The Dress Meant Only for Shasha

“Who knows. Who could it have been?”

Lucian smiled meaningfully as he gently brushed Shana’s cheek with his fingertips.

At that very moment, Madame Antoine returned carrying the dress.

“Your Grace, the dress you ordered is ready.”

The moment Shana saw the dress hanging from the velvet-covered hanger, her eyes widened.

It was a clear sky-blue dress—like the bright spring sky itself.

Almost identical to the color of her eyes.

The other dresses displayed near the entrance had also been masterpieces.

But this one felt different.

The shoulders were decorated with delicate silver-thread lace that would softly highlight her pale skin.

The waistline hugged the body gently, emphasizing a slender curve.

Below that flowed an elegant silk skirt that spread outward like a cloud.

Across the entire dress were tiny shimmering blue gemstones, packed closely together like fragments of a starry night sky.

It looked less like clothing and more like a perfect work of art.

Every thread and every piece of fabric seemed meticulously calculated for maximum beauty.

“…What is this?”

It was beyond simply beautiful.

It was the kind of dress that could turn the wearer into a goddess.

Without thinking, Shana reached out to touch the soft silk.

But she quickly pulled her hand back, afraid she might leave fingerprints on it.

‘When did he even order something like this?’

“Do you like it?”

Lucian smiled with clear satisfaction.

“I just thought it would suit you, Shasha.”

“…Why?”

One year ago, they barely spoke to each other.

Lucian had been fighting across battlefields as the Empire’s hero.

Meanwhile, she had been drowning in debt, hiding in the corner of her apothecary and obsessing over experiments.

And yet he had reserved such an expensive dress simply because it “might suit her.”

Shana couldn’t understand it at all.

“Because I wanted to see you wearing it.”

As he said that, Lucian stared quietly at the dress.

“Would you like to try it on, Lady?”

Madame asked gently.

Shana hesitated.

Wearing something this extravagant felt strange.

It almost felt as if she didn’t belong in a dress like this.

“I’ll help you change. Please follow me to the fitting room.”

Madame politely encouraged her again.

Eventually, Shana had no choice but to nod and follow.

“…You better explain everything properly later.”

Especially why he had secretly prepared such an unbelievable dress a whole year in advance.

“To be honest, this dress is something I spent the past year creating with great care.”

Madame spoke as they walked down the hallway toward the fitting room.

“I always wondered what kind of woman the Duke ordered such a delicate dress for.

But now that I’ve met you in person, Lady… I understand.

You truly look like a water fairy.”

Madame smiled sincerely.

Shana awkwardly returned the smile.

She was still wondering if it would even suit her when they reached the end of the hallway leading to the fitting rooms.

In front of the largest VIP fitting room, a woman wearing a glamorous dress was staring at herself in the mirror with an irritated expression.

“Lady Cardin, you’re still here?”

Madame looked troubled as she glanced at Shana.

Normally, only one client was allowed in the premium fitting room at a time.

“Honestly, Madame!

I don’t know who that dress belongs to, but if I want it—”

The woman complaining suddenly stopped mid-sentence the moment she saw Shana.

Her face turned completely pale.

Seeing the blood drain from her face, Shana’s expression hardened as well.

“…Shana Crowell? Why are you here?”

The woman’s red lips trembled.

The sharp, biting tone instantly brought back a forgotten memory.

‘No wonder she looked familiar.’

Beatrice Cardin.

The only daughter of Marquis Cardin, one of the Empire’s powerful noble families.

Back at the academy, she had been the ringleader of the group that bullied Shana the worst.

She was the one who had invited Shana to a fake tea party—

Only to lock her inside a storage room.

‘Is anyone there? Please open the door…’

Shana had sat on the floor, crying for help until her voice went hoarse.

Only when Lucian arrived and opened the door was she able to escape.

‘If Lucian hadn’t come, who knows how long I would’ve been stuck there.’

“Why? Is there some reason I shouldn’t be here?”

Shana replied coldly.

“N-no, that’s not what I meant…”

Beatrice’s hands shrank back unconsciously.

At first, Shana thought she was preparing to start trouble again.

But Beatrice’s face was clearly filled with fear.

