[CHAPTER 51]
***
Back to the present.
Jena made her decision after some thinking.
“I want to visit the capital for a while. Is it alright if I’m away?”
She decided to go to the capital.
Aizen’s eyes widened when the words she had been about to say came out of her mouth first.
“Why are you trying to go to the capital?”
“I want to expand the trade partners for the merchant group, and honestly, I want to gather more material to study your illness.”
Because of the nature of the North, herbs and books were hard to find and had to be imported. Even then, the demand was small, so it often caused trouble.
More than anything, Jena wasn’t sure she could create Aizen’s cure by staying here and researching alone. She felt uneasy and worried.
“But what does ‘you’ mean? Are you coming to the capital too?”
“Yes. I have business there as well.”
“Oh, great!”
She had felt a little lonely at the thought of going alone. Now her face brightened and she clapped her hands.
“Then let’s go together!”
“Alright.”
“Wow, I should start planning what to do in the capital!”
She excitedly pulled out a pen and paper. Watching her, Aizen felt his worries deepen.
Callards lived only in the Northern Duchy, so few people in the capital recognized them. Still, the family name was widely known.
If Jena wandered through the capital digging into things, he didn’t know what she might hear about the Callard family.
Victoria had promised to prevent trouble, but it was still hard to feel completely at ease.
Still, as long as she doesn’t attend the capital’s social circles, it should be fine.
Jena seemed fully focused on merchant business anyway.
Aizen relaxed a little and looked at her writing her to-do list.
***
From that day on, I started preparing for the trip to the capital. I made a bunch of items to show the capital’s merchants and packed my luggage.
I was sorting dried tea leaves into glass jars with Greta when it happened.
“Are you busy?”
Mother-in-law came to see me.
“No! What’s the matter?”
“Aizen told me you’re heading to the capital.”
“Yep, that’s right. Oh! Do you and Father-in-law want to come with us?”
A family trip would be fun.
Just as excitement was bubbling up, Mother-in-law gently shook her head.
“I have too much to do here. More importantly, what are you planning to wear in the capital?”
“Um, I’ll just wear what I have. And I’ll bring what you gave me too.”
“I see…”
She checked the open clothing case in the corner of the room, then closed her eyes and sighed.
“People dress more lavishly in the capital than in the North. If you go around too plainly, you’ll be ignored and won’t even be treated as a noble.”
“What? Really? There are that many awful people who judge others by their clothes?”
“Yes. And since you saved my life… I’d like to repay you by having new clothes made for you.”
My eyes widened. The first thing that came to mind was her wallet.
“It’s okay. It’ll cost a lot. I can just wear what I have—”
“Jena.”
Her gentle voice cut me off. It was the first time she’d said my name like that, and it made me close my mouth right away.
“When an adult offers you something, accept it with thanks. Do you think I’d offer custom clothing if I couldn’t afford it?”
“No! Of course not!”
I waved my hands quickly, then gave a shy nod.
“Then… thank you, Mother.”
Her lips curved in a smile as she grabbed my hand.
“Let’s go. The designer is waiting for you in the drawing room.”
“W-wait…?”
We weren’t going to the shop. The shop had come to us.
Surprisingly, she was right. In the drawing room stood a stylish middle-aged woman and a row of mannequins dressed in various gowns.
The woman approached me with a polite greeting.
“Hello, Lady Croix. I’m designer Romi.”
“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you.”
“I brought several dresses that I think will suit you. Please try them on, and then you can look through the catalog to choose more.”
Before I could even nod, Romi snapped her fingers, and waiting staff pushed me into a temporary changing booth.
“Here is the first dress. Inspired by an upside-down flower. The upper part is green, the lower part is pink. The mermaid line adds a mature feeling.”
After quick and skillful dressing, they brought a full-length mirror.
So this is what it looks like to get all dressed up. The glamorous dress made my face look brighter.
Wow. So this is what clothes can do.
“It suits you well. Lovely.”
Mother-in-law, sipping tea, smiled approvingly.
“Next dress.”
Romi pressed on relentlessly after gauging our reactions.
“This one emphasizes a lively mood. A bright red skirt with a ribbon at the waist and puff sleeves.”
“This is good too. I like it.”
“Next, an off-shoulder long dress. Pale yellow silk with a soft sheen. It will enhance your elegance.”
“It feels different. Nice.”
I changed in and out of several dresses. Mother-in-law didn’t reject a single one.
By the time I finished fitting the ones on the mannequins, I had no strength left to even look at the catalog.
Then Mother-in-law made a shocking announcement.
“We’ll purchase everything you tried on today. And from the catalog, choose dresses you think will suit her and send them.”
“M-Mother…!”
Wasn’t this too extravagant?
I shook my head in panic, but she only smiled kindly.
When she stepped out for a moment, I hurried to Romi.
“How much are the dresses today? Let me pay.”
“What? I was told the Lady-Dowager would pay…”
“It must be a lot. I’ll cover it. Just accept part from Mother.”
Romi blinked nervously.
“W-well… then ten silver per dress… please give one gold.”
“What? These beautiful custom-made dresses cost that little?”
Even with the unstable northern economy, the price felt wrong.
“They even have jewels. This seems too cheap…”
As I frowned, Romi whispered.
“…Secondhand.”
“What?”
“They’re secondhand. Orders that were canceled after being made. That’s why they’re cheap.”
“Ah, I see.”
That made sense. Even in modern times, returned items are sold cheaper. And these were noble dresses.
So that’s why Mother-in-law could confidently offer to buy them.
Romi watched me nervously.
“If you’re uncomfortable—”
“No, not at all. It would be sad if such beautiful dresses were thrown out. I’m happy to wear them!”
“I think so too. Hehe. If you give me seventy silver, I’ll get the difference from the Lady-Dowager.”
“Okay.”
I paid and waited for Mother-in-law while sipping more tea.
“By the way, where is your boutique, Romi? I’d like to visit someday.”
“…I work as a visiting seller. I only have a workspace.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.”
“Yes… hahaha…”
Just then Mother-in-law returned.
The unexpected spending was a surprise, but honestly, having new clothes made me happy.
***
Romi left Croix Manor and headed to Callard Mansion.
It was a thirty-minute ride by carriage.
Not long after waiting in the reception room, Renée appeared.
“Thank you for playing along.”
“It’s an honor to help you, Lady-Dowager.”
Romi smiled. Despite the lie she told Jena, she was actually the owner of the most prestigious boutique in the North, Lumière.
Renée had discovered her when she was young and raised her. Romi had stayed loyal ever since.
“By the way… the young lady paid for the dresses. I think she wanted to lighten your burden.”
“What? How much?”
“Seventy silver. I gave her a modest price.”
Renée burst into soft laughter. Jena’s attempt to secretly help warmed her heart.
The real cost was far more than Jena could imagine. Renée paid in cash without hesitation.
“Good work. From now on, if you think of dresses that would suit her, make them and send them.”
“Yes, Lady-Dowager.”
Romi bowed, then hesitated.
“…This is the first time you’ve made such a large purchase for someone since Lady Joslin. I’ll do my best.”
Renée’s shoulders twitched. Even when her eldest daughter-in-law had been alive, she had enjoyed buying clothes for her.
She didn’t deny it, only smiled faintly.
She couldn’t say out loud how much she now cherished Jena.
Days later, the finished dresses were delivered to Croix Manor.
Jena departed for the capital with far more luggage than she had expected.
She traveled with Aizen, Greta, and a few disguised knights.
