The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 263: A Dress For Her

Chapter 263: A Dress For Her

The boutique owner couldn’t contain her admiration as she exclaimed, "You both have truly outstanding appearances!"

Accustomed to receiving such praise, Kiev politely acknowledged it and redirected the conversation, "Thank you. Now, if we may, my sister would like to see your collections."

Madam Carson quickly snapped out of her thoughts, realising her focus had momentarily drifted.

"Ah, yes, of course!" she responded, eager to attend to their needs.

A trolley was swiftly pulled out, presenting a selection of exquisite dresses hanging from it. Callis’s eyes lit up with excitement as she examined each dress with a smile.

"They’re absolutely gorgeous!" she exclaimed in awe.

Madam Carson beamed with pride.

"Indeed, these are our best collection, crafted from the finest materials. To maintain exclusivity, we produce only one piece for each design. If you find a dress you like, we can alter it to fit your size immediately. We have skilled seamstresses available for that purpose. We can also make a new dress based on your preferred design, but it’ll take a week to complete."

Callis nodded, appreciating the designs’ attention to detail. She was eager to explore the possibilities and find the perfect dress that resonated with her style and elegance.

Just as the Mederian siblings were engrossed in their private shopping session, a bell rang from the boutique’s entrance.

Madam Carson quickly turned to her worker and issued a quiet instruction. "Please inform the guest that we are currently having an exclusive client session and cannot be disturbed. Kindly ask them to return tomorrow," she said in a hushed tone.

Kiev’s attention was drawn to the sound, and he looked towards the pristine glass door. He immediately recognised the person ringing the bell—it was Elis.

"Ask her to come in. She is with us," the Mederian Prince ordered, conveying the importance of her presence.

Madam Carson nodded, understanding the situation. She relayed the new instruction to her worker, who promptly escorted Elis into the boutique.

Kiev questioned the maid as she entered, "Why did you come here? I thought I instructed everyone to get some rest."

Elis responded respectfully, "I do not feel too tired, My Lord."

Callis interjected with gratitude, "Thank you for coming, Elis. Your perspective on the dresses would be valuable."

Elis replied, "You’re welcome, my lady," acknowledging Callis’s gratitude.

Throughout their journey in the plaza, the Mederian Prince and Princess had advised their entourage to address them as Lord and Lady instead of using their royal titles in order to avoid attracting unnecessary attention.

Realising her mistake, Madam Carson apologised, "Oh, forgive me for not knowing that you are a lord and a lady! I had addressed you wrongly."

Kiev reassured her, "It’s alright. We did not intend to draw attention to our titles. However, since you now know, you can address us accordingly."

The boutique owner and her worker nodded in understanding as Callis continued to make her choice among the dresses. Meanwhile, Kiev relaxed on a single settee, crossing his long legs, while Elis stood nearby, attentive to their conversation.

Callis’s red eyes shifted towards Elis, and a thought crossed her mind. She observed the maid’s usual dark uniform and spoke up.

"You know... I think I should buy you a dress, too," Callis suggested, her voice filled with kindness.

Elis looked back at her with a surprised expression.

"You don’t have to, my lady! I am not of high status to wear such attire," she politely declined.

"Oh, hush! You have done me countless favours, and I haven’t had the chance to repay you," Callis insisted. "If it weren’t for your help, Mr Amares wouldn’t have come over yesterday."

Kiev, intrigued by their conversation, interjected, "Mr Amares came? What for?"

Callis’s face flushed with anxiety, realising she had let slip information she hadn’t intended to reveal. She turned away from her brother, feeling embarrassed and concerned. Sensing her distress, Elis quickly stepped in to cover up the unintended spill-up.

"Oh, it’s nothing, really," the maid responded smoothly. "Lady Naver felt uncomfortable due to her injury, so I asked Mr Amares to come and check for anything amiss. It turned out that the sling just needed some adjustment."

Callis silently appreciated Elis’s quick thinking and was grateful for her ability to handle the situation and divert her brother’s attention.

"Ah, I see..." Prince Kiev nodded slightly, his curiosity momentarily satisfied.

The two women felt a sense of relief, thinking they had successfully averted any further probing. However, the prince had another question in mind, one that caught them off guard.

"Who adjusted the sling, then?" Kiev inquired, his eyebrow raised as he sought an explanation.

Callis swallowed nervously, but Elis quickly responded, "I did, with Mr Amares’s instructions. I had assisted him during Lady Naver’s treatment, didn’t I? So I had learned a few things," she explained, attempting to provide a reasonable explanation.

Kiev observed Elis closely, noting her unusually lengthy and detailed response. It was unlike her usual brief and concise replies. However, he dismissed the matter, considering it wasn’t particularly significant.

"Very well, then," he said.

The two women let out a collective sigh of relief again in silence, grateful that the questioning had come to an end. Callis resumed her selection of dresses, eager to find the perfect one for Elis.

"This one is beautiful! And the colour suits your blue eyes as well! You must try it on," the Mederian Princess exclaimed, holding up a light blue dress and showing it to the maid.

However, as Elis looked at the dress, her expression changed, and she hesitated to respond.

