Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: I Became a Clothing Designer in Another World
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Unlike my worries, I thought the interview was going smoothly.
Starting with something like, "What have you been up to lately?" and me replying, "Just taking it easy," then wrapping up on that note.
"There are so many rumors swirling around Sir William, from nobles to commoners alike."
"Rumors?"
"The most famous one is that you're His Majesty the Emperor's lover."
It was all friendly until suddenly a dagger plunged deep into the nape of my neck.
I mean, come on, that's insane. Even so, a scandal with His Majesty the Emperor is just too much.
Love can come to anyone, but absolutely not with a woman twenty years older.
No matter how well-preserved His Majesty might be, young women are always preferable.
"Have you lost your mind?"
I narrowed my eyes and glared at Thomas, making no effort to hide my irritation.
Thomas flinched for a moment upon meeting my gaze but quickly composed himself and pressed on with his questions.
"So, all of it is baseless gossip?"
"Exactly. The way His Majesty and the Archduchess look at each other, dripping with honey—no madman would try to wedge himself between them."
"Everyone in the empire knows that, but doesn't the Archduchess have three lovers herself? So, it's not impossible for His Majesty either. Same logic, right?"
"Ha-"
I smirked, curling one side of my mouth upward before letting it drop as I spoke.
"If you can say that to His Majesty's face, go ahead. It'd be entertaining to watch."
The whole nation knows the outrageous feats His Majesty pulled to make the Archduchess his wife, yet this fool spouts such nonsense.
His guts must be hanging out.
"Haha... I'm just saying what the rumors claim."
"Fine... What else is there?"
"The next one is that you've been chosen as the Imperial Princess's fiancé."
"Haa-"
I sighed deeply and lifted my head at the nonstop bullshit.
I don't even know what the Imperial Princess looks like—fiancé? Give me a break.
And there's no way she'd accept a knight with no territory.
Unless you're a noble lord managing a major domain, you can't even apply through the paperwork process. What a joke.
"If I'd at least seen her face, I might not feel so wronged."
"Ah, so this is baseless too?"
"Yes."
My once-fresh mind felt utterly drained by just two questions.
"Don't tell me there's more."
"There are rumors you're a sodomite because you have no fiancée or lover, and since you rarely go out, that you're a woman in disguise. Also, that you're a playboy galloping around on horseback with women in broad daylight."
Putting all the rumors together, I'm the Emperor's lover, the Imperial Princess's fiancé, a sodomite, a woman in disguise, and a debauched playboy rolling in the hay with women.
What the hell does rumor-William even do all day?
My head was spinning.
I can't understand why nobles still send me letters amid all this.
Even if the men and family heads want connections, why the ladies?
Do they really want to marry a lunatic like this?
Has the marriage trend changed without me knowing?
"Not a single one rings true..."
"That's the charm of rumors."
I covered my eyes with my right hand and muttered listlessly, only for Thomas to reply in an excited, beaming tone.
He probably didn't mean to, but it grated on me—I nearly lost my temper.
"So, all of it is baseless gossip."
"Yes, utterly groundless nonsense."
"Then, is there a reason you have no fiancée or lover?"
"Fate hasn't brought the right one my way yet."
"According to several ladies whose marriage proposals with you were discussed, you personally turned them down. Is that also false?"
"......"
I was suddenly at a loss for words.
How the hell did he find that out?
Journalists' intel-gathering is no joke...
"Use your imagination."
"Understood. Then, what kind of woman is your type?"
"Is that question really that important?"
"Lots of people are dying to know, so I have no choice. We need to make a living too."
"Jeez..."
I pouted slightly and leaned back in my chair.
Logically, the textbook perfect answer would be best.
Someone with a compatible personality, or mutual respect—something like that.
But I had a bad feeling it'd lead to massive hassle.
Like giving false hope to all the unpaired ladies out there.
Wouldn't it be better to go bold instead?
Fewer crazies would approach a madman.
"Personality isn't a big deal. I'd hope for someone calm, but that's just wishful thinking."
