A Divorced Evil Lady Bakes Cakes

Melly walked down the sunset street carrying a large box.

Both sides of the street were lined with stately mansions, seemingly ornate, and colorful.

Their soaring roofs and walls stood silently against the pale blue sky.

This was the neighborhood of the high nobility, and Melly was heading to the largest one of all of them.

She was delivering a large box of cake at Erin’s request.

It was her job to deliver the box to the Brennan family mansion before dinner.

So Melly walked cautiously forward with the large box.

‘I don’t want to accidentally trip on the snow.’

Even though she was walking on a well-paved road, she was afraid that she might accidentally trip and fall.

She walked for a long time before she could reach the Brennan mansion.

It was already evening, but the manor seemed noisy and bustling.

That’s because there’s a ball tonight.

The servants must have been working day and night long beforehand to prepare for such a big event.

Melly went to the front gate and showed the box and said.

“Hello, I was sent by Lady Erin to bring the cake ordered by Lady Serena for the ball.”

“Oh, yes. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereCome on in. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereThis way.”read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereread only at salmonlatte .
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An older maid came out and greeted Melly, and led her into the mansion.

Melly was led to the kitchen at the back of the mansion.

To be exact, She was led to enter the foyer connected to the kitchen.

There were loud noises and a lot of heat coming from behind the kitchen door, they were probably preparing food for the ball.

The maid accepted Melly’s box with a friendly smile.

“Thank you for bringing the cake over. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereYou can leave it here.”read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there

“I can just leave it here?”

“Yes. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereI’ll keep it here and then take it to the ball later.”read only at salmonlatte .
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Melly nodded and set the box down on the table.

“Okay, take care, then.”

⚘

The sunset glowed through the front windows painting the shop into a dark red hue.

The sun was already setting, and soon it would be evening.

Erin cleaned up the cafe and headed to her house through the backdoor.

She had already posted a notice in front of the shop that she would be closing early today for personal reasons.

Once inside her room, she changed her dress and ran a quick hand through her hair.

It was a little early to go to the ball, but it was good to get ready in advance. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereShe stretched her legs out a bit.read only at salmonlatte .
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If she went to the ball tonight, she would see a lot of people she knew.

Erin was already tired just thinking about all the curious stares that everyone will throw her way.

They’d all be there to gossip about her being kicked out as the duchess, and her meeting with Serena.

“Who cares.”

‘All they do is gossip behind my back.’

She remembered Calix’s words telling her that she doesn’t have to care about what people say.

‘Yeah. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereWho cares what they think, just do what you want to do.’read only at salmonlatte .
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There was a knock on the door, and Melly, dressed in her outing clothes, opened it and stepped inside.

“Miss Erin, I’m back.”

“Yeah. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereThanks.”read only at salmonlatte .
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Melly had agreed to deliver the large box of cake to the Brennans’ mansion before the ball.

“What? Miss Erin, Is everything ready already?”

Melly asked, surprised to find Erin already dressed up for the ball.

“Yep. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereI just want to keep it simple.”read only at salmonlatte .
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“If you had told me, I would have helped you.”

“No. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereYou had to go to the mansion earlier… It would be too much for you.”read only at salmonlatte .
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Erin didn’t want to bother Melly, who had to carry a large box and deliver it to the Brennan’s earlier.

She hired Melly to become a shop clerk, not a maid.

“But, but… it doesn’t go well with the dress!”

Melly said, almost sobbing.

“I’m sorry for offending you Miss Erin, but the makeup on your dress… Doesn’t match. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereAnd your hair, too.”read only at salmonlatte .
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“Really?”

Erin quickly looked into the mirror.

She saw herself wearing a pale blue dress in the mirror, her hair was pulled up in a rough braid.

Erin just randomly picked out a pale blue silk dress from a rack of dresses.

The top was a deep neutral white, and the bottom was pale blue that was as rich as the morning sky.

It was a simple, sophisticated dress with less embellishment throughout.

The pale blue petals embroidered all over the deep purple top added a subtle touch of elegance— The neckline was trimmed with a thin lace of pearl-colored muslin, and the bust was tied with a ruffle of pale blue silk ribbons.

