Episode 68

When the train arrived in the capital, Elouise took a deep breath.

The capital’s railway station was nothing short of magnificent. There were as many as seven platforms, and the sea of people visible beyond the windows seemed to number in the thousands. She had never witnessed so many people all at once. Her chest felt fit to burst.

When a plainly dressed woman stepped off the first-class carriage, she drew puzzled stares—but there was little she could do about it. She hadn’t prepared attire suitable for a lady riding first class. Rarely did noblewomen board a train without at least a proper change of clothes, and Elouise was wearing a muslin dress, marked with all the traces of domestic life. On top of that, the events aboard the train had left it badly rumpled. Even aside from the fact that she had spent more time out of it than in over the past three days.

Yet Marcus paid no mind to her appearance. Reaching out his hand, he escorted her off the train with unwavering ease.

His demeanor had not changed from the beginning, but as she walked beside him, clinging to his arm, Elouise found herself overwhelmed by the crowd. Her head gradually lowered, and the sight of so many fashionably dressed people at the station only deepened her unease.

“Marcus…”

Just as she was about to say something to him, the stationmaster—who had come to greet the heir of House Hanger upon his return—stepped before them. Marcus greeted him with practiced familiarity, but the stationmaster, his curiosity piqued, kept glancing at the woman on Marcus’s arm. Embarrassed, Elouise shrank back behind him.

The stationmaster clearly wanted to inquire about the lady Marcus was escorting, but Marcus smoothly diverted him with, “I suppose it won’t be easy to hail a carriage right outside the station? I didn’t have a chance to notify the household of my arrival, and now it’s become rather inconvenient.”

In any case, the stationmaster was among those who wished to remain in the Hanger family’s good graces, so he hurried off to arrange for a carriage.

As soon as they were seated inside, Elouise turned to Marcus.

“Marcus, I know it’s hardly a virtue for a lady to make such abrupt requests, but…”

“What is it you wish to say?”

“Would you please… buy me some clothes?”

Her cheeks flushed a deep red. Only then did Marcus realize she was embarrassed by her worn attire.

“Ah! Dammit! Bloody hell!”

The curse escaped him before he could stop it. Elouise flinched, and Marcus quickly apologized, taking her hand in his.

“I’m sorry, Elouise. I was so happy to see you again that I didn’t stop to think how you might be feeling.”

The man who had always dressed impeccably hadn't cared in the slightest these past few days whether his clothes were wrinkled or stained—his eyes had seen only his beloved, and he'd been happy. The same was true for Elouise.

But the moment she set foot in the capital, she shrank inward, and Marcus began to reproach himself for his lack of consideration. Marcus Hanger loved Elouise so deeply that her appearance meant nothing to him—but he had foolishly forgotten that a woman’s feelings were another matter entirely.

“I hadn’t thought of it either, Marcus. But when we get to the Hanger estate, your family will be there, won’t they…”

Elouise spoke slowly, her face crimson. This wasn’t like the time three years ago when they’d entered a sham marriage. Back then, she'd lost her luggage because of Marcus, and he had immediately bought her dozens of dresses. This, however, was the first time Elouise had ever asked him for something. Marcus felt a sudden shiver run down his spine at the realization.

Women he’d pursued had certainly asked him to buy things before. He had always obliged, spending money freely. But now, the feeling was different—strangely so.

“Elouise. I think something’s wrong with me…”

“Pardon?”

Clutching his chest, Marcus seemed to be in pain. Alarmed, Elouise moved to inquire further when he let out a soft groan of a reply.

“I never knew doing something for you could make my heart race like this.”

As he spoke, he took her hand and pressed it to his chest. Thump, thump—it was beating fast. Surprised, Elouise scolded him with a playful, “Honestly!” even as she burst into delighted laughter. Happiness encircled the pair.

---

The place Marcus led her was the finest dressmaker’s shop in the capital.

Mindful of his recent quarrel with the Duchess of Bellona at Gloria’s usual boutique, Marcus chose the dressmaker he himself had frequented years ago.

Little did he know this would prove to be a misstep. A staff member at the boutique, seeing a man leading a woman in shabby, crumpled clothes, had nearly turned them away—until her eyes went wide in recognition. The man before her was none other than Marcus Hanger, who had ceased visiting the shop three years prior.

Those broad shoulders were hardly common, and had she failed to recognize him, she might have lost a returning patron. Now cautious but welcoming, she greeted him warmly.

“Good heavens, Sir Hanger! It’s been so long!”

“My word, Katarina. It truly has.”

“And what’s this? Don’t tell me the Hanger family has gone bankrupt!”

Katarina’s risqué, teasing tone had long made her beloved among regulars. Though Elouise frowned slightly at the remark—prompted by Marcus’s current appearance—Marcus himself laughed heartily.

“That would make quite the story, but no, I assure you it’s not the case.”

