The Dragon Duke's Wife - Chapter 22
Compared to the clothes she had altered and worn until now, the fabric was beautiful, the tailoring exquisite, and the stitching strong and well done. The design was timeless and modest, so after wearing it a few times, she could easily alter the hem and turn it into a more casual dress for outings.
Then again, comparing it to the clothes she had worn until now didn’t seem entirely fair. Ancia wasn’t familiar with high society or expensive items, and though she didn’t know the seamstress personally, someone who could take on the Duchess of Velados’s wardrobe must certainly be a highly skilled and well-known professional.
“You could have gone for something more extravagant.”
“That would be a waste.”
“This, even if you combine everything, would only be worth the veil of Lady Eleanor, oh my—”
One of the maids started to speak but immediately stopped, visibly startled. Her awkwardness made Ancia pause and look at her with curiosity. Laura shot a sharp glare at the maid, while the other maids chided her, asking, “Why did you do that?”
‘Eleanor…?’
Ancia felt an even deeper sense of confusion from the maids’ reactions.
The seamstress quickly changed the subject.
“How about this coat, Madam? I thought a more ornate outerwear would actually suit the simple dress better, so I made this. It’s still warm, but you’ll need it before autumn arrives.”
“This is…?”
It was the same white tiger fur she had previously declined. The sapphire buttons gleamed amidst the white fur. The maids all exclaimed in admiration.
“It’s beautiful!”
“It suits you perfectly!”
“I thought I said this was too much.”
Ancia said, feeling uneasy, but then came a rebuttal from behind her.
“Is it too much if I’m the one giving it?”
“Oh, Duke.”
She turned around in surprise. Khalid was standing in the doorway, smiling, and then, as he looked at her, his expression briefly tightened. Feeling unsure whether it suited her, Ancia hurriedly attempted to take off the coat. It was such a valuable item that she felt nervous even removing it herself.
The seamstress quickly took the coat from her. The maids all bent their knees and bowed.
Khalid walked swiftly toward her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her lips.
“Duke!”
“It’s a greeting. And a punishment.”
He pressed his lips down again. As he sucked her bottom lip, Ancia pushed him away. It had been just a light embrace and a quick kiss, but she felt a deep throb in a more secret place, as though a lingering ache had settled there.
“A punishment?”
Ancia tried to sound nonchalant. Khalid smiled faintly.
“You called me ‘Duke.’ But I hope this isn’t the only dress you have.”
He glanced between the dress Ancia was wearing and the ones on the mannequin. The seamstress spoke politely.
“This is all we have for the evening dress.”
“Really? Only one dress?”
“Another one will come. This is enough for about six months.”
“The number is the problem, though…”
Khalid looked displeased. He gently lifted Ancia’s chin and spoke.
“I don’t want to say it doesn’t suit you, but this isn’t what I want to give you. This is something to wear when you’re relaxing.”
“It may look modest, but it’s not cheap. I really like it. This is just right for me…”
“I’ll pick out something perfect for you.”
He wrapped his arms around Ancia’s waist and moved toward the fabrics the seamstress had brought, her face glowing with excitement as she followed behind, knowing exactly what Khalid was after.
Before the seamstress could say anything, Khalid selected a dazzling light-colored silk, wrapped it around Ancia’s body, then tossed it aside with a flourish.
“Perfect, this one.”
“Your taste is truly impeccable. This silk is imported from the East, and the embroidery on the edges was done by skilled artisans who even supply the imperial family…”
“And this one.”
He then selected a deep purple velvet and a light lavender-dyed fine muslin. His hands moved with confidence, picking out fabric and draping it over Ancia’s face, then stacking it beside her. It was almost as if he instinctively knew which expensive fabrics to choose. The seamstress’s face lit up so brightly it seemed to glow.
“Kal! This is too much!”
“I’m just buying clothes for my wife. What’s so much about that? And I like this kind of design.”
With a few gestures, he pointed out several designs to the seamstress, each one more extravagant than the last, with exposed shoulders, deep plunging necklines, and lavish decorations of embroidery and lace.
“I… I don’t think this is my style…”
“This suits you. You have a beautiful chest, so it wouldn’t hurt to show it off a little more. And besides, this way, I’ll have a reason to put diamonds around your neck.”
“That’s too much, really…”
“Too revealing?”
Ancia’s face turned bright red. She quickly turned away, avoiding Khalid’s gaze, and left the room.
Khalid followed her, pulling her back toward him, his hands grasping her waist.
“Then how about I leave a mark here instead of a necklace? Something to show you belong to me.”
He bit her earlobe gently. Ancia felt a shiver run through her body, and she scolded him softly.
“Not in the hallway. What if someone sees us?”
She scolded him in a whisper.
