Chapter 7

I had never worn a dress before, so I had no idea how to wear it. Lillian had worked as a maid all her life, but most of it was cleaning or kitchen work, and she did not directly take care of high- ranking nobles. When Lillian did not come out after a long time, the duke approached the screen and asked. “What’s up? Why don’t you come out?”

“Duke…?“

“I don’t know what to wear “

“…..”

Lillian answered in a voice as low as a mosquito’s.

When I asked the duke, a man, to help me get dressed, I was embarrassed and hesitated for a while. I had already shown myself naked, but for a separate matter, I was afraid I would look like an idiot who didn’t even know how to wear a dress.

“Can I come in and help you?”

“Yes.”

With the sound of footsteps, his figure was revealed behind the screen. Lillian, in her underwear, was blushing, holding up her dress and biting her lip. Soon the duke took the dress from her hands and began to dress her carefully. A duke helping a commoner maid dress. It was a strange sight that seemed to have changed status, but there was no great awkwardness.

“Put your arm in here.”

“Yes.”

Lillian put on a fancy dress as the duke led her. It was definitely expensive, so the texture and fit were different from the clothes I usually wear. The Duke’s hand brushed over her shoulder.  Contrary to the cold impression, the warm hand left warmth on Lillian’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry.”

“No.”

The duke’s hand touched Lillian, he apologized for that, Lillian gave a small reply. Rather than feeling bad, I rather liked his warm hand.

“Even fancy clothes look good on you.”

“Thanks to my modeling job, I try on dresses like this. It’s a dress you can’t buy even if you work all your life.”

“You can take it if you want.”

“No. I didn’t mean that.“

“I don’t care. Even if I had it anyway, no one would wear it anyway. You can wear it at home later.”

Lillian hesitated at the duke’s words. I am receiving a lot of compensation, so I wondered if I could even get this.

“Are you okay? If it’s uncomfortable, it’s a bonus whatever you think.”

“……Then I’ll be grateful.”

“Yes. Instead, I would like you to stand today.”

“Yes.”

Lillian, determined to work hard, stepped out of the screen and took her place in front of the canvas. After that, the Duke who came out of the screen looked at Lillian’s posture and thought for a moment. Then walk straight to the side. Go take the flowers out of the vase and shake off the water then give it to Lillian.

“Hold this.”

Lillian, who was handed the flowers, awkwardly settled down again but the Duke continued to examine her, stroking his chin to see if there was something he still didn’t like. It was only after the awkward silence continued for a long time that the Duke approached Lillian.

“Excuse me.”

He soon grabbed Lillian’s hand and arm holding the flower and moved it around in the composition he wanted.

After trying to make it, she finally completed a pose that looks like I’m hugging a flower. Then he grabbed her chin and turned his head slightly, and their eyes met.

“…”

“…..”

The two people whose eyes collided in the air turned their heads at the same time.

“Yeah, turn your head in that direction. It would be nice.”

“Yes yes.”

Our eyes met so close, it was the first time. The sudden eye contact made Lillian’s heart race. I couldn’t tell if it was because I was surprised or because the peacock was so handsome.

“Hmm, looks like the posture is now.”

It was only for a moment, but the peacock’s eyes trembled. The duke, no less agitated than Lillian, hurriedly turned to the canvas and said. An awkward air flowed between the two. The duke worked hard with his brush, pretending nothing was wrong, and Lillian also managed her expression so as not to show it. He pretended to be calm, but the moment his eyes met Lillian’s, the Duke’s heart was pounding as well. Lilian’s skin, which he brushed while helping her get dressed, was very soft. To the point where I almost touched it one more time impulsively. It seemed that no other aristocratic lady had such fine skin. ‘Is it an innate flesh? If you are a commoner you won’t even achieve it.’

Even using scented bath water, it wouldn’t be, but it smelled strangely nice. Do you have a good natural body shape? I don’t know much about her. However, the duke was attracted to her without even realizing it himself.

“Come to think of it, I don’t even know your name yet, it seems. What’s your name?”

“I’m Lillian Gray.”

“Right. May I ask your age?”

“I became an adult this year.”

“You are still young.”

Even the duke who said that was in his mid- twenties at most. The duke continued to brush and told her to ask the question again. Lillian answered that steadily.

“Has your mother gotten better?”

“Yes. Thank you.”