The Ugly Lady’s Secret Pouch

Still in the early stages of morning sickness, Lucas and Lila decided to pick up where they left off.

“My lady!”

Amanda, Karin, and Gail, all with bright complexions, came to the Duchess’s chambers, escorted by Jessie.

The three had come to the ceremony with the top of the tenebris, but unlike the rest of the guests, they hadn’t returned and remained in the north.

“Welcome.”

Lila was glad to see familiar faces, especially since her morning sickness was milder today.

“Madam, I’m here too!”

Kate followed her in, carrying a load of luggage, along with her recently hired assistant. Kate was the one who had been the most saddened by the news that the wedding had been called off.

“Shall we try it on first?”

Like last time, the nobles of the capital were not invited. She decided to keep it simple, inviting only those close to her and the nobles of the north.

“Shall we?”

Lila was nervous, even though her stomach wasn’t ready to come out yet. She called Kate over to discuss it beforehand, because she didn’t want to make it too tight.

“By the way, Kate, I think you might need to change the measurements…….”

Her words drew the attention of everyone in the room. Gail, who had been cowering among the women, took the opportunity to speak up.

“I, um, I’m going to look around the garden!”

It was still snowing heavily, but the Duke’s garden was warm and green.

“Oh, honry, you’d better not.”

Karin, who hadn’t been paying attention, said in an affectionate voice as she saw him off.

“You keep forgetting Gail.”

Lila said with a hint of amusement in her tone. He had the look of a good-looking man, but he was so sweet with his girlfriend, Karin, that he didn’t feel awkward around women.

“Yeah, I know, I forget sometimes too.”

Amanda was much different than before. She wasn’t depressed at all, and when she started taking care of herself, she became more energetic.

She was especially talented. Lila, admiring her sensational makeup, said.

“You certainly have talent. Amanda, why don’t you stay up north for a while and learn more from me?”

“What?”

Amanda stopped helping Kate and looked up in surprise.

“It’s a bit of a waste, to say the least. Since I can’t get out there, I thought it would be nice if you could do some events for me…….”

Now that I’m pregnant, I won’t be able to move around as much as I used to, and even more so when I have a baby.

The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea.

“Well, I’ll make you my first student, how about that?”

Amanda was stunned, unable to believe what she was hearing.

She had already been saved by her, and yet here she was again, offering herself so readily.

With tears welling up in her eyes, Amanda nodded desperately.

“Yes, yes. I’d love to.”

“You’re such a sweet little crybaby.”

Karin said, hugging Amanda, who had suddenly become like a sister to her. Lila felt a rush of happiness as she watched them.

It was a different kind of happiness, one that Lucas and Michael couldn’t give her.

* * *

At that moment, Lucas was drinking tea with Michael. Avoiding his uncle’s intense gaze, Michael finally stuck his tongue in the hot tea and snapped.

“What! You need to talk!”

Despite Michael’s protests, Lucas didn’t say anything, just handed him a glass of cold water. Michael gulped down the cold water and pouted his lips.

“What, what are you taking so long to tell me, is something wrong with my aunt?”

Only when he saw his nephew gasp like a man shocked by his own words did Lucas speak up with a sigh.

“No, nothing like that. It’s not a problem, just something special happened.”

“If it’s not a problem, what’s special about it? Do you really think something’s wrong…….”

“I said no.”

“Oh, then what is it!”

Lucas asked, repeating over and over what Michael had said.

“Michael.”

“Huh?”

“What were you talking about, you mentioned a girl with mauve hair and mint-colored eyes?”

It was strange to ask about a child out of the blue, and it was strange to refer to her as a girl.

Since Michael was also a descendant of Lupus, he wondered if he’d had the same dream.

His pink eyes widened and then closed. After a moment’s hesitation, Michael grunted.

“It was just a dream…….”

That’s right, he was curious about his nephew’s dream.

“Can you tell me more about your dream?”

“Huh…….”

Michael tilted his head to the side and then immediately began to speak.

“In my dream, I saw a big grassy field, so I ran as fast as I could, and someone was following me, and I thought I recognized her, but I had never seen her before. She was about the same height as me, and she was really excited to see me.”

