How The Sub-Male Lead’s Stepmother Teaches Love Chapter 222

“Ah… Well, that would explain why she didn’t invite—”

 

The Marquise muttered to herself, and her eyes met Madam Stella’s in the air.

 

Only then did she seem to realize how closely she was clinging to her husband, and she quickly pulled away from him with an awkward cough.

 

“If you know that this is a banquet hosted by Her Majesty the Empress, you must also know the dress code for the banquet, right?”

 

“Yes. You should avoid dresses in shades of blue and diamond accessories. Her Majesty the Empress will wear a deep blue dress, and Her Highness the First Princess will be wearing a light blue dress.”

 

“The First Princess…. Of course, she’ll be attending the banquet.”

 

Madam Stella could only recall one thing as she watched the Marquise frowning.

 

‘Now that I think about it… it was the First Princess who spread that scandal about the Marquise when she debuted in high society.’

 

Running a dress shop frequented by many ladies and young ladies made her privy to the social world, even if she didn’t want to. Thanks to this, she was able to come up with one inference.

 

‘Could it be that the person who spread rumors about the Marquis and Marquise’s marital discord this time is also…?’

 

She doesn’t know why the first princess hates the Marquise so much, but wasn’t that simply how high society worked?

 

A place where unreasonable resentment grows large and reaches up to the sky.

 

“I don’t really want to stand out… What color dress should I wear?”

 

“In that case, I’d recommend avoiding red. It contrasts strongly with blue, so it will stand out more. Seria.”

 

“Yes, Madam.”

 

At Madam Stella’s call, her assistant handed her the design book she was carrying.

 

Madam Stella approached the Marquise and laid the design book on the table, quickly flipping through it to suggest three dress styles.

 

“How about a black or purple dress? Something embroidered with gold thread, or a skirt made voluminous with layers of gradient-thin fabric.”

 

Then, spotting her favorite design, Madam Stella confidently pointed it out.

 

“Or, you could go for a more mature look with a velvet dress that exposes your shoulders.”

 

“A dress that exposes the shoulders…. Now that I think about it, I’ve never worn one before.”

 

Madame Stella smiled at the Marquise’s honest words.

 

“It’s a design typically not recommended for unmarried young ladies. But this is your first appearance in the capital’s social circle since your marriage, is it not? I think it’s a perfect opportunity for a transformation.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

At that moment, Marquis, who had been quietly looking at the design book next to his wife, intervened.

 

“How much of the back is revealed in this dress?”

 

“The back? Hmm… It would cover about half the shoulder blades.”

 

“Half, you say…”

 

The Marquis pondered for a moment, then leaned in to whisper something to his wife.

 

Listening quietly, the Marquise nodded in realization.

 

“Then I don’t think this dress will work. At least recommend a dress that covers my shoulder blades.”

 

“Yes, I will do that.”

 

Without hesitation, Madam Stella flipped through the pages and suggested a few other designs, though inwardly she thought:

 

‘It’s not that there aren’t many men who prevent their wives from wearing revealing dresses… But still, it’s not even cleavage—it’s just the shoulder blades.’

 

‘Apart from love, he is such an old-fashioned man.’

 

Madam Stella clicked her tongue inwardly.

 

“They’re all so beautiful. Honestly, I want to try them all on.”

 

The Marquise made Madam Stella laugh out loud and then flipped through the design book over and over again before asking his husband sitting next to her.

 

“What do you think looks best?”

 

“Well, I think any design would suit you well.”

 

“Oh, come on, that’s no help. Pick just one, just one.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

But the Marquis, too, had a hard time making a decision.

 

In the end, he pulled his chair right up next to hers, and the two of them leaned their heads together, each holding one side of the design book as they pored over the options.

 

“This one might be a bit heavy. Madam, may I touch the fabric for this dress?”

 

“Yes, please wait a moment. I’ll bring it right away.”

 

Madam Stella instructed her assistant to bring not only the fabric sample for the indicated dress but also several others.

 

That turned out to be a wise move. The Marquis began flipping through the design book from the beginning, checking each fabric himself.

 

“This one’s too rough, this one’s too heavy, this one’s too thin… None of these fabrics are quite right. Don’t you carry higher-quality fabrics?”

 

‘All the fabrics he is touching now are high-quality fabric.…’

 

Unable to bring herself to say those words, Madam Stella skillfully raised the corners of her lips.

