The black square box itself was exquisitely made, like a high-end product, with lifelike black roses carved into it—even the stems and thorns were meticulously outlined on the surface.
Enya opened the two silver clasps. With a soft click, the lid cracked open, and she pried it up with her slender, pale fingers.
The purple-pink padded cloth was strikingly eye-catching, its color especially suggestive. And the black silk fabric lay folded in the very center.
Even now, seeing them, Enya couldn’t help squinting her eyes.
She picked up the item on top and held it against her chest to gauge the size. It seemed correct. She muttered shyly, “She still knows me better than I know myself.”
She set that aside. Beneath it was a black lace triangle. Enya pinched it and tossed it aside without a glance. Now, in the box, there was also a semi-transparent nightgown.
Enya took it out, held it up, and looked toward the light.
At this thickness, she could see a skin-toned color through it.
After putting it down, Enya turned her gaze back to the box. There were also a pair of thigh-high stockings and black gloves that reached up to her arms.
“Quite a full set…” Enya muttered.
Once everything was out, at the bottom lay a light pink envelope.
The signature on the envelope was Vivienne’s.
Enya opened the letter. It contained only one embarrassing sentence: “I can already imagine what you’ll look like in this outfit.”
After reading that, the corner of Enya’s mouth twitched. Vivienne was always so unrestrained with her.
“Hmph!” Enya let out a soft, reddish-faced snort, folded the letter back, and put it into the box. The reason she didn’t store it in her mind was that she didn’t want Pandrake, who lived in her head, to see it.
She looked at the floor-length mirror. Her silver hair had fallen a bit messy from bending and straightening up, and her cheeks had flushed from the letter. Now, in the mirror, she looked quite charming—a tenderness that others could never witness.
If someone had been beside her just now, they would surely have sensed the unique allure of Enya’s soft snort.
Enya let out a light breath, calming the turmoil inside her, and brought her slightly flushed cheeks back to their usual pale-white state.
She walked to the mirror, unhurriedly took off her dress, then slowly slipped off the close-fitting garments underneath.
Her fair, delicate skin was exposed to the air. Enya glanced at herself in the mirror.
Embarrassment? No, that was long gone…
Looking at her increasingly impressive figure, Enya frowned instead.
“After having Rosily, did I go through a second growth spurt?”
Obviously, yes.
Enya sighed. The slender waist and bountiful fruit were both delicious and satisfying, but the pressure was real—even she felt it.
She picked up the black set Vivienne had given her.
She fastened the hooks on top, stepped into the bottom and pulled it up. After putting those on, she sat on a small stool and slowly pulled the black thigh-high stockings up her thighs.
The stockings were extremely tight. And since Enya’s legs weren’t slender but rather round, straight, and slightly fleshy, the tops lightly dug into her skin. It looked nice but wasn’t comfortable.
Enya’s expression turned displeased, and she mentally ranted about Vivienne’s unique hobby. Since childhood, Vivienne had shown an interest in dressing Enya up, but back then she’d pretend to do it accidentally—like soiling Enya’s clothes. Now she didn’t even bother pretending.
After finishing all that, Enya deliberately ignored the nightgown. That thing was not something you could wear out and about. She didn’t have that kind of weird fetish for exposing herself in public.
Normally, Enya dressed so modestly that only her face was visible!
Don’t let her alluring figure fool you—she was the ascetic type.
Enya put on the gloves and picked up the purple long dress she’d set aside earlier. She’d done this many times before, so she was perfectly practiced. In just a few moves, she had it on.
As for psychological burden—that was a thing of ten years ago.
This dress followed her usual style: lace trims at the collar, cuffs, and hem, with almost no other embellishments. The dark purple gave off an elegant, ascetic, and mysterious air.
Enya combed her loose silver hair, pinned it up with a claw clip, and tidied her bangs. Everything was done.
Makeup wasn’t necessary—it wasn’t like she was meeting anyone special.
Enya looked at the silver-haired woman in the mirror, whose posture was elegant and face strikingly beautiful. She couldn’t help but chuckle and remark, “I do look like a noblewoman.”
“No—should I say a noble dragon?”
As she stared, Enya suddenly frowned.
Although she was using the Thousand Faces to hide her true form, the face she’d constructed was still about eighty percent similar to her original. She didn’t like showing her face in public, let alone letting anyone know that there was a woman in Lakeside City who looked eighty percent like Enya.
That would bring a lot of trouble…
Enya turned around and looked at the rack full of clothes. She walked into it and found a black lady hat.