I started speaking out of nowhere, startling Thomas, who fumbled his pencil a beat late.
His eyes full of anticipation, he looked at me and asked.
"Anything else you pay particular attention to?"
"Looks? Nothing specific. A beauty would be welcome, sure."
"And more?"
"I like legs that look good without forcing a figure with a corset."
"Pardon?"
Thomas, scribbling away furiously, blinked his wide eyes rapidly.
He stared right through me, trying to gauge if I was serious or joking.
I twisted one corner of my mouth into a smirk and fired back a question.
"So, why do you think women wear corsets, Mr. Editor-in-Chief?"
"To maximize femininity..."
"Since when was whalebone-stiffened plating a symbol of female allure? Don't you think it's too extreme?"
"Well, people do anything for beauty, so maybe that's it?"
"Beauty?"
I met Thomas's eyes with a serious expression and continued.
"Be honest—doesn't looking at women squeezed tight in corsets feel grotesque? Talking about waists at 16 inches or 17 inches... Sure, some might naturally be that small, but forcing it makes it so obvious, right?"
"......"
"Skirts puffed out huge, waists cinched unnaturally—everyone ends up hourglass-shaped. Is that beautiful? I don't see contrived excess like that as beauty; it's grotesque."
"I... suppose one could see it that way."
"And at balls, women faint from corsets left and right. They can't even bend properly, walking like wooden logs. Not content with that, they stuff petticoats with hoops—practically knights in full plate. There are even rumors corsets can block daggers. Don't you think that's overkill, even for beauty?"
"Y-Yes... good point..."
As I flushed with passion, the flustered Thomas tried to cut me off.
But I stared him down and rapped the desk sharply.
"Don't interrupt—hear me out. There's more that doesn't make sense."
"Ah, well..."
Overpowered by my momentum, Thomas nodded reluctantly with a sullen look.
"Don't you think skirt lengths are weird too?"
"Pardon?"
"Think about it. Why are skirts so long? Why drag down to the ankles?"
"For women's modesty."
"Didn't you catch anything odd in that?"
"Uh..."
Thomas furrowed his brow in thought.
I gave him five seconds before asking again.
"Why do women wear corsets?"
"To maximize femininity."
"Then why expose the chest?"
"To emphasize femininity."
"So why make skirts long for modesty? Femininity needs emphasizing, but modesty must be maintained—expose the chest but hide the limbs... Doesn't the standard feel totally inconsistent?"
"Hmm... it does seem strange."
"That's not my taste."
"I see..."
Thomas nodded slowly and hurriedly jotted down our exchange.
For a while, he kept his mouth shut, brow furrowed, eyes wide, scribbling away. Then, staring at his notebook, he spoke up.
"But, Sir William."
"Go ahead."
"How did a question about your tastes lead here?"
"Point is, I hate corsets. I prefer someone showing their natural figure without one."
"Ah..."
Thomas let out a hollow laugh.
"Do such women exist?"
"The world's wide, and people are plenty. Someone must dress like that."
"I think I get why you have no fiancée."
"Didn't I say it was all nonsense?"
"True, but..."
Thomas set down his pencil and notebook.
"What you just said feels even more like wild gossip."
"Won't it make for one hell of an article?"
"It'll be so outrageous I'll agonize over how to write it. Bombshell statements like these terrify me. Is this really okay to publish?"
"Your mouth says that, but your grin reaches your ears."
"Worry is worry, and a scoop is a scoop, right?"
"Honest—I like that."
I wanted him to paint me as a lunatic, but agreeing outright might seem weird, so I rolled my eyes as if pondering.
Then, as if resolved, I looked at Thomas and spoke.
"As long as you don't twist my words, publish it as is."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Thomas's face visibly brightened.
I stood up and left him with one last remark.
"Take good care of the ad. Prime spot."
"Ah, yes, of course."
"Then, may I go?"
"Yes, absolutely. Thank you for your time."
"It was enjoyable."
I exchanged goodbyes with Thomas and left the editor's office.
"Phew... Good..."
For now, one thing down.