Chapter 239
Chapter 239
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 239
Chapter Title: The Elders' Scrutiny
"Then, if I may..."
"Hold on."
After exchanging greetings with about ten elder tailors, I was about to hand over the paper I'd brought and start explaining the design when Marquis Wilkes cut me off the moment I opened my mouth.
"Is something wrong?"
"Could you give us some time to look over the sketch before the explanation?"
"......"
A chilling sound leaked out.
On the surface, it sounded like they wanted to examine my design carefully, but twisted another way, it felt like they were saying they'd tear it apart meticulously.
Just as you need to know your enemy and yourself to win for sure, you have to know your target inside out to dismantle it down to the bones.
Part of me wanted to say no, but if I did, Hell's Gate would open right then, and I'd get grilled by all the elders at once.
"...Yes, please take as long as you need."
"Thank you."
I gave an awkward smile and nodded, and the elders swarmed the paper like bees, huddling closely around it.
"Hm..."
"The sketch is clean."
"Detailed footnotes too—who was your master... Ah, self-taught, right?"
"This level of sketch without a teacher? Hah..."
"More solid than my apprentices. I want to tell them to learn from it."
Even as they tossed out dry compliments one by one, the elders kept their eyes glued to the paper, not moving a muscle.
Sharp gazes dissecting the paper for flaws—the pressure from those eyes was no joke, and I found my body tensing up without realizing it.
"Gulp..."
They weren't even looking at me directly, but my heart squeezed tight, and breathing got hard.
Back in my past life, my friends who made the wrong choice of grad school used to wail over thesis defenses.
I'd never gone to grad school myself, so I'd brushed it off thinking, 'Isn't it just like submitting a report to your boss?'
But now that I was going through something similar, I got why they cried.
They were clearly looking at my work, but it felt like they were butchering my child.
Unlike mechanical reports ordered from above, this was something I'd created on my own will, and the act of it being disassembled and analyzed brought immense pressure.
"You okay?"
Fidgeting with my necktie and collar while furrowing my brow, Elizabeth poked my arm and whispered.
Taking in Elizabeth glancing up at me, the feeling that I wasn't alone eased the tightness in my chest a bit.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
I shrugged with a smirk.
"A little nervous, though."
"Want me to help if it's tough?"
"Nah... It's my job, so I have to finish it myself, even if it's hard."
"Good attitude."
As I let go of my collar and straightened my back, Elizabeth smiled warmly and intertwined her right hand with my left.
"Don't be too scared. You've done more than enough, so if you just explain it right, they'll accept it."
"Thanks."
Courage totem's working great.
Good call bringing Elizabeth.
"Look at you two, all lovey-dovey in front of your big sis, Elizabeth."
"It's for your dress, Your Highness. William was nervous, so I stepped in, but that's too much."
"Hmph..."
Thanks to the Imperial Princess sneaking up and forcibly prying our hands apart, my tension completely melted away.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No problem."
Just as my heart filled with confidence, the elders finished their discussion and turned their eyes to me.
"Overall, it was an excellent idea, but we have a few questions."
"Of course, ask away."
"Then I'll start."
Marquis Wilkes stepped forward.
"You used white velvet, transparent gems, and silver thread to make the patterns and decorations subtle. Why attempt this? Decorations that don't show well seem like mere illusions—do they have meaning?"
"That was to accommodate both His Majesty's desire for a flashy dress and Your Highness's preference for restraint as much as possible."
"Accommodate?"
I raised both hands, mimicking light shining down, and continued the explanation.
"For the five minutes the bride first appears and walks down the central aisle, the surroundings go dark, with light only on her, making the decorations sparkle brilliantly. Then, afterward, the darkness lifts, reverting to a simple design where the shimmer isn't too visible. That way, both opinions are conditionally satisfied."
"Hmm..."
Marquis Wilkes narrowed his eyes, nodded, and glanced back.
"That could work..."
"Has potential..."
The elders huddled again, whispering softly.
"Let's go with that."
After about a minute of serious discussion, they nodded with straight faces, spread out slightly, and focused on me again.
"Can we continue with questions?"
"Yes."
"Good. Why velvet for the fabric? Satin would have more sheen and gloss."
"Velvet absorbs light, so I intended a strong contrast with the reflective gems."
"I see."
After answering the marquis's second question, he nodded and stepped back.
Then, Lady Clarice, who had been quietly listening beside him, lightly raised her hand to draw my attention.
"Count, if you wanted strong contrast, wouldn't black fabric work? Or dark navy to evoke the night sky if black was too heavy."
"I aimed to emphasize purity with pure white fabric."
"Purity... So, unifying the gems as transparent is for that too?"
"No, that's to keep the gems from standing out too much."
"It might feel too plain, so mixing in emeralds or sapphires at intervals could improve it—what do you think?"
"Oh..."
That made sense.
I'd obsessed too much over simplicity, making it bland, and hadn't thought deeply about gem harmony.
Plus, the universe has blue and red stars too, so mixing colors like Lady Clarice suggested would better emphasize the starry night sky intent.
"That sounds good. How about adding it as Option 2, so Her Highness can choose the better one?"
"Uh... Y-yeah, that works. Thanks."
She looked flustered as I immediately agreed to add the design, nodding.
"May I ask a question too?"
"Yes, go ahead."
As Lady Clarice faltered, Ernest the Junior Baron took up the baton next.
"The sketch shows gems concentrated on the veil and hem. Won't the weight make it sag, hiding the gems?"
"Hm..."
Is that so...?
With a petticoat for volume, it shouldn't sag much?
"The petticoat maintains volume to prevent sagging. During movement, attendants lift the hem, and when standing still, guests see from behind anyway, so I don't think it's a big issue."
"I see."
Ernest nodded with a pleased smile.
Ah, was he checking if it was intentional or accidental?
That's scary...
"Hoo..."
I calmed the belated chill and put on a smile.
"Any more questions?"
"No, that's enough."
"Yes."
At Marquis Wilkes's gesture asking for a moment, I shut my mouth and quietly watched the elders.
Some raised eyebrows a few times, others furrowed then relaxed brows, exchanging busy glances.
"Any objections?"
"The idea's good, but isn't the difficulty high?"
Baron Troton cautiously pointed out my own worry, crossing his arms.
Arranging transparent gems prettily on white fabric, plus connecting silver threads perfectly.
Even I with good eyes struggle; for elders with dimmer sight...
"......"
I anxiously awaited reactions, wondering if others would agree with Baron Troton.
"Baron Troton lacking confidence?"
"An imperial tailor acting like some amateur—shameful."
"All talk usually, but chickening out at crunch time, worse than a woman. Why keep him around?"
"Hah."
Fortunately, the other elders teased Troton mercilessly for voicing the concern.
Baron Troton gave a hollow laugh at his colleagues, then shook his head with a pout.
"I've got confidence. Just worried you'd mess up."
"Oh really? You, whining about blurry eyes lately, worrying about us?"
"Just say you're scared, coward."
"No backbone, no confidence... Troton's really gotten old, tsk tsk."
"Sheesh, I worry and all hell breaks loose."
Every word he spat got three or four back; he half-closed his eyes wearily.
"Jeez, can't we just do it?"
"No more objections then?"
"Right."
"Good."
The elders wore smiles after their 'harmonious' consensus.
"Earl Howard."
"Yes."
"Let's tackle this together successfully."
"Ah, please take care of me."
Lightly placing a hand on my shoulder and gesturing me over, I bowed slightly and stepped forward.
Whew...
I sighed inwardly, lips twitching.
Good that I passed, but now I'm the baby here.
"Huh...?"
Isn't this the bigger problem...?