Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: A Dress for Emily
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"...Wait a minute."
The moment I laid my head on the bed to finally turn in after wrapping up the headache-inducing tasks, enduring a tedious dinner with Mother's nagging as the side dish, and killing time in a daze.
"What about a dress for Emily?"
I belatedly realized that Emily needed something to wear.
My slightly hazy mind snapped awake.
Until now, my goal had been to stay as inconspicuous as possible, so I'd kept it simple. But not anymore.
The other servants would be dressed as valets or maids in flashy outfits, so it would look odd if Emily were the only one in a maid uniform.
I had to make sure she looked at least good enough not to be outshone by anyone—no need for the absolute pinnacle of beauty, but she deserved that much.
"Urgh..."
The problem was the time crunch.
It had to be ready by Tuesday to wear it.
It was Thursday night now, so with five days until Tuesday, that left only four days.
Hmm... If things got tight, I could ask Adelaide for help... She might grumble but do it if I bowed my head and begged once.
"Tsk..."
I got out of bed anyway.
When time was short, you had to move your hands before your brain caught up.
Come up with something that seemed feasible first, then judge if it was possible.
I sat at the desk, lit a candle, and spread out some paper.
Before drawing any lines, I set down a few key premises.
The top priority was minimizing time.
Drawing took time anyway, so focus on cutting production time.
A few tips for making clothes fast: fewer stitches, fewer seams, no curves.
For example, it's quicker to make a long-sleeved T-shirt with a tube top and sleeveless tee than sewing sleeves on.
Obviously, no shoulder seams needed.
Loose clothes are faster than fitted ones since you don't worry about precise measurements.
And straight lines with no folds or curves are easiest.
The ultimate example of no folds or curves is the kimono.
Kimono fabric is rarely cut on curves.
Just cut long rectangles and stitch together.
That's why the silhouette is mostly straight lines and boxy.
Personally, I wasn't a big fan.
Clothes need curves, but kimonos kill them all.
They're great for modesty—no legs, waist, or arms showing properly—but if you're covering that much, just give her a corset. It cinches without killing the curves if not too tight.
One-piece outfits from the start are a nightmare.
Not my favorite by a long shot.
"Hmm..."
I'd wasted time on tangents.
Cut that out, and I'd pull fewer all-nighters.
Easier said than done.
Anyway, tangents aside, to make clothes fast, apply those three premises: minimize stitches, curves, and seams.
With premises set, time to sketch a silhouette using fewer seams, no curves.
First to go: shoulders.
Deadly right-angle drifts, neck variables mean complex seams and shapes, plus movement requires ease—such a pain.
But without shoulders?
A lot less hassle.
These are off-shoulder dresses: tops without collars or shoulders.
Some keep sleeves, some don't—different from sleeveless or tube tops.
Personally, bare shoulders feel empty, so I'll add decorative straps and ribbons.
Eh... Technically not pure off-shoulder then.
Just pretend it's bra straps and move on.
Spaghetti straps exist on off-shoulders sometimes.
But here's the odd part you'd notice: decorative straps, no shoulders—how does it stay up?
Big issue in off-shoulder designs.
Adding support often makes it more complex than regular dresses.
That's why you don't pick off-shoulder for simplicity.
But this is for Emily, and she has a superior asset others lack.
Her bust.
Busts are usually a headache in dressmaking, but perfect for off-shoulder.
Just fit the underarm/underbust circumference right, and the bust prevents slippage.
If it slips, the dress is busted—avoid that from the start.
For dressing/undressing and fastening, hooks solve it—no laces needed.
Shoulders done, next: sleeves.
Could ditch them, but keeping them looks prettier and more innocent, so no.
Sleeveless sleeves slip easy without shoulders, so lightly attach at underarms, hide seams with frills circling bust, arms, back.
One-piece bodice is prettier but more work—this is a workaround.
Can't raise arms much, but it's a pretty dress—deal with it.
Next: waist.
Bust-to-waist-to-hip curves look great but are hell to make.
Emily's extreme proportions mean steeper slopes—need precise measurements or it binds or bags somewhere.
But delete the curve, drop straight from bust to waist—no worries.
This straight waistline trended 100 years ago with conical corsets.
Nobles might call it outdated, but Emily's a commoner servant.
In this world, old-school shows propriety.
Regrettable, but straight it is.
Shoulders, waist, sleeves handled—lower body next, but skirts need no tweaks unless tight like Princess Elizabeth's.
Just like existing dresses.
The resulting off-shoulder silhouette on a normal person: inverted triangular flask.
On Emily's figure: > < shape.
Perfect.
In subculture, that's the "boob tent"—a thrilling line.
Only for those perfectly endowed up top.
No good for bellies or small chests—elite silhouette only.
Black fabric, minimal decor for contrast with Princess Elizabeth, add shawl for shoulders and ponytail ribbon—done.
"Nice..."
Really nice.
Off-shoulder is magic for beautiful shoulders and upper bodies—no decor needed.
Bare shoulders, collarbones, neckline.
Shy underarm triangles and upper bust peeking amid bold curves.
Fancy decor or not, highlighting the body is best.
Emily will look stunning.
Must make this.
All-nighter or bug Adelaide—get it on her.
Can't let our Emily wilt among other maids and valets.
Nobles, commoners—irrelevant.
This event belongs to Elizabeth and Emily.
"Heh heh~"
Just imagining it makes me happy.
The bliss from my imaginings fueled my creative fire and chased away sleep in the late night. But... "Yawn..." Sketching Emily's dress till dawn meant sleeping late—my body didn't thank me. From waking, through meals, to work—constant yawns. Emily, watching, narrowed her eyes and glared. "Young master, you're yawning nonstop—sneaking around at night again?" She'd grown sensitive since I often chose work over sleep—her tone was sharp. "...No, just couldn't sleep and tossed around." "If you're lying, at least hide your face, please." "......" I dodged her gaze and denied it, but she wasn't buying. Hand on my cheek, she turned my head, looked at me, and said, "So, what were you doing last night?" A bit mad at my evasion, her eyes intense. Normally I'd confess and apologize, but this was a surprise for her—no spoilers. "Nothing, I said." "Liar. You always blink fast when you lie—I know." Unlike usual persistence, she tried leading questions. I show emotions easily, but no such habit. Shrugging shamelessly, I shook my head. "Nope? Really did nothing." "Ugh..." Not falling for it, she wrinkled her nose and groaned in frustration. Hand off my cheek, lips pouted, staring ahead, she said, "Keep ignoring me, and I won't wake you anymore—find another servant." "Ah, that'd be trouble." Couldn't imagine anyone but Emily at my side now. Who else whispers warmly in the morning, greets with a soft smile? "Emily." "......" Gently taking her hand, calling her name—she turned away, hiding her face. Ah, usually that softens her, but tough today. Good side: head turned, lies safe now. Leaning closer to her exposed ear, "Truth is, I've barely read lately—that's why. Shouldn't have, sorry." "Eek..." Whispering low, her shoulders twitched. "My bad, okay?" "Don't know." "Emily, really mad?" "Mad, so stop." "What'll make you forgive me?" "Eek...!" "Whoa...!" Whispers continued—face flushed, she spun, raising a cute fist to shoulder height. Bracing for impact, she glared, then lowered it, voice trembling: "...Don't do it again. Next time, I really will get mad." "Got it, won't happen again." Thankfully, my earnest apology melted her anger fast. Can't lose her ever—be careful. "And." "Hm?" Mid-inner vow of joy, cheeks puffed, she added softly, "No more cheap apologies like that. Or clinging." In my glee, ultimate moves banned. "Ah..." How to appease Emily now? Big trouble...