target chapter 6

“Is there another party, one His Grace the Grand Duke will not be attending?”

“Another party… That’s the only one this week.”

Lynne let out a heavy sigh. This was serious! She might have to spend her weekend evening at home!

Click. Just then, the closed doors of the dress shop swung wide open. The eyes of the waiting ladies all turned to the madam.

“We are now open for business!”

At the madam’s booming voice, the crowd of ladies pushed into the shop at once. They all hitched up their skirts to move, but the one who shot past them all was, of course, Lynne.

Dresses! Dresses first!

A small handbag made of tassels and jewels caught her eye, but the dress came first. Her entire wardrobe consisted of black dresses; she had to buy at least one decent gown today, no matter what.

“Hah!”

Using the core muscles she had honed through Pilates, she made it to the dress corner without issue. Immediately, her hands flew across the hangers, her eyes taking in the design, color, and how it would look when worn.

The waistline on this one is awkward. The color on this one is bad. This one is… too plain!

After all, weren’t dresses meant for showing off? But these were all so bland. Just as she was about to declare the hunt a failure, a red dress caught her eye. The ruching was just right, the waistline sleek! It was an elegant yet lovely dress. Like a rhinoceros, she snatched the hanger.

“This one—!”

“Ah!”

She had pulled out the dress she wanted, only to find two hands on the hanger.

Lynne narrowed her eyes, glaring at the young woman on the other side of the hanger. She shot her a look as fierce as a predator’s, one that clearly said, Take your hands off my prey. Now.

“Excuse me. Hmph, if you’d just let go…”

But wait a moment. Black hair and red eyes. A dazzling dress that seemed at odds with her frail, breakable frame.

M-Mirian!?

It was Mirian, the original heroine. Lynne stared at her, her eyes wide with shock. As she glared with her already large eyes, Mirian quickly let go of the hanger, flustered.

“I-I’m sorry!”

But Lynne wasn’t even seeing Mirian anymore. Her gaze was fixed over Mirian’s shoulder, at the entrance to the shop. She had locked eyes with a pair of golden pupils that were leaning against the doorway, staring at her as if they wanted to kill her.

Why are you two showing up here…?

The owner of the golden eyes was, at a single glance, the original male lead: Grand Duke Miller von Ferihertz.

Why were these two, who were supposed to be at the grand ducal residence having endless misunderstandings and creating a frustratingly slow plot…

Why are you here? In a G-rated dress shop, of all places? If you’re R-19, then act like it and stay in the R-19 setting. This doesn’t suit you!

Lynne pouted. Wait… Hold on. The fact that I’m alive means this is the beginning of the novel, right?

Does that mean this is before Miller becomes obsessed with Mirian?

Even as she tried to sort through her thoughts, the golden eyes staring at her from outside the window were getting on her nerves.

Jeez, I’ll think about it later. Later.

Lynne cleared her throat and nonchalantly handed the dress to the madam.

“Ahem, I-I’ll buy this one.”

“A truly excellent eye! How did you manage to choose a color and design that suit you so perfectly, my lady!”

“This much is basic. Madam, do you get new arrivals every month? You do custom orders as well, correct?”

“But of course!”

The madam glanced around before whispering in Lynne’s ear.

“We display new products on the first week of every month, but if you pay in advance, I can come to your residence myself. That way, you’ll be the very first to see the new arrivals!”

Lynne’s turquoise eyes sparkled as she nodded enthusiastically. The madam’s sales pitch was truly masterful, like the whisper of Satan himself.

“I’m only telling you this because you have such an ex-qui-site eye, my lady, so please keep that in mind!”

“Of course!”

Lynne, who had been beaming at the madam’s praise, suddenly felt her smile vanish as she remembered Miller, who was surely still staring at the back of her head. It was an unnerving chill, like a predator was targeting her from behind.

When is he going to leave? I absolutely cannot turn around. Don’t turn aro—

“Um, Miss Sert?”

Lynne sucked in a sharp breath and froze. The only word she could repeat in her mind was a quiet, I’m screwed.