Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Dreading the Return to Work
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“Ughhh... I don’t wanna go to work...”
After realizing I’d skimped on the clothing explanation and just sent the countess on her way, I spent the entire weekend in a state of sheer terror.
Someone might say it’s ridiculous to be this anxious over botching a product description, but this wasn’t just anyone—it was a foxkin.
If it were an issue with the clothing’s quality, a mild complaint would be the norm and done with. But foxkin don’t do “mild” the way humans do.
The phrase “low flashpoint” isn’t famous and memorable for nothing.
Even the rare foxkin who could mingle with humans had tempers that were outrageously volatile by human standards. It took provoking them until their heads caved in for people to learn that bloody lesson.
By rights, my head should’ve been caved in ages ago for all the provocation, but the clothes had barely bought me a stay of execution. If even those clothes flopped...
The future where my body gets broken down like fried chicken seemed all too certain.
“Eek...”
It was horrifying.
Visions of myself getting disassembled like a chicken for frying kept flashing in my mind, making it impossible to think straight—blood just wouldn’t flow to my head.
You idiot.
Why couldn’t I just give a normal clothing intro? Say something like, “If you’re interested, why not try it on?” Instead, I had to scratch at the countess’s nerves...
“Kieeeek...”
I rolled around on the bed, letting out grotesque groans.
I was already dressed and my hair done, so Emily shot me a glare full of irritation, but I ignored her and kept trembling on the bed.
“Haa... Young master, how long are you going to keep this up? You need to eat and head to the atelier soon.”
“No way... If I go there, I’m definitely going to die...”
“If she wanted to kill you, she would’ve done it already. The weekend passed without a hitch—no letters, no servants from House Tigres.”
Just as Emily said, despite my constant shivering in fear, the weekend had been remarkably peaceful.
“Maybe she spent the weekend sharpening her knives, gathering her strength to kill me cleanly.”
But there’s a reason they say “the calm before the storm.”
If this was that eerily quiet moment right before the storm hit...
Too scary.
“You could die just from a handshake—why would she need to gather strength? Keep spouting nonsense, and I’ll tell your lady mother and the count.”
Emily looked down at me pitifully, pursing her lips.
“Urk... Better to die by my parents’ hands... No.”
For a split second, I thought dying in my parents’ arms might be preferable, but they’d probably kill me even more horrifically, so I bolted upright.
“Let’s go, quick.”
“First, fix your hair. Haa~ Your clothes are all wrinkled now too.”
“Sorry.”
“Just sit down already, or you’ll be late.”
“Got it.”
Emily grumbled as she pulled a comb from her apron pocket.
I obediently sat in the chair she pointed to.
I was still anxious, but like Emily said, I had to hope nothing would happen...
_
Contrary to my worries, the Countess Tigres didn’t show up at the atelier.
No letters burst into flames either, and the day passed just like any other, ending uneventfully.
By now, I started thinking maybe it really had blown over, and my mind eased a bit.
“Two days have passed—if it was going to blow up, it would’ve by now, right? Foxkin aren’t known for that kind of patience...”
“You think...?”
“Yeah, aren’t you overreacting? From what you said, she would’ve killed you the moment you handed over the clothes.”
“Right?”
And the staff echoed Emily’s sentiments, which reassured me even more.
If tomorrow passes quietly too, I can believe the countess let it slide with some flexibility.
“Uwaaa...! P-Please, wait a moment!”
“?”
But instead—or maybe it was coincidence piling on—
Someone else I’d momentarily forgotten appeared right in front of me.
“Mind if I join you for a bit?”
“Your Highness, you can’t just board someone else’s carriage like that...!”
I was closing up the atelier to head home and climb into the carriage when a woman forced her way through the closing door, with a knight looking troubled behind her.
“Whoa!”
Thinking the Countess Tigres had ambushed me the moment I let my guard down, I flinched and pulled Emily behind me protectively.
“Wh-who...”
“After so long apart, this reaction hurts a little.”
“Uh...”
I was plastered against the opposite wall, trembling, so the woman slumped her shoulders and grumbled in a voice full of hurt.
Only then did I notice she had no tail, and I widened my eyes to examine her closely.
The carriage was dim at dusk, and her wide-brimmed hat hid her face, but a blue necklace dangling from her nape caught my eye perfectly.
“Huh?”
I quickly rolled my eyes past her shoulder to see Sir Rachel standing there, pale-faced and flustered.
“Elizabeth...?”
“Took you long enough.”
Calling her name made her lift her hat slightly, pouting with a face brimming with grievance.
With the familiar face easing my tension, I released Emily from behind me, slumped into the carriage seat, and my lips quivered.