The skirt, of the same pale blue color, gently parted at the bottom.

Inside the gently parted skirt was a shimmer of white silk.

The skirt was tiered and pleated, and along the pleated lines were tiny, fingernail-sized blue roses embroidered along the ruffles.

The dress was gorgeous, to be sure, but the makeup was a little too plain.

“It doesn’t look that good?”

“Yes…”

Melly nodded with a wistful look on her face, as if she couldn’t deny it even as a matter of decorum.

“I think you’re so used to dressing too modestly. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereYou probably feel the same way when you were at the Imperial Palace, but—”read only at salmonlatte .
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“That’s because I dressed up out of habit.”

Her makeup was just a blur, as if she hadn’t worn any, and her hair was pulled back into a bun.

It was a trick she’d learned when she lived in the imperial palace.

“I’d like to make you look a little more vibrant today to match your dress. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereMay I?”read only at salmonlatte .
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“Would you like that?”

“Yes! Miss Erin. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereI’d like to change your hair and redo your makeup to match your dress!!! Let me help you.”read only at salmonlatte .
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Melly kept insisting that she needed to redo her makeup.

“Okay, thanks. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not therePlease do.”read only at salmonlatte .
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Melly beamed and pulled out her dressing gown.

The makeover immediately began again.

Erin draped the dressing gown over her dress and applied her makeup with Melly’s help.

Melly filled a small pouch with cotton balls and dusted them with crimson powder, then carefully applied it on Erin’s face.

When she was finally done, Erin’s skin was cleaned up and had a luxurious glow into it.

Next, she applied a light layer of red powder to the whitened cheeks.

It’s a powder made from the dried and powdered juice squeezed from the petals of the safflower.

Once applied, the light reddish powder made her snow-white cheeks become slightly reddish.

It was a natural flush, like pink water on a white background.

Her lips were also colored rosy with a darker rosy powder mixed with perfumed oil.

Her hair was pulled up loosely behind her tiara, and the rest of her hair was left hanging.

Finally, a sky-blue pearl ring was added to match her dress.

Erin looked like a completely different person after she’s done.

“How’s it going?”

“I think it’s great,” she said, looking elegant and sophisticated without being overly glamorous.

“Melly, you’re amazing.”

She didn’t realize it because Melly used to be a beverage maid, but she’s really good with makeup, and maybe it’s also because this is a job that requires a good amount of dexterity.

She’s good with her hands, so she’s pretty good with makeup and doing hair.

When Erin complimented her, Melly giggled and said.

“It’s because you’re beautiful, Miss Erin, and I’m sure all those fancy decorations would make you look even more beautiful. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereI think I might actually cry. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereYou look so good, I can’t stop looking at you.”read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereread only at salmonlatte .
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“I actually looked nothing like before. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereIt’s like you made me a completely different person.”read only at salmonlatte .
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Erin can’t believe that makeup and a new haircut can make such a huge difference.

This is probably why people said nothing can go wrong with a touch of makeup.

“It looks beautiful. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereThank you so much.”read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not there

Erin got up to go out to the shop and wait.

“Calix should be here any minute. read only at salmonlatte .
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This annoying watermark is not thereI’ll go out and wait.”read only at salmonlatte .
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But before she could get to the shop, she already heard a loud noise.

Erin quickly opened the back door of the shop and stepped inside.

A carriage stood in the doorway.

It was a carriage emblazoned with the colors of the Archduchy.

The carriage door opened and Calix stepped out.

“Sister-in-law, is everything ready?”

“Yep.”

As expected, Calix was dressed in a fancy suit.

The suit was made of dark indigo rosin, with clean lines.

He looked impeccable, dignified, and dashing.

When he saw Erin all dressed up, Calix was a little surprised.

But only for a moment.

He bowed respectfully and held out a hand.

Erin took it.

“You are dazzlingly beautiful, sister-in-law.”

“I should have said that first.”

Calix was indeed picturesque.

He looked like a handsome man emerging from a painting.

So Erin rode with him on the same carriage to the Brennan manor.