The First Meeting

The next day, Dahlia headed to the dress shop to meet the Madame who had requested her presence.

As the door opened with a clear chime, a woman approached as if she had been waiting. It was Madame Muriel, the owner of the dress shop.

"Come in, Grace."

Grace was the alias Dahlia used in the Easter Kingdom. She had chosen it to avoid being traced if her real name, Dahlia, was used.

"Hello. I heard you were looking for me, so I came."

"I've been so busy that we haven't had much time to talk. I also have a proposal for you, Grace."

In her early forties, Madame Muriel had lost her husband early and raised her young son alone while managing the dress shop.

That's why, when Dahlia first settled in this village, Muriel, seeing their similar circumstances, had been the most helpful to her.

Following Muriel as she led her to the back room, Dahlia glanced around the shop.

The shop, once filled with old and worn furniture, now looked as glamorous as a high-end boutique.

"The shop seems to get prettier by the day."

"Isn't it? It's all thanks to you, Grace."

"I just added a few words of advice, that's all."

"Making those few words work wonders is a talent in itself."

Muriel poured steaming tea for Dahlia as she continued speaking.

"I've been commissioned to make a dress for a very important person. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for someone like me, running a dress shop in such a remote place."

"Oh my, congratulations!"

Dahlia offered her sincere congratulations, and Muriel replied with a pleased smile.

"Thank you. So, about that… could you accompany me to the royal palace?"

"The royal palace…?"

"Yes. The person who commissioned the dress is none other than the princess."

"Oh my."

She had assumed it would be someone from a prominent noble family, but the mention of a princess made Dahlia's eyes widen.

"To design the princess's dress, I have to visit the royal palace myself. I can't have someone of her stature come to a place like this. To make a dress that suits her figure and impression, I need your help. It would also be best if you met her in person."

Considering the many renowned dress shops in the capital, this was truly a golden opportunity for Muriel.

Moreover, it wasn't just a noble but a princess—if Muriel completed this project successfully, she would achieve great success.

"I must seize this opportunity. And to do that, I need your help, Grace."

"Ah…."

However, Dahlia avoided her gaze, looking troubled. Despite Muriel's request, the thought of meeting someone as prominent as a princess felt overwhelming.

She also worried that someone in the royal palace might recognize her.

Of course, she knew the Easter Kingdom was so insular that it was unlikely anyone would know her, but it didn't hurt to be cautious.

So, Dahlia began to speak politely, intending to decline the offer.

But Muriel, sensing Dahlia's hesitation, spoke first.

"Of course, you must feel uneasy about leaving your young son behind. How about bringing Damian and Samantha to stay in the capital for a while? After all, we'll have to go back and forth a lot. Damian is five now, isn't he? It's not a bad age to take a trip together. Damian has never been outside the village, has he? I'll cover all the expenses, so think of it as a family trip and join me in the capital."

Madame Muriel's determination to bring Dahlia to the capital was unwavering. And when Dahlia thought of Damian, her resolve began to waver.

After all, Damian hadn't even left the village, let alone had friends his age, and she often worried about him playing alone in the yard.

Seeing Dahlia's expression, Muriel delivered the final push.

"I'll pay you an hourly wage for the time spent in the capital. Of course, you'll also be separately compensated for helping with the dress. Think of Damian—it's not a bad opportunity. He must have been so lonely in this village without peers his age. In the capital, he'll surely make good friends and gain valuable experiences."

It was an irresistibly tempting offer.

"Moving would cost a lot of money."

She had been in this village for three years, and she had just been considering moving elsewhere when this chance to earn significant money arose. Moreover, it was a great opportunity for Damian to experience the capital.

Her deliberation was brief. After all, it would only last two weeks at most.

The chances of anything worrisome happening during that time were exceedingly slim.

Dahlia set down the teacup she had been fiddling with and replied.

"Alright. Let's go to the royal palace together."

As soon as Dahlia gave her answer, Muriel's face lit up.

"Thank you! You've made the right decision, Grace. Your time in the capital will be truly enjoyable."

"Yes, I hope so."

"I'm sure it will be, so don't worry."

Muriel's expression radiated confidence as she spoke.

* * *

Once it was decided that they would stay in the capital for a while, everything progressed swiftly.

Although Dahlia lived on the outskirts of the capital, the small village she resided in was worlds apart from the royal palace in the heart of the city.

When Dahlia mentioned going to the royal palace, Lloyd had initially felt uneasy, but he seemed reassured when she explained that meeting the princess would happen only once.

After all, their stay in the capital would last no more than two weeks.

Thinking of it as merely a trip made it easier to feel at ease.

"Damian, you promised Mom you'd behave here, didn't you?"

"Yes! I promise!"

Damian, thrilled at the prospect of his first trip, was grinning from ear to ear.

Although she had been a bit worried, seeing Damian so happy reassured her that coming here was the right decision.

Watching Damian enjoy himself, Dahlia spoke to Samantha, who was standing nearby.

"Alright, Samantha, I'm counting on you to take care of Damian."

"Yes! Don't worry and go without concern."

Samantha said she would look forward to hearing about the princess and saw her off.

Then, together with Muriel, who was waiting outside, Dahlia headed straight to the royal palace.

Thanks to securing lodgings near the palace, they arrived quickly by carriage. The white-walled palace came into Dahlia's view.

The Easter Kingdom was a small country.

It was said to be less than a quarter the size of the Granos Empire, where Dahlia had lived. As such, the palace was relatively modest compared to the empire's.

Of course, in terms of splendor, it was just as magnificent as the empire's. A maid, as though expecting them, greeted the two as they stepped out of the carriage and led them to where the princess was.

"This way, please. The princess is expecting you."

Dahlia, now fully realizing she was indeed in the royal palace, tightened her once-loosened nerves.

Following the maid, she recalled what Muriel had told her earlier.

"I heard the princess is commissioning a dress for a very important occasion. From what I've heard, it's for her first meeting with someone being discussed as a potential match. You understand how significant this opportunity is, don't you?"

For someone to meet the princess for such a purpose, the man must at least be a noble or royalty.

A dress for such an important occasion—if this project were successful, Muriel's dress shop might even be commissioned to make the wedding gown in the future.

"I have to do this well."

She resolved to use all her knowledge to create a dress that suited the princess perfectly.

It was because she genuinely wanted to help Muriel, who had always cared for her.

As she silently vowed to do her best, the maid stopped, signaling that they had reached their destination.

The maid then informed the princess of their arrival.

"Come in."

With permission granted to enter, Muriel and Dahlia took a short breath and stepped inside.

Inside, a woman sitting on a sofa and sipping tea came into view, as though she had been waiting for them.

The moment Dahlia laid eyes on the princess, her eyes widened, and she let out a short gasp.

"Her hair…."

It was silver. Though currently dyed, it was the same silver color Dahlia herself had naturally.

Having never seen anyone else with the same hair color as hers, Dahlia couldn't help but stare at the princess.

Noticing Dahlia's gaze, the princess looked up and locked eyes with her.

The princess's sky-blue eyes met Dahlia's violet ones in midair.

The princess, intrigued, also spoke to Dahlia.