"My lady, I don’t think I can wear that," she replied.

Surprised, Callis asked, "Why not?"

Elis didn’t answer immediately. Instead, her gaze fell to the floor, indicating her discomfort. Kiev, quick to understand, intervened swiftly.

"It’s too revealing, Callis," he interjected. "It’s not in line with Miss Canton’s preferences. She’s more into a modest design, with long sleeves and a high neckline."

As the conversation unfolded, the Mederian Princess was reminded of Elis’s scars, and guilt washed over her. Callis quickly apologised, realising her oversight.

"I’m so sorry, Elis! I completely forgot. Please forgive me," she pleaded.

Elis reassured her, saying, "It’s fine, my lady. I am quite comfortable in my uniform."

Just as the tension eased, Prince Kiev unexpectedly spoke up, rising from his seat.

"I think that one should do," he said, pointing to a dress as his red ruby eyes spotted one.

Both Callis and Elis turned towards him, surprised by the sudden attention. Kiev walked forward and approached the trolley, pushing aside several dresses before him. He picked one coloured in pastel blue and held it up.

"Try this. It seems to be your size," Kiev said, extending the dress towards Elis.

The maid looked bewildered, not expecting such a gesture.

"But... I don’t need..."

"We don’t like owing to people. You should take what you deserve," Kiev insisted firmly.

Madam Carson, the boutique owner, hesitated and spoke up.

"My lord, this is an exquisite dress. Are you sure you want to give it to her?"

Kiev’s eyes sharpened as he responded, "Why not? Are you suggesting that she is not eligible to wear this dress?"

The boutique owner continued, "Well... it’s designed for those of higher status..."

Kiev’s voice held a firm resolve as he replied, "This woman is significant to both my sister and me. Social status is not the benchmark for determining who gets to wear what. If someone can pay for the dress, they can wear it."

The boutique owner stumbled over her words, realising her misstep.

"Oh, definitely, My Lord! I’m sorry if I offended you! Please, go ahead. My worker will help her get fitted."

The boutique worker took the dress from Kiev and led Elis to the fitting room. The maid hesitated, feeling uncertain, but Callis urged her to go and see how it looked.

"Go on, please! I really want to see you wear it," the Mederian Princess insisted.

Elis had no choice but to relent. She followed the worker into the fitting room. After a short while, she emerged, wearing the new dress.

Kiev held his breath as he saw her. The pastel colour of the dress accentuated her blue eyes, and she looked incredibly elegant. He was left speechless, his eyes locked on her.

"Oh, my goodness! You look absolutely gorgeous!" Callis exclaimed, genuinely impressed by Elis’s appearance.

"Yes, it fits her perfectly, my lady, as if it was designed specifically for her," added the boutique worker. "No alterations are needed at all."

Elis expressed her concern, "This dress is too expensive, my lady. Perhaps a cheaper dress would be better for me."

Kiev dismissed her concern, saying, "It’s already perfect. Keep wearing it for the day."

Callis chimed in, agreeing with her brother, "Yes, I agree. It’s the mid-autumn festival, and we’re in a celebratory mood. You should wear a nicer outfit than your usual uniform."

Elis started to protest, but Madam Carson interjected, reminding her of Kiev’s care and generosity. "You should wear it, Miss. You wouldn’t want to offend your Lord, would you? He seems to care for you a lot, so you should be thankful to him."

The maid paused, pondering for a moment. Eventually, she turned to Kiev and Callis, expressing her gratitude for their generosity and accepting their decision.

After selecting the dresses, the Mederian Princess was pleased with her purchases and decided to take it a step further. She approached Madam Carson and requested the boutique to create two pairs of custom-made dresses tailored specifically for herself and Elis.

The boutique owner, delighted with the opportunity, agreed wholeheartedly.

"Of course, my lady! We will be honoured to create them! Your measurements will be taken, and our skilled seamstresses will work diligently to bring your vision to life."

Expressing her gratitude, the Mederian Princess thanked Madam Carson and her worker for their assistance and promised to return to collect the custom-made dresses once they were ready.

The boutique owner was pleased with the payment and remuneration for her services. She and her worker thanked the Mederian siblings gratefully, bidding them farewell and promising to complete the order.

Leaving the boutique behind, the Mederian siblings and the maid carried with them pleasant memories of their time there.

"I’m hungry now, brother. Can we go grab something to eat from the stalls?" Callis suddenly asked.

Kiev let out a sigh.

"Are you kidding me? My hands and Miss Canton’s are already full with your purchases! How do you expect us to carry more for you?"

Callis smiled sheepishly. However, she couldn’t contain her desire to taste the delicacies.

"In that case, I’ll just wait at that café over there. You and Elis can return to the carriage and put the dresses away first," she suggested.

The Mederian Prince sighed again. However, he still relented to his beloved sister’s demand.

"Fine! Just don’t go around by yourself. You’re injured and need to be accompanied. Wait for my return."

Callis nodded eagerly, excited about the arrangement. She made her way to the café while Kiev and Elis headed back to the carriage to store the purchased items.

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