Volume 1 - CH 3

When my sister had suddenly returned home, she said unreasonable things to me again.

“I will announce my engagement at the upcoming ball. He would like my family to attend. I will instruct you on what clothes to wear. Make sure you do it properly.”

“I… when is it?”

There is a lot of unprocessed material, and it grows every day.

And if I have to prepare a dress as well, I will have to cut back on sleep again.

“Next week.”

“Ah… next week!?”

“You can make a dress in a day, can’t you? It only takes two days if you count mine..”

I shook my head frantically, almost in tears.

The design my sister gave me was very elaborate and not something that could be done in a day or two.

“Also…for a simpler design…”

“No, he said we are invited as a family. It would be a lifetime of shame if they think we are a poor family! Be sure to make them the latest fashions that I have in mind!”

I didn’t have the energy to argue with my sister who insisted on it.

Oh, God, What should I do?

Looking at the details of the design drawings brought tears to my eyes.

A fabric with a crepe-like texture? I can’t, I’ll die.

I can’t wear clothes with so many frills, I would die.

Even if it’s hard to weave just one centimeter of lace, but to weave an estimated 5 meters, it’s impossible.

Oh…flower pattern embroidery? And in such detail? How many hands does it take? I can’t do it, I’ll die.

Even the brooch and necklace? Impossible, this alone will take at least a week, I’ll really die.

My sister’s terrifying expression and her last words revived.

“If you can’t do it, I’ll have you skip meals.”

“I-I’m going to die anyway if I lose any more meals.”

I was desperate.

I have to complete it no matter what!

As I looked at the design drawings, I desperately tried to think of places where I could cut corners.

Truncate the work, simplify and pattern where possible, and create a repetitive formula.

I have done a tremendous amount of chores, so I have a certain amount of skill at cutting corners.

I managed to get it done just in time…!

I worked non-stop for a week, taking nothing but small naps.

On the day of the engagement ceremony, I managed to stand at the venue with dark circles under my eyes.

The dress designed for my sister, who calls herself the “mode watchdog,” was similar in motif to the others around her, but it was eye-catching and added some flowers even for someone like me.

But it didn’t matter.

I was filled with a sense of relief.

Well, well, well, I made it in time ahh!

I will never forget the excitement I felt when I got all the sets at the last minute this evening.

With this, I managed to avoid getting hit.

They have no reason to skip my meal.

I walked up to the refreshment area and drank a glass of juice.

Oh, it’s delicious…!

When was the last time I had fruit juice with sugar?

It smells nice and sweet…!

This must be peach.

Peach juice is delicious!

Going to a ball might just be the best.

I think, in retrospect, that the sugar-laden juice was a little too much for me, as I had been living an inadequate life of bread and water for a while.

After a while, I started feeling really sick.

What’s this?

I’m going to vomit…

As I crouched on the floor, I heard a light murmur from the people around me.

“That girl looks ill and exhausted. I wonder which family she belongs to?”

Artemisia was filled with embarrassment when Albert whispered into her ear.

“She’s my little sister… but she doesn’t care about her appearance. I’m sorry.”

“Are you sure? She doesn’t look good. Maybe she should sit down.”

“It’s fine. I’m sure she’s joking around because she doesn’t know the rules of etiquette. I am ashamed of my sister, who is not fit for such an occasion.”

Artemisia tugged at the prince’s arm, trying to get away from her sister.

I’m going to vomit…someone, please help me…

“Sister…!”

My sister looked at me as if she viewed something repulsive, turned and went away.

Anyone…

“Hey, are you okay?”

I vomited.

I heard about it later.

When I woke up, I was lying on a luxurious sofa in a dark room somewhere.

“Hurry up and get up!”

With the tension, I woke up at once.

My sister looked down at me in anger.

“What have you done? You have done this in front of His Majesty the King and the Queen, of all people! You could have been killed on the spot for your disgusting behavior!”

My body trembled and convulsed.

“S…S…Sorry…uh…”

“It’s not a matter of just apologizing. If you make such a mistake twice, I’ll be ruined. Go home quickly and never come to court again.”

“I understand…”

Beside me, who was about to get up, my sister complained to our parents as well.

“Father and mother, I told her to be decent, but now look at her! It’s embarrassing if people think we are related, so please take Rize home!”

Her mother, who was listening beside her, interjected, as if she thought it was indeed terrible.

“What are you talking about? We’re the ones that got you engaged, aren’t we?　You can’t even make a magic tool, so why don’t you be a little more appreciative?”

“His Highness Albert didn’t only evaluate the magical tools! It was my appearance that made him appreciate me! Rize could have made the same magical tool, but His Highness the Prince wouldn’t even look at it! Look at this pale face!”

She slapped my battered face and shrugged.

“I gave a job to a plain and unsociable idiot sister who is only good at making magic tools, so I want you to thank me instead.”

My mother, who is usually very strict, was a little sympathetic to me on this occasion.

“Arte… we are all family. There’s no one to replace us, you know? You’d be a just an arrogant snobbish girl if you didn’t have magic tools.”

“There is no one who can replace me! With a beautiful appearance and an educated way of speaking, there is no woman more suitable as a queen than me!”

It was then that there was a knock on the door.

A guard-like knight entered and kneeled.

“Excuse me for interrupting your conversation. The bed is ready, so I will carry the young lady over there.”

“It’s okay, it’s not necessary! This child is going to go home now!”

“However, thanks to the mercy of the king, arrangements have been made for her to be examined by a court doctor…”

My sister clicked her tongue, signaling for me to go home as soon as possible.

Maybe thanks to the knight’s appearance, I was so relieved that I almost cried.

After all, my sister is scary.

“Ah… Um, I’m fine. I’m fine now… so I can go home alone.”

Afraid of my sister, I got up from the sofa.

Then my legs wobbled and I sat down again.

“The young lady seems to be exhausted, but if she’s been exposed to poison or something, that could be a problem, so we’ll have a doctor take a closer look just to be sure.”

The guard persuaded my parents, and I was able to see a doctor.