Audrey nodded warmly, smiling.
“Sure. You don’t have to apologize to me. I will definitely help you with what you asked for.”
"Really? You'll help me?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly with emotion.
“Sure. If there's anything I can do to help, I will.”
“Thank you...” I said, my eyes filling with tears.
After my talk with Victor, I spent hours practicing in front of the mirror, determined to perfect my performance. My efforts seemed to pay off, as Audrey's eyes were shining with tears as well.
Audrey, like Victor, was known for her kindness. I was correct in my assessment that this approach would be more effective for her.
“Shall we start immediately? That’s the name of Count Dominique Bustillo...”
“Oh, Count Bustillo? Well, let me tell you about him...” Audrey said as she sat next to me.
Her enthusiasm exceeded my expectations.
She faithfully embodied the character described in the original story – someone who does not ignore those who need help.
Out of Audrey's sight, I allowed myself a small, satisfied smile.
***
After about an hour of meticulous note-taking, the guest list was filled with detailed notes, with almost no space left.
The list seemed more comprehensive than my old study notes.
Audrey's descriptions of the guests were detailed and memorable, reflecting the skill of her keen observation. She was indeed an ideal companion for Elodie.
“Thank you very much, Viscountess, I owe you so much,” I said, bowing my head in gratitude.
"Oh God, please don't say that. It was no big deal," Audrey replied, waving her hands dismissively, looking confused.
“I'm glad I could help you. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask.”
“Well, there's one more thing I'd like to ask you.”
“Of course, what's the matter?” Audrey answered.
“Can you keep our conversation today a secret from others?”
"Of course. Don't worry about it," Audrey reassured, placing her hand over her heart.
“I trust you, Viscountess. Can you also ensure that the servants keep this matter a secret?”
“Servants?” she asked, looking puzzled.
“Yes. The butler, the maid, and the servant who made the tea. If anyone tries to bribe them for information about our conversation today, have them delete the part about the guest list and report back to you immediately. Tell them you will pay them double the amount offered. I will pay for it.”
“……”
Audrey's eyes widened in surprise, clearly wondering why I would take such actions.
I did not ask Viscount Rochefort to keep our conversation a secret because I did not trust him, and that would have raised Ethan's suspicions.
Just knowing the guest list will not raise specific suspicions.
But this situation was different.
Everything I told Audrey was a lie, and Ethan didn't know about my alleged memory loss.
I could never imagine that someone else's soul had taken over my body...but it was best not to leave any unnecessary room for doubt.
“Honestly, my husband doesn’t know that I lost my memory. This is the first time I’ve told anyone,” I said in a low voice, “but I think he’s noticed my change. He’s been suspicious of me, and keeps asking me. If he finds out the truth… he might want to divorce me.”
“What? How could this be...” Audrey gasped in astonishment, “I don’t think the Duke would do such a thing. Your memory problems are a result of your illness...”
"You don't know my husband as well as I do," I answered with a sad look. "He always thought I was not fit to be the Duchess of Dumont. And after five years of marriage without an heir…"
I let my voice fade, allowing the weight of my words to sink in.
“If he finds out that his already useless wife can’t even remember the names of the people at the party… Ethan will definitely ditch me.”
“No, Duchess. You are overthinking. Of course you will not...”
“Please, Viscountess Grandbert. Ethan is a very meticulous person. He will be wondering in advance why I am coming to you, someone I don’t normally interact with. We have to be prepared for anything, so please help me.”
Audrey looked confused, but quickly nodded.
“Okay. I will do as you ask, Duchess.”
“Thank you so much. I will never forget the kindness you showed me today.”
After this, I left a large quantity of gold with Audrey, and instructed her not to contact me unless absolutely necessary, and that I would recover the remainder later.
I knew her so well that I expected she would never keep the gold for herself, even if I asked her to.
I advised her not to contact me as a precaution; If Ethan discovered any trace, it would defeat my purpose.
Upon my return to Dumont Palace, I spent several days memorizing details from the list.
“Okay, that should be enough.”
I felt like the solution was much easier than I initially expected.
Now, the next challenge was choosing what to wear to the event.
In my past life, I always faced the dilemma of “nothing to wear” even though my wardrobe was full.
In this life, I faced the opposite problem: an overwhelming abundance of dresses.
The wardrobe alone, the size of a typical 28pyeong* apartment, was filled with dresses of various kinds.
[*Pyeong: It is a Korean unit of area and land area, equal to 1 square khan or 36 square Korean feet]
To my surprise, Mary naturally made an appointment with the tailor when she heard about the upcoming event.
“Wait, who's coming?”
“The Tailor from the Warnier Shop”
“What? I didn’t ask for a tailor.”
"But ma'am, you mentioned attending the party this weekend. You need a new dress, don't you?"
“With all these dresses, why do I need a new one?”
“But… you always had new dresses designed for every occasion.”
Mary's expression was even more confused than mine, and she seemed almost annoyed by my reaction.
I almost asked, “Really?” In true astonishment.
Finally, the mystery of the mountain of dresses was solved.
Camille probably attended at least three or four events a week. If she buys a new dress every time, no wonder it piles up like this...
It was surprising that Ethan didn't control her spending.
How rich is the Dumont family?
I knew it from the original story, but watching it myself was a whole different matter.
Noticing my expression, Marie asked me cautiously: "If Warnier is not to your liking, should I call someone else? Cabretta, perhaps? Or perhaps Rollies? Oh, but you said not to call Rollies again after the tailor made that remark…"
“What did he say?”
I was curious and apprehensive at the same time.
“No, it's okay. Cancel the appointment. I won't get a new dress this time.”
“...Are you sure?” , Mary looked anxious, as if anticipating another strange change in her mind.
“Yes, instead, call Lola.”
Lola was one of the maids responsible for managing Camille's dresses.
“You called me, ma'am?” Lola entered and bowed politely.
"Yes, I need a dress for a party this weekend. Can you pick out some options for me?"
Honestly, I could never face the problem of going through the wardrobe myself again.
“Sorry? But...” Lola hesitated, looking confused.
“The lady decided not to buy a new dress this time,” Mary quickly interrupted.
Lola blinked in surprise, then nodded quickly.
These maids, having survived under Camille's leadership, possessed exceptional acumen.
“Do you have any particular color or design in mind?”
“Hmm, something subdued and elegant.”
From my quick scan of the wardrobe, it seemed to me that almost all of Camille's dresses were overly embellished.