Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 38: A Wedding Dress, Of Course!

Chapter 38: A Wedding Dress, Of Course!

The ’Golden Shopping Pass’ was a highly exclusive and expensive privilege. It functioned like a ticket, offering its holder the unique permission to enter any restaurant or boutique without the need to wait in line or rely on a personal invitation.

To obtain such a pass, one had to pay a substantial sum of money to one of the Royal Assistants, who, by the order of King Euris Ruan himself, oversaw the entirety of the Shopping District and all business conducted therein.

And Duke Valentine, a man purportedly living on funds allocated by the Palace, would typically be unable to afford such a luxury.

"How did you manage to get the Golden Pass?! I heard it costs quite a lot of money!"

The princess’s expression reflected genuine curiosity with a touch of slight disbelief.

Tillian retrieved the glossy piece of paper from Aideen’s loose grip, then concealed it within the jacket of his black uniform, and sighed,

"Your lack of trust in my financial standing is quite offensive, Your Highness. I am a Duke, after all, and the money I possess exceeds the measly coins allocated to me by the King."

Aideen felt hot blood rushing to her face again. She was caught in a mix of awkwardness and embarrassment, yet she still found it challenging to dismiss the Duke’s confidence entirely.

While maintaining her intense curiosity, the princess understood that the topic of one’s finances was quite sensitive. She decided that further prying might truly offend Duke Valentine, and, for the time being, chose to set it aside.

"I apologize, Your Grace. I guess I am in disbelief because such extravagance is entirely new to me..."

Tillian adjusted the hood over the woman’s head and answered somewhat affectionately,

"Please, do not apologize for expressing your thoughts, Your Highness. I know all there is to know about my reputation. I know that the image of Mad Duke Tillian Valentine painted in the minds of the people in the Capital is one of a starving and forgotten royalty who survives by fighting monsters and receives a salary from the King. But, as you’ve experienced, My Lady, neither I nor others living on my territory are starving or lacking anything. The money I get from the Royal Palace... Well, let’s just say that it is just enough to buy food for my guardian dogs."

That arrogant remark left Aideen no choice but to finally satisfy her curiosity,

"Then where do you get the money to maintain such a lifestyle, Your Grace?"

"Hmm..." Duke Valentine released a long humming sound, contemplating his response. He then pressed the index finger of his right hand between the woman’s thin eyebrows and playfully moved it side to side, as if attempting to wipe the slight frown that appeared on her beautiful face. With his lips stretched into a wide grin, he replied,

"Later, Your Highness. As the future Lady of the Valentine castle, you will have many opportunities to discuss our finances."

Aideen parted her lips, but no words dared to escape her mouth.

Yes, it was strange to assume that Tillian was poor, just as it was strange to blindly accept any other rumor about him, especially since she firsthand knew that they were not true at all.

Taking advantage of the lady’s reluctance to continue talking, the Duke smiled and started walking again.

"Well, since we have already established that we can commence our little shopping date, let us start at the beginning. The Dress Boutique."

The princess followed the Duke’s lead, but her curious mind could not give up asking more questions.

"Your Grace... But what kind of dresses do you want us to buy? I’ve heard Lady Florence makes unique designs, but I doubt they are for everyday use. It would be a shame to buy expensive dresses when I have nowhere to go."

Tillian could not help but feel slightly irritated. It was a rare moment when he was glad that Aideen could not see his face, so he had to make an effort to ensure that his tone did not betray his state.

"Haa..." He sighed, took a deep breath, and finally continued, "Your Highness, I strive to make you think that you can buy and wear anything you want. While it is true that The North does not have anything to offer in terms of social life, it does not mean you have to settle for simple or bland attire. If you want to wear a ball gown for breakfast, then you can certainly do so!"

The man stopped in front of the door to the dress shop, removed the hood from Aideen’s head, and stroked her flowing, soft hair with his gloved hand.

"I am a simple man. I have invited a Royal Princess into my humble castle, so I need to make sure that she is being treated as such. Please, allow me to spoil you, Your Highness. This is what dates are for."

Somehow, the princess failed to pay much attention to the word "date" before, but now, when Tillian repeated it again and in such a context, she could not help but feel another surge of tingling sensation inside her stomach and chest.

Duke Valentine, time and again, continued to remind her of her status, but this man did not see her as a ’useless, worthless princess’; no, he saw her as a ’real princess,’ like Princess Catriona Ruan, who was always treated with kindness and spoiled by her surroundings.

And now it was Princess Aideen Ruan who was being spoiled for the first time in her life.

Tillian smiled as he noticed Aideen’s rosy cheeks and added,

"Judging by your blushing face, you are open to the idea of being spoiled, Your Highness. I am glad. But just one warning, though... While you are encouraged to buy as many things as you like, we will have to start with the most important one."

"Most important one? What is it, Your Grace?"

The Duke opened the boutique’s door, which responded with a melodic jingle of the crystal wind chime, and offered the princess a somewhat cheerful reply,

"Why, your wedding dress, of course!"