Countless candles burning in golden candelabra light the ceiling of the great hall, building a stage so dreamlike it makes one forget the passing of time. Tonight’s soirée in the royal capital has drawn every noble house worth the name. Waves of gowns and tailcoats sway gently to the orchestra’s music, and people trade smiles over their glasses while servers with silver trays move between the guests without a sound.
And in all that splendour, the one who draws the eye above everyone else is Chloe.
Her mysterious beauty, worthy of a goddess of the moon, is only part of it. The gown she wears steals the gaze of everyone who sees her.
Layer upon layer of delicate chiffon in pale violet, the hem stirring like wind with every step, suits her radiant looks perfectly. From the bodice up over the shoulders runs embroidery of silver thread and the tiniest diamonds, and when the light catches it, it glitters like scattered stars. The cut is bold but graceful, setting off her porcelain skin, and a satin ribbon in a matching shade at her waist keeps the whole thing dignified while lending it a lightness.
[My…… what a beautiful gown. I find myself quite entranced, Lady Chloe.] (Marchioness)
The one who addresses her is a certain marchioness, a woman of impeccable refinement whose own attire hasn’t a flaw in it. For her to narrow her eyes and nod in approval is proof enough of what this gown is.
Chloe lowers the fingers holding her glass and inclines her head gracefully.
[I’m honoured you took notice. ……In truth, this gown is the work of a designer attached to our family’s atelier.] (C)
[Oh my, a designer from your own atelier…… I see. And here I had assumed it was a gift from your fiancé……] (M)
The marchioness glances at Leonardo standing beside Chloe, faint interest colouring her expression.
When an engaged couple attends a soirée together, presenting the lady with a gown is a gentleman’s courtesy and an unwritten rule of society. And yet the gown Chloe is wearing comes from her own family’s atelier — which means Leonardo sent her nothing, and she was obliged to see to it herself.
For just an instant, the marchioness turns a scornful look on Leonardo. It’s a look full of contempt, as good as saying you haven’t even the means to buy your fiancée a dress, and Leonardo flushes red and averts his eyes, unable to bear it.
The marchioness returns her gaze quietly to Chloe, lets out a sigh of admiration, and lowers her eyes to the elegant hem.
[Meticulous down to the last detail…… and yet never heavy with it. Good breeding shows even in the cloth.] (M)
Chloe answers the praise with a soft smile. Paying no mind whatsoever to Leonardo’s discomfort beside her, she continues in a gentle voice.
[As it happens, this winter we’ll be opening a shop of our own in the fifth district of the capital, run directly by the atelier.] (C)
The marchioness’s brows lift. Even through the noise of the hall, that piece of information lands clearly.
[My…… how splendid. The fifth district is prime ground, where all the ladies gather.] (M)
[Yes. It’s still a modest shop, but everything in it is one of a kind, made by the atelier’s own craftsmen. We’re making arrangements to take commissions as well, for pieces tailored like tonight’s gown.] (C)
Then Chloe leans in the smallest amount and drops her voice to a whisper.
[If it would please you…… do come on the opening day. A woman of your eye is exactly who I’d most like to show it to first.] (C)
[Oh, what an honour. Something else to look forward to. With Lady Chloe’s own recommendation, nothing could keep me away.] (M)
At that, Chloe lets a small smile through as well.
—
[Chloe. What exactly was that about, just now?] (L)
[“That,” meaning?] (C)
The moment they part from the marchioness, Leonardo takes Chloe out to the balcony without a word. When he turns around, his face is twisted with anger, and he bears down on her.
[Don’t play dumb, Chloe! Why would you say that, about the gown being your own? You’ve made a laughingstock of me!] (L)
[Goodness, how surprising. I only stated a fact, didn’t I? This gown I’m wearing is one I arranged myself……] (C)
Chloe pays his raised voice no attention at all and delivers the line with something close to a sneer. Leonardo, who has never once seen that expression or that manner from her, is too stunned to respond.
