Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: A Warm Knit Dress for Chilly Nights
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Mid-May, when the greenery had fully ripened, bursting with freshness.
"Haa..."
Even in this refreshing, tangy season where worries should have no place, Mother wore a dark expression and let out a deep sigh.
She looked both in low spirits and exhausted.
I hadn't done anything wrong lately, and she'd already given me her usual lectures...
"Is something wrong these days?"
"Oh... It's nothing much, dear. I've just been feeling the cold more lately, that's all."
"The cold?"
I stared at her in bewilderment, my eyes wide.
It's May? The days feel hot, and the nights are just pleasantly cool?
We'd only recently swapped all the blankets in the mansion for summer ones and changed the curtains to light, airy fabrics, yet she was feeling cold?
Mother had never shown any weakness to the cold before, so I worried she might be coming down with something. I gently took her hand and gazed at her with concern.
"You're not ill, are you? No signs of a cold or anything?"
"No, nothing like that. It's just... your father tends to get hot easily, you know? We leave the window open at night to suit him, and it leaves me too chilly to sleep."
"Ah~"
I felt relieved.
"How have you managed until now? It must be tough when your preferred temperatures don't match."
"It wasn't a problem before. When I was younger, I was the one who got hot easily too. But these past few years, I've really started struggling with the cold. Haa... I guess I'm getting on in years."
Mother murmured gloomily, letting out a short lament before taking a sip of her tea.
"Haa-"
She gazed wistfully out the window and sighed softly once more.
"Anyone who didn't know better would believe you if you said you were in your twenties. The other ladies would be furious if they heard that."
"Hee hee~ Even empty flattery feels nice."
Mother shook her head with a gentle smile.
"Haha..."
I laughed awkwardly and brought my tea to my lips.
It wasn't empty flattery...
By one's forties, laugh lines should be deeply etched around the mouth—that's normal. Yet strangely, Mother hadn't developed any new wrinkles, her skin hadn't grown dry or saggy, and no extra flesh had appeared.
Everyone else ages the same way—Father was changing appropriately for his age, and relatives on both sides were too—yet Mother seemed frozen in time, untouched by the years like some cryogenic human.
It was a phenomenon so bizarre it could be called mystical or miraculous without exaggeration.
Every time I noticed it, I half-suspected she was draining Father's vitality every night.
Given their suspiciously harmonious marriage, it wasn't an impossible theory.
......
"Ahem...!"
"...?"
Realizing it was an improper thought toward my parents, I quickly shook my head to dispel it.
Mother gave me a strange look but said nothing, just continued sipping her tea.
"Hoo... Should I dig out the winter blankets again..."
If it was that cold, there was no choice, but with summer approaching, it seemed a hassle to switch them back.
Something to help with the cold...
Ah.
"I have something nice among the clothes I made. Want to see it?"
"Clothes?"
Mother's eyes narrowed, her brows furrowing.
After a moment's thought, she nodded slightly and spoke.
"Let's take a look."
"Emily."
I beckoned to Emily, who stood behind me.
She approached and leaned in slightly, bowing.
"Yes?"
"Remember that long knit I showed you before?"
"Yes, I do."
"Bring that, please."
"Right away."
_
"Here's the garment you mentioned."
"Thank you."
The item Emily fetched from my room was a knit dress, made like a sweater.
The hem barely reached halfway down the thighs, and unlike other dresses that flared out airily and voluminously, this one's skirt clung tightly to the legs, boasting a sleek, fitted line.
Designed more for indoors—indeed, very private spaces—than for outdoors.
"A sweater...? No, it's a bit long for that."
"Similar to a sweater, but it's a dress. A knit dress."
"Hmm~ So that's why it's so long."
Mother hummed thoughtfully, eyeing the dress Emily held open with curiosity.
"How did you end up making clothes by knitting?"
"It started as practice for knitting. But you know how it goes—keep going, and it gets longer?"