‘Why is she that scared?’

It would make sense if she were surprised to see Shana after so long.

But there was no reason for her to be this terrified.

As Shana kept watching her with confusion, Beatrice stepped back even further.

Maybe she was simply embarrassed.

Or perhaps she regretted what she had done in the past.

Either way, Shana had no desire to get involved with her again.

But the moment Beatrice saw the dress Shana was holding, her expression changed instantly.

“Wait…That’s the dress you reserved?”

Her face looked shocked.

Even Shana could tell it was far too expensive for her.

But that reaction still felt incredibly rude.

“Why?”

Madame leaned closer and whispered softly into Shana’s ear.

“Lady Beatrice happened to see the dress in the fitting room earlier and insisted on purchasing it.”

‘Ah, so that’s what happened.’

Beatrice had wanted the dress.

And now Shana was the one wearing it.

That must have irritated her.

But trying to take someone else’s custom order by force…

Shana couldn’t understand that kind of thinking.

She was just about to say something—

“Shasha, is something wrong?”

At that moment, Lucian’s voice came from down the hallway.

The moment Beatrice heard it, she flinched violently.

It was as if she had seen a ghost.

Perhaps because Shana was with Lucian now, she thought he might retaliate for what she had done in the past.

Shana felt complicated emotions rising in her chest.

Being locked in that storage room had truly left a scar on her.

But…

‘That doesn’t mean I need to humiliate her now.’

There was no need to drag up the past.

And honestly, she didn’t feel like it.

“Nothing’s wrong, Lucian.”

Shana called casually down the hallway.

Then she looked back at Beatrice and spoke quietly.

“…What are you doing? Weren’t you leaving? There’s a back door over there.”

She had noticed a door designed for clients to leave immediately after changing.

Beatrice blinked slowly, looking stunned.

“You’re… not going to say anything to me?”

Shana rolled her eyes.

“Why would I bother?”

“I—I see…”

Beatrice licked her dry lips nervously.

Then, without another word, she gathered her dress and hurried out through the back door.

‘Lucian didn’t interfere in my affairs back then.’

Seeing her that terrified was honestly a bit ridiculous.

Or maybe…

If it were now, he might act differently.

After all, he had once said he would personally take revenge on anyone if she wanted him to.

Realizing that part of her had secretly expected that made Shana pause.

‘Have I gotten too used to the new Lucian?’

The Lucian who had become openly devoted and protective toward her after taking the medicine.

These feelings weren’t even real.

There was no reason for Lucian to get dragged into gossip because of her past grudges.

‘I’m too kind for my own good.’

After all, she had just let go of someone who once locked her up during their school days.

“I apologize for not handling the situation earlier, Lady. Now we can help you change comfortably.”

Madame bowed politely and guided Shana into the fitting room.

Shana nodded, trying to steady her thoughts.

The fitting room was large but cozy.

Madame and two assistants skillfully helped Shana change.

They carefully removed her clothes and began dressing her step by step—from undergarments to corset.

Putting on such a dress required many hands.

A dress like this could never be worn alone.

Nor could it be made with cheap labor.

Once everything was finished, Madame and the assistants stared at Shana with shining eyes.

“…My goodness.

You are absolutely stunning, Lady.

The dress has truly found its rightful owner.”

Madame’s sincere praise made Shana feel awkward.

But when Madame turned her toward the enormous full-length mirror, Shana inhaled sharply.

The dress fit perfectly.

As if it had been made specifically for her body.

Yet it still felt unfamiliar.

What if Lucian saw her and laughed?

Surely Madame was only flattering a customer.

A dress like this couldn’t possibly suit her.

Women like Beatrice—who had grown up surrounded by luxurious dresses—were the ones who could pull something like this off.

A little nervous, Shana slowly stepped out of the fitting room.

Lucian was sitting on a sofa in the center of the salon, waiting.

He looked up.

“…Shasha.”

Lucian stared at her as if seeing her for the first time.

He didn’t even remember to set down the teacup in his hand.

He simply looked at her, unable to look away.

Unable to endure the awkward silence, Shana lifted the edge of her dress slightly and asked,

“Lucian… um…How does it look?”