward!'

It felt so awkward because I had never worn such expensive clothes and had many people help me tidy up the clothes. 

Fortunately, I didn't look like a little kid who stole other people's clothes, even though it was my first time wearing a dress.

I wonder what my dad will say when he looks at me wearing this dress.

Will he say, 'my daughter is the prettiest in the world'? Will he like it?

'I hope he will like it, hehee.'

Looking at the mirror, I felt a bit shy, so I fiddled with my hair for no reason. Charlotte, who combed my hair and tied it beautifully, clapped in satisfaction. 

"Oh my! You look so beautiful, Miss Eve!"

[Hmph, it looks like if you put lipstick on a pig....]

'I heard that everyone in this family carries a sword. Should I ask them if they need a spare sword?'

[...It looks so damn good on you, brat! You look like a person who has lived here since birth!]

That's right, that's right.

After I taught Ex a lesson for being bad-mannered, I looked back at the maid who took my one-piece dress. 

"Um, can you please keep my clothes for me? I'd like to wear it again when I return home."

"Yes, you can leave it to me."

The maid disappeared with my dress. 

After they were done changing my clothes, I looked at Charlotte while holding Ex in my arms. 

It was a bit awkward, but I thought I looked pretty good.

"Let's go to meet His Grace now."

She then held my hand with a gentle touch, and I nodded my head, albeit a little nervous. 

"Is it her?"

"I don't think she resembles her at all..."

"I hadn't seen the young duke's face...but do they really not resemble each other that much?"

"She doesn't look like the young duke at all except for the hair color. I knew it. I'm sure Nial adopted a random kid from somewhere..."

"Sshh! Everyone can hear you!"

I hugged Ex in my arms tightly. 

Yeah, I can hear everything. 

I said I can hear everything! Every single thing you said! I heard it all!

[Why did they run their mouths so rudely for everybody to hear?]

That's what I'm saying.

I was the most curious as to why those people whispered among themselves and looked at me like that.

Now I was standing alone in the middle of the mansion hallway instead of Duke Ferdinand's office. 

Charlotte left me alone because she was called by someone to take care of something urgently. 

'I'm sorry, Miss Eve. I'll send you a maid who will serve you as soon as possible!'

And fifteen minutes passed after that, but no one was coming to pick me up. 

'By the way, Ex. Do nobles normally keep their guests waiting in the middle of the hallway for this long?'

Not to mention whispering among themselves in front of a guest.

I could feel Ex was buzzing with anger at my question. 

[No way! They're just ignoring you!]

As expected, right?

I leaned against the wall with a window on it and squatted down. 

Ouch, my legs hurt.

Puyu: Stares at Charlotte (⇀_⇀) Hmmmmm, perhaps Eve's encounter with the Duke wasn't a coincidence..?