 

“We do have some, though the one I’m thinking of is so rare that even a palm-sized piece costs as much as an entire dress made from these.”

 

“Bring it.”

 

“Seria!”

 

“Yes, Madam!”

 

That fabric had originally been intended for the Duchess of Khalid, but she had become pregnant and then fell ill from early labor, requiring extended rest.

 

Because of the cost, Madam Stella hadn’t dared offer it to anyone else.

 

A rare treasure brought from the farthest edge of the continent, over mountains and across rivers.

 

Handwoven by elves of the green forest, using braided flower stems—the grandly named ‘Meadow of Dawn Dew’.

 

“As you can see, the fabric itself is like a pearl sprinkled on top. It sparkles softly. You don’t need to embroider or add any other decorations. Just wrap it around your body like a cloak and everyone will be amazed.”

 

“This is amazing… I’ve never seen fabric this beautiful without magic.”

 

A shade deeper than the first sprouts of early spring, the lush green of a forest captured in cloth—Madam Stella was certain the Marquise had fallen for it.

 

“Furthermore, look—if you layer the fabric like this, the color lightens. Two layers become light green, and three layers look almost white.”

 

“Oh my, really! This is so amazing!”

 

The Marquise, eyes sparkling, repeatedly folded and unfolded the fabric to see the effect.

 

Madam Stella inwardly cheered.

 

‘Got her!’

 

Now she just had to persuade the Marquis.

 

“How many dresses can you make from this fabric?”

 

“Pardon? Oh, with the Duchess’s figure… I believe two dresses could be made.”

 

“And for others? Has anyone else requested a dress with this fabric?”

 

“No, we don’t. This shop, no, as far as I know, among all the dress shops in the capital, our shop is the only one that carries this fabric. I can tell you that with confidence.”

 

“Then I’ll buy all of it. Make dresses only for my wife with it.”

 

If anyone else had been suitable for a dress made of this fabric, she would’ve offered it to them already.

 

There weren’t many people who could pull it off—but Madam Stella kept that to herself and offered a formal smile.

 

“Exclusive purchase of fabric is only possible if you pay the full amount in advance…..”

 

As if it were nothing, Leonhard immediately pulled a checkbook from his coat.

 

“How much?”

 

“That’s….”

 

Madam Stella swallowed nervously and quoted a price a bit higher than expected. But Leonhard wrote down twice that amount and signed the check without hesitation.

 

“Is this price enough for the dress?”

 

“Y-yes, more than enough…”

 

It wasn’t just enough, it was overflowing like a flood.

 

Madam Stella barely managed to stop her jaw from dropping as she accepted the check.

 

“Y-you said you needed two dresses, right?”

 

“Oh, right. Do you have any more fabrics like this?”

 

Leonhard asked, pulling the checkbook back out just as he was about to put it away.

 

Madam Stella exclaimed in excitement.

 

“Of course! I’ll go check right away!”

 

After all, a man’s love for a woman is proven with money.

 

‘Who in the world spread those rumors about them fighting?’

 

A moment later, after seeing the amount written on the check the Marquis had once again generously signed and handed over, Madam Stella was certain.

 

The Marquis’s love for his wife was nothing short of eternal — a love that could last a thousand years.

 

‘There’s no way he could spend that kind of money otherwise!’

 

She was so thrilled that she began sketching new designs on the spot.

 

Only after more than an hour had passed did she suddenly remember the Noble lady, who had been left waiting.

 

But Madam Stella didn’t care.

 

‘She’ll probably prefer me coming back later anyway. She must have been informed in advance what kind of guest I am dealing with now.’

 

The prediction turned out to be exactly right.

 

The moment she entered the room, the Noble lady pounced, bombarding her with questions.

 

Madam Stella took her time, slowly unraveling the story, teasing her audience.

 

“I heard the same rumors — that the Marquis was neglecting his wife… But oh my, that couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s absolutely smitten with her! He can’t take his eyes off her for even a second!”

 

Madam Stella was well aware that everything she said would spread through the social circles before the day was over.

 

That was why she poured her heart into describing just how tenderly in love they were.

 

She even added a touch of exaggeration, such as how much they were in love, especially how the Marquis could not move and even pretended to die when told to do so by his wife.

 

And with that, a late realization dawned on her — This was probably what the Marquis had intended from the beginning, when he let her hear their conversation.

 

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