Cold Blooded Duke Dress

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

There was no way that Duke Sentoren would fall for me.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Will the future be any different if I contact him?

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Even if I could not break the ten year engagement between Princess Marianne and Duke Sentoren, I still had to find a breakthrough.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Can I get out of this palace with Duke Sentoren’s help?

The possibility of that plan succeeding was too low.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Queen Selina and Princess Marianne would never let a maid who knew their secrets live.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

As Madame Katana, I should not meet Duke Sentoren.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Madame Katana, a corpse-like woman, in a giant black dress, like a despised omen of death.

Even if Riv changed her dress and tried to escape, she could not change her scent, so she would be pursued by the Guard’s hounds.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Let’s do what I can for now.

Riv was lost in thought.

She’d been called a witch and was revived with a magic tool.

Riv checked the clock. There was still some time left before the royal library closed.

Decisively, she took the road to the royal library, seeking out books mentioning witches and magic.

Riv lived in a time period where wizards, witches, and magic had long disappeared.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Is it true that I’m a witch?

Riv’s biological mother Shana had been called a witch, or so the rumors were when Riv was young.

Shana died the day Riv was born. Riv didn’t know where her nanny was.

There was not enough time to find information about the past.

One of book described a wizard’s magic tools.

Magic tools are mostly disguised as old, insignificant objects, antiques, etc. They can be found in old warehouses, attics, or antique shops, and are not easily destroyed. To create these magic tools, one had to inject mana into the tool and activate them. Witches and wizards were the only ones who could inject mana. Wizards and witches carried mana stones and magic tools that could amplify mana in the form of accessories.

If Riv was a real witch and the Duke’s ring was a magic tool, then,

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Is it a tool that contains the wondrous ability of turning back time?

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

If the Duke’s heirloom was a magic tool, what was the possibility of the late Duchess Sentoren being a witch?

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

What if Duke Sentoren’s mansion had other magical tools and books hidden?

Riv decided to investigate that after she found a way to meet him.

However, it would be difficult with her identity as ‘Madame Katana’.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

I still couldn’t think of a way to approach him.

The hunting competition was just around the corner. Riv went to Anna after a long period of consideration.

It was afternoon, around tea time, when Riv approached Anna.

Anna was cleaning silverware for Princess Marianne’s tea time.

The other maids were mobilized to clean up the drawing-room in preparation.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Can I help you, Anna?

Marianne wouldn’t be back any time soon because she went to the seamstress for a new outfit.

Anna looked at Riv.

Maid Anna

Riv, do you have something to ask me?

Riv was a bit nervous, but this made her smile. Anna had always been quite sharp and perceptive.

Maid Anna

Anna, what do you know about Duke Sentoren?

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Anna, I think I’ll be sent to Duke Sentoren on an errand for the princess. I don’t know anything about her fiance, and I was just wondering what he’s like.

Maid Anna

He sometimes sends gifts to her.

Although Duke Sentoren regularly sent gifts or formal letters, he never visited Marianne directly.

Maid Anna

If you’re curious about the Duke, ask the princess or one of the other maids.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

I don’t think Princess Marianne will answer me. All of the maids are busy.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

I don’t want to go to the Duke and accidentally make a mistake.

Riv flushed, looking embarrassed, and Anna was reluctantly convinced in her ploy.

Before Princess Marianne’s birthday and after the hunting competition, Duke Sentoren sent her many gifts and handwritten letters.

Princess Marianne’s representative was to visit the Duke in return and deliver a reply.

The princess’ representatives were usually her direct maids, Elle and Riv.

Elle was too busy, so Riv had to go instead.

Maid Anna

I don’t know much about Duke Sentoren either.

Duke Sentoren’s full name was Lionel de Sentoren. Despite being 28 years old, he was respected widely by the elder aristocrats among the court for his talent and skill.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

But Anna, why does Princess Marianne hate him?

Maid Anna

Riv, you’ve never seen Duke Sentoren up close before, have you?

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

No, I haven’t.

Maid Anna

Do you know what kind of boys Princess Marianne likes?

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Yes, they’re cute and gentle.

Marianne preferred pretty, almost androdynous boys because she was short and thin.

She always chose men as pretty and gentle as women, not rough and masculine ones.

Maid Anna

Duke Sentoren is handsome, but he is also very masculine and tall.

Maid Anna

He has a wide red scar on his left cheek, and his eyes look fierce.

Maid Anna

You won’t even be able to meet his gaze the first time.

***

That sounded like the complete opposite of what Princess Marianne favored. No wonder she didn’t like him.

Maid Anna

They are about ten years apart. When she was eight, Duke Sentoren was already a young man.

Maid Anna

Besides, Duke Sentoren’s estate is in the southern part of Montel.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Oh.

Maid Anna

Duke Sentoren has characteristics that Princess Marianne hates.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

[Is the heirloom really a magic tool?]

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Can you do me a favor?

Maid Anna

What?

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

I need a dress.

Maid Anna

Dress? What color and size?

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

I don’t care about either. All I need is a dress.

Maid Anna

Are you going to wear it? I think you wear dresses a size too big…

Riv’s face, neck, and hands were too skinny for her huge dress.

Maid Anna

If you want a dress to wear, I think I should check the size.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Really?

Maid Anna

Tomorrow I have to visit women’s clothing stores and hat and shoe shops on Princess Marianne’s behalf.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Oh.

Maid Anna

The nanny and I had left a tattered dress for repair, so we have to retrieve that too.

Maid Anna

So you’ll have time to pick out a dress. What are you going to use it for?

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

I’m going to wear it for a while at the palace. Anything will be fine as long as it’s not worn out.

Maid Anna

I don’t know if it’s because you only have that old dress and don’t spend much, but you’re not that poor for a maid.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

It doesn’t matter. Money isn’t an issue. Can you get me a dress that fits me better than this?

Riv and Anna looked at Riv’s huge dress and her form concealed underneath it.

It just so happened that the other maids were coming back from their respective tasks.

Riv Katana/ Olivia [FL]

Come to my room at night after work.

As agreed upon, Anna crept into Riv’s room after work ended.

As soon as Anna entered, she pulled out a measuring tape and urged Riv

Maid Anna

I can’t measure you on top of that ugly thing you’re wearing. Take it off.