CH 9

Yona looked up blankly at the mistress in front of her. It was the same for Marge, the head maid. 

An upright posture. A low pitched voice which was eerily subdued. 

Their mistress was scolding one of the attendants in the boutique, just like one of those ‘noble ladies’ that came from outstanding aristocratic households.

She wasn’t being unreasonable or causing a ruckus like she normally would, but was ‘rebuking’ them instead.

Adrienne herself was personally pointing every little thing on the bill and matching it with what it corresponded with on the dress.

“You said that this was an S-grade emerald?”

“Y-Yes, it’s obviously…”

“Obviously?”

He had already received criticism for three or four of the dresses, but Matias still tried to deny it one more time.

Adrienne directly tapped a rather large green jewel that was on the chest section with her finger.

“So you’re saying that, in your eyes, this is an S-grade emerald.”

“I, I’m merely in charge of transporting the goods, so I’m not too knowledgeable about the grading of the jewels, Miss.”

“Then you should let me tell you.”

Adrienne leaned towards the servant who had folded his waist in half, bringing her face closer to his.

Matias flinched when he met the twinkling light green eyes. 

He had never seen a noble lady’s face from this close of a distance, furthermore one that was filled with hostility.

“Look at it properly.”

“Y-Yes.”

“Because the colour of an emerald of the finest grade is just like this.”

Adrienne used her eyes to gesture at it as she said so.

When the rough dark green emerald gemstone is cut again and again, a special liquid is poured into it and crafted, a light green emerald tinged with the clearest turquoise colour of the highest grade is born.

There was no way Matias could have known. 

He had merely ordered for someone to replace it with an emerald of a lower grade.

Furthermore, the original emerald had obviously been extremely similar to the colour of Countess Acacia’s eyes.

“Y-Yes…”

“I really can’t believe it.”

Adrienne sighed lowly and looked at the rest of the dresses. 

Each one was gorgeous and beautiful, but some of the jewels on them were subtly different from the ones on the bill.

In some cases, there were even gems that looked closer in appearance to the original uncrafted gemstone.

A quick glance through the order merely yielded a form full of scribbles that had just simply said, ‘with the most expensive item’.

It was a common order for people who didn’t have an eye for such things. Or people who didn’t need to worry about the price.

Of course, Blair had been the former.

She wouldn’t have known, so she would’ve wanted the best, the most expensive item.

However, Adrienne, who had to maintain her dignity as a princess from a very young age without a mother to guide her, was different. 

After following her brother’s fiancee, Bianca, for a while, she had developed a good eye for picking reasonably good items.

Even though the Duchy of Piretta was the richest in the east, she still didn’t want to be scammed of her money, simply because she ‘didn’t know’.

“Ah, in any case, I must’ve brought the wrong one, Miss. I’ll bring Miss a new dress by this evening.”

“It’s fine.”

Matias signed in relief when the lady shook her head quietly.

Madame LeBlair was a famous designer in the capital, someone whom all the noblewomen wanted to get close with.

Since it was the fault of an employee, she probably wouldn’t bother complaining to her about it.

Just as he had thought of such frightening thoughts, Countess Acacia said with a smile.

“I’d like a refund for the ones that were replaced with those of lower grades, and I’ll have to get an apology from Madame herself.”

“Pardon?!”

Madame LeBlair, Matius’ master, was never aware of this fact. 

The fact that he makes money by swapping the jewels on a few of the noblewomen’s dresses.

However, if this noble lady suddenly asked for a refund just because of that, it’s only a matter of time before it reaches Madame LeBlair’s ears.

He clutched his trembling hands and politely asked.

“T-This is all my fault, Miss. Please let go of your anger and leave this to me! I’ll speak directly to the jeweler who supplied us this jewel, and of course, I’ll give madam a proper explanation when I bring your dress to you again!”

I have to swap the gems again, before Madame finds out.

That one thought dominated Matias’ head. 

There’s still a chance to solve it. 

If only I could take these hangers with me and change the jewelry again!

“No, I have no complaints about the dress. I just want the difference to be refunded since I paid too much for gems of this grade. If it was only a matter of giving me back the money, then I wouldn’t have made it this troublesome. However, since this is a matter of trust, if Madame doesn’t have enough time, I’ll also accept a letter of apology.”  

[ / / / ]

pls do not share this anywhere or the transmigration gods will transport u into boku no pico !! this translation has been stolen from mioscorner.wordpress.com, pls only read there i’m begging u :kneels:

“Mrs Marge, did you see that employee’s face earlier?”

“He looked like he was dying-. Madam, if you didn’t like the dress, you could’ve sent it back and received an even more luxurious dress as an apology, so why did you do that?”

Marge’s expression was extremely bright while bantering back and forth with Yona, even as she asked why I had done that.

Perhaps because of my sudden change, Marge, who occasionally toed the line by calling me Miss, had somehow suddenly called me Madam one day and treated me tenderly.

