Chapter 38
Maya had been debating whether to buy dessert to go, but upon seeing freshly baked bread, she decided to eat it there instead.
She couldn’t resist the savory smell wafting from the warm bread.
The stares from others were a bit burdensome, but thanks to Dossen arranging a private room for her, she was able to enjoy her bread and dessert in peace.
As she looked at the cake with a happy smile, Maya reviewed her schedule.
The banquet was in three days.
“I’ll resume training tomorrow…”
She also considered visiting the Magic Tower using the wyvern—it didn’t seem like a bad idea.
The sweet layers of thin crepes and whipped cream delighted her tongue.
It was the first time since returning to the past that she’d tasted desserts from the capital, and they brought back memories.
Memories she longed for after losing her sense of self.
Things she never imagined she’d have the chance to experience again.
And because she knew this opportunity was a miracle that wouldn’t come twice, it felt even more precious.
As she savored the crepe, Maya made a firm resolution.
When she met Emperor Riserfield again, she would not be shaken.
No matter what he said, no matter what he brought—it would make no difference.
She had no intention of letting her newly built memories become tainted.
But…
The hand holding the fork trembled slightly.
I should at least take his head.
During Tristan’s rebellion, she wanted to personally behead the emperor.
There was unfinished revenge from her past life. It was only fair to settle the score.
A faint smile touched Maya’s lips.
Her eyes, darker than usual, were laced with hatred.
***
Three days was far too short to make a proper dress.
She knew it was an unreasonable request, but she had asked anyway because she trusted Ofrasé that much.
“You’re quite the interesting one.”
Ofrasé’s eyes sparkled as she selected fabric for the dress.
“I didn’t expect you to sincerely ask me to choose.”
Ofrasé was the daughter of a maid who had worked at Baron Dossen’s estate—a commoner by birth.
Her exceptional skills had been discovered by Dossen.
Her bold reinterpretation of noble society’s dresses from a commoner’s perspective became wildly popular among the aristocracy.
Nobles raved about Ofrasé’s dresses—but that didn’t mean they respected her as a person.
Even though her designs were in high demand, gossip always followed behind her back.
The most common sentiment was: A commoner getting ahead of herself.
It was laughable, really. The dresses were Ofrasé—yet people denied that.
Some would even come to see her dresses only to nitpick her designs or complain about the price.
Ofrasé had learned to accept reality. Nobles were just that kind of people.
She was well aware of the Pendragon family’s reputation.
Once-renowned, now a bunch of gambling madmen.
“I didn’t think marrying into the Beiarden family would change Pendragon’s nature…”
Frankly, it was surprising to see Maya show vulnerability and ask for advice.
Her demeanor afterward was unpretentious and honest.
So different from the countless nobles Ofrasé had encountered.
“It’s refreshing. Makes designing the dress all the more worthwhile.”
Every new experience filled Ofrasé’s head with fresh ideas.
“You think I brought you here for nothing?” Dossen smiled proudly.
Even Dossen, with his sharp eye for people, thought Maya Pendragon was a good person.
“I’ll give it my all,” Ofrasé said firmly, then paused, her expression clouding.
“But… you should know the dress won’t be exclusive.”
As demand for Ofrasé grew, she had chosen not to expand her shop.
Since she operated it almost entirely alone, the number of dresses was always limited.
“You have another appointment?”
“Lady Seren, daughter of Count Baker.”
The moment Seren’s name was mentioned, the atmosphere grew tense. Dossen frowned.
“When?”
“Right after you left. That’s why I sent word to you right away.”
It was almost malicious—like she had been waiting for them to leave.
“I said no, but she cried that she didn’t like any other designer’s dresses. I couldn’t refuse.”
Ofrasé looked deeply exhausted, speaking in a whisper. Dossen gave her a sympathetic look.
“Must’ve been hard.”
Ofrasé had essentially been left with no choice.
In high society, everyone knew who Seren was.
“I had to accept. At least she acknowledges me and genuinely likes my dresses.”
Seren was a noble lady cut from a very different cloth than Maya Pendragon.
With dazzlingly lovely looks and overflowing elegance, she had grown up showered in love by Count Baker. Seren was the fairy who set the trends in the social scene.
Since it had been a while since someone from the Beiarden family made an appearance, Maya’s presence was sure to stir attention.
Dossen had specifically asked Ofrasé to clear her schedule for Maya.
He had wanted everything to be perfect for Maya’s debut as a member of the Beiarden family.
He never pressured her, but Ofrasé knew what he hoped for—and that weighed on her.
With only two clients wearing her hard-to-get dresses, all eyes would be on them.
“I thought you should know. I’m really sorry I couldn’t say no.”
“No, of course you couldn’t refuse someone like Seren Baker.”
Dossen couldn’t bring himself to blame her.
He understood Ofrasé’s position far too well—Seren Baker and even Count Baker were involved.
By handling Seren’s dresses, Ofrasé had been able to cut back on rent and fabric delivery costs.
“Thank you, Dossen.”
And that wasn’t all.
She had access to rare and expensive materials that were nearly impossible to source alone.
Without the Baker Trading Company, she probably wouldn’t have made it this far.
“So I guess I just have to endure this nonsense…”
Ofrasé gave a bitter smile, reminded of her situation.
She had been excited to hear from Dossen after so long, and it pained her that she couldn’t do what he asked.
“I’ll explain to Lady Maya,” Dossen said with a nod.
“Should I tell her to brace herself?”
It would’ve been bad even if it were someone else—but Seren made it worse.
Though no one dared to openly shun people in front of her, rumors said that any noble lady who appeared in the same place wearing Ofrasé’s dress was never able to wear her designs again.
“As a last resort, Maya may need to wear a different designer’s dress.”
Dossen said grimly after deep thought.
Ofrasé blinked in surprise but quickly lowered her shoulders and nodded.
“I understand. I know the reason, after all.”
She had no choice but to agree.
This is bad.
As soon as she got back, she would need to find a new designer.
Would they even finish the work on time? Would they gossip after seeing Maya?
One problem after another…
Nothing came easy.
Please, let everything end without trouble.
With that silent prayer, Dossen went to find Maya.
***
Actually, he might need to take that prayer back.
“I’m fine with it,” Maya said without hesitation after hearing the news.
“Um… I told you about the rumors, didn’t I?”
Dossen thought Maya hadn’t fully grasped the implications.
“Just being able to wear Ofrasé’s dress is enough for me.”
Of course, Maya understood perfectly.
“It might even be a good opportunity…”
She had been thinking she’d need to open a connection with the Baker family soon anyway.
If she could catch Seren’s attention and strike up a conversation, it might work in her favor.
Maya knew that Seren Baker wouldn’t even treat someone as human if they weren’t on her level.
She always had her nose in the air.
As commander of the knights, Maya had seen her a few times—but they’d only spoken once.
“I don’t like people like you.”
She couldn’t recall the exact date. Just another day she’d faithfully served as the Empire’s hound.
The words had stuck with her, perhaps because she’d dwelled on them afterward.
The next time she saw Seren, the woman had been lying cold and dead in a coffin.
She hadn’t been the one to kill her.
But Maya remembered clearly—it had been done by someone acting under the emperor’s orders.
If I can win over Seren Baker and Count Baker…
It would make things difficult for the emperor, and greatly help Tristan’s cause.
Let’s give it everything.
The more Maya recalled the past, the more her determination burned.
Clenching her fist, Maya looked at Dossen with a meaningful gaze. He asked, startled:
“Lady Maya?”
“Actually, there’s something even more important.”
She spoke with a serious expression, and Dossen immediately tensed.
More important than this? What could it be?
