Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: The Emperor's Boredom
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Hurry, hurry, it was Tuesday when we finally started cutting the fabric.
"Sir William, a letter has arrived for you."
"A letter?"
The moment I stepped into the workshop, Princess Elizabeth blocked my path and held out a pristine white envelope.
A suspicious letter with no sender or recipient listed.
"It's addressed to you, so open it."
"Hmm..."
I eyed it uneasily, a bad feeling creeping in, but the princess urged me to read it.
I really didn't want to, but I forced my stiff fingers to tear off the wax seal and unfold the envelope. Contrary to the plain exterior, a fancy, luxurious sheet of paper peeked out.
"This is really for me?"
"Yes."
Even without reading it, an ominous vibe emanated from it, so I double-checked, but the princess's response held not a drop of hesitation.
"Ha..."
I pulled the paper from the envelope and unfolded it with slightly trembling hands.
"?"
And immediately folded it back up.
Blinking hard, I gently set the paper on the side table, rubbed my eyes vigorously with my hand, then picked it up again.
Was I just tired? Or had I looked too closely?
I didn't know the reason, but something weird was there.
Arm fully extended, head craned back as far as possible, I unfolded the paper and examined the contents again.
"Hmm..."
No matter how many times I unfolded and refolded it, or blinked furiously, the letter's contents didn't change.
"A glitch...?"
"Pardon?"
"Nothing, it's nothing."
There was a rendering error in the letter.
Why was there a letter of recommendation bearing the imperial crest inside this plain envelope?
Thinking I'd misread, I scrutinized the crest on the paper.
The shield with the national flag, the emperor's crown above it—these were imperial symbols. Behind the shield was a sun, flanked by lions on either side.
In this empire, only one person could draw a crest with a sun and lions...
My pupils quivered, vision blurring slightly.
"Whew— I don't know yet..."
Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I stared hard at the long, scrawled signature at the bottom of the recommendation, fighting the haze in my eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [ Frederica Angela Margaret Elizabeth Alexandrine ] That was the moment my composure crumbled.
If I wasn't hallucinating or losing my mind, that name matched His Majesty the Emperor's full name exactly.
I stared blankly at the recommendation and murmured softly to the princess.
"Elizabeth, do you know who sent this...?"
"Yes."
The princess nodded calmly.
"...How?"
"I picked it up."
At a loss for words, I barely clung to my drifting sanity as the princess puffed out her chest proudly.
"It was really hard to get that."
"I bet..."
Since it was from His Majesty the Emperor.
My heart pounded.
She'd never bothered hiding her noble status, but now she wasn't even trying.
Did I need to look into protective magic artifacts ASAP?
Or was her amusement finally winding down?
My head spun.
"Ha..."
For now, I cleared my mind.
No point agonizing alone over something without answers—push it aside and tackle the urgent issues first.
"Why'd you bring it?"
"You said to get a recommendation if I wanted the garters made faster."
"Yeah, but..."
I pressed my temples and said,
"You're staff. You could've just told me ahead of time, and I'd have handled it...? No, if you'd said something sooner, we could've done it last week."
"True, but at first, I didn't plan to make any."
"Then?"
The princess smiled lightly with her eyes.
"Various reasons made me feel a sense of crisis."
"Crisis?"
The princess pointed behind me with her finger.
"Too many natural beauties around. I just found out Emily doesn't even wear a corset."
"That's right."
"There's no law saying commoners can't be beautiful, but it's a blow to blue blood pride to lose to one. Can't just sit idly by."
"Is that so...?"
"Exactly."
Their types were completely different, so direct comparison was tough for me—I wasn't sure.
Like comparing a painting to a gem?
But if she felt threatened, what could I do?
I just let it slide.
"Well... anyway, you've got the recommendation, so I'll submit it with next week's orders."
"Yes, but Sir, it's two sheets. Check the back one too."
"Two sheets?"
Rubbing my fingers gently over the paper, the two stuck sheets peeled apart.
"Whoa... what kind of paper is this?"
Amazed at how they felt like one even stacked, I checked the second sheet.
The second was a short, simple letter, not a recommendation.
Not much content, so I read it relaxedly.
[I've been watching, but isn't it too boring?] The moment I read it, my brain buffered.
Round, feminine handwriting.
First-person "We".
Message from His Majesty the Emperor.
"When you got the letter, did His Majesty say anything?"
"Nope, just looked a bit bored."
"Tsk..."
Blood drained from my head.
I didn't know what bored him, but my actions hadn't pleased His Majesty.
This wasn't the time for underwear.
"Elizabeth, is Fanny in the workshop?"
"Yes, shall I call her?"
"Yeah, right now—hurry."
_
"I think I need to step away from cutting—is that okay?"
"W-well... time's tight, but it's doable. Worst case, finish Saturday."
"Good, sorry, but I have to ask."
"Yes..."
As the fabric cutter announced her desertion, Princess Fanny's eyes twitched, but since the deserter was the investor, she couldn't protest and slunk back to her seat with a glum expression.
Even I knew it was a dick move, but with His Majesty's mood soured, what choice did I have?
The moment I fell out of his favor and lost the emperor's shield, it wouldn't be my conscience exploding—it'd be our atelier.
"Sigh..."
I let out a deep breath and repeated His Majesty's short message.
Boring.
I could guess his intent clearly, but the problem was he didn't say what was boring.
To try something, I needed to know what displeased him, but without that, no answers.
From my brief experience with His Majesty, two candidates emerged.
Ads and clothes.
Obviously, those were the only things he'd notice and react to.
I'd played it safe lately, so given his personality, disappointment was likely.
I pulled the photo magic artifact from the drawer and checked the film.
Last time, rolling in the grass got me just one shot, so three left.
First ad's reception was great, so I'd shelved the second, but His Majesty? Full speed ahead.
This time, bare legs boldly, underwear front and center.
Church's iron fist scared me, but His Majesty would cover.
Now, clothes.
If plain underwear dissatisfied him, tough fix.
Underwear couldn't get more radical; set aside. Stockings shared garter materials, hard now.
So outer clothes, but they took too long—that was the flaw.
"Ugh..."
Still, had to try in this situation.
Miserable, but best idea:
Dress first.
Dresses covered more than expected: wedding dresses, mini-look one-pieces—all dresses.
Unlike the rep, minimize decor, and they sew fast.
How to minimize decor?
White fabric first.
White's mysterious; sheer lace bits make it beautiful. Image elegant, pure—looks luxe without much.
But too plain kills personality if off; good model covers it.
Plain dress? Face carries it.
Beauties galore by type—no issue.
Problem: low impact.
Puzzling new clothes was to cure boredom—fresh shock mandatory.
Where from? Silhouette weapon left.
Decor matters, but beautiful lines too.
Personally, silhouette shifts don't change much for me, but for dresses, picking silhouette is 50% design—not exaggeration.
Wedding dress choice starts with silhouette—lines vital.
Local trends: bell, princess, A-line—all flared skirts.
Even for sitting/activity, petticoats off, no other lines.
Closest: body-hugging negligee—but indoor, informal; no outings or guests.
Public dresses: all flared.
Change that line, debut Founding Day?
Guarantees His Majesty's fun.
"Hmm..."
Murmuring softly, I glanced at Princess Elizabeth, scissors flying, directing staff.
Garters-matching dress...
"Ah."
I snapped my fingers and finally grabbed a pencil.