Episode 38

I clutched the letter with an iron grip and quickened my pace.

'Two weeks.'

That was the time remaining until the royal banquet.

"Why are we preparing for this on such short notice..."

What's the use of blaming the person you served?

The madam had changed her mind, and there was nothing I could do about it.

There were only two weeks left until the banquet.

Which meant we had to complete a new dress within that time.

“This is maddening!”

For high-ranking individuals, merely expressing a desire for a particular outfit was enough, but for their attendants, it was an entirely different story.

We had to search for a tailor who could replicate the design, coordinate schedules, and convey the ideas of both the designer and employer...

And this time, we couldn’t even send our order to the usual establishment the Edwell family used.

‘This will be in vogue soon.’

‘This?’

‘Two years, no, perhaps three?’

The madam's predictions about future trends weren’t the problem.

The crucial issue was...

‘Not one dress, but seven!’

A place that could create seven experimental design dresses within two weeks while maintaining confidentiality.

Finding such a miracle workshop was my responsibility.

‘I was prepared to visit the workshops myself if necessary...’

I glanced down at the sealed envelope.

The letter from Iris would transform my dreadful overwork into something just barely manageable.

‘Thank you for rescuing me.’

I quickly tidied my hair and skirt before the workshop door.

As I opened the door, a chorus of complaints reverberated like an orchestra.

“Please, if this doesn’t work, I’ll die!”

“You think you’re the only one struggling? Our young master’s temper is...”

“Shall we wager on who has it worse? Huh?”

The workshop was chaotic, filled with people dressed similarly, each lamenting in their own way.

The staff firmly declared:

“We’ll be in trouble too if this continues.”

“I know, I know... I don’t want this either...”

“Your young master agreed, so we commenced the fittings. This is already the seventh time.”

“Right. It’s hard. Our young master is very capricious... Still, somehow...”

Their begging wasn’t unfamiliar to me.

‘I guess it's their first time doing this.’

The sincerity in their pleas was lacking.

As I moved further inside, hushed whispers filled the room sporadically.

“Does anyone know how Lady Mybloom prepared?”

“No one will see until the day of the banquet.”

“The security is so tight.”

“Our master is desperate to find out this time...”

“You too? Me too.”

Design theft during banquet season was almost an annual event.

As I passed a partition where two men were kissing, a free staff member came into view.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes, did you have an appointment?”

“No. But—”

“No!”

The rejection was swift and sharp.

The staff member cut me off and quickly shot back.

“Is this for the royal banquet?”

“Yes.”

“We’re fully booked until the day before the banquet! No, no.”

“I am—”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s the Duke’s order or your boss. We’re not octopuses with ninety-nine arms!”

“Listen—”

“We’ll be fired if we don’t do this! If we consider every circumstance, we’ll be the first to die!"

A calm conversation was out of the question.

I gave up on explaining and thrust the letter forward.

“Just look at this first!”

“Money? What do you take our boutique fo—What, it’s thin?”

“Wait, listen—”

“I’ve never seen such a thin envelope. Your master is quite frugal...”

The staff member’s eyes widened slightly as they flicked the thin envelope.

I seized the moment to explain.

“It’s not a bribe. I came with a referral.”

“Oh my...Really?”

Her gaze landed precisely on Iris’s signature.

The mechanical smile vanished instantly.

“Please wait a moment.”

Soon, an elderly woman with white hair rushed towards me, panting.

“You came with a letter of introduction.”

“Yes.”

“Our staff were rude. Please, this way.”

The office I was led to was immaculate.

The elderly woman sat me down on the sofa and nodded courteously.

“I am Garrett Robb, the head of this establishment.”

“I am Sonnet Posa, from the Edwell County. Thank you for making time.”

“I should be the one thanking you.”

Her wrinkled hand caressed the envelope I had given.

“How do you know Miss Iris?”

“Miss Iris? We’re friends. We worked in the same household.”

“...Miss Iris. She’s very beautiful, I used to call her that as a joke."

“Yes, Iris is quite beautiful.”

Despite her rugged work, her hands were long and delicate, and her hair was soft.

“How is Miss Iris doing?”

“She seems busy, but she’s healthy.”

Her thick lips curved into a gentle smile.

After reading the two-and-a-half-page letter, the woman got straight to the point.

“You want to request dresses.”

“Yes. They might be a bit tricky, but...”

I handed over the sketches the madam had doodled for days.

The design was minimal with lace and decorations, and the hem finish was subtly different.

“It’s certainly different from the current trends.”

“Can I ask for your help?”

“Seven dresses in two weeks... Normally, it would be impossible, but...”

“...”

“Since you brought good news.”

“Does that mean...”

“I will have them ready on time.”

The head nodded reassuringly.

I cheered inwardly.

---

“Raise your gaze higher.”

“Like this?”

“You’re too conscious. A bit more...”

The madam's room was in the midst of a secret lesson.

Evangeline placed her hand on the madam's back, adjusting her posture.

‘What’s so special about a royal banquet?’

The second condition the madam put forth.

‘This banquet came at the right time.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘As long as I am the madam of Edwell, no one should look down on me.’

Unlike the townhouse birthday party, this held a different significance.

The madam intended to solidify her position through the royal banquet.

Because of that...

“Huff, huff...”

“Phew...”

It was like this every night with Lady Evangeline.

The two drank the ice water I brought and caught their breath.

“By the way, does the lady know why Aunt dislikes me so much?”

“It’s simple.”

After bumping into each other for the past few days, their atmosphere became quite relaxed.

“She wants someone worthy, famous, and promising for the Edwell family.”

“Then what about you?”

“I’m quite famous for my swordsmanship in Selcing.”

“So it’s just a matter of raising the reputation.”

Their labored breathing gradually slowed.

The madam jumped from her seat and clenched her fists.

“Let’s continue. We can sleep after we’re passed out.”

“You won’t collapse first like last time, will you?”

The two laughed and corrected their postures.

“I’ll... get more snacks.”

It was two in the morning.

No one was in their right mind.

---

Here’s something only the servants know.

If the madam doesn’t sleep, neither could her maid.

“Ha...”

The secret lessons finally ended three days before the banquet, with the aim of ‘regenerating the skin.’

As I dragged my exhausted body, a familiar face appeared.

“Long time no see.”

"Sir Ute!”

In an instant, I was wide awake, my blood pumping and breathing steady.

Sir Ute, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, appeared as tired as the staff during banquet season.

“What happened?”

“I’m applying for a book loan from the Royal Library.”

“Why?”

“I need to fill out an application, and receiving approval is quite difficult. This is my fourth attempt.”

He mumbled, pressing his brow.

“I’ve never written this much, not even for my resume...”

“Is it a necessary book?”

“Miss Sonnet, what was the title of this story again?”

“Why do you keep obsessing over... Ah.”

He had to find the disease's name and cure.

Unlike me, who relied on physical work and my wits, Ute had to utilize his brain for his job.

‘He looks like he’s lost some weight.’

Any reduction in Ute's Velvet’s presence was a global loss.

“Are you okay?”

“Are you, Miss Sonnet?”

“Me? Well...”

“Have you had dinner?”

His question made me laugh for some reason.

Ute raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

“Did I... say something funny?”

“No, it’s just... You said that before.”

---

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