The Blue Mermaid Dress
Salon Rosemarine held the capital's high society fashion trends in an iron grip.
Its madam, Rosaline, stood with her back perfectly straight as she exchanged greetings with high-ranking noblewomen once again today.
Renowned as one of the kingdom's finest designers, her pride soared every bit as high as her fame. Ordinary nobles had to book months in advance, and no amount of deposit could ever make Rosaline hurry.
Yet even she had one person for whom she could never rearrange her schedule at will—
“G-good heavens.”
Am I dreaming right now?
Rosaline's eyes went round at the sight of the woman standing in the entrance. The duke beside her registered only later; the presence before her was simply too overwhelming.
“Duchess!”
Rosaline rarely quickened her steps. This was no ordinary visitor—it was the Duchess of Bertis. Of course her pace would pick up.
When Rosaline had once been falsely accused, this woman had believed in her and stood by her to the very end.
But the moment she noticed the man accompanying her, Rosaline hastily collected herself.
“Ahem.”
The Duke and Duchess of Bertis had already finalized their mutual divorce a year ago. That meant she could no longer address her as Duchess.
“Y-Your Grace.”
They're together right now? And for a divorced couple...
“I'd like to look through the catalogues at once.”
And they're holding hands so affectionately?
“Ah. Yes, yes!”
Rosaline hurriedly bowed her head, gathering her scattered wits. She summoned her staff at once and spoke quickly.
“Bring every catalogue and every bolt of fabric from inside! Prepare the reception room as well!”
She had no idea why the two of them were together, but she was certain something monumental was unfolding.
A short while later.
“This one looks promising as well.”
“Your eye is impeccable, Your Grace. Soft pastel shades are all the rage in high society these days. The madam... no, the young lady will surely look wonderful in them.”
The duke browsed the catalogues with a thoroughly serious expression, selecting dresses as carefully as if he were reviewing vital documents, missing not a single design detail.
Beside him, Rosaline offered advice diligently while swallowing dryly.
Even if they had parted cleanly...
She's his ex-wife.
Wouldn't that be awkward enough?
Yet they had come together like this...
If anything... they seem to be getting along even better?
That Herman Bertis coming to a salon to seriously pick out women's clothes. It was still a little astonishing.
Even while Riena went to try on dresses, he continued pondering which accessories would suit her.
“We'll take them all. I'll send someone, so have everything ready.”
“Th-thank you, Your Grace!”
Having earned several years' worth of sales overnight, Rosaline nodded with a dazed expression.
And eventually...
“Um, Your Grace...”
Her curiosity finally reaching its limit, she carefully opened her mouth.
“Might I ask... what sort of relationship you have with the young lady?”
“Relationship?”
“Ah! N-nothing particular—it's simply that it's been so long since I've seen the two of you together...”
After the formal divorce, Duke Bertis had neither remarried at once nor made any gesture of entertaining marriage proposals.
It wasn't as if no one pursued him. Far from it. Though he had been married once, the duke had no children, and his looks were outstanding. He remained the most eligible bachelor in the kingdom.
“Just an ordinary relationship.”
An ordinary relationship?
Rosaline rolled her eyes, trying to parse the meaning of his words. But the duke gave her no time to think.
“That blue mermaid dress we saw earlier—I'd like you to prepare that one carefully.”
“Ah, yes! Of course!”
The blue mermaid dress. It was the one Riena had particularly liked earlier.
Herman nodded and deliberately fiddled with his left hand. Rosaline's gaze naturally dropped, and her eyes soon grew as wide as saucers.
A diamond ring sparkling on his ring finger.
“Understood. Then... wait, what?”
W-wait a second.
“When the new catalogue comes out, send it to the mansion as well.”
What did I just see?
Riena let out a long sigh as she surveyed the mountain of boxes piled in front of the shop.
She still had clothes she hadn't even worn yet among her existing wardrobe. Trends in high society might change quickly, but this felt like overkill.
No—indoor dresses and nightgowns are only worn at the mansion.
He had replaced even those completely this time around.
“I heard society ladies are sensitive to trends.”
“They are, but they don't usually go this far.”
