Chapter 16
Chapter 16
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Chaos in the Workshop and the Fainting Ploy
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Young Master, please have your tea while you work."
Since I was embroidering a hair cap similar to those worn by the maids, Emily approached with a tea tray, set the teacup and a plate of cookies on the table, and whispered softly.
"Mm."
Answering curtly with my eyes fixed on the cap, I shoved the crumbly cookies back toward Emily, lightly moistened my lips with the tea, and set the cup down.
Then, frowning at the sweetness wafting from the tea, I looked at Emily.
"It's sweet..."
"You finally looked this way."
"Emily, how much sugar did you dump in this tea?"
"Five lumps."
"Why?"
"Care to look around?"
"Hmm..."
I followed the line of Emily's finger pointing at the floor.
At my feet lay a dress festooned with frills and ribbons, a flower-embroidered handkerchief draped over the chair's armrest, a knit stocking big enough to fit a head at Emily's feet, a crocheted coaster under the cookie plate, and scraps of fabric strewn across the entire room floor.
The room was such a wreck, you'd believe a gang of thieves had swept through.
I scratched the back of my head lightly as I took it all in.
"Uh... it's a bit messy?"
"A bit?"
"Really messy..."
Emily glared fiercely and shot back in a frosty voice.
Sensing a faint killing intent in her tone, I quickly corrected my blunder and bowed my head deeply.
"Sorry."
"No need to apologize. Just ask us to tidy up before it piles up next time."
"Okay..."
"You don't say a word, so even if we want to clean, we can't touch anything without knowing what not to move. It only takes a second—just point out what to clear."
"Got it."
I set the embroidered hair cap and the box for threads and needles on the table and stood up.
"Everything except what's on the table can go."
"Ugh... what a mess."
"I'll help."
"Sigh... Young Master, just sit still. If anyone sees you working, I'll be the one in trouble."
"Uh... okay..."
Frowning, Emily waved me off, rejecting my offer.
Left feeling awkward, I sat back down and watched her clean the room.
"By the way, Young Master, you've been making a lot of weird stuff since you made those stockings for Lady Hayes?"
"Oh, that? Just messing around practicing. My hands feel a little slow."
"Pardon?"
Emily, neatly folding the dress, widened her eyes and stared at me.
"Your hands are slow? You? Say that outside and you'll get an earful."
"Just my personal gripe."
"Be twice as griped and you'll invent a sewing machine."
"I thought about it, but I don't know how it works, so I dropped it."
With steam engines, motors, and weaving looms already around, a sewing machine should be doable if you grasp the principle.
In my past life, hand-crank models appeared in the 19th century, but alas, I was a liberal arts guy...
So I scrapped the pointless notion and shifted to training my hands for speed.
"Scarier that you even considered it."
"Thinking's free—I can do it all I want."
I shrugged at Emily, who squinted in dismay.
Speaking of Hayes, that reminded me—wasn't it about time for her trip to the viscount's family?
"By the way, was the day Hayes heads to the viscount's tomorrow?"
I sipped my tea lightly and asked Emily.
She tilted her head as if I'd said something odd and replied.
"That's today."
"Today? Then she's already gone?"
"Yes, she left by carriage early this morning."
"Time flies~"
"Probably because you never check the clock, Young Master."
"Been busy practicing lately... haha~"
"Personally, I wish you'd slack off a bit."
"She's doing okay, right?"
"Lady Hayes? Of course. She's way more reliable with people than you."
"Fair enough..."
As an asocial type, worrying was above my pay grade.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The banquet's mood had warmed nicely. I'd seized a chance to sidle up to the lord, chatted lightly, and was timing my plan when—
By pure coincidence, a moment alone with him fell into my lap.
Thanks to my corset laced tighter than usual and the champagne I'd nursed all evening, dizziness hit me suddenly.
"Haa..."
Pale-faced, vision blurring.
I sighed, gently clutching my forehead, drawing the gaze of the lord standing nearby.
"Lady Hayes, are you alright?"
"Ah... Lord Lennox, it's nothing—just a touch dizzy... It'll pass soon, no need to worry."
I forced up the corners of my mouth into a smile, unable to hide my ragged breaths.
"Your color's off. You should rest..."
"Hehe~ Thank you for your concern, but I'm truly fine... Ah..."
