Chapter 14
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 14
“Of course, Lady Tulia. The Youngest Lady is so incredibly merciful. To achieve such a deep, mysterious hue on organza silk, the artisans of the Laus Kingdom must have spent three months on the dyeing process alone.”
“It certainly is a striking and unique color.”
“Isn’t it? If you pair this with that precious pure gold necklace Master Lilius gave you last time, you’ll stand out more than anyone else!”
Oh, I’ll stand out, all right.
She wanted me to show up to a meeting full of vassals looking like I was headed to a ballroom.
Tulia still hadn't managed to overturn her reputation; she was still seen as extravagant and wicked. This was a blatant attempt to solidify that image.
“I think a more modest dress would be better. Adel?”
“Yes, My Lady. I have one prepared.”
“Lady Tulia.”
Lilda spoke, her brow furrowing slightly.
“Such a drab outfit does not suit your dignity. And if I may be so bold…”
“If you may be so bold?”
“The majority of the Frezier family’s vassals are of high standing. Consequently, they tend to look down on those from the Borderlands.”
In short, she was saying that a dress chosen by Adel, who was from the Borderlands, wasn't even worth wearing.
A few maids who understood the jab let out muffled snickers. Adel’s expression remained unchanged.
I flashed a bright smile.
“Is that so? Then I suppose the flashy dress my aunt gave me would be better after all?”
“Of course, Lady Tulia!”
“I really have no one but my aunt.”
“Indeed. The Youngest Lady has such a beautiful heart.”
If they were going to play games right in front of me, I had no choice but to play along.
“But since I don’t have any matching shoes, I think it’s best to wear this next time. What a shame. I really wanted to show it to Grandfather.”
As I murmured in a disappointed tone, Lilda’s eyes gleamed with interest.
She took the bait.
“My Lady, there are so many shoes in the dressing room. I’m sure there’s a pair that matches perfectly.”
“Really? Then bring out every single pair we have.”
For a moment, Lilda didn't seem to process what I’d said. A beat later, she gestured to the other maids.
The maids scrambled to bring out the shoes.
Since my living expenses had been normalized, I had also received a Dignity Maintenance Allowance.
I hadn't realized until then that the allowance covered things like everyday dresses, shoes, gloves, undergarments, hats, and ribbons.
As a result, I had incomparably more shoes than when I was living in the warehouse. There were at least several dozen pairs.
Furthermore, since I appointed Adel as my head maid, my food, clothing, and shelter have been upgraded significantly.
Luc Kelposher was likely looking out for her behind the scenes.
It seemed he was quietly pulling strings to ensure his younger sister, now the head maid for a direct descendant of the Frezier family, wouldn't be criticized for any lack of quality.
Regardless.
I intentionally sat down, still wearing the dress I was trying on, and ordered them to line up all the shoes.
The important point here was that I wasn't changing the dress, but the shoes.
Changing dresses is exhausting for the person wearing them, no matter how many people are there to help.
But shoes were different.
I just had to sit in a plush chair, making sure the dress didn't wrinkle, and stick my feet out.
“What are you doing? Start changing them.”
At my command, the maids began swapping my shoes in perfect unison.
Since I had the large mirror used for fitting dresses moved right in front of me, I only had to glance down once the shoes were on.
“Next.”
Mary Janes with grey straps.
“Next.”
Flat heels with black soles.
“Next.”
Deep blue pumps adorned with small pearls.
Mary Janes, open-toes, booty heels, slingbacks, pumps, flats. Ankle straps, patent leather, peep-toes, kitten heels, d'Orsay heels. Each in four or five different colors.
Even after they had put on nearly thirty pairs, I maintained the expression of a fastidious lady, looking thoroughly dissatisfied.
By the time I had tried on every single pair of shoes neatly organized in the dressing room, the maids' faces were as pale as lead, and every one of them was drenched in a cold sweat.
The shoes I’d tried on ranged from simple mules to those requiring intricate ribbon lacing.
Naturally, the latter made up the overwhelming majority.
Their necks and shoulders were probably throbbing from tying all those ribbons.
But that wasn't my problem.
“Lilda. What should I do?”
Lilda, who had been standing stiffly as the senior maid throughout the ordeal, looked at me with a pallid face.
“You said there would be a pair that matched. It seems you’ve just made the girls suffer for nothing, since I don't like any of them.”
Lilda immediately straightened her back.
“...In my opinion, the shoes with the grey ribbons I showed you earlier would go well with the dress you are currently wearing. Besides, those shoes are quite trendy in the Imperial Capital’s social circle.”
She was likely saying that because Tulia had never been to the capital.
No, she was probably just throwing out whatever came to mind.
Even if Lilda had noble blood in her veins, she was still just a maid.
How could someone like her possibly be up to date on the trends of the Imperial Capital?
Watching Lilda lie so boldly, I told a bold lie of my own.
“What? But Grandfather hates the color grey.”
“...Pardon?”
Lilda’s expression instantly froze in bewilderment.
“Lilda...”
I summoned as much inner sorrow as I could, asking with a lingering, mournful gaze.
“Are you perhaps... trying to make things difficult for me? Did you put the maids through all this trouble... just to do this?”
“What? No, no! My Lady! That’s not it at all!”
“It’s not?”
Of course it wasn't.
To be honest, I had no idea what colors Grand Duke Asis Frezier liked or disliked.
I wasn't even sure if that cold-hearted man had any color preferences at all.
But if his granddaughter, Tulia, said so, how could a mere maid like her strongly deny it?
“Lilda.”
“Ye-yes, My Lady...”
I’ll say it again: Tulia is the official villainess of The Milk Bread.
When she glares with that cold, wicked face that resembles a gumiho, anyone without nerves of steel would be forced to look away.
Lilda, despite being a senior maid, was still just a servant, and she was no exception.
Especially since Viscountess Aubrey wasn't here to protect her.
I abruptly stood up and kicked off the shoes I was wearing. It was a completely irrational outburst.
The maids gasped in unison.
“Playing with your master, playing with the other maids.”
“...”
“There’s a limit to how much I can tolerate this lack of respect for the hierarchy.”
As I ground my teeth, cold sweat began to bead on Lilda’s face.
“M-My Lady. That’s not what I meant...”
“Adel!”
I barked.
“I’m changing into a new dress, so bring it here immediately!”
“I will bring it at once, Lady Tulia.”
The dress Adel brought was a calm, primrose yellow.
I glared at Lilda while I changed. My expression remained prickly, but I didn't find a single fault with the process.
Unlike before, I immediately put on the shoes Adel chose, saying I liked them.
The maids looked utterly exhausted from crouching down to change my shoes the entire time. The glances they shot at Lilda seemed laced with resentment.
They aren't people I’ll keep around for long either, but it’ll be easier if they listen to Adel more while they’re here.
I didn't know exactly what Lilda was plotting. It was highly likely that Aubrey had simply told her to keep an eye on things for now.
Therefore, it was to my advantage to diminish Lilda’s standing as much as possible before she could actually do anything.
“Adel. My basket.”
“Yes, Lady Tulia. Here it is.”
Adel said as she handed me the basket.
“I will make sure all the shoes are put away properly.”
She looked at me and gave a brief, but unmistakable, smile.
“Have a safe trip, My Lady.”
Adel had clearly realized why I’d put on that whole shoe show.
“Well then, shall I go see Grandfather?”
I returned Adel’s smile with a short one of my own and walked away with a light step.
A winged yellow star followed closely behind me.