She also took a black gauze headscarf, covered her silver hair with it, and then used the hat to hold it down. That would hide her face.
At the shoe cabinet, Enya took some time and eventually picked a pair of glossy black shoes with red soles and high heels. The size fit just right.
She went to the mirror again and turned left and right.
She was quite satisfied.
Thus, the outfit change was complete…
Lucia and Wendy, who had been kicked out, stood on either side of the door like two gatekeepers, each lost in their own thoughts.
Lucia really wanted to stay inside—after all, as a personal maid, helping her mistress dress was perfectly normal, and it would also help build a deeper bond with her.
Wendy was just wondering if there’d be good food later.
Click.
The dressing room door opened, and Enya walked out slowly.
Lucia and Wendy were both startled. They turned around and saw Enya in her new outfit, both a bit surprised—how had she finished so quickly?
“Mistress.” “Mistress!”
The two maids, after a brief moment of shock, spoke in unison.
Enya glanced at them and nodded. “Let’s go.”
The news that the Chamber of Commerce Union was holding a meeting had spread throughout Lakeside City in just one day. Though somewhat sudden, it sparked widespread discussion.
After all, this meeting was extremely important in Lakeside City. Every session could affect the fate of hundreds of thousands of people, so it was hard not to pay attention to it.
Of course, that definitely didn’t include those without capital.
In that aged, enormous building, many people had arrived. They were the city’s social elites—aside from the five major chambers—along with numerous small chambers.
As the doors of the grand assembly hall opened, men and women holding invitations were led in an orderly manner by dedicated servants, who escorted them all the way to their seats.
The assembly hall was semicircular and tiered, with three passageways. People entered from the top. Behind the central podium, there were six special seats: five for the five major chambers and one for the lord of Lakeside City.
The meeting hadn’t started yet, so people could still move around after taking their seats. Many had gathered together.
They discussed what this sudden meeting was all about.
“I think this meeting is probably about the Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
“I originally thought the assassination of Gro was fake. Tsk, I never expected the Lily of the Valley Chamber to fall into the hands of a woman.”
“Haha, I’m really envious of that woman named Einfel. She got such a huge asset for free. If it were me, I’d be laughing in my dreams—living a life of endless revelry and luxury from then on.”
“Vulgar! Do you really think you could handle the Lily of the Valley Chamber if it were given to you? I think this meeting is targeting the Lily of the Valley Chamber!”
“Did you hear? Gro’s butler, Parit, has fallen from grace. He was with Gro for over thirty years. Rumor has it he was brought down by some nepotism. I’m sure it’s true.”
“The Tea Rose Chamber seems to have poached quite a few people from the Lily of the Valley Chamber.”
“Penrose, it’s Penrose!”
A low shout silenced the noisy chatter.
In the central aisle, a handsome man in a black suit, with slicked-back hair, stepped in wearing leather shoes.
Behind Penrose followed a young male attendant with a clear-cut face, wearing a white shirt, red vest, and dark gray trousers.
This lineup made some ladies curl their lips with a smile, eyes fixed on Penrose and the fresh-faced attendant, causing a few nearby men to unconsciously take a half-step back.
Suddenly, someone commented, “Overflowing with dominance!”
Although the Tea Rose Chamber ranked last among the five major chambers, the gap between it and the ones behind it was enormous.
Penrose had already monopolized the hotels and inns of Lakeside City. As for the underground gray industries, although he wasn’t openly involved, basically everyone assumed he controlled it all.
Thus, Penrose had many private friendships with Lakeside City’s social elite. As soon as he appeared, he immediately drew many eyes. Some even walked over to exchange a few words with him.
Penrose responded to each one, looking high-spirited—a sight that gave confidence to those who had invested in him through the Marigold.
Invest in the Tea Rose Chamber—guaranteed profit. What are you waiting for?
After extricating himself, Penrose didn’t go straight to his seat. Instead, he entered the backstage of the venue, walking into the inner courtyard where ordinary people weren’t allowed.
Before the meeting began, he needed to see those people again.
Penrose passed through door after door, walked down corridor after corridor, and finally reached the last door. He stopped, took a deep breath, then pushed it open and stepped into the room.
Five people were seated in the room.
A refined, middle-aged man. A man with a short buzz cut and a diagonal scar across his face. A white-bearded elder. A fair, plump man. And a young woman with striking features, golden hair, and blue eyes.
As Penrose entered, the five of them each composed their expressions.