Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Sheer Allure of Stockings
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"Hayes, when you meet Lord Lennox, wear stockings."
"What?"
Stockings. The kind that subtly reveal a hint of skin beneath.
Just wearing them was enough to drive a man mad.
If this didn't get a reaction out of the young lord, I'd have every right to seriously question his manhood.
A design that would stir his heart flashed through my mind.
You have to seize ideas the moment they strike.
I jumped up from my seat and grabbed Hayes's shoulders. She stood there, looking utterly bewildered.
"Brother?"
"Emily, could you open the door?"
"Yes."
"What's going on? Why the sudden rush? Is something wrong?"
As Emily opened the door, I patted Hayes's shoulder and delivered my announcement.
"Hayes, come back in three days."
"Huh? Brother, what are you talking about? Explain yourself..."
The door swung open, and I spun Hayes around, shoving her toward it.
"Don't push me! Brother! I said don't push!"
"Come back in three days, and I'll show you something truly amazing. Got it?"
"No! I don't get it!"
Hayes flailed in panic, putting up a futile resistance, but she was pushed out into the hallway anyway.
"Miss Letisha, take care of Hayes for me."
"Haa... Fine."
"Hey! William!"
"Thanks, Miss Letisha!"
With Hayes successfully ejected and handed off to Letisha, I thanked her, shut the door, and locked it tight.
Sure enough, the doorknob rattled violently from outside a few times, followed by a loud thud as something slammed against the door.
[Lady, don't kick the door!] [Eek! I trusted you! I finally trusted my brother again!] [Please calm down first. Just like the young master said, come back in three days...] [I don't care! I'm never coming back!] [Lady!] The voices of Hayes and Letisha faded into the distance.
"Um... Is it really okay to send the lady off like that?"
"She'll cool off soon enough and come crawling back."
Emily voiced her concern with an anxious look, but I just smirked and waved it off.
No matter what she said, she'd sulk for a few days at most before slinking back.
"Anyway, forget about my sister. Could you fetch the item I asked for from the storeroom?"
"Um... Sure."
Emily nodded reluctantly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Why stockings, of all things?
To understand that, we need a quick look at the symbolism of legs and the role stockings play.
Legs first.
In the modern world, everyone parades their legs around openly, so it might seem ridiculous to make a fuss over showing them. But just a hundred years ago, bare legs were a body part you weren't supposed to expose carelessly.
Why did stockings become such a staple in women's fashion?
Because they were the perfect way to cover bare legs under short skirts.
But what about this world?
Dresses here wrap legs up tight as a matter of course.
Given that context, I can confidently say women's legs are far more provocative here than we'd imagine.
So, accidentally flashing even a glimpse of calf would be enough to seal the deal with the young lord.
Are stockings absolutely necessary, then?
Of course.
Showing a peek of leg to a spouse or lover is just affectionate teasing. But Hayes and the young lord aren't officially together yet.
From the stories alone, it's clear there's mutual interest, but life is full of "what ifs."
What if he gets turned off by Hayes flashing her bare legs too casually?
That's where stockings come in as insurance.
Stockings have a surprisingly deep history and tradition.
Originally, they were just long socks.
They got sexy with the rise of miniskirts and nylon stockings, morphing into fashion items that beautify legs. But before that, calling them long socks for warmth wasn't wrong at all.
And this world has neither nylon stockings nor miniskirts.
So, there's a huge difference between exposing legs in long socks and exposing bare legs.
A huge difference that provides plausible deniability if things go sideways.
Why are you wearing stockings?
It's cold.
But why are they so thin?
It's spring.
Suspicious? Sure, but not suspicious enough to call out.
Because stockings are for warmth.
Just long socks, nothing more.
Who'd think a woman wore long socks on purpose to seduce a man?
Sprinkle in a little "oops, it slipped" and you've got a perfect plan: tempt the young lord without implicating Hayes.
"Um... Young Master."
As I sketched the design feverishly on paper, lost in my perfect scheme, Emily returned from the storeroom and called out hesitantly.
