Chapter 6
I waited for Bell to return after organizing the laundry and spoke up.
“Bell, I need you to run an errand.”
“Yes, Madam. Where shall I go?”
“Call the tailor. When was the last time I summoned her…?”
I trailed off, pretending I couldn’t remember. In truth, it wasn’t that I didn’t remember—I had no memory at all. Bell paused for a moment, then spoke.
“It’s been a year now, Madam.”
To think she had gone a whole year without getting clothes tailored—Carla was truly something else. I couldn’t help but pity her, and at the same time, think she was foolish. A pitiful and foolish woman.
A woman betrayed by her husband, with no money and no backing. With her shadowed cheeks and dim eyes, she must’ve looked like a ghost, drenched in despair.
But now that I had taken over this body, such a sight was a thing of the past. I told Bell confidently,
“Tell her I plan to order several outfits.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Bell answered politely. Her hands were always neatly folded below her navel, and recently, they’d grown rougher than usual from handling clothes and keeping up with my whims. I hesitated, then added,
“While you’re getting the errand fee from the steward, pick up some ointment too.”
“Pardon? Madam, what do you need ointment for?”
She looked at me in surprise. I responded curtly, as if it were nothing.
“Your hands are rough. How can a maid serving her mistress have hands like that? Buy plenty. We’ll share if there’s extra.”
Bell’s face lit up. She bowed deeply.
“Thank you!”
I felt embarrassed to be thanked.
“Go on, quickly.”
Only after sending her out did I feel a bit lighter. It was silly, giving the medicine after causing the damage, but it still felt better than doing nothing at all.
I decided I’d give them all a generous bonus once I got Carla’s dowry back from the Count.
I didn’t have to wait long—the tailor arrived in less than three days. The Count looked displeased at the sight of the fully prepared tailor but didn’t openly object. The tailor laid out a thick pattern book and studied me cautiously.
“Madam, you’ve grown more elegant since I last saw you.”
I brushed off her lie with a nod. Thankfully, Carla’s body hadn’t changed much, so no need for new measurements.
If I had to hear compliments about this scrawny, unimpressive body during the measuring, I might have died of embarrassment.
“It’s been a while. How have you been?”
Ignoring the tailor’s awkward smile, I flipped through the pattern book. I didn’t know what looked good, so I just kept turning pages. Sensing my hesitation, she quickly held out a yellow fabric.
“You have such lovely skin, Madam. Any color would suit you.”
From across the room, the Count let out a dry laugh as he smoked. I could tell the tailor was watching his reaction.
“I don’t want anything too childish.”
At my words, she quickly withdrew the fabric and offered another in a different color. A light, flowing fabric spilled between my fingers.
“Then how about navy? It’s not too dark and would enhance your elegance.”
She explained as she pointed out a pattern. Then I saw one that caught my eye.
The dress had a neckline cut wide enough to expose the collarbones, with puffed sleeves that contrasted ironically. The tightly cinched waist led into a skirt that flowed out adorably.
The deep green dress had no extravagant decorations aside from a hint of lace, but it kept drawing my attention.
“I’d like one in this design as well.”
“Yes, of course. Shall I make it in navy as well?”
“No. I prefer green.”
The tailor blinked, confusion in her large eyes.
“Madam, that color isn’t really in fashion these days…”
She held out a pale green fabric—clearly misunderstanding my “green” to mean the trendy light hue. It looked like something a child would wear.
Who cared about the fashion of this world anyway? And if Carla wore that light green, she’d look like a corpse. I shook my head and pointed to the illustration.
“This shade right here.”
“Ah… Indeed, that deeper green would suit you well.”
The tailor laid out several swatches of deep green fabric. They all looked similar to me, but she seemed to see clear differences.
She hmm-ed to herself, then held up two samples to my face, alternating them.
While she did that, I flipped through the pattern book and picked a few more outfits. Three evening dresses, two daily dresses, and two for outings.
After I ignored a few of the Count’s pointed coughs, the tailor began actively encouraging me.
“If we add whalebone to the sleeves, the shape will stay intact—very elegant. It’ll puff out like this.”
“Isn’t that a bit much?”
“Even clergy are puffing their sleeves these days. You’re almost behind the trend.”
“Then do it like that.”
Pretending to be swayed, I picked out a few more. The tailor had good taste and knew how to recommend expensive things. I nodded at nearly everything she suggested.
When I said I’d take three capes in different colors, her smile stretched ear to ear.
The Count signed the check as if relieved it was over. The fact that he didn’t haggle proved Carla wasn’t poorly dressed due to poverty—he had simply been cruel.
“That should be enough clothes, right?” the Count said brusquely.
I nodded, watching the tailor pack up.
“Yes. I think that’s plenty.”
The Count sighed and finally unfolded his arms, looking like a man who had just escaped a nightmare. But I wasn’t done yet.
“I just need to get hats, parasols, and shoes now. Oh, and I’ll need new necklaces and earrings.”
I lifted my chin to expose my bare neck.
“I think diamonds would be better than rubies.”
The Count’s face turned pale. I even smiled with my eyes. Why the fear? This is just the beginning.
It was pure extravagance. I spent money like water. I couldn’t bankrupt the Count just yet, so I kept things within a limit.
I called in merchants from the capital, tried on everything they brought, and enjoyed myself.
As with anything, practice made perfect. By the third day, I could choose things more confidently. On the first day, I bought just two ribbons, but by day three, I had purchased two wide-brimmed straw hats, one ribboned bonnet, and three lace parasols.
All in different colors, they were ornate and exquisitely detailed—luxuries at a glance. Just looking at them made me giddy. Picking out jewelry was even more fun.
“Madam, how about emeralds?”
The polished stones, crafted with precision machinery, sparkled dazzlingly. Their carriage was endless, with more jewelry than I could count on both hands.
Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, brooches, lockets, rings, hairpins—endless pieces. The higher the prices climbed, the paler the Count’s face grew. I glanced at him.
He was holding back his anger. If he told me to stop, he’d look like a broke noble insulting his wife. If he encouraged me, it would mean spending more on Carla than he liked. So, he said nothing and just watched.
Ah, this is fun!
Watching him squirm from the corner of my eye was the best part. He crossed his arms and glared at the merchants. He must’ve been boiling inside but couldn’t explode.
He probably wanted to know why I was suddenly buying all this, but I wasn’t about to tell him. I held up a necklace with a neckline-baring design and asked him,
“How about this?”
“It’s… alright.”
He scowled and ground his teeth but still answered. I considered buying all the necklaces that suited me but stopped. Carla rarely went out anyway.
“Alright. That’s enough necklaces.”
At my words, the merchant had his assistants remove the necklace cases. In their place, they laid out earring sets.
My eyes landed on a pair shoved to the edge—too cheap for a countess, but too flashy for a servant.
“Would you like to try them on?”
The merchant held a mirror to my ear. I hesitated. Carla had only a few earrings.
The only ones she had were a faded pair of pearls she hadn’t stored properly. Her ears were pierced, but she clearly didn’t care to wear anything.
Why? I tilted my head as I held the earring up. It dangled below my hair, intricately carved.
“You don’t suit earrings, remember?”
He offered the answer to a question I didn’t even ask. How helpful. It was clear this was how he had controlled Carla. She may have endured it out of love—but I wouldn’t.
