Chapter 2.8
* * *
Of course, before that, I need money.
And I had learned a way to earn at least a little money from the clothing shop.
As soon as I entered the house, I grabbed Shirley.
“Shirley.”
“……Yes.”
Shirley looked at me with uneasy eyes, as if wondering, ‘What is the miss going to say now?’
“Do you happen to like lace?”
“O-of course! I love it enough to want to be wrapped in it instead of a burial shroud when I die!”
Since she never stopped singing about lace, I asked, and it turned out to be true.
“I’m planning to remove and sell the lace from my dresses. Do you know of any shops that would buy them?”
It was something I learned at the clothing shop where the seamstress tried to steal buttons.
If buttons could be salvaged and sold separately, lace seemed possible too.
Those dresses, which would be useless when I leave the house anyway, and which no one would buy because they’re tailored to my size.
I should put them to use this way.
Sure enough, I got a response from Shirley that it wasn’t impossible.
“It’s possible, of course. But what will you wear, miss? The miss looks gloomy enough, so without lace on your clothes, you’d look too―.”
“If you find me a place that buys at the best price, I’ll give you the lace from the hem of the dress I wore yesterday.”
“I’ll find it by tomorrow!”
Shirley answered with sparkling eyes. I didn’t know people’s eyes could be so clear.
Well, anyway, one source of income is confirmed.
Should I disassemble other things and sell them too? The decorative metalwork on antique furniture would probably be good too.
When you can’t sell the finished product, you sell the raw materials.
Also, if I disassemble and sell off the parts, even if my uncle questions me later, there’s no way to trace it back.
Even if discovered, he wouldn’t suspect me, whom he’s always pushed around as ‘incompetent.’
Fortunately, unlike jewelry, there’s no such thing as ‘fake’ lace.
The uncomfortable dresses my uncle forced on me will finally serve their purpose.
Uncle. I was grateful to you in my past life.
I was so grateful, not even knowing that you hastily married me off and stole my inheritance.
First, in this life, I’ll take back the change for that gratitude.
September 17th.
Two days left until I leave my uncle’s house. Every day feels precarious but precious.
And Shirley was consistent.
“If I’m born again, I’ll have lace too♪ I’ll fall asleep buried in lace and wake up♪”
……No, it’s closer to say she’s consistently strange.
Shirley, with a tired face, handed me a piece of paper as I came out of my room.
“I picked three decent shops in the neighborhood. The price will vary depending on the transaction volume and the condition of the lace.”
“Thank you.”
“Then, the lace…….”
Shirley stomped her feet impatiently.
I pointed to the wardrobe.
“Pick whichever you want and take it off yourself.”
“Pardon? I can choose?”
“Any amount. However, choose after all the lace has been removed. If even one piece of lace gets damaged, our deal is off.”
Since I can’t remove lace with my clumsy hands, I should use others while I can.
And Shirley will also understand the true meaning of ‘our deal is off.’
That I could report Shirley as a ‘thief’ to my uncle.
Shirley seemed to hesitate for a moment, but ultimately nodded.
“Yes, I’ll take good care of it.”
“Thank you.”
“……But, miss. Are you really Miss Irene?”
“Why. Do I seem like someone who died and came back to life?”
Shirley readily nodded.
“Yes. You know how to throw your weight around, and you know how to do bad things too……. I wonder if you’re really our miss.”
“I just realized I can’t go on like this forever. Including what you’ve done to me.”
“Eek, I’m sorry!”
“I don’t intend to accept your apology. It’s not sincere anyway. At best, what you feel isn’t guilt, but regret. ‘If I’d known this would happen, I shouldn’t have done so much.’ Right?”
Shirley seemed completely at a loss for words. Floundering and watching my reaction, she looked like a puppy lying flat on the ground.
Just like Alice, the maid from the Marquis’s residence, and Ernst too.
They’re all such funny relationships, changing their attitudes with just a few words.
Why on earth did I…… live my past life letting everyone push me around?
Feeling both emptiness and pleasure at the same time.
“Then, good luck.”
I put on my coat and went out.
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