Michael smiles, feeling better as he recounts the details of his dream.

“I played with her for a while, and her face looked strangely familiar, the color of her hair, the color of her eyes.”

Lucas’s mouth went dry as he listened to his nephew. He wondered. He didn’t know if this was real or not, but he wanted to hear more.

“So?”

Michael murmured, glancing at his impatient uncle.

“Well, she does look more like Lila.”

“Couldn’t it just be a dream? How can you be so sure?”

“Well, it’s…….”

Michael remembered the large wolf he’d seen just before waking up.

“Because our ancestors told me so.”

The gray wolf, who called himself Lupus of the Dukes of Montefeltra, was very large and gentle.

He looked refreshed, as if he had just gotten something off his chest.

“Lupus…….”

Lucas nodded, remembering the words Lupus had muttered before he’d woken up.

“That’s interesting.”

His words made Michael sound even more excited.

“She’s really pretty, I’d be happy to have a sister like that.”

His blushing cheeks were impressive. He now looked like a child his age. Lucas relaxed his tense body and leaned back on the sofa.

“Maybe… we’ll be able to see soon.”

His pink eyes widened at the unclear words.

“No, you’ll see.”

Lucas’s lips curled into a soft smile as he corrected him. He couldn’t wait to meet the child still in her belly.

* * *

Amy had come to the Duke’s house at Lila’s invitation, and she was nervous because the letter had come after the Duke and Duchess’s wedding had been rescheduled.

Usually weddings require bridesmaids, and Lila had asked Amy to be one at her first wedding.

But Amy, who wasn’t confident in her appearance, declined.

Instead, she was told that Catherine and Luna would be her maids of honor, which she remembered with great disappointment as she stepped out of the carriage.

‘If you were to ask me one more time…….’

Amy wanted to be brave this time. She didn’t think she would get another chance. She felt truly sorry for the trouble she had caused Lila, but Amy wanted to have hope.

‘You’re the only one who didn’t laugh at me.’

She’d been ignored and bullied since she was a child, and she’d grown to distrust people.

At least the title of Marquis’s daughter didn’t hurt, but it was bound to hurt somehow.

“My name is Jessie, a maid to the Duchess. Allow me to show you around.”

Amy stepped out of the carriage and approached Jessie, whose head was bowed.

Amy glanced at Jessie and nodded. Her pure white face looked beautiful.

Amy followed Jessie silently, taking in the interior of the ducal house. The warm colors of the ornaments and curtains, and the abundance of flowers in vases everywhere.

Even though it was winter, it felt like spring inside. The gentle air currents made Amy feel relaxed.

As she climbed to the third floor, Amy tensed. Normally, they met in the parlor on the first floor.

Being invited to a private room meant that there was a certain level of familiarity. Amy had her doubts, but she couldn’t hide her joy.

“My lady, the Marquess of Paes has arrived.”

Jessie opened the door, announcing her entrance first.

“Marquess Paes, please enter.”

Amy hesitated, then hurried into the room at Jessie’s command. The sunlight streaming through the balcony window was bright. Lila, sitting on the couch, spotted Amy and smiled brightly.

“We had a hard time getting here.”

The room was elegant and splendid, but it exuded a warm feeling instead. Amy couldn’t help but feel that the atmosphere of the room resembled her own personality.

Guided by Jessie, Amy sat down on the sofa opposite. Suddenly, Lila, who took Amy’s hand without hesitation, spoke with a determined expression.

“I’m not taking no for an answer this time.”

“……Ah.”

Amy felt like she was in a dream. As the long-awaited moment became a reality, her hands trembled slightly with anticipation.

“Please, I’d like Lady Paes to be my maid of honor. Oh, and of course you’re not doing it alone, thankfully, Lady Hayan and Lady Olleus have offered to help.”

Lila wanted to establish her own presence. For the sake of her unborn child, and for the sake of Michael in the future.

She also wanted to have someone she could fit in with.

“Oh, I, no, I’m…….”

Amy was taken aback. Having someone’s face so close to her felt awkward and overwhelming, different from what she had anticipated.

