Nicholas' appearance seven years earlier than expected was a perfect example.
First, I'll adopt Elodie, deal with Nicholas, and then...I'll divorce Ethan.
None of these tasks can be solved overnight.
Rather, it must be addressed gradually, step by step.
I already had a rough plan in mind.
***
After returning to the property, I called Mary.
“Can you call the store and get a tailor for me?”
“Are you going to make a new dress?”
“Yes. Seems like the right time.”
"Oh my God, this should have been done ages ago. Well, which one should I call first? Warnier? Cabretta? Rollies? Or should I call them all?"
For some reason, Mary seemed a little excited.
“Who is the greediest for money?”
“…Excuse me? Don’t you mean the most expensive?”
“No, I want someone who will do anything for enough money.”
Mary blinked for a moment in confusion, then her expression returned to normal.
She's used to hearing strange things from me now.
“Well, they're all hungry for money, but… if we put it that way, Warnier would be the perfect choice. They've always been good at catering to your desires.”
“Okay, call them.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
A few hours later, a seamstress arrived from Warnier's shop.
“Come in, you came quickly.”
“Of course, the Duchess Dumont has called. I apologize for not arriving sooner.”
The seamstress, Josephine, bowed deeply, with a sadness almost regretful, though her eyes sparkled with ambition. Mary's choice seemed quite fortunate.
“So, what kind of dress do you need today? I brought samples of the latest fabrics and designs to inspire you. But of course, if you have anything in mind, don’t hesitate to let me know.”
Josephine began delivering her prepared lines, clearly eager to get a big order.
I smiled and replied: “Thank you, but I did not ask you to buy a dress. Quite the opposite.”
“...excuse me?”
Josephine looked puzzled.
“I have a closet full of dresses that I no longer wear. Simply throwing them away seems wasteful, so I was wondering if you could help me sell them.”
“Ah... I see.”
Josephine darted her eyes around, trying to hide her obvious confusion.
She was probably thinking: "Spend? Sell?"
Those words would never have come out of old Camille's mouth.
The reason I wanted to sell my dresses was to secretly raise money to escape from Ethan.
Although my jewelry would have sold for a much higher price, the problem was that all the pieces I owned were of extremely high value.
Selling it through official channels would make it easier to track, and rumors would likely spread quickly.
On top of that, I had a different plan for the jewelry.
Selling dresses would be a better way to make some money without attracting attention.
I had so many of them that selling a few dozen would go unnoticed.
I smiled and continued: "Don't worry. I won't invite you here without giving you something in return. I won't invite anyone to Dumont Palace to take more than I give. That wouldn't do any good, would it?"
“...No, that won't happen.”
Josephine's face immediately brightened, as if a lifeline had been thrown to her.
“However, it won't be like you're used to. I'm feeling a little tired since I got sick, and I'm tired of attending parties and night outs every night.”
“I see...”
Josephine seemed to sink back into the cold waters of reality, and she repeated herself as if her mind had shorted out.
"But don't get too discouraged. Think of it this way: Instead of making ten dresses, you can put all that effort and energy into making one really great dress."
I tilted my head slightly, smiling as I continued: “I want you to create something worthy of the Dumont name, something so breathtaking that no one will be able to look away from it. And of course, I will pay you what it is worth.”
Josephine finally regained her composure, and answered with determination: “I understand. I will not let you down, Your Highness.”
“Okay. Let’s start by ordering just two dresses now. I’ll see how good your work is. Don’t worry about the budget; just make sure the dresses are perfect.”
“Understood. I won’t disappoint you.”
“Great. I've already selected the dresses I want to sell, so take a look and tell me what you think they're worth.”
At my signal, the maids brought in a moving rack containing about twenty dresses.
Josephine examined her carefully. After glancing at me, she wrote a number on a piece of paper and showed it to me.
“What does this look like?”
The amount was a little higher than I expected. It seemed like she was raising the price as much as she could without risking the deal.
Well, she must know better not to underestimate a customer from a fancy store like her. Offering a small amount could jeopardize the entire deal.
“This suits me”
“Thank you. Would you like to deduct the price of the new dresses from this amount?”
“No, I want to pay for the dresses separately in cash. Just send the price for the new dresses to the Duchy as usual. Understood?” I lowered my voice a little.
You're probably assuming I'm trying to get some extra money without my husband knowing.
It was not uncommon for wealthy ladies to ask for inflated bills, then collect the difference themselves.
The reason I didn't use this method is because it would require me to buy too many dresses.
It would seem strange if I kept buying new dresses but stopped attending events.
Josephine smiled knowingly.
She bowed slightly and replied in a calm voice: “Of course, Duchess. Don’t worry. I will handle the matter discreetly.”
“Thank you. I hope you understand, but to be clear, I expect this agreement to remain a secret. I only contacted you, so if I hear any rumors...”
"Don't worry. I've been in this business for fifteen years, and I live by my reputation. You won't hear a word from anyone," Josephine tapped her chest confidently.
“Thank you. Now, let’s talk about new dresses.”
“I've been waiting for this”
Her eyes sparkled as she flipped through design books and fabrics, her hands moving quickly.
I watched her with a calm smile.
***
As promised, I ordered two dresses.
The price was more than double what she had made selling the two old dresses, so Josephine had no reason to complain.
“I will be visiting you soon. I look forward to working with you,” I added in a purposeful tone.
“Of course, Duchess. I will do my best to ensure that you do not regret my choice.”
Josephine left with a solemn bow.
Good. I found a way to raise money, and I also arranged to buy new dresses to wear at upcoming events.
The dresses Camille was wearing were not to my taste at all, so I felt like I had solved two problems at once.
Nicholas was keen to seek another opportunity to connect with me. There was no better place for that than a banquet or party.
If I had stayed at home as before, Nicholas would not have been able to come near. But in this case, I wouldn't be able to predict his next move, and that's not a risk I'm willing to take.
So, I decided to attend parties regularly, creating easy opportunities for Nicholas to communicate with me. He thought he was collecting information from me, but I was using those conversations to collect information from him.
Since attending Viscount Grandbert's party, I have received a new wave of invitations. I spread it on the table and started choosing the party I would attend.