target chapter 8

“What are you thanking me for? His Grace will be the one paying, not me.”

Lynne even gave a relaxed smile before leaving the salon.

I got what I wanted, so I should avoid wasting any unnecessary energy.

Because from now on, she was going to party all night! Lynne smiled brightly.

Just what was so amusing that she was giggling at the empty air?

Inside the grand ducal carriage, Miller let out a scoff as he watched her.

“She seems to be in a good mood after stealing Mirian’s dress.”

“Your Grace, Miss Sert promised that in return, she would never go near the Grand Duke’s residence again!”

Alex chuckled, happy that his own workload would be reduced, but Miller just snorted.

“You believe that? Miss Sert, not go near the Grand Duke’s residence? Ha, you might as well tell me the sun will rise in the north. And for all we know, Miss Sert might have secretly climbed onto the back of the carriage, so check that first.”

Miller clicked his tongue and turned his head away sharply.

Furthermore, not wanting to see Lynne’s smiling face, he didn’t forget to order the interior window of the carriage to be closed.

As Alex closed the window, he prayed to the goddess that Lynne would keep her promise.

Ding-a-ling.

Ding-a-ling.

The salon door opened and closed several times, but the young ladies Lynne was waiting for did not come out.

Ding-a-ling.

Ding-a-ling.

Only after a long while did the ladies finally emerge, their hands laden with bags.

“Sorry to keep you waiting!”

“Ah!”

Lynne, who had been dozing in the carriage, started and was about to get out, but the ladies stopped her.

“Um, but what should we do…?”

I’ve heard that line somewhere before. Lynne’s eyebrow twitched.

Yes, it was the voice of a friend who was leaving early because they didn’t have the stamina.

Just as she was about to protest and stop them…

“We’re so sorry! Can’t we go to the dessert shop tomorrow? We have so much to put away, and we really overdid it today.”

“Miss Sert, you should also rest at home until today!”

“That’s right. You still need to focus on recovering your health.”

Their excuses were so perfect that all Lynne could do was pout.

“Well, I guess it can’t be helped… But tomorrow, we’re going to the dessert shop and the opera house!”

The ladies gave strained smiles and nodded, half-forced.

Lynne climbed into the carriage, crestfallen.

The moment she parted from her friends, a wave of boredom washed over her.

“Ah… I don’t want to go home…”

Her makeup was flawless, and she still had plenty of energy to party.

Besides, the sun was still high in the sky. Going home now? That was a sin. A sin that might land her in the hell of sloth.

Lynne’s turquoise eyes darted around.

“My lady, in that case, would you like to go to the dessert shop near the Grand Duke’s residence?”

“Suddenly?”

“It’s just that you often used to go there when you were bored…”

That was because it was a prime spot for stalking Miller.

“Is there anything on my schedule that isn’t related to the Grand Duke?”

“Um.”

Only the rattling of the carriage wheels could be heard; the maid couldn’t readily answer.

Right… I don’t remember anything either. I’ve never seen Lynne do anything for fun other than dig into Miller’s business.

Lynne let out a deep sigh.

“I guess I’ll just go home… I can hang out with the ladies tomorrow.”

What? Go to the opera house and the dessert shop?

After raiding just one salon, the young ladies had taken turns falling ill with exhaustion.

In the end, it was a full week before Lynne met with them again!

As soon as she stepped out of the carriage, Lynne threw her chest out and took a deep breath of the night air.

“Haaah…!”

Yes, this is it. This is the stuff!

The dark blue twilight sky, the sparkling Broadway-like streets, and even the handsome young lords!

And the rich scent of cigars mingling with the smell of an autumn evening!

The atmosphere was such that it felt like a gangster shootout could erupt behind this luxurious opera house at any moment.

Lynne covered her mouth with her hands, repeating, “Oh my god, I love this so much!” as she tried to contain her excitement.

It reminded her of a dress-up story game she had started but never finished before being reincarnated.

The male lead in that game was so cool… sigh.

It would be nice to be the heroine of a reverse-harem game, or the secret lover of a mafia boss. Or maybe the only princess, having flings with all sorts of government officials?

Anyway, anything was better than dying while chasing after that jerk of a Grand Duke.

Wait, could there be something like the mafia in this novel? Ha, I’d love to have a romance with a mafia boss.

Only after she had finished her wild fantasies, which included three or four marriage endings, did the young ladies arrive.

“We’re so sorry we’re late!”

“Oh my, Lady Lynne, that dress looks absolutely wonderful on you.”

“Wow, I think I’m falling for you, Lady Lynne!”

Buoyed by their compliments, Lynne did a half-turn on the spot. The hem of her magnificent dress swirled out richly.

“I was dying to wear this! I’ve been waiting for this day. It’s pretty, isn’t it?”

After completing her spin, the first thing that caught her eye was a pair of sharply creased suit trousers and expensive men’s dress shoes.

Lynne’s face hardened as she slowly raised her head to look at the man’s face.

“…”

She met a pair of golden eyes that matched the night sky. It was Miller, again.