“Oh my, your eyes are incredibly beautiful.”

A pair of very bright yellow eyes peeked through the bangs that had been pulled back in embarrassment. The almost lemon-colored eyes looked amazing against her light green hair.

“What a waste, why are you hiding such beautiful eyes.”

Lila deftly took her hand and rose from her seat to sit beside Amy. Amy looked up, dumbfounded, as Lila spun her around in a circle, still holding her hand.

“Hmm, I thought you’d be cute.”

Though freckled and pimple-ridden and with a low bridge of her nose, her eyes were round and large, and her lips were full and sweet.

“I know what you’re worried about, but you know what?”

Lila, who had casually taken the seat next to Amy, flicked her bangs loosely.

“I told you I’m in the cosmetics business, right?”

Like someone mesmerized by something, Amy nodded.

“Haven’t you heard any rumors yet about people using my beauty cream and having their acne or freckles disappear?”

If such a beauty cream existed, I would have paid extra for it.

“I have a dress that would be perfect for you, would you like to take a look?”

Kate was actually waiting in the next room. Part of Lila wanted to get to know her, but she also wanted her to find her confidence.

“Uh…….”

Barely able to form the words, Amy mustered up the courage to speak. She turned to Lila, who was waiting patiently, stroking the back of her hand.

“If, if I wouldn’t be a burden… I really want to serve as the Duchess’s maid of honor.”

Finally, the awaited answer came. Lila quickly looked at Jessie, who quickly opened the door to the next room.

Kate, who had been listening to the conversation from inside, came running out, beaming.

“It must be you, I’ve been waiting for you!”

Amy was taken aback by Kate’s exuberance and moved closer to Lila.

“Kate is a very good costume maker. I can vouch for her, so you should try it on.”

As if mesmerized by Lila’s softly spoken words, Amy followed Kate into the side room.

Lila had chosen white for her wedding dress, as the ceremony would be held against a backdrop of pure white snow.

Her bridesmaids’ dresses were light blue, and she’d gotten their measurements in advance.

The first time she planned the wedding, she felt bad about Amy’s refusal, but she knew she had no choice.

Unintentionally, when it came time to prepare for the second dress, Lila wanted to make another suggestion. The reason she thought it was a good idea was because of how stunning Amy looked in the dress she wore as a lady-in-waiting.

It complemented her lime green hair and made her look radiant.

“I knew it would look good on you.”

Lila said happily and walked over to Amy. Kate spoke up from behind her, pinning the dress in place with thread pins.

“It’s a good thing I have your measurements, this will make it easier to adjust.”

“What do you think, do you like it?”

Lila asked as she brought Amy in front of the full-length mirror. Amy’s mouth dropped open when she saw her reflection, and then she pulled her bangs down in dismay.

“You know, if you keep covering your face with your bangs, you’re going to get more pimples.”

Lila said, grabbing Amy’s hand. With a quick swipe of a comb, she pulled her hair up.

Amy, amazed at the skill, looked at Lila curiously.

“Oh, you shouldn’t be this surprised.”

With a mischievous look on her face, Lila pulled out her makeup palette. Skillfully touching up freckles and pimples, she shaded and highlighted the bridge of her unusually low nose.

She applied gold eyeshadow to match her lemon eyes and chartreuse lashes, and finished with an orange lipstick.

When Amy looked at her face in the mirror, acne and freckles gone, she couldn’t even breathe.

A different person stood in front of the mirror, and she wondered if it was really her.

“As expected, I knew orange would suit you well.”

Lila’s smirking face shone through the mirror. Amy thought vaguely.

‘Being by her side…’

She believes that her life would change.

“Oh, that’s good, because I was going to be upset if she turned down being a bridesmaid1it really said bridesmaid here and not maid of honor again.”

Amy’s cheeks flushed at her patronizing tone.

“Not at all. This time, I was actually planning to ask you. I was disappointed, to be honest.”

“Really? Well, I’m… Hhhkk.”

Jessie and Kate, who were nearby, jumped at her reaction. Amy turned to her with a surprised look on her face.

It was just another day, one week away from the wedding.