Chapter 9

The tailor was a man dressed in flamboyant clothing, and standing beside the stiffly dressed Gavelin made the contrast almost amusing.

With gestures as dramatic as a stage actor, he bowed deeply and smiled charmingly.

“It is an honor to meet you, my lady. I am Odilo, the owner of a small boutique. To think I have been granted the privilege of designing the wedding dress for the future Duchess of Vasteron! I am overwhelmed with joy, truly beyond words!”

Hearing his introduction, Agnes was startled.

If he was that Odilo, then he was the famous designer who led fashion trends in the capital.

It was said that even nobles from distant provinces traveled long distances with purses full of money just to purchase his dresses.

Especially during the social season like now, some claimed it was harder to get an appointment with Odilo than an audience with the Emperor.

To be honest, this was not Odilo’s honor but hers.

When she had married Count Overhen, she had only worn an old wedding dress passed down in the count’s family, slightly altered to fit her.

But as the soon-to-be Duchess of Vasteron, acting too modestly before a tailor would be unseemly for the household’s dignity.

Agnes hid her surprise behind a calm and pleasant smile.

“I’m looking forward to it. It’s an honor to have you design my wedding dress, Odilo. But I’m not yet the Duchess of Vasteron.”

“Oh, but I was commissioned to create the wedding dress for the Duchess of Vasteron. Therefore, the one who wears it is, of course, the Duchess herself.”

He was clearly flattering her, yet he did it so skillfully that it didn’t feel unpleasant.

Amused, Agnes smiled and nodded as if to let him continue.

Odilo set down the two enormous catalogues he had been carrying and spoke brightly.

“Then, would you like to see the designs I’ve prepared? This one is for the wedding ceremony, and this one for the banquet. Of course, any of them can be modified to your taste.”

His confidence was remarkable.

For some reason, Agnes felt reassured that even if she chose something far from her usual style, he would make it suit her perfectly.

“I’d like to choose the wedding dress first.”

“Then please select two from this section.”

“Two?”

She almost asked why, but stopped herself.

Then it occurred to her that Dylan was of royal blood, and it was customary for royalty to hold two weddings.

One was public, before the people, and the other private, with only close attendees.

She had never been invited to such a private royal wedding before, so she had forgotten the custom entirely.

Of course they wouldn’t use the same dress twice.

Still slightly dazed, Agnes slowly turned the pages of the catalogue.

Aside from their white color, none of the dresses shared much in common, yet all were beautiful.

Seeing her hesitate, Odilo offered advice.

“My lady has such graceful lines that I would recommend a mermaid silhouette, but given that it is a royal wedding, we must be careful. For that reason, I’ve also prepared more classic designs that emphasize elegance without revealing the figure. May I show you these?”

“Oh my… how beautiful.”

“Isn’t it? It’s one of my proudest works. When you wear this dress, my lady, everyone will fall in love with you on sight. For the second ceremony, however, a more solemn design would suit the mood better. I have a new bell-line dress design I’ve never shown to anyone before, but for you, I’ll make an exception.”

Odilo was not only eloquent but also knowledgeable about ceremonial traditions, which was a great help.

Following his advice, Agnes began selecting the wedding dress, shoes, floral arrangements, and decorations for the ceremony.

She did not have to hold back for fear of money or settle for less than what she liked. The wedding budget Dylan had prepared was immense.

At first, the amount had startled her, but considering his status, it was only natural.

Once she finished choosing the wedding dresses, it was time to pick her banquet gowns. She was already a bit tired, but Odilo seemed more energized than ever.

“For the banquet, you will need three gowns. Please pick as many designs as you like, and I’ll send someone to bring the actual pieces for you to see.”

“All right. They’re all so beautiful, I’ll need to see them in person to decide.”

“Oh, what an honor! I’ll stake my life to make your gowns the most beautiful in the Empire. I swear, I won’t disappoint you.”

Agnes couldn’t help laughing softly.

“I don’t think the most famous designer in the Empire should risk his life for just one client. But I’ll look forward to your work.”

After reviewing countless designs with him, she finally managed to select three gowns for the banquet.

Of course, that didn’t mean everything was finished. The accessories had to be chosen to match each dress, and final fittings would follow to ensure everything fit perfectly.

Once Odilo left, Agnes rubbed her aching shoulders. Seeing this, Gavelin stepped forward and asked politely,

“If his manner was too excessive, I can find another tailor for you.”

Agnes blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected that kind of consideration from him.

Maybe he simply thought a quieter, more serious tailor would be more suitable for the future Duchess.

“I actually like his designs. And Odilo himself seems like a fun person.”

Gavelin stiffened slightly before replying, “Yes, as you wish, my lady.”

It wasn’t hard to see that her answer didn’t please him.

‘I’m not sure if Gavelin and I will ever get along.’

Agnes didn’t dislike him, but since he clearly felt uncomfortable around her, forming a close bond wouldn’t be easy.

Still, she decided to take her time. With that thought, she returned to her assigned room.

Her bedroom was on the same floor as Dylan’s, though not connected to it.

Once the wedding was held, she would move into the duchess’s chamber, but for now, she found this arrangement much more comfortable.

After receiving help from the maids to get ready for bed, she sat on the edge of the mattress. The softness of it eased her body, though her mind was far from calm.

‘Dylan said he needs to drink blood every three or four days, but it’s already been five…’

How was he coping?

Surely he wasn’t just enduring it.

If what Gavelin said was true and Dylan was close to the Emperor, then he must have found some way to ease his thirst.

But if it were that easy, why had he suffered for so long?

Perhaps the Emperor did not truly understand his condition.

Agnes shook her head.

It was not her place to worry about someone of his status.

She pushed aside her restless thoughts and lifted the blanket.

Just as she was about to lie down—

Knock, knock.

A firm, heavy knock came from the door.

Agnes quickly grabbed her shawl from the chair and draped it over her shoulders. “Who is it?”

“It’s Dylan.”

The deep, weighty voice seeped through the crack in the door.

“Your Grace?”

She slipped on her slippers and hurried to open it.

The man standing outside looked utterly exhausted.

His face was pale, as though it had never seen sunlight. Deep shadows clung beneath his eyes, and his expression was hollow.

Gavelin had said Dylan was staying comfortably in the Imperial Palace, but the man before her looked more like someone who had just returned from hell.

“Your Grace… P-please, come in.”

Agnes stepped aside, gesturing him in.

Instead of entering, Dylan closed the door behind him.

She started toward the sofa, intending to offer him a seat, but he caught her wrist, stopping her in place.

“Agnes.”

It was the first time in her life that hearing her own name sent chills racing down her spine.

His voice carried a heavy, ominous air, like the whisper of something alive within ruins.

The hand gripping her wrist was as cold as if it had been plunged into icy water, yet the palm was damp with sweat.

It didn’t feel like the hand of a living man.

Her heart stopped for a moment. She turned toward him carefully and gasped.

Dylan’s eyes glowed a deep, eerie red.