[What…… Chloe……?] (L)
[What is it you’re so angry about, Leonardo-sama? Surely…… you aren’t about to tell me that if I’d kept quiet, everyone would have assumed it was your gift? Something as shameless as that……] (C)
Under the contempt in her eyes, Leonardo can’t find his next words. Not once has his obedient fiancée ever looked at him like this.
[I— but— until now, you……] (L)
[Ah, yes. Until now I did hold my tongue out of consideration for you. Or rather, for House Linden. I assumed you hadn’t the means to buy your fiancée a gown before a soirée…… But looking at what you’re wearing, I’ve learned that consideration was quite unnecessary. You seem to have had the means to have your own clothes newly made……] (C)
At that, Leonardo catches himself and looks down at his clothes in a hurry. Brand-new in design, cleverly worked around the season’s fashions, finely tailored, and the work of one of the capital’s celebrated designers. He sent Chloe no gown, but he certainly outfitted himself.
[No…… this is…… I only meant that Chloe standing beside me shouldn’t be put to shame——] (L)
[That consideration matters too, of course. But did it never occur to you that I might be saddened by a fiancé who won’t send me even one dress? You give no thought to that, and then you would have me stay silent about it as well…… isn’t that rather presumptuous of you?] (C)
[Pre— presumptuous?! Don’t you think that’s going too far!] (L)
[Oh? Then are you telling me that you have no intention of giving me a gown, but you’d be embarrassed for others to know it, so I’m to keep quiet about the fact? ……That would be making a fool of me, and thoroughly.] (C)
Confronted with the plain truth, delivered in a voice steeped in anger and contempt, Leonardo can’t hide how lost he is. Chloe has never said a word about any of this before, so why now?
[……You never said anything about it until today.] (L)
[I am not your mother. Must I really take a grown man aside and teach him that one gives one’s fiancée a gown? That sort of common sense is learned at home. It is not for outsiders to teach.] (C)
The way she leans on the word outsiders fills Leonardo with a growing sense of danger.
She’d seemed somehow colder lately. But a gift or two would be enough to get back in her good graces — that was what he thought. Only now does he understand how wrong he was. Far from improving her mood, he seems to have made it worse.
[Is failing to show one’s fiancée any courtesy the way of your house? It doesn’t accord with ours…… My father taught me that a fiancé is to be shown the utmost courtesy.] (C)
[C-Chloe…… what’s got into you? This isn’t like you at all.] (L)
[The usual “me”…… is it. You mean the version of me who never receives a gown from you before a single soirée, and stands there grinning and smiling pleasantly about it and saying nothing? That pathetic creature?] (C)
With every notch her tone sharpens, Leonardo loses more of his footing. The Chloe he knows is exactly the person she just described. A woman who forgives whatever is done to her with a smile, kind to the point of foolishness.
Which is precisely why he can’t believe the woman standing here and pressing him so hard is the same person.
[……You’ve disappointed me. Not only do you fail at the bare minimum courtesy of giving your fiancée a gown, you’d force me to keep silent about it…… It’s pathetic.] (C)
Pathetic — spat at him with contempt in her voice and disgust on her face — and Leonardo’s cheeks burn scarlet with shame. He knew perfectly well that a gown before a soirée is a matter of courtesy, and chose not to send one; guilt leaves him no ground to argue from.
[That isn’t…… I never meant——] (L)
[Excuses aren’t necessary. Neither is any further discussion.] (C)
[You can’t……! There’s no need to be that angry……] (L)
[No, I’m not angry. I’m appalled. And I don’t believe you and I will ever understand one another. I’ll take my leave for this evening.] (C)
She spits it out coldly, curtsies with perfect grace, and walks away from him.
Leonardo doesn’t follow. He simply stands there, rooted and blank — with no idea that the court’s gossiping sparrows are watching every moment of it and tittering behind their hands.
Simplyrical 
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