While feigning composure, loath to stray from his side—
Suddenly my body felt floaty, vision blacked out for a beat, and I lost balance, toppling sideways.
"Huh...?"
I hadn't planned to drop this fast...?
Tying the corset too tight had accelerated the vertigo beyond normal.
"Lady Hayes!"
As my body tilted halfway, his urgent voice pierced my ear, and firm hands caught my back and shoulder.
My darkened sight cleared gradually. Like that terrace incident before, his worried face slowly filled my view.
"Ah... Lord Lennox, thank you... I keep needing your rescues..."
"No trouble at all. But Lady, your color's poor—you really should rest."
"I suppose so... If it's no bother, could you show me to a quiet spot?"
"Gladly. I'll escort you."
"Thank you."
With his support, steady on my feet again, I dipped my head gratefully to the lord offering a personal guide.
He took my hand gently, smiled, and beckoned ahead.
"This way, then."
"Yes..."
Led by his hand, as I took one step forward after him—
"Ow...!"
"Lady Hayes?"
A sharp sting in my ankle drew an odd whimper as I crumpled to the floor.
"Are you alright? Is the dizziness that bad?"
"Sorry, my ankle just..."
He squatted to my level, firing urgent questions. I smiled sheepishly and pointed to my ankle, veiled by the dress.
He followed my finger, frowned gravely, and asked.
"Can you walk on your own?"
I shook my head.
"Not alone."
"I see..."
His face fell, voice subdued.
"Forgive me, Lady Hayes—a moment."
"Yes...? Kyaa?!"
He apologized abruptly, undid his cuffs, and rolled up his sleeves.
Staring blankly in confusion, suddenly his arm hooked under my thigh and back. He stood, scooping me up princess-style.
"L-L-Lord, wh-what is this...!"
"Sorry, Lady—to move you, nothing else came to mind... Embarrassing, I know, but bear with it briefly."
"Ugh..."
All eyes locked on us.
Being cradled lovey-dovey like lovers amid this crowd!
My face burned fit to explode, mouth corners itching skyward uncontrollably.
"Straight to a room, then."
"Y-Yeshe..."
To his fiat, heedless of my turmoil, I slurred a reply and nodded shyly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Haa... Hah..."
Being carried in his arms like a treasured princess wreaked havoc on my heart.
It spiked the champagne buzz fast.
Swirled my already dizzy head worse.
Tightened my stuffy chest, roughening my breaths.
And crept up the urge to seize his collar and crush our lips together right then.
"Lady, we're here."
Clinging to the frayed shreds of reason to stifle the impulse, we barely reached the room.
He entered and eased me onto the sofa with care.
Then, kneeling one knee on the floor, he clasped my hand gently, looked up, and spoke tenderly.
"Anything more I can do?"
"......"
His brown eyes held my reflection—my breath hitched.
Enthralled, staring into them, I spoke.
"Then, Lord..."
"Yes?"
"My chest feels so tight... Could you loosen the corset laces a touch?"
"......"
His eyes bugged out at my plea; lips worked soundlessly twice.
Then he ventured cautiously.
"Lady... You sure? I'm a man..."
"Haa... It's fine. Please."
"Very well."
He hesitated at first, but my labored breaths and renewed begging sent him behind the sofa. Delicate fingers tugged the dress and corset laces loose.
The vise on my chest eased, breathing room appeared—the stuffiness fled, pants steadying bit by bit.
"Haa... Thank you... So much better..."
"...Relieved your color's returning."
I turned to him, beaming broadly.
His earlobes pinked; he glanced away.
A weird, titillating air swirled between us.
I gazed steadily; he dodged my eyes sidelong. Silence stretched.
"Ahem! Well... Color's improved, so I'll fetch your maid and lady-in-waiting."
As he moved to end our tête-à-tête, I furrowed my brow faintly, scrutinizing his face.
Regret, anticipation, a dash of thrill and nerves mingled there.
Ah, him too.
He'd been hoping for it too.
For our time. Alone time.
"So please rest ea—"
"Lord."
Awake to it, I cut him short and took his hand softly.
"Lord, one final favor?"
"...Yes."
"Since that near-fall, my ankle's been throbbing terribly."
"I... see."
"So please."
I gazed up with a beguiling smile.
"Could you... remove my shoes?"
*Gulp.*
The lord swallowed hard, eyes fever-bright, fixed on my skirt hem.