Chapter 4 Part 5

“I’m sure I unbuttoned her dress earlier… … . Was it a dream?”

At this point, Yulia was confused as to whether what had happened earlier was real or a dream. Yulia tilted her head as she looked at the buttons on Irina’s dress, which had been meticulously buttoned up without leaving out anything.

“Yulia! You need to come to your senses, what are you doing with Lady Irina?”

“I’m sorry… … .”

When Madam Resa gave her a stern look, Yulia pursed her lips and lowered her head. Irina felt uncomfortable because Yulia was being scolded for no reason. Before they parted ways, she promised herself that she would secretly give her a gold coin as she had a hard time.

“Miss, you don’t know how many pretty dresses Madam Resa has hidden away? I’ve brought everything.”

Olga said triumphantly. Only then did Irina open her eyes when she saw a pile of dresses hanging on a hanger. The thought of trying on all those dresses already made her feel tired.

“Girls, please help the Lady change her dress.”

“Yes!”

Before Madam Resa could finish speaking, the girls entered the changing room and drew the curtains.

It was good that the curtains were drawn so that others could not see them, but the problem was that Rumpel was in the changing room. He was standing in a corner of the changing room, staring straight at Irina in the mirror with no intention of leaving.

When Irina, who was embarrassed, gave a glance as if asking why he wasn’t going, Rumpel only raised the corner of his mouth strangely as if he didn’t understand anything.

‘Rumpel is really… … .’

Irina blushed with embarrassment when she finally realized that Rumpel was trying to watch her change her clothes.

“Oh my, Miss! Are you hot? Or are you sick? Your face is red!”

“No, no, it’s just a little bit hotter.”

When one of the girls asked in shock, Irina quickly waved her hand. She couldn’t bring herself to admit that she was embarrassed because of Rumpel’s perverted nature.

“Oh my, Miss! Are you sick?”

Even Olga, who had overheard their conversation, asked urgently.

“No, I’m fine! Olga, don’t worry!” 

It wasn’t until she waved her hand and emphasized over and over again that she was okay that the girls’ worries were calmed. So did Olga, who was waiting outside the dressing room.

‘I’m so embarrassed.’

As three apprentice girls helped Irina undress, she was soon down to just her undergarments and a thin petticoat.

Rumpel followed Irina with a relentless gaze. In one of the mirrors, Irina’s naked appearance was reflected to Rumpel.

“Try this first.” 

The first dress was a blue dress that Olga said looked the most gorgeous. The dress, studded with gold threads and crystal jewels, was dazzling just to look at.

The apprentice girls were in a hurry to get her into a dress. In the mirror, Rumpel crossed his arms and shook his head. As if to say no.

Irina wondered for a moment whether she had correctly figured out Rumpel’s intentions. She blinked her round eyes and looked at Rumpel in the mirror, his golden eyes staring at her. He shook his head lightly again.

Irina finally accepted that Rumpel didn’t like the dress.

“Um, …… I’ll try something else.”

In fact, regardless of whether he liked it or not, Irina was the one who wore it, but she decided to listen to him even though she knew that there was no need to follow his words. The reason was simple.

Although she was wearing the dress to attend the Emperor Knezh’s banquet, choosing a dress with Rumpel made her feel like she was wearing the dress for him.

Wearing a dress for him was actually something that only happened when people got engaged or married. Even though she knew this, Irina felt excited for some reason. If you think about it, this situation is illogical.

“Yes, Miss! I’ll send something else in!” 

Olga, who could not have known about this situation, shouted loudly.

Soon, a pink dress came through the slightly opened curtain. It was a very pretty color, but somehow she didn’t like it, and she was staring at the dress with a nervous expression.

She glanced at Rumpel out of the corner of her eye, and he shook his head slightly as if he didn’t like this dress either. Irina felt fortunate that her feelings were aligned with his.

“Sorry. Not this either. I’ll ask you for another dress.”

After that, choosing a dress continued for a long time. Irina even found it quite fun to choose a dress with Rumpel, who only she could see.

“Miss, how about this?”

Irina’s eyes widened when she saw the green, antique dress.

The fabric itself had a subtle glow, and had different degrees of sparkle depending on the angle from which it is viewed. Compared to the dresses she had seen earlier, the design itself was less flashy, but the fabric itself was so unique that it was much more eye-catching.

Irina looked at Rumpel. Of course, in the end, Irina was the one who wore the dress, so even if he didn’t like it, Irina decided to try it on at least once. But it was true that she wanted him to like it too.

She didn’t know if he noticed Irina’s feelings, or if they just happened to think the same, but Rumpel looked at the green dress and Irina alternately, then nodded.

“I want to try this on.”

“Yes!”

Irina, encouraged by his reaction, spoke more earnestly and urgently than ever before. The apprentice girls, who had been rejected the whole time, responded cheerfully and helped Irina change her clothes.

Of course, the process took place in front of Rumpel which made her more embarrassed than ever, but Irina couldn’t tell that he was watching, so she had to pretend as if nothing had happened as much as possible.

Irina, who finally changed her dress, shyly looked at Rumpel in the mirror. He was smiling sweetly, the corners of his mouth curled up in satisfaction.

‘You look beautiful, Lady Irina. It suits you well.’

Rumpel’s voice was heard. Irina tried hard not to smile at Rumpel’s compliment.

Meanwhile, the curtain was pulled back. Irina looked straight ahead as the apprentices led her, and Olga’s face full of anticipation came into view. She looked surprised, then wrapped her hands around her chest with emotion.

“You look so beautiful, Miss!”

“Thank you.”

“Green definitely suits you. Maybe it’s because your skin is white, or maybe it’s because your body is thin. The dress fabric itself is not that suits everyone.”

“Thank you, Madam Resa.”

Following Olga, Madam Resa did not shy away from giving embarrassing compliments. The apprentices also praised Irina, saying she looked beautiful, but Irina did not feel as happy as when Rumpel had complimented her.

Irina pretended to look in the mirror and looked for Rumpel in the mirror.

“Huh… … ?”

But there was no sign of Rumpel.

Irina turned her gaze away from the mirror and carefully examined not only the inside of the changing room but also the outside of the changing room. But he was nowhere to be seen.

‘Did he just leave without saying a word? How could he?’

The feeling of disappointment was inevitable, and she even felt a sense of self-deprecation, thinking, ‘Well, of course. What did I expect?’

Irina clenched her molars, not to blame the heartless man. She even had the somewhat cynical thought that it would be better not to expect anything from Rumpel anymore.