92

"His Highness was there?"

Elena visited the salon for the presentation of the symphony "A Heavenly Aria" by Centonio, the prodigy known as the father of symphonic music. As she approached the reception room, which was accessible only to a few specific people in the salon through a secret passage, Emilio told her a shocking story.

"Yes, my benefactor. He came to see me late at night."

"The His Highness I know would never commit such a rude act…"

The Sian that Elena had known was the most friendly and gentlemanly man she had ever met. It was hard to imagine him visiting him unnecessarily in the late hours of the night.

"I remember because I have seen His Highness' heavenly face even from a distance. It was indeed His Highness."

"Why was His Highness there?"

"He was looking for the benefactor."

"…!"

Elena's eyes grew as big as the full moon. She was very surprised. And Elena didn't hate to see him doing something that was unlike him.

"He must have sent someone to the three countries to find out. He was also aware of the fact that my daughter was living there, safe and sound. He also pursued me to see if you were really sick and where you were."

"To that point…"

A corner of Elena's heart tingled. She felt bad that she had worried Sian by taking a leave of absence from school on the pretext of illness.

"I've lived my whole life without knowing fear, even at this age… For the first time in my life, I felt afraid."

"I'm sorry. Because of me…"

There was no doubt about the strength of Sian. It was enough to subdue Ren, a "Sword of the Empire" at the Swordsmanship Festival, and even the Ice Knight, Hurelbard, took a step back. If such Sian had been imposing and deadly, even Emilio would not have been able to hold out

"His Highness said he would give us ten days' end. He told me that if I didn't give him the news about the benefactor to the Count, he wouldn't know what to do with me."

"I can't believe His Highness is acting so emotionally. It's unbelievable."

Emilio spoke low looking at Elena, who was puzzled.

"Benefactor, His Highness never once asked me who my benefactor was. I'm sure he knows that you're not my biological daughter."

"…"

" His Highness was so sincere that he was angry. I'm very worried."

Elena's voice was choked and she couldn't say anything. She was sorry for the worry she had caused in Sian. And she was grateful that he was looking for the same Elena that Sian remembered, regardless of her name or identity.

"Benefactor, why don't you be more honest with yourself."

"…"

"His Highness doesn't seem like a man you can avoid by avoiding him."

Elena, who had been chewing on Emilio's speech, asked back at a thought.

"Is that a joke?"

"Wasn't that funny? I thought it was funny."

Elena burst into laughter at Emilio's brazen attitude.

"No, you made me laugh. Emilio is right. I can't avoid His Highness by avoiding him."

Sian of her previous life was a person who she could not approach even if she tried to approach him. Or not, a man who caused lethargy. Elena knew that about Sian better than anyone else, so she was curious and confused about their changed relationship.

"Send a letter to Count Willem. Come to the salon. I'll see His Highness that day."

"Well thought, benefactor."

Elena's expression was more excited than ever as she made her decision. Unlike in the past, she was happy to be able to stand in her true form, without her false identity and name in front of her. Even the thought of showing Elena's appearance that she had never shown in her previous life or in her present life was endlessly exciting.

"And now, my benefactor, designer Christina Marinus in the salon is waiting to see you."

"Miss Christina wants to see me?"

Revolutionary designer, Cristina Marinus. She was such a historically distinct person that there was a reputation that the level of clothing in the Empire changed before and after her arrival. Khalif was also one of the people who paid attention to her qualities and managed her in a special way.

"At the opening ceremony of the salon, she repeatedly asked for a favor when she saw the benefactor. Khalif is busy with A Heavenly Aria's presentation, so I'm giving her to you instead."

Now outside the drawing room, a gentle symphony was being heard. A Heavenly Aria. According to the original history, a song that would have been the work of Centonio, who was born with a genius musical talent but committed suicide early due to deafness, was being released in the salon under the leadership of Khalif.

"It's not difficult. Let's meet."

Elena wore a mask and followed Emilio out of the drawing room. At the end of the corridor, Emilio entered the room. Then a woman who was nearly a foot taller than Elena and had wavy red hair that looked good jumped up from the couch.

"L? It's really L, isn't it?"

"Nice to meet you, Christina."

Christina ran with her skirt and grabbed Elena's hand.

Elena was surprised by the sudden action but left it as it was because she knew there was no malice.

