“There’s another designer with a fast hand just at the end of the road. She has a thing for completing deadlines and we do need that dress fast,” Clint said softly, snapping Ailea out of her thoughts.

She nodded, smiling. Clint had returned to his usual behavior: playful and affectionate. He had time to recollect his thoughts and apologized thereafter. The behavior he had displayed earlier hadn’t been the best. Though he was still somewhat upset with the bastard that he stuck close to Ailea and patted her head to comfort himself.

The carriage soon stopped and Clint knocked on the door.

The designer Beige opened the door yawning. She made the second floor of the building her residence while the first floor was where she conducted her business.

“What is this… at this late hour…” she yawned, grumbling, but once realizing that it was Clint standing in front of her, she immediately shut her mouth and changed her posture.

“Oh, My Lord! You changed your wom—you met someone new?”

“Just shut up and let us inside,” Clint said, eyes shooting daggers.

“Ah, yes, yes… of course.”

Beige took a glance at Clint’s companion. She guessed that his companion was an older woman this time, about three to four years older than him. The woman had an air of maturity.

Beige had heard the news of Clint recapturing the castle of Excalibur and that he would be lording over the territory, but nothing of his marriage. Though little did she know that after the ball, news of his marriage to Ailea would spread throughout the capital city like a wildfire.

“By the way, you said last time that you would never come back again. What was it that you said? Low quality? How could you insult my artistic soul just like that?” Beige grumbled.

“You’re right in a sense. Your quick speed is none like no other. Besides, you knew that I would come again one way or another. What’s the fuss?”

“It’s my art, including the ability to create under strict deadlines. Because of your criticism, I nearly lost my job and starved to death.” Beige turned on the lights in a fit. Several dresses were hung up in the shop.

“I’m here to pick out a dress for my wife.”

“You’re joking right?” Surprised, Beige looked at Ailea. Her black, mottled skin perplexed her.

She immediately thought of ways to reject the proposition. A woman like her would undoubtedly worsen her reputation. But on the other hand, she couldn’t resist a reputable man like Clint Risher. This damn bastard truly made her life worse than it already is. It’s his fault that she had too few customers. On the other hand, how bad can her reputation go down the gutters? Besides, she was the sort of someone who would rather suffer losses than reject a struggling person like Ailea.

“What about sky blue? Like her eyes,” Beige said.

“Ah! The blue sky… I’m curious. I’ve never worn one,” Ailea answered awkwardly, nervous that Beige would refuse to sell her a dress.

It had been difficult to find a designer willing to sell her a dress. They said that their reputation would suffer should an ugly woman marked with an ugly disease wear their designs. She had no choice but to sew her own clothes.

As she was self-conscious, she went to the fitting room herself to try it on.

While Ailea was in the dressing room, Beige asked Clint with a stiff face, “Oh, marriage you say? Do you know what marriage is? You’ll have to live a life opposite to what you’ve been doing!”

“I’m marrying under His Majesty’s command. I can live as I always have.”

“But would your wife agree to that? Did she “Yes” reluctantly?”

Clint had never been in a serious relationship before. He was the sort of man who played with women’s hearts, seducing them with sweet words, but never truly giving his heart to them. Beige was worried whether the young and innocent lady would be able to withstand his flirtatious ways.

Meanwhile, Ailea opened the door with the dress on.

Seeing her figure, Beige scratched her head and said, “I’ll have some work cut out for me.”

“Is-is that so?”

“When is the deadline?”

“In two days…”

“That’s good enough for me.”

“I’ll be sending flowers and decorations here, so make sure to attach it to the dress,” Clint added.

Beige’s eyes bulged. “Pardon? In two days?”

“Just decline all the other projects you have for two days. I’ll give you money worth your time,” Clint smirked and handed her a check.

Beige’s eyes widened. She thanked the heavens for not turning down the offer.