“Give me a heads-up next time...”
Glancing at my ashen face, Elizabeth sat across from me, shrugging nonchalantly with a smirk tugging one corner of her mouth.
“I did tell you—I said I’d be back before Mother’s birthday a few days ago.”
“No, that’s not wrong, but still...”
I sighed as I watched her hand her hat to Sir Rachel, who had just boarded after her, and ran a hand through my hair.
If I’d been even a little later, she might’ve found the empty atelier and left. Who shows up at closing time? If you’re coming, come to the house...
“Haa~ Whatever... How’ve you been? Must’ve been rough.”
“A bit tough, but better than you. A prison beats venomous nobles.”
“Better...? They both sound awful.”
“I can’t go three days without a bath. That state... Horrifying. If I couldn’t even bathe in ice water, I’d rather die.”
Imagining herself unwashed for three days, Elizabeth shuddered and rubbed her arms.
“I see...”
Seeing how much she hated it piqued my curiosity about her disheveled princess state after three days, but I clamped my mouth shut—I didn’t want to die trapped in this carriage.
Personally, I thought it might not be so bad.
Women don’t show much after three or four days without washing, aside from the smell.
Men turn greasy fast—hair like a dog’s pan, face all shiny.
Am I just too insensitive?
“Anyway, glad you’re okay. What brings you here this late? Isn’t wandering around risky?”
“As long as my face stays hidden. And this collar you put on me—it’s been half-ignored, so I got antsy and came back a day early.”
Elizabeth tapped her necklace with a finger and grinned broadly.
“Collar’s a bit much...”
“You showed everyone so hot and sweet that I’m yours, and now you deny it?”
“No, please, just...”
It wasn’t wrong, but she kept twisting it weirdly, leaving me unsure how to respond.
Amused by my reaction, Elizabeth giggled, then suddenly put on a prim expression, crossed her arms, and spoke.
“Know what weird rumors are flying because of what you did? Between you and me?”
“Rumors we’re lovers or something?”
“Something even more romance-novel-esque.”
“Romance novel?”
I furrowed my brow and tilted my head.
Lovers rumors were already pretty romance-novel-ish.
What could be more?
“They tied it to your prison stint—wild stories everywhere. Mother didn’t like her daughter hanging with a guy without a duchy or marquisate, so she outed me early. House Hume tried poaching the princess and pissed off the emperor. Your antics are a protest against the emperor...”
“......”
The rumors spilling from Elizabeth’s lips left me speechless.
Even at the honor knight ceremony, their imaginations were wild.
In truth, what happened with Elizabeth had zero influence...
“Really... All the young ladies talk about is you. It’s driving me mad.”
“Sorry about that.”
I never went to those gatherings, so I had no idea.
With hardly any letters coming directly to me lately, I thought things had quieted down...
“If you’re sorry, grant me one favor?”
“Favor?”
“Nothing hard.”
“Doesn’t feel that way... Can I pass without hearing it?”
I hadn’t even heard it, but bad vibes already prickled.
Undeterred by my unease, Elizabeth continued right on.
“Mother’s birthday event—she invited you as a distinguished guest.”
“What?”
My eyes bulged, mouth agape.
Distinguished guests at His Imperial Majesty’s birthday were typically the cardinal dispatched from the Holy Kingdom to deliver the pontiff’s address, foreign royalty, and the Magic Tower’s head.
Common sense said you needed at least a marquisate with lands to match that caliber...
And they want me in that lineup?
That’s like tossing a rabbit into a den of lions.
“Wha... Are you insane?”
The irreverent words slipped out unbidden.
I omitted the subject, but even a child could tell who it was.
“Mother said so—what can I do?”
“Still, that seems off.”
“Think His Imperial Majesty’s will is lacking? Or you’re not that sorry to me?”
“Not really...”
“What?”
“...I mean no. He must have his reasons, and I’m truly sorry to you. Yeah, sure.”
I wasn’t sorry enough to barge into that papal proxy, Magic Tower head, foreign royalty lineup without shame, but Elizabeth’s glare was terrifying—I blurted something against my true feelings.
Saying “yes” might’ve redirected this carriage straight to the Imperial Palace.
With her saying, “Let’s see if you’d say that in front of Mother.”
“Then you’ll attend as a guest? No incidents, accidents, or excuses, right?”
“Uh...”
“Right?”
“Y-yeah, of course.”
“I’ll tell Mother that.”
“Okay...”
Her smiling assurance she’d report to His Imperial Majesty nearly brought tears to my eyes.
Aah... My happy plan to skip it by feigning recovery...