Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Good News, Bad News
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"Madam, I've got some good news and some bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"
"Do you really have to bring that up right before bed?"
As usual, right before slipping under the covers, I shot a sullen glare at Frederick, who was perched on the edge of the bed prattling on about nothing important, and snapped back irritably.
Frederick grabbed my hand with a wry, apologetic smile.
"It's just so urgent."
"Then tell me the good news first."
I wasn't particularly curious about the bad news.
What else could it be but William causing some kind of trouble?
No point in spoiling my mood early with something inevitable—better to hear the good part first and lift my spirits.
"A letter arrived from the palace saying it's fine to come to the capital."
"Really?"
I'd been expecting something like that soon, and it arrived at just the right time.
If we hurried with preparations, we could head to the capital this week.
My lips curved upward like a flower blooming.
"So, what mischief has William gotten into this time?"
"William? Surprisingly, he's been on his best behavior since August began. He's even pleased with the letter from the throne."
"What?"
The smile vanished from my face, my brows furrowing.
If William was behaving, why was there bad news?
"Then what's the bad news?"
"Well..."
I fixed Frederick with a piercing stare, eyes wide.
He hesitated, lips twitching, then averted his gaze as he continued.
"They've permitted us to come after the last week of August."
"The last...?"
Not right away, but a full two weeks later. I'd sensed their wordplay when they said they'd summon us before summer's end, but this was approval right on the cusp of autumn.
"Ha. Ha. Ha."
At their utterly ridiculous behavior, I narrowed my eyes and let out a stiff, awkward laugh.
Frederick's eyes wavered, a tremor running through the hand clasped in mine.
"What delightful news. They really kept their promise before summer ended, didn't they? I'm just overjoyed at how perfectly the palace honors its word."
"Madam... I'm sorry. It's my shortcomings..."
"How is it your fault? It's all because of those higher-ups. Sigh..."
Frustration boiled over with so much I wanted to say, but I let out a deep sigh and clamped my mouth shut.
"We'll talk tomorrow."
"Understood."
As I lay my head on the pillow, I vowed that once in the capital, the audience with His Majesty would come first, no matter what.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "What an odd fellow..."
Deep into the night, in the dark room lit only by a faint magic lamp, I sat sorting my thoughts. Recalling William showing me his drawings earlier that day, I chuckled softly to myself.
His cold expression amid the crowd's harsh criticism, staring them down one by one with icy eyes and muttering that he just didn't get it—it was the most satisfying thing I'd seen lately.
And the reason? He was offended that they'd called his designed underwear 'perverted.'
I'd known from the start he wasn't ordinary.
Anyone catching the eye of both His Majesty the Emperor and the crown prince had to have something special.
But to boldly declare his tastes in an interview,
hire staff regardless of race or nobility to realize those tastes,
design perverted clothes without seeing them as such,
and then treat those who couldn't accept it as the weird ones—I'd never imagined that.
"Heh heh..."
Thinking of his antics made the laughter unstoppable.
He provided endless entertainment just by existing, banishing any boredom lately.
"Lady, staying up late isn't good for your health."
"......"
A voice shattered the quiet solitude and my pleasant reverie.
Everyone should have left the room by now, so the intruder's arrival furrowed my brow in annoyance.
Suppressing a surge of irritation, I turned to see a woman in a familiar black dress and apron standing there with a cold expression.
"Sera, what are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to leave?"
"It's already midnight, and you said to come at midnight, Lady."
"I..."
About to deny it, I belatedly remembered instructing the maids and servants before dismissing them, and shut my mouth tight.
Softening my irritated expression, I murmured softly to Sera.
"You're right. Sorry, my mistake."
"It's fine. I got to see something amusing, after all."
"Amusing?"
"You've been grinning wickedly to yourself for a while now. You looked like you were having a blast."
"......"
Oh no... I'd been making that embarrassing face.
My cheeks burned hot.
I pressed my palms firmly against them to cool the flush.
To change the subject, I rolled my eyes around frantically, searching for a topic.
"...So, where'd you get that outfit? It's new, but it looks familiar."
I gestured at the black dress and apron that had caught my eye from the start.
A lady's maid should dress more plainly than her charge, but as nobility, she wouldn't wear commoner drab.
"I copied the uniform worn by the servants of Count Hume's household. Doesn't it suit me?"
"It suits calm, intellectual types. Not you."
"Lady, I graduated from the academy as a lady, you know? I can hold my own in intellect."
My facial muscles twitched at her bizarre claim, my expression souring.
I'd never seen any intellectual side to her—probably fallen too far behind to catch up.
"Isn't it pathetic to brag about graduating from an academy everyone and their dog gets into?"
"Lady, I graduated top of my class, first out of 324. But how did you graduate?"
"Grit...!"
My jaw clenched, teeth grinding loudly in the room.
I had plenty of grievances about that, so I glared at Sera, biting down hard.
"Second in class. Got a problem?"
"Of course not. I just wanted to share my intellectual, cultured side."
Sera shook her head with an infuriatingly smug look.
That wicked girl, always scheming to torment her employer...
I wanted to fire her on the spot, but no one else measured up, so I had to keep her on through gritted teeth.
"Fine... So, how does the outfit feel?"
"Not bad. No corset or boned petticoat means it's so much easier to move in."
"Makes sense. Commoner clothes prioritize mobility."
"Whoever made it put a lot of thought into the details."
"Probably."
William made that uniform.
They called it the maid outfit at Count Hume's.
He said it was to make the maids look composed and professional. Even Sera looked more subdued in it.
"......"
A sudden absurdity washed over me.
The same person who made those perverted stockings designed this neat, tidy uniform.
"Ha."
The more I learned, the stranger he got.
He was hiding plenty more, no doubt. What would he pull out next?
One thing was certain: nothing ordinary.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hmm..."
Midway check on the designs by Lady Fanny and Lord Herbert.
Unlike a few days ago when the drawings felt sparse, they'd added a ton of detail in short order.
The biggest change: sewing lines and embroidery now precisely placed.
"Looking good."
I could see they'd referenced plenty and agonized over it—clear signs everywhere. Impressive.
The designs themselves were solid too.
Grinning, I tapped the paper with my finger and asked Lady Fanny and Lord Herbert,
"Sewing lines drew a lot from corsets, huh?"
"Yes, similar shape and function, so we tried mimicking them."
"Smart approach. But different fabrics mean rethinking line positions and counts."
"Got it."
"And the embroidery—flowers and leaves. Why?"
"To hide seams, right? Vines and flowers suit vertical ones, so we went with that."
"Perfect."
Clear reasoning. Nice.
They'd even stuck to my advice to collaborate, alternating answers—kind of cute.
"Materials still undecided?"
"We'd like to consult Sir William on that. Is that okay?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Thank you."
I nodded, and Lady Fanny smiled, pulling a basket from under the table.
It was filled with yarn skeins of various materials.
"What's all this?"
"New materials threw us off, so we couldn't decide."
"We brought every yarn-like fabric we could make cloth from."
"Ooh~"
A surge of admiration welled up as I inspected the basket.
I'd planned to ask about available materials, and they'd preemptively gathered them by type.
Picking only the tasks I'd love—such good kids.
"You two did great."
"Th-thank you...?"
I beamed, patting their shoulders heartily.
They stared at me blankly, nodding in confusion.