“Well, if I were to wear a dress with an emerald of the best class in my current case, I’d only receive a bunch of useless attention.”

Although the behavior of the staff was disgraceful, the end result had still been pretty satisfactory.

I relaxed my body, which I had focused a lot of strength and willpower on in order to show my dignity in front of the servants.

I was drunk on Blair’s healthy body which hardly ever felt fatigued.

It was like a dream. Although it had only been for a short while, I felt as if I had returned to the time when I had been healthy.

However, will there even be enough money within the County’s finances to spend on the already married Countess’ debut?

Although there weren’t many people within high society who knew what Grand Duchess Adrienne’s face looked like, wouldn’t it be troublesome if I met someone who recognised me?

However, making a debut couldn’t be avoided.

It was very unusual for Blair, who didn’t come from a noble background, to become the wife of the elderly Count Acacia, furthermore without even making her debut.

‘And I have to somehow find a way to meet Novian using this debutante season.’

“Nothing good comes out of receiving unnecessary attention. It’s enough just to show your face.”

“P-Pardon~?”

“Why… Why are you looking at me like that?”

Marge and Yona had the exact same expressions on their face as they looked at me, looks that said ‘Hey, I thought you always liked to be in the spotlight, no matter the time and place?’.

I turned my body slightly to avoid them, who had gotten used to putting their hands on my forehead.

It was still somewhat awkward being called ‘madam’ and being treated kindly after living a life as a princess and grand duchess.

I chuckled as I glanced at the dress hangers that I had put inside with an awkward gaze.

“N-Now that I look closely, aren’t these too revealing to be worn to a debutante?”

“Yes, it’s made exactly to your preferences.”

Jonah answered brightly. 

Ah, the dresses that had deep cuts in both the front and back must’ve been the shit that Blair added in.

I touched my head and wondered if there was a shawl that would be able to match it.

However, as soon as I recalled some of the shawls I had seen in the boutique, I had the impression of an opera singer, or some sort of flashy figure.

I shook my head in resignation.

“If you walk around dressed like that, instead of being inconspicuous, you’ll have all sorts of eyes following you.”

“Didn’t you always say that ‘To not show off such beauty is a sin.’?”

Yona said with a twinkle in her eyes. 

Blair, this woman, just how many shameful words and actions did she have?

Although clothes are clothes, in order to meet Novian, who only participates in big parties, there was no better place to make a debut than the victory ceremony I had seen in the gossip tabloid earlier.

“I have to attend the victory ceremony…”

As soon as those words came out, Marge had an embarrassed expression that seemed to say, ‘so you had another dream like that?’, while Yona had a slightly awkward face.

“I, but… The victory ceremony is tomorrow. Madam…”

“Hmm?”

So we’re pressed for time. Thankfully I had a dress to wear though.

“There’s no invitation…”

“What?”

But I have to meet Noah soon!

So you’re saying that she didn’t even get an invitation?

Was she not invited since her origins were too lowly?

Although it was clearly an invitation that was easy to receive when I had been a Grand Duchess, it clearly must’ve not been the case here.

“What about the Count?”

“Pardon? The master was in the study the whole time…”

“I’m going to ask him if there’s any other way.”

I got up in a hurry and left the drawing room. 

Tomorrow is the day of the victory ceremony.

Does Count Acacia have the power to receive an invitation to such a grand ceremony in such short notice?

As I climbed the stairs in a rush, the old butler rushed in from the entrance of the mansion.

“Madam! Madam!! Madam, madam!!”

As I stopped and looked down, Marge, snatched the small piece of paper from the butler’s hands and waved it around with an excited expression on her face.

“Heavens! It came! It’s come! An invitation to the victory ceremony has even come to the Acacia County! What an honour!”

“What…?”

You’re saying that an invitation from the imperial family came at this time at night?

I thought I would’ve had to write some kind of report to beg Count Acacia…

“You’ll be able to attend the ball tomorrow right away! Heavens, I’ve worked here for over 30 years, but this is the first time the Countess has been invited to such a big ball!”

Attracted by Marge’s loud voice, the servants all rushed out and tried to sneak a look at the invitation. 

Perhaps because she couldn’t open it before me, Marge cheered as she waved the invitation she hadn’t even opened with a flushed face.

The face of Marge, who was leading the servants around like the Pied Piper, seemed genuinely happy.

I grabbed the railing with trembling hands, looking down at the servants who were rejoicing together.

‘Is this perhaps sent by Novian?’

After living in anguish for a few days, I had finally come to the conclusion that I wanted to confirm it directly with Novian in person.

‘Noah, I need to hear it directly from you.’

I won’t believe what anyone else says.

The time we spent together and our relationship with each other isn’t something that can be broken easily just from a few words from strangers whom I’ve met for the first time.

Right?