(4)
TN: (à¹Ëá´Ë)ï»
Hugo leaned on his arms in thought as he sat in the carriage heading towards the ducal residence. From his expression, it was impossible to guess what he was thinking about. Fabian sat on the opposite side of the carriage and made a careful attempt to gauge his masterâs mood.
âShall I look into Sir Krotinâs whereabouts?â
According to the Crown Prince, the Knight Roy Krotin disappeared without a word and his whereabouts were unknown. Insubordination, unauthorized absence and negligence. If one were to charge Roy of these crimes, it was not just once or twice.
âFor someone like him, he has endured for long.â
Fabian couldnât help but fully agree with that statement. In fact, it was amazing that Roy had lasted for more than a year without causing any trouble and was only giving a protest now.
âLeave it alone. Heâs probably sleeping somewhere and will crawl in later.â
When Roy was done fooling around and showed himself, Hugo planned to give him some long due âadviceâ. It was around time for the efficacy of the last âmedicineâ to have fallen.
âAnd as for the escort matter, I think thatâs enough, it can stop now.â
Although Kwiz was still a prince, the gap between his present royal authority and his authority before the King died was like heaven and earth. Kwiz was under escort and guarding, not lacking to that of a Kingâs.
If someone were to move rashly against Kwiz, they would be charged with treason and their entire family would be under the danger of extermination, hence, there was no one that would move carelessly or take risks at this time.
âYes, Your Grace.â
âJust as I expected. His Grace is lenient with Roy.â
If Roy were to hear this, he would frantically argue that there was no way the Duke was lenient with him since he was beaten mercilessly however, the Dukeâs leniency was acknowledged by all but Roy.
His master did not treat anyone else the way he treated Roy. Fabian somehow felt like he knew why. Roy was the only person that faced the Duke of Taran with cheekiness and without being afraid. When the Duke of Taran was with Roy, at times, he would seem like an normal person.
âMad dog, huh...what a fitting nickname.â
Nowadays, in the Capital, the knight Krotin was referred to as the ârabid dog Krotinâ. There was a time when Fabian used to be worried that Roy would get into trouble for acting cheeky in front of the Duke.
That fellow certainly suited the name, mad dog. For a mad dog knows no fear.
âWho is the most famous designer in the Capital?â (Hugo)
âThere are a few. From here...â
Fabian looked out the window and roughly gauged their current location.
âThe nearest place is Monsieur Jeffreyâs boutique or Madame Antoineâs boutique.â
The male designer was immediately excluded from Hugoâs choice.
âTurn the carriage. Head to Antoineâs boutique.â
Immediately the carriage changed directions and began to head towards the Madame Antoineâs boutique. Antoine was definitely one of the famous designers in the capital. But, it was difficult to say that she was the most famous.
Depending on the dressing style that one preferred, the best designer would differ from person to person. The reason Antoine could catch a big customer today, was firstly because she was female and secondly because the location of her boutique was closest to the Dukeâs carriage.
Even though the Duke of Taran did not make an appointment in advance and was interrupting at closing time, he was treated as a VVIP and received into the VIP suite.
High-class boutiques were very sensitive to information on the power situation of the country. Their main customers were wealthy and the wealthy were mainly high-ranking nobles and the high-ranking nobles were mainly people in power.
It was a sensitive time, now that power was reorganized on such a huge scale. Although there was some factor of unrest, most people expected the Crown Prince to become King without fail.
The fact that the Duke of Taran was the closest adviser of the new King was something that anyone with a little grasp of the current political atmosphere would know. It was the emerging dominance of a powerhouse that nobody would be able to deal with in the future.
To the powerful Duke, his richness was just an extra bonus but that extra bonus was the most attractive to Antoine.
As a highly prideful designer and the owner of her own boutique, Antoine strove to establish her pride in front of her tolerable nobles customers but today, in front of the Duke of Taran, she did not plan to doing so. She was very amiable and welcomed her guests personally.
âIt is an honor to meet your distinguished personage. Your Grace.â
âI do not appreciate talking for long so I will be brief.â
âPlease, go ahead.â
âI need a dress for my wife.â
The hottest topic in society, the Duchess! Antoine fought to control her expression in order to avoid revealing her interest.
âIs Her Grace accompanying you? Is she waiting in the carriage?â
âI have heard that designers can personally visit on commission.â
âYes, of course. Your Grace. When would you like me to visit?ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âTomorrow...â
On a second thought, tomorrow was not going to be possible. Today was fifth day in the âonce every five daysâ rule. Maybe because of the accumulate fatigue from travel but ever since she came to the capital, it had been difficult to do her to his heartâs content.
Moreover, yesterday, he was only a slightly late in returning home but she was already fast asleep. She had a huge fever before coming to the capital so Hugo was very sensitive about his wifeâs health.
He didnât want to wake her up when she was tired and in deep sleep so he just hugged her and slept.
Today, he planned to have a passionate night with her, doing both todayâs and yesterdayâs part. If she rested all day tomorrow, it wouldnât be too much for the designer to visit her the day after tomorrow.
âNo. Letâs have you come in next tomorrow.â
âYou mean...in two days?â
Antoine was a famous designer. There were lines of people waiting to be fitted in her dresses. Nowadays, especially because of the upcoming coronation, it was busy day and night. Her schedule was tightly packed for a month.
Even when she wasnât busy, she usually left a margin of at least a week to schedule a date. The sudden demand of a schedule in two days was difficult. However, Antoine was only worried for a short moment. In the first place, the customer in front of her was incredibly huge.
Antoine flicked her abacus and compared the publicity to be gained from the Duchess wearing an Antoine designed dress versus the damage to be received from the immediate and impractical schedule change.
The Duchess was at the center of conversation in the social circles. She had gone straight to her husbandâs territory as soon as she got married and no one had ever seen her properly.
Whenever the noble ladies were being fitted for dresses in Antoineâs boutique, they filled Antoineâs ears with talks of the Duchess. The first appearance of the Duchess in the circles would certainly be an event of great interest.
âUnderstood. I will do as you say.â
Antoine replied readily. She looked forward to meeting the rumored Duchess and that had also played a part in her reply.