"I just wanted to say thank you. If it weren't for L, I wouldn't be here."

Christina, who clenched Elena's hand, thanked her with sincerity. She was so confident in her dresses that she borrowed money to build a boutique. However, she was so far ahead of her time that the aristocrats turned their backs on her. Eventually, the boutique closed its doors and was left at the mercy of the light. It was Elena who took over Christina's debts and helped her to concentrate solely on costume design. Thanks to her, Christina had completed a new style of dress that would shake up the empire, and she was preparing to present it through the salon in the near future.

"Don't say that. I just didn't want Christina's talent to lose its light because of the light."

"How can you say that. L, if there is a goddess, you might be the incarnation."

"Don't say that. Excuse me, Goddess."

Elena tactfully responded to the embarrassing talk and encouraged her to sit on the sofa. When she sat on the sofa, she felt a little less excited, so she calmly exchanged words.

"You want me to be the model for the dress that the salon is launching? Me?"

Elena, who was asked an unexpected request, was embarrassed.

'Although senior Raphael did the same, Christina wants me to look like a model for her?'

In her past life, she pretended to be Princess Veronica, drawing out a society-oriented and elegant figure, but the proposal was still awkward because she had never been offered by artists.

"I fell in love with L's discussion on the opening day. If L wears my dress, I don't think I can ask for anything more."

"…"

"Please, L. Be my muse."

Elena pondered for a moment at the sudden offer. As it wasn't particularly difficult, she was inclined to accept it. Christina got up from the couch to see if Elena was worried about her appearance.

"I'll show you the dress I'm going to present first. Maybe L will change her mind."

"Hey, I don't have to look…"

"No, I want to show you. Sit still."

Christina ran to the front of the sofa and carefully dragged a mannequin covered with cloth on one side of the drawing room. So Elena couldn't say anything about the work.

"This dress, inspired by the half-human legendary mermaid."

Elena already knew what line of dress she was going to present.

"I've broken away from the classic bell-line dress and focused on bringing out the mermaid's lines. It's a mermaid dress! It's my masterpiece.."

"Formatting a mermaid. I'm looking forward to it."

"I'll show you. You'll feel better if you see it once rather than talking a hundred words."

Christina removed the cloth that covered the mannequin. A slim skirt, reminiscent of a mermaid's tail and fins, was revealed. She couldn't help but squeal in admiration at the combination of the luxurious silk and the jewels on display.

"What do you say, L?"

"I've never seen a dress line like this before. It's so graceful that if the mermaid in the legend grabbed both legs and walked, it would look like this."

Christina's face, who was only conscious of Elena's praise, smiled.

"I'm confident. I believe that half of society's young women, or more, will wear mermaid dresses in the future."

"It will be so."

"So I want L to wear this dress!"

Christina drove to a bottomless conclusion.

"I know that too. I know that a mermaid dress might look somewhat shallow and vulgar to an aristocrat accustomed to bell lines. So they turned away and closed the door of my boutique with only light shining through."

"No, Christina. The reason they feel it's sexual is that the viewer has such an idea. I think it's an elegant and wonderful dress."

Elena soothed Christina with good words. In fact, when mermaid dress was first introduced and became a hot topic, it was often criticized for exposing too much of the body. However, it spread like a fad among the ladies who enjoyed expressing their individuality, and as time went by, it was accepted so naturally that one would wonder when such a debate ever occurred.

"As expected, L has a different opinion. So I really want L to wear this mermaid dress."

"What does that have to do with that…"

She also wanted to push ahead with the conclusion that she should be a model without a hitch, but this time it was a bit different. Christina revealed the real reason why she wants Elena to be a model.

"Clothes look different depending on who wears them. L is considered a symbol of intelligence to the point of being called the modern woman, right? If L wears this dress, no one will think it's dirty. It'll be sensual, elegant, and beautiful."

Only then could she see why Christina begged her to be the model. She was already ahead of her time and lost everything under criticism, so she was afraid that she would fail again. For that reason, Elena wanted to be more helpful to Christina. It was believed that it was the role of L, the mistress of the salon.

"I can't say no to Christina when she asks me to do something like this. I'd love to model for you."

"L!"

Christina hugged Elena, unable to control her joy.

"Thank you! I won't forget this favor, and I'll pay you back with a pretty dress later!"

"That's the best gift."

Elena smiled and patted her back.