Chapter 1.7
* * *
Morning, six days left until my birthday.
“There’s nothing to life, you see♪ If you open your eyes after being born and see lace, that’s a successful life♪”
I woke up to Shirley’s song again today.
Maybe she’s minding me, her voice was much quieter than yesterday. But coming all the way to my door to sing is still picking a fight, right?
I kicked the door open and went out.
“Shirley! Thanks for the song, I almost overslept!”
“Huh? Th-thank you? That’s what I was trying to―.”
You’re too honest. I want to say something to you, but I don’t have time.
I ran to the dining room.
My uncle was eating breakfast, but as soon as he saw me, he spit out his bread.
“Uncle! I came to continue the discussion we had yesterday―.”
“I-I must go! I have a meeting!”
He fled from his seat as if running away.
I guess he’s not ready yet.
Either way, thanks to him, I was able to leisurely enjoy a meal with lots of food.
The maids watched my reaction.
“Miss. What are your plans for today? You were originally supposed to go get your wedding dress fitted, but……. We heard that the marriage arrangement might be broken off, so…….”
Come to think of it, I was busy with wedding preparations around this time originally. Since the marriage was as good as decided.
“The marriage arrangement is indeed being broken off. Prepare the carriage. I’ll explain it to the seamstress myself.”
“Very well!”
The maids whispered as they moved away.
“Is she really giving up on the marriage arrangement?”
“Why is she acting like that? What if she misses this opportunity…….”
What if. This very life itself is the new opportunity I’ve seized.
I finished my breakfast and headed to the shop where I had ordered the dress.
“I’ve come to cancel the dress ordered by the Count Dunbury’s family. The wedding is expected to be called off.”
Of course, the seamstress didn’t accept my word right away.
“I need confirmation from the client.”
“Why? I, the party to the marriage, am telling you to cancel it!”
“Before weddings, I’ve seen many people who come to cancel contracts swept away by momentary emotions. But they all regretted it a few days later. Please take some time to think about it, my Lady.”
“That won’t happen. I’ve already thought about it for three years.”
“Pardon?”
“There will be no man in my life!”
The seamstress was flustered by my last words, but still refused. She said she needed confirmation from my uncle, the ‘customer’ paying for it.
It’s none of my business if my uncle loses money, but I don’t want to waste fabric.
As I was pondering how to persuade the seamstress.
Someone entered the dress shop.
The young employee greeting them had a trembling voice.
“Welcome……. A-a, a soldier? What business do you have at our shop…….”
A soldier?
I turned my head.
The first thing visible is a dark blue military uniform.……How tall is he? I can only see his chest.
I lifted my head until my neck strained, and only then visible, the handsome man with sharp eyes is…….
“Aiden……?”
“Hello, Lady Irene.”
Violet eyes look down at me.
He was Aiden Freier, my brother-in-law from my previous life.
Seeing him in military uniform, it seems he hasn’t been back from his post long. Why is he here?
“Meeting you in an unexpected place.”
“Yes. I was sent by my older brother to tail you.”
“……Pardon?”
“But since I’ve been caught, might I now openly help you with your shopping?”
Even while saying something that could be a joke or serious, Aiden remained expressionless.
Tailing, what is he talking about? Ernst would tell his brother to do such a thing? And even if he did ask, what’s with this man, revealing himself so boldly?
As I was floundering, unsure what to ask first.
Aiden pointed to the seamstress.
“I don’t intend to interrupt your conversation. I will wait for Lady Irene.”
“Ah, very well.”
Aiden sat down on a chair in the corner of the shop, closing his mouth tight.
I turned back to the urgent matter at hand—persuading the seamstress—and the seamstress also tried to focus only on me.…… But.
“…….”
Ivory-colored ceiling and wallpaper, beautiful fabrics and decorative beads of various colors hung like curtains on every wall, pure white lace.
In the corner of that beautiful shop.
A large soldier sits in a dark-colored military uniform.
Too conspicuous. It feels like all of space and time is being sucked towards him.
Maids who had come on errands for their masters would enter the shop, then squeak, scream, and take a step back.
Eventually, the seamstress I was talking to surrendered.
“Fine. I’ll stop production on the wedding dress! So please just leave!”
“Thank you……?”
“Don’t come back later asking me to make it again! Don’t regret it, absolutely don’t! I’m just advising you, I’ve seen countless people who got caught up in marriage blues like you, my Lady, and regretted it the day before the wedding―.”
The seamstress’s words stopped there.
Because Aiden stood up abruptly and looked down at us.
“Are you finished? Then I will escort the Lady out.”
“Goodbye! Leave quickly! Farewell!”
We left the shop with the seamstress’s fervent send-off.
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.