RISE OF EROS

Candice did not invite Andrew to the fashion show, because despite being her business partner, he did not have the qualifications to attend an event where so many nobles gathered. Furthermore, that same day was the reopening of the Heavenly Palace, so it was impossible for him to attend anyway.

Candice and Andrew were finalizing details for their respective events and in the same way, Count Gistaly was preparing to kidnap Teresa. His plan was simple, he would wait until the event was over and attack her on her way back.

For this operation, he would send a secret group of assassins, as he would not have another chance like this and he had to complete it without error. His secret group of assassins was quite powerful, but its members were few.

While all parties went about their own business and plans, the Marquis Donald was not idle. He was an intelligent person, he wouldn't be so foolish as to send his wife to an event without protection.

Candice had informed all the guests that, being an event for women, male guards could not be brought inside, that is, any male guards that arrived would have to wait outside the tent, and only female guards could enter.

Candice didn't do this because she wanted to deprive the noble ladies of their guards, but rather she wanted to spare them embarrassment. The fashion show would have two underwear designs, so Candice knew it would be embarrassing for these noble ladies to be seen by their male guards at such a show.

The reason why she allowed the female guards to enter was that she couldn't deprive them of protection or they would think that she was up to something also, being women, they would sympathize with the nobles ladies, unlike men who were more prone to judge.

Due to this arrangement, Donald prepared two special guards for his wife. The days passed and the events began. Candice's clothing store was already packed with carriages and the atmosphere was festive.

Canna had lived up to Candice's expectations and had arranged everything beautifully. The reception was beautifully decorated and the hall where the fashion show would take place had a runway in the middle of the hall and was surrounded by seats on all sides so that the guests could appreciate the models.

It was a bit rustic, but very similar to the walkways on Earth. Andrew was the one who gave this suggestion, as no one in this world knew this information apart from him, and Canna, who had taken extensive notes on everything he said, had managed to recreate it.

The first ladies to arrive at Candice's clothing store were some baronesses. It is the etiquette of nobles that higher ranks arrive later, however, Candice did not neglect any of the guests, regardless of rank, she received them all in person.

About 20 minutes after the agreed time for the event, the viscountesses began to arrive and an hour after the start of the event, Teresa arrived. Being a marquise she was the highest-ranking noble in the place, so being an hour late was simply to be expected.

With Teresa's arrival, all the guests had arrived and even if there was someone who hadn't yet, it was better if they didn't come anymore, as it would be an offense to Teresa, since arriving later than a higher-ranking noble would be disrespectful to that noble.

Luckily there weren't any guests yet to arrive so, Candice motioned to Canna, "Take our guests to the runway." Candice and Canna didn't even know what "Runway" meant, but since they heard Andrew call the runway the models were walking on that way, they decided to call it that too.

Canna nodded and immediately went to do her duty. All the baronesses and viscountesses followed Canna expectant of what would happen, while Candice approached Teresa and guided her herself.

In the parade hall, all the noble ladies had already settled to the sides of the runway. They were comfortable armchairs that had a small tea table to one side where there was a small plate of snacks and a glass of wine that they could enjoy while watching the event.

All the invited ladies were confused because they did not understand what the event was about. They were just sitting looking at a raised wooden track, but there was nothing else.

Teresa was led by Candice to a booth that faced the runway. Her chair was obviously bigger and more comfortable and the number of snacks on her side table were more varied and in greater quantity, it was obvious that she had preferential treatment.

Teresa, like the other guests, was confused and wanted to ask Candice, but the latter winked at her and said, "Don't be in a hurry" and she left. Shortly after she appeared on the runway and all the ladies looked at her expectantly, because they knew that the event was going to start.

"I imagine you are very curious about the event, right?" Candice began by trying to increase the enthusiasm and continued by saying, "What I am going to present to you is a fashion show, after all this is a clothing store so I will present the new designs that I offer".

The noble ladies invited were surprised by Candice's words because until then they did not know what she was going to present to them. In fact, many of them came to this place because curiosity was killing them and they wanted to know what Candice was up to.

However, when they heard that it was to promote the new clothing designs, they were somewhat disappointed, but Candice just smiled and spoke again, "My dear guests, don't be disappointed so quickly, I'm sure you'll like this show. ".

Although they didn't think so, they had already come here, so it didn't bother them to see what Candice had planned, so they stayed in their seats. Candice knew that her guests were disappointed, but she also knew that it wouldn't last long.

Candice came to her seat that was next to Teresa and the latter, seeing her, asked in a low voice, "You remember your promise, right?" Candice trembled as she heard her since the compensation Teresa wanted was problematic for her, but before she could answer, the door at the end of the room opened.

Everyone put their eyes on the door and when the model came out wearing one of the dresses designed by Andrew, they were all surprised. Not only was the dress beautiful, but the model's posture and walk made it more attractive.

The model walked to the edge of the runway where she struck a simple pose in front of Teresa and Candice. She then turned around and posed again with her back to them, before walking towards the door again, but halfway there, she stopped again and posed towards the guests.

The model had finished her runway and had left all the guests surprised, since they had never attended an event like this and the murmurs filled the room, even Teresa couldn't help but say, "It really is quite interesting."

Hearing her, Candice smiled and let out a sigh of relief, because she had been saved from Teresa. The so-called compensation that Teresa wanted from Candice, wasn't really a difficult thing to do, the problem was that it would take a long time and for a merchant like Candice it was troublesome.

The murmurs were instantly suppressed, when they saw another model appear, wearing a dress similar to the previous one, but the color and some patterns were different.

For ordinary men, the dresses were the same, but for these noble ladies who were always looking for new clothes, they were two completely different dresses.

The girl on the runway performed the same steps as the previous model, so the noble ladies already knew the routine. As noblewomen, they were highly intelligent and had already figured out the reason for this routine.

The runway allowed them to admire the dress in motion and the stops were for the dress to be admired in detail. Soon the third model walked down the runway and then a fourth and fifth.

The parade was very lively. The guests were focused on the models who were walking on the runway looking at the dresses with great attention. Then a new model appeared, but the style of the dress design had changed.

This dress was cooler and more casual and caught the eyes of the younger noble ladies. The runway pattern and models were the same, but the dress designs were very different from before.

This was especially for the younger ladies present, as this design was more casual and youthful. Although Teresa wasn't as interested in these designs as the ones in the last section, she had to admit that both styles were unique and she couldn't help but tell Candice.

"You found a nice designer, you better save me some dresses", to which Candice just smiled. After half an hour on the runway, all the dresses had been shown, and this time Canna acted as hostess.

"This concludes our dressy and casual dress fashion show," she paused, and the noble ladies could be heard a little frustrated that the event was ending so quickly, but they all fell silent as they heard Canna's next sentence.

"Now start our lingerie show." That was a new word for the people of this world, so they were all confused, but when they saw one of the models appear, wearing a bra and pantyhose with a striking and provocative design, all the whispers and conversations stopped.