"It would reach my knees."
"Yes, exactly. The thick yarn makes it cozy and traps heat well. And since it's knit, it stretches, so even if it's a bit small, it should be wearable."
"Well... it does look that way, but..."
Mother squinted, pursing her lips dubiously.
"Clothes like this are what fishermen or commoners wear. It feels a bit too lowly for me."
"Hmm~ What if you only wear it to bed? Nobles wear cotton too, don't they?"
"True, but couldn't you at least use finer yarn?"
"I could make one like that, but this took a whole month."
"Ugh..."
Mother pouted, deep in thought.
Cold or dignity.
Normally, she'd choose dignity without hesitation, but the cold must have been bothering her for a while—she kept her lips pressed tight, staring at the dress.
"For now... I'll try it for a few days. If it's good, can you make another in silk next time?"
"Of course. Just let me know when you need it."
"Thank you."
__
Deep into the night, time to retire.
-Knock knock
I was reading by candlelight in the bedroom when the knock shattered the silence, echoing through the quiet room.
"Come in."
I glanced at the clock, closed my book, and permitted entry. The door opened smoothly, revealing two women.
"Madam, we're here to help you change."
"Very well."
I rose and headed to the dressing room.
Grace's assistant for the evening, maid Mariana, scurried ahead to open the door.
I stepped in first, followed by Grace and Mariana, and the door shut behind us.
As it closed, they approached and deftly unlaced the back, slipped my arms from the sleeves, and removed the dress swiftly.
"Hoo..."
Layer by layer, until only a sheer chemise remained against my skin—the cool air prickled.
Gooseflesh rose unpleasantly.
I waited quietly without complaint, and Grace brought a pristine white negligee.
"......"
Nothing different from usual nightwear—I lifted my arms thoughtlessly to don it, but suddenly recalled the garment from William.
I raised a hand, signaling Grace—who was drawing near—to stop.
"Do you remember where I put the clothes William gave me today?"
"One moment, please. I'll fetch it right away."
Grace bowed and went to the racks.
"Madam, I found it."
She set the negligee aside and held up William's knit dress, letting it unfurl to confirm.
I glanced at it and nodded faintly.
"Yes, I'll wear that tonight."
"Understood. Then..."
"Wow..."
"Mariana?"
Mariana's sudden exclamation drew our gazes. She stared at the knit dress with sparkling eyes, then startled under our stares and bowed her head.
"S-Sorry, Madam. It just looks so nice, I couldn't help it..."
It looks nice?
Similar sweaters were common among commoners. This girl, attending me, must have seen cartloads of finer garments—yet this reaction?
"Curious. You've seen far more luxurious clothes than that, haven't you?"
"More than... it just looks warm and comfortable."
"Aha, I see."
Not expensive or beautiful, but functionally superior.
I belatedly understood why Mariana admired it and let out a soft chuckle.
"Come to think of it, you used to feel the cold a lot, didn't you, Mariana? How are your nights lately?"
"Winter's over, so it's bearable now."
"Bearable... Summer's still a ways off. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"I see..."
Her expression said otherwise, but I couldn't force her to admit it if she insisted. I nodded and fell silent.
"Madam, if I may."
"Proceed."
As our talk ended, Grace approached with the dress.
I closed my eyes and raised my arms. The knit fabric's cozy, fluffy texture slid slowly from head downward.
Soon, my head and hands emerged, meeting the cool air again.
"Madam, all done."
"Haa..."
At Grace's soft voice, I opened my eyes and looked down at the dress.
The chest felt a tad snug, the belly a bit loose, but not uncomfortable.
"This is nice..."
Warm and cozy.
The tight fit revealed my figure a bit too starkly, but with only him to see, it was no issue.
Knowing I'd sleep comfortably tonight, I smiled contentedly at Grace and Mariana.
"Thank you. You may retire and rest now."
""Yes, good night, Madam.""
"Good night to you both."