The Villainess' Husband For Hire

Selena offered a small smile. "I'm in need of a gown for the royal ball. Something unique."

"Of course, my lady. Please, allow me to show you our finest selections."

As Selena was led toward a private fitting area, she overheard whispers from the other side of the boutique.

"Is that Lady Selena? I didn't think she dared show her face in public anymore."

"After the way the Northern Duke rejected her, I'd have stayed in hiding too."

Selena pretended not to hear, though her grip on her parasol tightened. It wasn't the first time she had been the subject of gossip, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. But she refused to let their words affect her.

As she browsed the gowns on display, a shrill voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Well, if it isn't Lady Selena," the woman said, her tone dripping with mockery.

Selena turned to see a group of noblewomen approaching her, led by Lady Cressida, one of Clara's newfound friends. Cressida was dressed in a pastel pink gown that was far too frilly for Selena's taste, her expression smug as she looked Selena up and down.

"Cressida," Selena said calmly, her tone neutral.

"I couldn't help but notice you've been keeping a low profile lately," Cressida said, her voice loud enough for everyone in the boutique to hear. "I suppose it must be difficult to recover from such... public humiliation."

Selena raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Is there something you need, or are you simply here to waste my time?"

Cressida's smile faltered, but she quickly regained her composure. "I was just concerned for you, of course. It must be so lonely now that the Northern Duke has moved on to someone more... Suitable."

The other women giggled, clearly enjoying the spectacle. Selena, however, remained unbothered.

"If you have nothing better to do than gossip about other people's lives, perhaps you should reevaluate how you spend your time," Selena said coldly.

Cressida's cheeks flushed, but she refused to back down. "Perhaps. But even gossip can't compare to the sight of you desperately clinging to your pride. Tell me, Selena, do you think a new dress will make anyone forget who you are?"

"I know my place in society. Now answer me this, WHO are you? If you didn't desperately cling to that illegitimate child, no one would know who you are." In terms of status, she outranks most of the nobility.

Cressida remained rooted. She... She actually said it! The Northern Duke warned that if anyone tried to bully Clara for being an illegitimate child, he would interfere! Since then, no one dared to utter it. 

Selena who was always sharp-tongued didn't say it either because she was afraid of getting on his bad side... But this Selena didn't care. Sure, being an illegitimate child isn't Clara's fault, but being a mistress is. 

Besides, Selena isn't someone who wants to act on morals, she is a villainess. She planned to be a villainess... She didn't care if it wasn't Clara's fault, if it was a point of shame for her, she would utter it with no hesitation.

Before Cressida could respond, the boutique owner intervened, gesturing for Cressida to step aside. "My apologies, Lady Selena. Please, follow me. We've prepared a selection of gowns that I believe you'll find satisfactory."

Selena nodded and followed the owner, leaving Cressida and her entourage fuming.

As Selena examined the gowns in the fitting area, she heard raised voices from the main showroom. It seemed Cressida and her friends were berating the boutique owner for prioritizing Selena over them.

"Or do some people think they're more important than others?" one of the women said loudly, her tone accusatory.

Selena smirked to herself. She had encountered women like them before—petty, entitled, and desperate for attention. But she had no intention of letting their antics ruin her day.

Stepping out of the fitting area, Selena addressed the group directly. "Are you more important than me?" she asked, her tone calm but laced with authority.

The question caught them off guard. Cressida and her friends stared at Selena, their faces red with embarrassment.

They had no response because they knew the answer. Selena, as the sister of the Duke, and a woman with connections to the royal family, outranked them in every way that mattered.

"Well?" Selena prompted, raising an eyebrow.

Cressida recovered quickly, her voice sharp. "Any good shop owner knows it's first come, first serve."

Selena chuckled softly. "Any good shop owner knows to prioritise profits," she replied. Turning to the boutique owner, she added, "What if I paid fifty thousand gold coins? Will you blacklist them?"

The women gasped, their faces pale with shock. Fifty thousand gold coins was an astronomical sum, more than their yearly allowances combined. The boutique owner, sensing an opportunity, smiled graciously.

"Of course, my lady. Your patronage is always valued."

Cressida and her friends looked horrified. They sputtered protests, trying to save face. "No wonder the Northern Duke hates you!" one of them blurted out, clearly hoping to wound Selena's pride.

Selena tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "Tell your mistress friend Clara she doesn't have to live in the shadows anymore," she said coolly. "I'll fulfil her wish."

Before the women could respond, the boutique owner clapped her hands, summoning the guards. "Please escort these ladies out," she instructed.

The guards appeared almost instantly, ushering the protesting women out of the boutique. As per Selena's request, they were officially blacklisted.