Betrothed to My Sister's Ex

The carriage from Granado Castle was dazzlingly luxurious.

It was incomparable to the rental carriages of the Chadelan Territory. The exterior was mainly made of black iron, lavishly decorated with gold, silver, and mother-of-pearl inlays. The horses pulling it were equally beautiful—large and muscular, with glossy coats and very gentle eyes. Like the shiny carriage, these horses were clearly well cared for.

Inside, the decoration was surprisingly simple, spacious with a high ceiling, designed for comfort. The scarlet cushioned seats even made the vibrations feel pleasant.

After about an hour, the coachman announced our arrival, and we stepped down onto the ground.

“Where is this...?”

“This is the main street of the lower town. The designated shop is a little further ahead, but we’ll walk from here.”

I looked around.

It was a very lively place. Along the wide road, several carriages were parked, other than ours. Big buildings lined the street—department stores, banks, hotels, and restaurants—with narrow alleys at every corner.

Gorgeous ladies in Western-style dresses flowed into the buildings, while plainly dressed citizens drifted into the side alleys. I found myself drawn to the alleys.

“What’s down that road?”

“That’s the commoners’ market. First, we’ll leave the carriage here. Also, you’ll need to change clothes.”

Change clothes? Both Lord Cyrus and I were in our usual dazzling outfits. Were we supposed to wear some special formal attire?

We entrusted the carriage to the coachman and Wolfgang, then entered the building right in front of us.

It seemed to be a carriage depot. A man standing at the entrance noticed us and straightened his back.

“—Count Granado! Hello! Shopping today?”

His tone was respectful but his smile was warm. It felt more like goodwill toward regular customers rather than stiff formality toward a great noble.

“Yes, it’s personal business. The usual, please. For her as well.”

“Oh? Which princess might this be?”

“His fiancée.”

“Ha ha, always joking.”

The man laughed lightly, brushing it off, while Lord Cyrus frowned.

“...I’m not joking. The engagement ceremony is next month, but we’re already living together. Of course, we’ll marry.”

“Oh! Is that so! Truly. That young master Cyrus! Engagement. Marriage. Wow!”

The clerk seemed to have witnessed something very rare and made a big fuss. Then he peered at my face and raised his voice again.

“My, you’re quite beautiful!”

“...Th-thank you…”

I bowed apologetically for causing him trouble.

“Wow, wow, wow! Surprisingly, the Duke and Duchess Granado have been loyal customers here for years, but this is the first time the young master has brought a lady. The duchess was lamenting—though the young master is very popular, somehow... Eventually, the lady lost patience and took him once to the red-light district—ow!”

Suddenly, the young man screamed. Lord Cyrus apparently stepped on his foot. With a sullen expression, he went inside the shop silently. Wait, can we just enter like that? I was confused, but the man smiled and gestured me to follow. I hurried after Lord Cyrus.

Right after opening the door, there were two more doors—one for women and one for men. Entering the women’s side, it was a very narrow room with only a large mirror. What kind of room was this?

From behind, the clerk spoke.

“Miss, this way please.”

I took the item he offered and unfolded it.

Wow, thi-this is...!

After a moment—the clerk who greeted me when I came out exclaimed:

“How charming! You looked wonderful in that gorgeous dress, but in plain clothes, your natural beauty really shines.”

“R-Really...? I don’t think it suits me much.”

That’s right, I had changed inside. It was the typical attire of a commoner girl in the royal capital. A soft cotton one-piece dress, a laced overskirt, tights, and leather ankle boots. The skirt was short enough to almost show my knees. There were few decorations like frills or lace, but instead, many colors were used.