Her voice lacked confidence.
Wondering what was up, I set down my pen and turned. There she stood, clutching a bolt of pristine white fabric, her expression uncertain.
"What's wrong? Was the item I asked for not there?"
"No, it's not that... This is really it, right?"
Blinking in surprise, Emily unfurled the fabric wide.
Pure white silk.
So thin it made her silhouette behind it hazy.
It matched my description perfectly, and I nodded with a grin.
"That's the one. You got it right."
"You're not making clothes out of this, are you? It's for embroidery, right?"
"Of course I'm making clothes."
"With just this? No other fabric?"
"Yep."
"Can it even cover anything? You can't make anything but a veil with this."
"Don't doubt me. I'll prove it by making something incredible."
"Um..."
Emily eyed me skeptically as she handed over the fabric.
The silken touch against my skin built anticipation for the garment to come.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Making the stockings themselves was simple.
Cut the fabric to size, roll it into tubes, and sew the seams. Done.
The lack of stretchy material and the inability to use ties like other garments meant precision was key, but that wasn't a big issue.
It just required extra care—tedious, but not hard.
By the end of the three days I'd promised Hayes, I'd produced a single prototype pair.
I'd have loved to make both legs, but one was enough to demonstrate the effect.
However.
The real challenge was something else entirely.
"No way."
Convincing Emily.
I couldn't just spring them on Hayes or Letisha out of nowhere. I couldn't wear them myself. And showing them empty wouldn't have the same impact.
So I'd made them to fit Emily's legs, assuming she'd model them. I never expected her to refuse.
I figured as long as I didn't look, it'd be fine since the rest were all women...
What a mess.
But I stayed calm and met Emily's eyes.
"Hmm... Could you tell me why? Do you have scars on your legs? Some complex? If so, we obviously won't do it."
"No, nothing like that."
"Then?"
"It's embarrassing. And mine aren't as well-maintained or pretty as the lady's."
"Hmm..."
Her hands and face were flawless, but maybe her legs were different?
She said no scars, so it couldn't just be her legs...
"Any way we can make it work?"
"Anyway, it's embarrassing, so no."
"But I made them to fit your legs."
Emily's eyes widened, and she took a step back.
She looked at me like I was a criminal.
Whatever she was misunderstanding, it wasn't flattering.
"...How did you know my leg measurements? Last time you only measured length."
"Mother and the head maid knew. They told me right away."
A few weeks back, when I mentioned wanting to make Emily more clothes going forward, they shared without hesitation.
Apparently, they'd recorded them when the maids ordered stockings in bulk for winter prep.
It'd been a huge help for making these.
"Hah, what the..."
Emily gasped in disbelief, pressing her forehead lightly with her left hand.
"...Really can't?"
"Yes. We have the result already—can't you just show it as is?"
"It's different seeing them worn versus bare. On pretty legs, they'll blow you away, I promise."
"You've never seen my legs, Young Master. What makes you so sure they're pretty?"
"Pretty face usually means pretty legs."
And the numbers showed long, toned ones too.
"Eek...!"
Emily flushed slightly, her lips twitching.
Like she was holding back a laugh, but her clenched fists made it hard to tell if she was pleased or annoyed.
No hesitation in sight, so further convincing seemed pointless.
"Tch..."
I clicked my tongue lightly and set the stockings on the desk.
Forcing her when she hated it would be cruel. I'd just have to show Hayes the prototype plain.
Slipping it over my hand would at least give her the idea.
"Fine, if you hate it that much, no choice. For Hayes, then—"
"Um, Young Master?"
"Yeah?"
I'd just resigned myself when Emily called out in a trembling voice.
"I... I'll wear them."
"...For real?"
She nodded faintly.
"But only if you think they're pretty when you see them."
"Wha... What?"
"If you think my legs are pretty, I'll wear them."
"...?"
My brain short-circuited.
What did she mean, she'd wear them if I thought her legs were pretty?
"What, you gonna show me your bare legs or something?"
"Yes."
"Huh?"