“I had begun to think you’d simply died, sir, what with your absence!”

Ordinarily, Marcus would have played along with her jokes for a while, but his mind was in a rush. Not only was Elouise beside him, but he had also just realized that the Hanger estate was in no shape to receive guests. He briefly considered dispatching a servant from the boutique to alert the household.

The problem was his father. Archibald, as hot-blooded as Marcus himself, would no doubt come storming into the boutique just to confirm the story for himself.

In the end, Marcus decided to entrust Elouise to Katarina.

“Katarina, this woman is of the utmost importance to me. Please bring out several ready-to-wear dresses in her size that she can change into right away. And while we’re at it, let’s order some tailored pieces too.”

“Marcus, you don’t need to rush…”

“Oh, my love. It was my doing that brought you here without even a proper change of clothes.”

He gently brushed her lips with his fingers. Elouise was flustered, but it wasn’t as if he was wrong. She didn’t even have a clean undergarment to change into. Marcus gave Katarina thorough instructions—everything from undergarments and slips to dresses, robes, accessories for her hair, and shoes.

“Whatever the cost, if it suits her, send it all to House Hanger.”

“Whatever the cost…?”

Katarina’s eyes flickered at the enormity of the request. Marcus nodded confidently.

“Even if it costs a kingdom, I don’t care.”

“I will serve her with the utmost devotion.”

With a deep bow, Katarina immediately summoned another employee to fetch the boutique’s owner. Unbothered by the flurry of activity that followed, Marcus kissed Elouise’s cheek.

“My love, forgive me for leaving your side. I’ll send Logan and a carriage as soon as I reach the estate. Just wait a little while.”

“I’ll be fine.”

Elouise murmured softly. It was because she felt daunted by being in the capital’s finest dressmaker’s, but Marcus misunderstood it as loneliness and, heart aching, pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Oh, my beloved El! I cannot leave. How can I be apart from you when you're so lonely?”

Only after Elouise hastily explained that she wasn’t lonely did Marcus let her go and leave the boutique. As he exited, Katarina—who had been smiling with a vacant look in her eyes throughout—quietly approached.

“Now then, miss, shall we head inside?”

“Yes, please.”

Elouise forced a smile. Katarina responded with elegance, bowing slightly and leading her in.

And once again, Elouise felt overwhelmed—for much the same reason she had at the train station. The boutique more than lived up to its reputation as the capital’s best. It had three floors, and the building was easily the size of two homes combined.

Following Katarina, two or three more employees joined them in haste. Elouise soon learned that the boutique was, in fact, a converted noble townhouse.

The staff quickly and accurately selected garments for her. Though off-the-rack, the dresses Katarina brought fit her perfectly, as if made to order.

With shy modesty, Elouise chose three. The staff exchanged subtle glances—clearly, Marcus Hanger had said cost was no issue, yet Elouise’s demeanor stood in stark contrast to that.

She was meticulous—and budget-conscious. The three dresses she selected were modestly priced and eminently practical.

“I’ve never worn such fine fabric. It’s truly beautiful!”

“To think a kingfisher’s feathers could be used like this! Oh my! I’ve never even seen one in real life.”

“How lovely… These earrings are like chandeliers!”

Yet the way Elouise marveled at the clothes was charming to all who heard her. She was unpretentious, sincere.

Unfortunately, Marcus Hanger’s reputation in this boutique—despite the money he had spent over the years—was abysmal. Katarina and the staff exchanged wary glances.

They were convinced: the infamous Marcus Hanger, who hadn’t so much as glanced at a noble lady in recent years, had shown up with a modest, well-bred commoner.

So after flitting through every dressmaker in town for other women, he finally ended up here!

Such was Katarina’s mistaken assumption.

Ironically, the unknown woman—Elouise, though she hadn’t introduced herself in her giddy excitement—charmed Katarina immediately.

Katarina had seen her share of women dragged in by men. Most were elated, or swollen with vanity, and often looked down on staff like her. Not all, certainly—but those who lingered in memory were typically the most unpleasant.

So it pained Katarina to see such a courteous, humble lady brought in by none other than Marcus Hanger. She felt, quite unusually, compelled to meddle.

She approached Elouise gently. At first, she used the familiar tone of a seasoned merchant—delighted that the young lady had prompted Sir Hanger’s long-awaited return. The blue-eyed woman, though plainly dressed, carried herself with grace and seemed somewhat mature. Katarina’s opening was well-received. The lady smiled faintly, glad to have brightened her host’s day.

Soon, they were chatting comfortably. They discovered shared tastes—soft leather shoes, a fondness for blue dresses—and even if they were strangers, it was enough to spark a subtle sense of camaraderie.

At one point, Katarina felt the moment had come. With utmost care and courtesy, she finally broached the question.

“Forgive me, miss. But may I ask—what is your relationship to Sir Hanger?”

“Oh, my…”

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