Nobles had to maintain a certain level of dignity. Riena understood that much. But almost no one discarded even the small everyday pieces after a single wear. And it wasn't just clothes—they had bought accessories as well, hadn't they?
“Still,” Herman began carefully, “I wanted to do this for you after so long.”
“...”
“...Is that not all right?”
Th-that's foul play!
Her heart went soft at those pitiful eyes.
“It's not that...”
“I also asked them to send the new catalogue, so you'll receive it soon.”
Seizing the opening, Herman drove the point home.
“While we're at it, I was thinking of having new wedding rings made.”
“Rings?”
Riena reflexively lowered her gaze. On the ring finger of his left hand, resting atop a sturdy thigh, sat a clean design of gold and diamonds.
It was the very ring they had commissioned when they first married.
“...”
A strange feeling washed over her. Unlike him, her own finger was bare.
“There's no need to have new ones made.”
“What—”
“I still have mine. It's at home, but...”
Riena clenched her empty hand once, then opened it.
“The wedding ring, I mean.”
“...”
“I-I didn't attach any special meaning to it. I just... kept it.”
If she had sold it, she could have secured escape funds long ago—yet somehow she had wanted to keep that one thing.
Riena cleared her throat and asked,
“When did you start wearing yours again?”
“Since the moment you accepted the marriage proposal.”
Before that, he couldn't have worn it even if he wanted to. His position drew attention no matter what he did. Society's eyes always scrutinized every detail about him.
If word got out that he was still wearing the ring he had shared with his ex-wife...
I wouldn't mind them talking about me.
But it could have needlessly harmed Riena, who was finally living her own life. So he had refrained.
Now, however, was different.
“From now on, you should wear yours too.”
“Actually... there's something I wanted to ask because of that.”
Herman closed his mouth, waiting for her to speak.
“I'd like to stop by my house for a bit.”
“Your house?”
“Yes. The ring is there, and...”
She wanted to tidy up one last time.
Hearing her words, Herman added,
“Going is fine, but it would be best to take knights with you, just in case.”
The trading company master was still on the run. There was no telling when or where his associates might be watching her or try to approach.
Riena understood his meaning and nodded.
“Then would it be all right if I go first thing tomorrow?”
“As you like.”
Herman lightly touched his wedding ring and lifted the corner of his mouth.
“I'll go pay my respects to His Majesty.”
Now that they had decided to reunite, there were things that needed doing.
I'll leave the moment the sun rises.
He usually found palace visits tiresome, yet right now he couldn't wait for tomorrow.
The next morning, Riena visited her house as soon as day broke.
Thankfully, everything's still here.
She glanced around the small living room, mentally sorting through what she needed to pack.
Just then, one of the knights who had accompanied her approached.
“We have been watching the place since Madam returned to the mansion, but there have been no signs of intrusion, nor has anyone come looking.”
“Is that so?”
She had wondered, but confirming that he had truly fled without looking back left a bitter taste.
“Are you all right?”
“Why wouldn't I be?”
It was a bond she had already turned her back on. There was no need to cling to lingering feelings, and she had no desire to.
Riena handed the knights a few bags she had packed in advance, then entered the bedroom alone to gather the items on the vanity herself.
Among them was the ring Herman had given her personally.
“All the luggage you mentioned has been loaded onto the carriage.”
“Thank you.”
“Is there anything else that needs to be loaded?”
The knight waiting by the door asked. Riena glanced back at the room she had just left and shook her head.
“No. That's everything.”
She had wanted to leave lightly when she departed, so she had thrown most things away. She never imagined it would prove useful like this.
“Shall we head back soon...”
Just as she was about to leave the house, Riena paused.
“Is the trading company under investigation right now?”
“That is my understanding.”
“Then have all the employees who worked there been caught?”
“A few are still at large, but most have been apprehended. I believe they are currently being held temporarily by the capital's security forces.”
“...”
“Shall I look into the details?”
“It's fine... no. Please do.”
They had once worked in the same place, after all. Some might have colluded with that Josef, but there would also be people as wronged as she had been.
The knight who received the order bowed his head.
“I shall inquire at once.”